Then they started to move. Her hips lifting, his pounding in long, hard thrusts that seemed to beat to the rhythm of the wind and rain. It was wild and crazy. Raw and rough.
It was lovemaking at its most basic and elemental state. With the wind howling, the rain pouring, and the waves crashing all around them, it felt as if they were one with nature.
He thrust again and again, as if he couldn’t go hard or fast enough. As if his passion for her was as uncontrollable as the storm. She would never forget the way he looked at this moment, hair plastered to his head, rain streaming down his face, his expression fierce and passionate.
She wrapped her legs around him, wanting him closer, wanting more of him. She gripped his shoulders, holding on to his strength as the powerful sensations started to take hold.
It felt so good. Her body tingled. Quivered. Trembled. She could feel the pressure building. Feel the heat and dampness concentrating. Feel desire coiling and tightening with every delicious stroke. Her hands slid down over the hard muscle of his flanks, gripping, and pressing him more firmly to her. Sensation shattered inside her. Her cries were lost in the howl of the wind as spasm after spasm of pleasure unfurled inside.
She felt his body stiffen and then heard his groan of pleasure as his release latched on to hers. Together they rode out the storm until the last ebb of pleasure was carried away with the wind.
When it was over, she barely had the strength to move. He seemed similarly affected and collapsed on top of her. She thought he would crush her, but she was surprised how much she liked the feel of his weight pressing down on her.
After a moment, however, he rolled to the side, drawing the blanket over them again and tucking her back against him.
This was how it should be after lovemaking, she realized. No awkward silences or recriminations. No expectations. Just comfortable, shared contentment.
They lay there for a while, and Ellie noticed that the boat wasn’t being tossed around as much. The waves didn’t seem as high. The wind, too, seemed to have died down a bit.
“Does it feel calmer to you?”
He chuckled in her ear. “Anything would feel calm after that.” If he wanted to make her blush, he’d succeeded. “Many old mariners believe that ‘lying-a-hull’ and drifting as we are doing encourages the seas to calm.”
Ellie didn’t know whether he was telling her one of his tales, but this time she hoped it was true. “Do you think the worst is over?”
He paused a moment, as if he were letting his senses consider her question. “Aye, I think it might be.” He drew her closer into his embrace. “Get some rest, Ellie. You’ve earned it.”
She couldn’t sleep, not in the storm. But her eyes felt heavy, and a few minutes later, despite her protest, they closed.
When they opened again it was still dark.
She was cold and wet and couldn’t move her arms. It took her a moment to realize where she was, but then all at once it came back to her. The storm. Drifting. Their frenzied passion. She couldn’t move her arms because she was still locked in Erik’s steely embrace.
“Feel better?” he asked, loosening his hold enough for her to stretch her legs and arms, which were not surprisingly stiff from their cramped position.
“Aye,” she replied, realizing it was the truth. “Did you rest?”
“A little.”
She shot him a look.Liar. She bet he hadn’t slept a wink. Suddenly, she realized something and sat up. “It stopped raining!”
They’d done it. They’d survived the storm. He was right; they weren’t going to die.
He grinned at her expression. “A few hours ago. Not long after you fell asleep. The squall departed as quickly as it arrived.”
She gazed up at the sky, noticing that the mist had dissipated as well. She could even see a sliver of moon peeking through the clouds.
“What time is it?”
“A couple hours before dawn.”
She bit her lip, realizing that although they’d survived the storm, there was no way Erik would be able to complete his task in time. She put her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry.”
He looked perplexed until he realized what she meant. “It’s not dawn yet, Ellie. We’ll get there in time.”
Never give up.
“But you don’t even know where we are. We could be miles from shore.”
