by Julie Cannon
“The skiff will be here in a minute.” I tried to untangle her vest for several minutes but it was hopelessly snagged. I unbuckled it and eased her out of it.
“You know, there are other ways to get my attention,” I said, trying to distract her from realizing the life vest was a lost cause. “You could have just called.” I held in my sigh of relief when I saw the big net start to drift off.
“You didn’t give me your number.”
I smiled at her comment and the fact that she looked less frightened than when I first arrived. “Oh, yeah, right,” I said, remembering my abrupt departure. “Sorry about that. Would you have called?”
“Probably not.”
What? Probably not?
“I thought you were in some kind of trouble. I’ve had it with women in trouble with the law,” she said, wiping water off her face.
“I think that’s a story for another time,” I said, hearing voices and the motor from the skiff approach. “Our ride’s here,” I said. “I wish it were a limo, but I’m a little off my game right now.”
“It’s perfect,” Alissa said. “Thank you for rescuing me, again.”
“My pleasure, m’lady,” I said in a fake Knights of the Roundtable voice as the skiff pulled up beside us.
How I managed to joke about this was beyond me. My heart was still stuck somewhere in my throat, my pulse raced like I was sprinting, and my hands were shaking so bad I couldn’t help Alissa climb into the skiff.
The shock of seeing her in the water had paralyzed me for an instant before reaction kicked in. I didn’t remember thinking of what I needed to do. I just did it. One second my body was frozen in terror, and the next I was in the water swimming toward her. When I got close enough to see the panic in her eyes my adrenaline had kicked into overdrive. A sense of relief I couldn’t even begin to describe flooded over me as Alissa was pulled out of the water—again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Bert
My hands were still shaking hours after Alissa and I were back aboard the Dream. It was dark now, and between the Dream’s engines shutting down, Alissa in the water, and the skiff coming after us, the tuna were long gone. Alissa had stayed on the bridge with me as we pulled in the nets and prepared the boat for another try tomorrow.
The guys were their normal boisterous selves that evening, and I don’t think anybody but I noticed Alissa had been quiet during dinner. When the galley had been cleared of the dinner dishes, instead of staying for a few games of cards, she excused herself. I was worried about her and followed shortly thereafter. I found her, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, on the aft deck, very near where she went over.
“I wonder how many more lives I have,” she said as I approached. I’d been quiet, trying not to disturb her.
“You were prepared, and that makes all the difference,” I said. My words sounded lame, but that was the best I could come up with. “Mind if I join you?” She shook her head and I stepped closer, stopping beside her.
“It’s something, you know,” Alissa said. “Twice now I’ve almost lost my life, and neither time did it flash before my eyes.”
I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to say anything or let her continue talking. I risked it and chose the former. “I think they just say that in the movies and books.”
“When I was in the water the first time I made myself think of things, remember events, people, that sort of thing. Anything to keep me from dwelling on where I was and speculating as to what was going to happen to me.”
“I think that’s perfectly normal,” I replied, using my armchair psychology.
“Today I wasn’t afraid, but all I thought about was you.”
That I had no idea how to respond to.
“I thought about the way your face lights up when you smile. The way the sun glistens on your skin when you sweat. The way your muscles move and your body flows. The way the air rings when you laugh. How my body reacts when you’re near. How it comes alive when you hold me. How incredibly sexy and desirable you are.”
In any other instance I would know how to respond to that. I would step closer and take her in my arms. I’d tell her, I almost died when I saw you in the water. I wanted, no, needed to rescue you and hold you and have you be safe. I’d tell you that you make me feel things that scare me and thrill me. I want to know every dip, hollow, and curve of your body. I want to feel your lips on mine, your tongue in my mouth, your hands on me. I want to look into your eyes and watch you come and hear you call out my name in the dark. But this was no ordinary situation and I couldn’t take advantage of it, so I simply said nothing.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Alissa said, pulling the blanket tighter over her shoulders. “I hope I haven’t said the wrong thing and you want me to leave.”
