“Then ask me.”
“Will you make love to me?”
“Is there a chance you might sleep until morning afterward?”
“A very good chance.”
“Then I will make love to you.”
His eyes opened wide in surprise as she sunk her teeth into his shoulder. Laughing, he threw her on her back and began to return the exquisite torture she had been putting him through.
When Alexis opened her eyes the light flooding the room was not artificial. Cloud was sitting on the edge of the bed in the last stages of dressing. He felt her movement on the mattress and turned in time to see Alexis attempt to bury herself in the softness and cover her face with a sheet.
“Isn’t it time the captain of this ship was up and about?” he asked, pulling the sheet from her.
Moaning, she clutched the material and tried to draw it over her again. “I think the captain’s been drugged.” She gave up the tug of war and contented herself by flinging an arm over her eyes.
“Any suspects?”
She lifted her arm, cast him an accusing glance, and covered her eyes again. “All I want to know is if it’s addictive.”
Cloud shook his head slowly. His voice could not have conveyed more seriousness. “I’m not sure. Let me know how you feel in a few hours.”
Alexis lifted herself on her elbows in time to see a wide grin spreading across his face. She pushed him off the bunk. While he was laughing and tugging at his boots she wrapped a sheet around her and scrambled out. She got a few feet from him when she was stopped by a sudden tug on her covering. She spun and tried to release it from his fingers but he held fast and drew her closer. When she was standing over him he released the sheet and pulled her down onto his lap.
“You didn’t struggle very hard,” he observed.
Alexis wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her cheek comfortably against his chest. “It must be the drug. I feel as if I could use another draught.”
“Already?” His tone mocked her but his hands had begun loosening the sheet and caressing her bared flesh.
Alexis nodded. “Already,” she answered firmly, lifting her mouth to receive his kiss.
Their lips and tongues had barely tasted of one another when they were halted by a hesitant rapping at the door. Alexis sighed and reluctantly released herself from the circle of Cloud’s arms. She looked up into his eyes and laughed at the expression of pure misery she saw there, knowing she was seeing the reflection of her own disappointment. To him she whispered, “It wasn’t meant to be, love.”
Before he had time to respond she was on her feet, hastily pulling on her trousers and shirt while she carried on a conversation with Peach through the closed door.
“It’s your breakfast, Captain,” he called in answer to her question.
“And what marvelous things do you have for me this morning?” She shot Cloud a murderous glance as he chuckled at her attempt to stall for time.
Peach looked down at his tray and wondered at her question. She always had the same breakfast: fresh fruit, muffins and tea with sugar. Suddenly he thought he understood and he called back, “Do you want me to return with it later, Captain?”
Alexis’s reproachful glare at Cloud absolutely withered at her cabin boy’s question, and Cloud laughed heartily at her sudden discomfort and Peach’s attempt at easing it. Alexis hastened to pull on her boots and reach the door before Peach would take Cloud’s laughter as a signal to go away. With an impatient sweep of her hand, she motioned for Cloud to sit at the table while she opened the door.
“Bring it in, Peach.” She noticed his hesitation and thought she knew the reason. “It’s all right. Captain Cloud has quite forgiven us the hard time we gave him yesterday. I hope you have enough for him there. He may not forgive us for not feeding him properly.”
Peach stepped into the cabin and eyed Cloud suspiciously rather than apprehensively. Cloud observed the boy’s guarded look and grinned at Alexis. “This man is not seeking my forgiveness. Indeed, I don’t believe he gives a damn—it was my fault. Is that right, Peach?”
“That’s right.”
“You’re trying to decide if I am good enough for Captain Danty.”
“That’s right.”
Cloud returned his grave expression. “And I suppose there will be all sorts of tests I’ll have to pass before I can meet with your approval.” Peach’s head bobbed slightly. “Then suppose you put that tray here so I can eat my breakfast and start these Herculean tasks you have for me.”
Peach was not sure what Herculean tasks were or even if he could repeat the words aloud but he was sure he could match the importance of the work Cloud referred to. He placed the tray on the table and stepped back, taking a look at Alexis who was regarding both of them with a curious expression tempered with amusement.
