“Oh.” She swallowed as his eyes met hers once more.
“Our kiss in the tavern…” He trailed off, his grip loosening just enough for the movement of the ship to rock her back a half step. “It wasn’t proper.”
“I…” Her gaze dropped as a pressure built around her heart. “I’m sorry.”
She tried to take a step back, but his arm remained in place, fingers splayed across the small of her back. “I meant I didn’t get a chance to properly kiss you. It ended too soon.”
Her face jerked up. “Too soon?”
The intensity in his gaze sent a shiver through her. “I thought to make up for it in the garden, but we were interrupted.”
Each beat of her heart hammered in her ears as he lowered his head, his mouth separated from hers by a sliver of air. “May I?”
Yes.
A roll of thunder reverberated through the ship. She opened her mouth to answer, but no words came out. He held his position, eyes searching hers, his breaths coming slow and steady against her cheek. A thread of panic coursed through her as he waited. If she didn’t do something, the moment would pass.
With her voice still trapped, she gave a breathless nod.
The hand at her back tightened, pinpoints of heat spreading from his fingertips as his head dipped, lips brushing hers.
A pulsating warmth curled in her belly and her eyes fluttered shut. Earlier, in the tavern, with all the distractions, their kiss had passed in a blur. Not now. She wouldn’t let it. This kiss, she would sear every bit of it into her memory. The soft weight of his mouth covered hers, and all thoughts evaporated.
She stopped trying to balance, letting her body fall into him once more. A low groan rumbled from the back of his throat and a moment later, the slick heat of his tongue pressed against her lips. Her own parted in a heady gasp and he groaned again, louder. He flicked his tongue forward, meeting hers in a brief exchange before retreating.
Her hands lifted, fingers tangling in his shirt as he repeated the motion—this time, in a languid stroke, tasting her with deliberate, aching sweetness. She met him with a tentative brush of her own, every nerve in her body drawn to where their mouths met. The sharp brine of the sea lingered on his lips, mingling with the warmth of his breath.
A thrill ran through her as theTempestplunged down another wave, the vibrations running through their bodies where they pressed together. Lieutenant Caldwell shifted his stance, his hand sliding up her back. Strong fingers wrapped behind her head while his thumb grazed a path below her ear. A fire began to burn inside her, spreading from his touch. The dance between their tongues slowed and he pulled his head back.
Her eyelids lifted, heavy with need and she met his burning gaze. He brushed his thumb over her swollen lips, sending the most delicious tingle straight to her toes. Her breaths came in quick pants as his fingers slowly curled in her hair.
Somehow, she found her voice. “Was that proper?”
“Mmm… Far from it.” His voice rasped over her in a rough caress laced with promise, sending her already frantic pulse spiraling higher.
Emboldened, she lifted on tiptoes and leaned into him. This time, his mouth claimed hers with a raw, unyielding hunger. His tongue tangled with hers with a fervor she couldn’t hope to match. Her knees weakened and she sagged against him, swaying in time with the ship, her hands balled into fists in his shirt to keep herself upright.
Without breaking their kiss, he started moving toward the wall. Rafter by rafter, his arm held them steady as the ship’s movement became an afterthought. The backs of her knees hit something. The bed.
His forehead pressed to hers and he grinned, lips still pressed against her own. “That. Was a proper kiss.”
He lowered the hand at her neck, and with the sudden loss ofsupport, Josephine fell back onto the sheets. Her hands remained tangled in his shirt and he followed, hovering over her on his hands and knees.
He dropped his lips to her ear. “Would you like more?”
The words sent a molten barb to her core. She’d never wanted anything so badly in her life. “Yes.”
He closed his teeth over the tender skin of her neck, and Josephine jerked at the searing contact, the back of her hands brushing his soaked breeches.
“You’re going to get the bed wet.” The words came out in a breathless whisper as his teeth grazed the skin above her collarbone.
He pulled his head back with a devilish grin. “What would you have me do?”
Take them off.
Her eyes widened. She’d almost spoken the shocking words aloud.
He chuckled, his mouth continuing its path of sweet torture, stopping when he met her shift. He nibbled the linen, tugging down as her chest rose and fell in an erratic rhythm. The fabric moved with agonizing slowness, stretching until he uncovered the dusky pink of her areola.