That confession shook me out of my stupor and I stepped closer, our shoulders touching. “I don’t want you to leave,” I said simply.
“What do you want?” she asked, anything but simply. When I didn’t answer right away she added, “My grandfather always said go big or go home.”
“He sounds like a smart man.” I needed a few moments to gather my thoughts—and my nerve.
Alissa was still looking out over the stern into the calm water. “Go big,” she said quietly.
“I want to kiss you,” I said, giving her what she asked. “I want to run my hands over your body and feel your skin heat from my touch. I want to kiss the bend of your elbow, the crook of your neck, and that spot at the base of your spine. I want you to grab my hair and call my name when I put my mouth on you, my tongue inside you. I want you to be safe and warm and not afraid.”
I waited for Alissa to respond, to say something—anything. As the seconds ticked by I grew more and more discouraged. Slowly Alissa turned and looked at me. Her eyes blazed in the moonlight, the look of desire erasing any sign of the fear and apprehension I saw earlier. She stepped closer, our breasts touching.
“I want that too.”
*
Bert
Holy shit, now what do I do? Well, I mean I know what to do, but what do I do? I couldn’t kiss her, not here on deck. I didn’t want my crew to see us. I didn’t want to risk my integrity as the captain, and I didn’t want them to get the wrong idea about Alissa. I mean Alissa and I were sharing a cabin, but we weren’t…Jesus, what a stupid conversation going on in my head. This was private. What was going on between Alissa and me was very, very private.
“Your place or mine?” I managed to say and was rewarded with a smile that melted my insides.
“Yours. It’s closer.”
I liked the way that sounded, that Alissa couldn’t wait to have her hands on me. “Good choice. I’m not sure I could have waited for weeks to get to yours.” I stepped to the side. “After you.” I extended my arm in a gallant gesture.
As Alissa passed by she said, “We’ll see about that.”
My pulse roared in my ears and my legs were suddenly weak. I followed Alissa across the deck and had to make a conscious effort not to stare at her ass or trip over my tongue. We were almost to the stairway when Rock’s voice boomed over the deck speakers
“Captain to the bridge.”
Fuck, just my luck. After months of celibacy I finally have a woman interested in me and am three minutes from having her naked in my bed, and duty calls. “Fuck.” This time I said it out loud.
Alissa stopped and looked over her shoulder at me, her eyes dancing with promise. “I understand. Do what you need to do. You know where I’ll be.”
“What I want to do is you,” I said, fighting my need to step closer. Rock could see us from his vantage point on the bridge.
“Hold that thought, Captain,” Alissa said with a smile, then turned and went down the stairs.
It took a moment or three for me to pull myself together and make my feet take me up the stairs instead of down. “This had better be damned important,” I said to the empty stairwell.
Fifteen minutes later my hand was shaking i
n anticipation as I reached for the doorknob to my cabin. I pulled away. Should I knock? Just go in? It was my cabin, for crying out loud. But I had a guest. Would I knock on my own bedroom door if I were at home?
WTF was I doing? Why was I overthinking this? Because I was nervous—more nervous than my first time. That made sense because that time it was hormones and three beers. This was…what?
When you’re a kid it’s lust, but as a woman it’s desire. When you’re a kid it’s hormones, as a woman…what? The need to connect? A smooth exploration of another? A quenching of a thirst? Then why did I want to devour Alissa? To disappear inside her and watch her body respond to mine. Shit. I needed to get inside and I needed to do it now. I compromised and tapped twice, then opened the door.
The lights were on and I stopped breathing when I saw Alissa sitting in the desk chair fully clothed. I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. This wasn’t what I expected to find. Had she changed her mind?
“Alissa?” She didn’t answer right away. “Hey,” I said, stepping closer. “It’s okay if you’ve changed your mind,” I said, lying smoothly.
Alissa stood and slowly closed the remaining distance between us. My heart thudded and my mouth was suddenly very dry.
