Tempest’s face burned as she quickly pushed her skirt down the best that she could since she was sitting on some of the material. She just hoped that she could stand without tripping. Thankfully Rhys held out a hand, which she grasped for support.
“Well…goodbye,” was all she could manage as she ran away.
Eight
Rhys did not go to the hut that night. Instead, he ate Acerola berries, which were not all that filling, but he needed to avoid Tempest, at least for now.
A temptation, stronger than he’d ever experienced happened suddenly, when he found himself on his back, in the sand, and staring into Tempest’s blue eyes, darker than normal, or maybe they only appeared that way because of the deep rose that spread across her face. He had almost kissed her. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to pull Tempest into his arms, place his lips against hers and just forget about the younger sisters, the French soldiers and the Royal Navy. But he did not have the luxury and she was a miss that he should not even touch.
Except, it became doubly difficult to ignore his desire and urgings when he saw her legs, skirts hitched up to her thighs. They were perfect legs, shapely, and he could not help but imagine what it would be like to have them wrapped about his hips…
He had to stop that train of thought.
Instead, he held out his hand and helped her to stand.
It was only after she was gone that he walked into the ocean to cool his loins, not that it did any good. The Caribbean Sea wasn’t exactly cold.
He would have stripped down completely but if Tempest came back for any reason, she might note the state of his desire, not at all flaccid as the French soldiers she had observed.
Instead, he floated in his clothing and concentrated on what was truly important.
It was good to know that Tempest was as much aware of the situation as he was and there were no longer any secrets between them.
In fact, he was glad to have someone he could talk to about the situation.
He’d then retired to his hammock, drank rum and ate berries while his clothing dried and he finally slept.
Some of his dreams had been pleasant, with Tempest and her stormy blue eyes, golden hair, and dress pulled up to reveal her legs as she walked to him. Others were not so pleasant because French soldiers appeared and took her away, holding him so that he could not help her.
He woke often and returned to sleep, but when the morning came, he did not feel rested and if he had been in a comfortable bed may have rolled over and pulled the blankets above his head and slept some more.
Instead, the made his way to the hut for coffee and something to fill his empty stomach.
There was a lot that he needed to accomplish today and he required sustenance.
When he knocked on the door, not certain of the time and hoping that he did not wake them, it was Tempest who opened it then stood back.
“Have you made coffee? I need coffee and food.”
“I am not surprised since you did not join us for supper last night.”
If she was so concerned, she could have issued an invitation, but Rhys did not voice that fact.
She opened the door further and he stepped inside then went to the cupboard where he had stored his folded and clean clothing, retrieved a shirt and a pair of trousers. What he was wearing had grown stiff and uncomfortable and needed to be laundered to remove the salt from the sea.
Tempest poured him a cup of coffee then set it on the table with a biscuit. “Our supplies are low,” she said quietly.
It had been a sennight since he returned from Fort-de-France to find them in his house. He’d only purchased enough food for one person and was rather surprised that they had not run out already.
“I am going to look for other locations to…” He glanced to see the younger sisters watching and listening. He could not use the word hide because he did not want to frighten them any further. “Another place to shelter.”
“Why is another needed?” Margaret asked.
“Because I need somewhere to go if it rains since my home is currently occupied,” he answered with less irritation than may have accompanied his tone a few days ago. “After I have found a suitable location, I will return to Fort-de-France for bread, eggs and whatever else you need.”
“Milk,” the youngest demanded.
“It will spoil before I return,” he said. “You will have to drink water, coconut milk or coffee.”
