“Go on then,” Alex said when she turned back. “Let Bran dip his doodle.”
Maddy lifted a brow, glad the wind was cool enough to wick away the heat spreading across her cheeks. “Don’t think I’ve ever heard that one before.”
“Dunk his dingus?” Alex grinned.
NowMaddywas the one nearly swallowing her tongue. “I think you’ve been livin’ on Wayfarer Island too long. You’ve picked up their bad habit of inventin’ ridiculous euphemisms.”
Alex gave her a shove. “At leastoneof us should get laid tonight.”
“I seriously doubt Bran—”
“And I seriously doubt you seriously doubt anything,” Alex cut in. “I mean, just look at his face. He’d have to be juggling sex toys and a bottle of lube to look hornier. Nowgo!”
This time when Alex gave her a shove, Maddy didn’t hesitate to cross the deck toward Bran. Mostly because she was terrified of what might come out of Alex’s mouth next. Bran quickly closed the door behind her, and the sound of the wind and the waves was replaced by the rhythmic hum of the cutter’s big engines. The stairwell they were standing in was painted bright white except for the metal treads that led down into the belly of the boat. Those had neon-yellow strips of antislip material running lengthwise across them.
When Bran reached into his pocket, he didn’t pull out a clutch of sex toys or a bottle of lube. But it was close. He yanked out a long strip of condoms. “Snagged these from the ship’s medic when he was redressing my wound. And the captain said Mason and I could bunk out in his private cabin for a few hours to rest and recuperate, but as luck would have it, Mason says he’s gonna hang out up on the bridge.” Bran was talking so fast, he could’ve given Alex a run for her money. “So what’d’ya say? Wanna join me in the captain’s quarters?”
“First of all”—Maddy held up a hand—“howisyour wound? Are you in much pain?”
“Nah.” Bran shook his head. “The medic gave me a shot of antibiotics and a local anesthetic, so I’m feeling great.” He wiggled his eyebrows and grinned his pirate smile.
And there he is, my modern-day marauder.
Except he wasn’t hers. Not after tonight. That void that had appeared inside her earlier was back, growing steadily until she wondered if she might tumble in and be consumed by it. She forced a smile and asked, “And second of all, a whole strip of condoms? Isn’t the ride to Key West less than three hours?”
“I’m an ambitious man,” he told her.
“Wow.” She shook her head. “That Alex is sharp as a tack.”
“Wha’d’ya mean?”
“Never mind,” she said. “So where’s this private bunk you speak of?”
“Follow me,” he said, leering at her before tromping down the stairs. His steps madebong-bongnoises on the metal treads.
Why does that sound so familiar?
Oh, right. It’s the noise an empty heart makes when it beats.
The same noiseherheart was making…
Chapter 22
11:36 p.m.…
“Why do I get the impression I’m bein’ stalked by a big, hungry beast?” Maddy said, spinning and pressing her back against the bulkhead.
The captain’s cabin was a tiny room just big enough to house a twin-size bed and one small desk. Not exactly what Bran would havewishedfor his first time with Maddy.
But beggars can’t be choosers.
“Probably ’cause youare,” he told her, unbuttoning his shorts and yanking down his zipper. He stepped out of his shorts and boxers and kicked them aside, then bent to unhook the knife and sheath from around his calf. Standing in front of her in nothing but the fresh bandage, he watched her eyes widen.
“Wow!” she said, catching her top lip between her teeth. His dick jumped at the sight, bobbing unabashedly in front of him. “I think you just set a land speed record for droppin’ trou.”
“Send my name to Guinness.” He stalked toward her. “I don’t have nearly enough time to do to you all the things I still wanna do to you. So I refuse to waste one single moment on the boring task of undressing.”
“Well, in that case…”