“I didn’t,” she said huskily, her eyes wandering over my face and pausing on my lips. “Did you?” The way she was looking at my lips, the sound of her voice and her words made me forget how to talk, so I replied in the only way possible. I kissed her.
*
Alissa
Bert’s hands cupped my face and our eyes locked. If she didn’t kiss me this instant, I was sure I’d go out of my fucking mind. I’d gone nuts waiting for her. I didn’t know how long she’d be or even if she’d come. I refused to be in bed waiting ridiculously, because if she didn’t show up I’d feel like a fool. Slowly she lowered her lips to mine. Thank God.
Her kiss was tentative, but I was way beyond tentative. Waiting for her had been agony, and I was more than ready to consider that foreplay. I grabbed her head, pulled her closer, and slipped my tongue in her mouth.
God, she tasted good. A combination of fresh air and woman. I deepened the kiss, wrapping my arms around her neck, and pressed my body against hers. She was soft and hard in all the right places, and my hands itched to verify which was which.
Still kissing her, I stepped back just far enough to get my hands between us and started to unbutton her shirt. I couldn’t wait. Bert tried to help, but our hands got tangled up and I impatiently pushed hers away. She moved them to my ass instead.
I pulled her shirttail free from her pants and slid her shirt off her shoulders and down her arms. Grabbing her T-shirt I pulled it over her head, breaking her kiss for an instant before she pulled me back.
I let my hands wander over her bare back, the muscles hard and tight under my fingers. I moved them up her sides and around the front of her stomach. She sucked in when I lightly ran my nails over the flat, hard surface. We were both breathing fast, Bert’s breasts moving against my shirt. I continued my exploration and cupped her breasts. They were the perfect size to fit in my hand, and when my fingers lightly grazed her nipples, Bert pulled her mouth from mine and moaned.
“Jesus, do that again.”
I did as I was told, and with my mouth suddenly unoccupied I lowered my head and caught one nipple. Bert grabbed the back of my head and pulled my mouth closer.
“God, yes,” I heard her say between breaths. She left one hand on the back of my head and, with the other, went to work on the buckle of my pants. In no time they were on the floor and her hand was on my bare ass. This time it was my turn to moan, or maybe it was both of us.
I reached for her pants, but Bert pulled my head up for another searing kiss. “We need to lie down on the bed or I’m going to take you right here like this.” Her voice was raspy and breathless.
“No complaints from me,” I managed to say as I snaked my hand into Bert’s pants, past her boxers and into her. Her knees buckled.
“Whoa, Captain,” I said, holding her up with a thigh between hers.
“I’m sorry,” she breathed on me. “It’s been so long, and it feels so good,” she replied, grinding against me.
I pulled my fingers out of her, sliding them across her clit. She jumped and pushed against me harder.
“I need you naked,” I said, tugging my shirt over my head. Thank God it was big enough that I didn’t need to bother with the buttons, because I don’t think I could have gotten them open. Bert crushed me to her, our mouths connecting again. I have no idea how we got the rest of our clothes off, but I do know the feel of Bert’s body under me lit my fire even brighter.
Our arms and legs intertwined, we explored what we could reach. “I need to taste you,” I said against her lips. Her answer was clear as she arched her back and lifted herself to me.
I quickly kissed my way down her torso. Next time, I told myself, I’d go slower and savor every sight, sound, and smoothness of her. This time, however, my crazy need for her drove me on.
“Open for me,” I whispered, my mouth almost where I wanted it to be. The lights were on so I could see her perfectly. When she used both hands to do as I asked, my breathing stopped and I think time quit ticking as I looked at her. She was absolutely beautiful. Wet and ready for me. Bert Coughlin—captain extraordinaire, the most fascinating woman I’d ever met—was ready for me.
Slowly I bent my head and touched her with my tongue. She arched up into me, her hand slipping away and holding my head in that perfect place. She drew her knees up and let them fall to the side, giving me greater access to all that was her. With my tongue, I stroked her while I slipped a finger inside.
