FIFTEEN
I DIDN’T LIKEthe look on Norton’s face after Oliver had cleansed his memories for the second time in the span of a few days. The good detective’s eyes were glassy, and the pale colour of his cheeks wasn’t reassuring.
Even Mrs Morrison and her husband were ashen and hollow-cheeked after the memory cleansing was over. It hadn’t escaped my notice that, if the lamia had turned into Rennie to charm Mrs Morrison, it meant she’d been fantasising about him. I wasn’t being jealous, but she was a married woman, for Pete’s sake! It was hardly appropriate behaviour for a wife, especially during her honeymoon.
Also, I didn’t like the way Oliver yelled at us as he paced in my cabin. Drops of spittle shot out of his mouth every time he shouted. “How could you have let the lamia escape?” he roared. “You had the perfect opportunity to trap it.”
“It’s bloody fast!” Rennie roared back. “And if you had come to Norton’s office, as Monia had asked you, you would’ve been there to join the fight.”
“How the hell are we going to find it now?” Oliver’s eyes were nearly bulging out of their sockets. If he kept it up, his brain was going to explode.
But I had to admit he had a point. We hadn’t guessed Norton was the lamia until it was too late, and we had no idea how to catch the beast. We were unprepared. The only good news was that at least the lamia was still on board, obviously.
“We have time,” I said. “The lamia is still here and is still following me. It followed me to Tunis. It might follow me even to Catania when we arrive in Sicily.”
I wasn’t being completely honest. TheSS Florentiawas approaching the port of Catania, and after the awful night and Oliver’s yelling, my wish to take a stroll onterra firmaand leave the ship had little to do with catching the lamia. Also, I had no intention of undertaking another useless inspection of the ship. I was steering Oliver’s attention away from our failed attempt.
“What do you suggest then?” Oliver asked.
“I can take a stroll through Catania and see what happens.” I shrugged.
Surprisingly, Oliver nodded. “Don’t make mistakes this time.”
Rennie shot forwards. “You bloody cur?—”
“It’s all right.” I grabbed his thick wrist and tugged at it. “We’ve already had a fight. The sun is going to rise in a few hours, and I’d rather sleep for a while before we arrive in Sicily.”
Nostrils flaring, Oliver and Rennie faced each other until their bodies slackened.
“See you later then,” Oliver said, striding out of my cabin.
I exhaled and sat on the bed, kicking off my shoes. “What a night.”
He sat next to me and took my hands. “Are you sure you’re all right? Do you need anything?”
I smiled. “Actually, I do.”
“Tell me.” His lips brushed a sweet kiss over my knuckles.
Before I lost my nerve, I kissed him, pulling him closer by the lapels of his jacket. His chest rose, and his lips parted. I slipped my tongue inside his mouth and caressed his, enjoying the delicious shivers his touch sent down my body. He broke the kiss, cupping my face. “I’m on duty. On duty to protect you, and I haven’t done a good job so far.”
“I understand,” I said with forced sweetness, because I didn’t understand at all.
He’d done an excellent job so far. I was alive and well. So I rose from the bed and undid my chignon, letting my long strands of hair fall to my waist. He watched me with big eyes as I unfastened my skirt. I swayed my hips in what I thought was a suggestive manner and not the movement of someone who had sprained an ankle. My skirt and petticoats fell to the floor and pooled in a froth of silk and satin.
“Monia.” The warning lacked strength though.
After I unbuttoned my shirt, I lowered the sleeves down my arms until I was standing in only my drawers and chemise in front of him. Judging by the way he was focused on me and his trousers growing tighter, my seduction plan was working. I strolled to him, slowly, trying to control my breathing.
“You promised to do a lot of wild things to me,” I whispered, removing my chemise. Cool air hit my breasts, hardening their tips.
He licked his bottom lips. “Monia.” There was only passion in his voice this time.
I stopped in front of him, then turned around and bent forwards, smiling at his groan. With trembling fingers, I unfastened the drawers and let them slip down my legs. I stepped out of them. It was the first time I’d stood naked in front of a man. His arms wrapped around me from behind, tearing a gasp out of me.
“You don’t know what you’ve started,” he said, brushing his lips against my neck.
I moaned when he cupped my breasts and caressed my nipples while biting the curve of my shoulder. A storm of pleasant tingles ran through my body. His hand travelled lower, over my belly, to stop between my legs. He parted my wet folds and groaned when he stroked my nub, pinching it between his fingers. The hard wall of his chest and his erection pressed against my back. His arms caged me and his hands roamed over my body, touching, caressing, and teasing.
