Enthralled

by Ann Cristy

  "How nice," Teel answered, unbuttoning his shirt. "I hope it's a casserole. It will have to wait." She smiled up at him, confidence coursing through her.

  "Quite awhile, I think." Chazz's breath grew ragged.

  "How I've chased you, woman. You had me scared witless."

  "Not true." Teel stood in front of him clad only in silk bikini panties, the flesh-colored fabric hiding nothing from her husband's ardent gaze.

  "Very true, my love. I held you in my arms when you were unconscious, and all I wanted to do was make you well so that I could marry you. You were all the dreams of women that I'd ever had, all rolled into one bruised and scarred package. You have very few scars left now from your ordeal in Central America, but my love for you is the same." He took her hands, smiling down at her. "No, that's not true. I love you much more now and still more every minute." He lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed each palm. "You have a beautiful body."

  "So do you," Teel said, feeling a little out of breath and giddy when Chazz chuckled. She watched his muscular upper torso rise and fall, the arrowed patch of curling black hair having an erotic effect on her senses. She couldn't control the urge to touch him and, wriggling one hand free of his grasp, she reached forward and gently pulled at his chest hair. She saw the leaping gold of his eyes and thought of the painting over the fireplace in the apartment. Painting! It was on board the Deirdre. Darby must have put it in the lounge area.

  "Hey, beautiful wife, you've left me. Where are you?" Chazz demanded, nuzzling her neck.

  "I want to go to the lounge."

  "What?" He leaned back to look at her.

  Teel took his hand and pulled him over to the cupboard, where she rifled through the clothes and pulled out two terry-cloth robes. She put on one and held out the other to Chazz.

  He closed his eyes, then opened them and stared at her. "Lady, I hope you have a good reason for breaking the romantic mood I was in."

  "I do," Teel promised. She pinched his chin and smiled up at him, giddy with confidence. "Besides, I don't think it will take much to put us in the mood again."

  Chazz grinned. "You're right." He led her from the stateroom, interrupting their progress with frequent kisses.

  Teel ran ahead of him into the lounge and deliberately blocked his entrance until she saw the painting propped up on an easel facing the door. She gasped at how beautiful Tilda had made her look in the vibrant sea-green dress, her hair a chestnut fire, her eyes luminous with love. She seemed to be stepping through a sea mist. She and the dress seemed alight with an inner fire.

  She stepped aside and let a puzzled Chazz enter. His eyes remained on her until she turned toward the painting.

  At once his gaze was riveted to it. He swallowed and took a deep, shuddering breath. "Tilda has given me the best present of my life, except for the gift of the real you, which I received this morning." He looked down at her, and Teel saw the shimmer of tears in his eyes. "I love you, Mrs. Herman."

  She reached up to cradle his head in her hands and kissed him gently. "I love you too."

  He swung her up into his arms, looked at the painting for long moments, then left the lounge and made his way back to their cabin.

  He set her down on her feet and removed the terry- cloth robe. His eyes roved hungrily over her body as she stood naked in front of him. "Woman, I hope you're going to take pity on me. I have a feeling I won't be able to deny you anything you ask me—ever." Again Chazz swept her up into his arms.

  "Really?"

  "Really," he murmured into her neck. "Then... I would like a baby... right away."

  Chazz leaned back from her, searching her face intently, his expression a mixture of hope and concern. "Are you sure that's what you want?"

  Teel nodded, feeling warmth creep up her face. "Yes," she said lightly. "After all, since we're having four, I think we should get started."

  Chazz kissed her cheek, sinking with her onto the king-sized bed. "Very efficient of you." A slow smile spread across his face. "Tilda will go out of her mind. She loves children."

  "And you won't mind?"

  "No, my lovely Teel, I won't mind. You can't know how much I want us to have children together." He nuzzled her chin, taking little bites of her skin. "Of course, I will demand some time alone with you."

  "All the time you want, husband."

  "Darling, you just promised me your every waking moment, not to mention all your sleeping time," he growled into her ear.

  Teel traced his features with a light finger. "You're the first man I've ever met that I truly enjoy talking with, except my father."

  "I want to do more than talk with you." Chazz stroked her body from shoulder to ankle, his mouth following his hand.

  "Yes, I rather got that idea." Teel's breath came in short gasps, as though she had just run up two flights of stairs. "Will you always love me, Chazz?" Her voice had a hollow, detached sound.

  "Till the earth falls off its axis and then some. You're both dream and reality to me. Without you, breathing is a waste of time," he murmured into the valley between her breasts.

  "Oh Chazz,.that's the way I feel, too. I love you so much."

  The love flowing between them increased until they were caught in the vortex that spun through their own private world.

  Teel's last coherent thought was how delightful it was going to be to have a baby who looked just like the man she loved with all her heart. Being enthralled with Chazz Herman was very sweet indeed.