“God, yes,” Bert gasped, which was all the encouragement I needed.
I slipped a second finger into her and looked up across her flat stomach. I wanted to see her, gaze into her eyes when she came. But what I saw instead took me over the edge, like slipping into the ocean that surrounded us.
Bert’s head was thrown back, her back arched, her hips moving into me. Her hands were on her breasts, pinching her nipples. She was gasping with each flick of my tongue over her clit. I felt her stiffen and knew she was ready to come. I reached down, touching myself and mimicking what I was doing to Bert. I watched Bert as I imagined Bert’s tongue on me instead of my own fingers.
Faster and faster I moved, the impending explosion developing deep in my belly and tasting Bert as she came. Both happened almost simultaneously, and stars shot through my head as Bert came in my mouth.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Bert
I felt my orgasm from the tip of my toes to the top of my head. It was by far the most powerful, intense climax of my life. It burned hot, and I couldn’t have contained it if I tried. I couldn’t think of a reason why I’d want to. As a matter of fact I couldn’t even think. My mind was mush, my limbs felt like wet noodles. I think I might have hyperventilated because I was more than a little dizzy. My heart was pounding, but when I looked down to see if it was beating out of my chest, I saw Alissa looking up at me instead.
Her mouth was still on me, her fingers inside, but her eyes drilled into mine. Talk about an intimate moment. It didn’t get more intimate than this. Nothing was more beautiful.
My clit twitched, and by the look in Alissa’s eyes she felt it twitch too. I wanted more, wanted to feel her lips and tongue on me again, her hands on me, her body under me. Oddly I was suddenly shy, too shy to tell her what I wanted, so I showed her instead.
I slid my fingers in my mouth and slowly withdrew them. I repeated the action several more times, all the while watching the recognition burn in Alissa’s eyes. Her eyes never left mine, and it didn’t take long before our rhythms matched and I was on the brink again. I wanted to come with her, her tongue inside me, her finger dipping into my ass, but I wanted to taste her more.
Forcing myself back from the edge, I pulled Alissa toward me. “My turn,” I said, moving her onto her back and sli
ding down. Her breasts were perfect, her nipples completely healed. I kissed each one. Alissa wrapped a leg around my thigh and pushed into me.
“Touch me.” Her voice quivered with desire and I couldn’t refuse. I’d never be able to refuse a request like this, or anything Alissa asked of me.
I gasped when my hand slid into warm wetness. “Oh my God. You feel so good,” I said, my voice scratchy with desire.
I slid down quickly, so as not to be distracted from the other delicious parts of her body. I settled between her legs and kissed her lightly.
“Ugh.” Alissa arched her back. “I can’t go much longer.”
“Do you want to?” I asked, wanting beyond anything to give her exactly what she wanted.
“No.”
That was all the encouragement I needed.
I fucked her with my fingers, my nipples, my mouth. Alisa’s body glowed with a fine layer of sweat, accompanied by gasps of pleasure and sighs of desire. Finally she grabbed my head, put my mouth where she wanted it, and spread her legs wider. With the beauty of it all, I found it hard to breathe.
*
Alissa
When I woke, the lights were off, the covers pulled up, and I was nestled in Bert’s arms. I felt her heartbeat kick up a notch or four, and the heat between my legs pressed against her hip. Quickly the events of the last few hours flooded through me and I couldn’t help but panic. What had I done? I took a few deep breaths. Okay, I’d had sex, multiple times, but so what? Big deal. This couldn’t go anywhere, but again, so what? As adults, we were certainly entitled to a little fun.
“Hey there,” Bert said, her voice rumbling in my ear.
“Hey there yourself,” I replied stupidly. We had exchanged bodily fluids, explored body orifices, and all I could come up with was ‘Hey there’? For an advertising genius, I sounded pretty stupid.
“Are you okay?”
Was I okay? I’d just had the most mind-blowing, physically satisfying sex of my life, and I was trying not to freak. I was supposed to get up and go home, not want to do it again. “Yeah, you?”