“Peach. You should have said something, Cloud.”
“There was nothing to say. I did no more or less than I was able to do.”
Because he said it simply, as a matter of fact, Alexis did not thank him for being capable of so much. “And finally, we are alone.”
“Completely?”
“Mm-hmm. Last night was our last in separate bedrooms.”
“That,” he said with emphasis, “is worthy of celebration.”
“Exactly what I thought.” Stepping closer, she curled her fingers around the open collar of his linen shirt, spreading the material so she could see more of the tawny skin of his chest. She bent her head, pressing her lips to the slight hollow of his breast where his heart pulsed beneath warm, salty flesh.
Cloud’s laughter was deep in his throat when she looked up, golden eyes misty and glowing, but with a glint that named him the target of her actions. He made no move to embrace her or give any outward indication he was affected by her nearness. She wanted to win him and he was moved by the notion she still thought it necessary. He calmly lifted the goblet to his mouth and drank deeply. He set it down and said, “I like it when you look at me that way.”
“What way?”
Again the throaty laughter. “You don’t know, do you?” Alexis shook her head. Strands of hair kept time with the ship’s slow motion, falling across her cheek and mouth. He smiled faintly, brushing aside the wisps. “You look as if you had no idea I was lost the very moment I entered this room.”
“You were?” Her tone was softly incredulous.
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
“I see part of it in the way you hold your mouth.” His hand moved to cup her chin while his thumb traced the line of her mouth. “It’s set in the same determined way when you face me as when you face anything you perceive as a challenge. It’s not at all the look of a woman, so heady with desire, she can’t control the muscles of her face. It’s more resolute. I like it. I like being the challenge, the purpose of your determined smile.”
Alexis could only return his stare as she listened to his words. He released her jaw, sliding his hand up her face. Her ear rested in his palm while his fingers intertwined with her hair and now his thumb slowly outlined her brow.
“Your eyes too. Instead of being heavy lidded, drooping, slack with sensuality, your lids are open, almost tense, as if you were afraid the slightest drop would mean you might miss something. Your sensuality is in the clearness of your eyes. Behind that misty sheen, your gaze is steady, conscious, and there is a special light in them when you see something you want.”
“The light? Is it there now? Do you see it?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” she whispered, turning her lips into the palm of his hand. “I want you.” She voiced what he had known since he’d walked in, what she had planned for since returning to her cabin. Her fingers began to move over his shirt, unfastening the buttons until she could part the material fully. When she pulled it free from the band of his trousers, he shrugged out of it while her hands caressed the smooth muscles of his chest and slid lower over his abdomen.
“Do you always get what you want?” His lips moved over her cheeks, her jaw, her closed eyes.
“Not always.” Her breath was warm against the curve of his neck and her arms drew around his back. She could feel the rough lines of his scars with the tips of her fingers.
“Liar.” His thick voice made it sound like an endearment.
Alexis did not realize he had unfastened her gown until it fell softly to her feet. Her body shuddered at the touch of his hands on her shoulders. When she was naked he lifted and carried her to bed, but when he would have released her Alexis held on, refusing to break the circle of her arms about his neck. She pulled him in with her, rolling on top of him, covering his face, neck, and chest with quick burning kisses.
He lifted his hips under her urgings to allow her to remove his trousers. When she had drawn them off her hands pressed against his thighs, his knees, his calves. Her touch was firm, her lips warm and moist, and Cloud, although enjoying her aggressiveness could not remain passive a moment longer. He changed her frantic, devouring pace with lingering kisses. His tongue traced the scar on her shoulder while his finger ran along the tender line of her freshly healed wound.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured against her shoulder.
“I’m scarred.”
“So am I.” He brought her hand around to his back, forcing her to touch the reality of his statement.
“You’re beautiful,” she said. Her mouth sought his and the contact was tender and light and loving.
His fingers circled the curve of her breasts, lightly teasing in their stroking, tempting her to move forward into the palm of his hands. When he rolled her swollen nipples ever so slightly between his thumb and forefinger she arched, straining to one side as the pleasure of his touch tugged at her very being. Cloud smiled at her action, enjoying her pleasure and determined to feed it. His smile closed over one of her breasts, worrying her tender flesh with his tongue, flicking it delicately until she squirmed beneath him and reached for his head, trying to pull him away.
“I need you now, Cloud,” she told him breathlessly.
