“Why do you ask and please don’t tell me we’re locked in.”
“Let me put it this way: would you rather sleep in the car or in the boat?”
She couldn’t read the sign from there, but if she’d bothered to look just a fraction farther, she would have noticed that the gate it was posted on barred their exit. “There’s got to be a way around it.”
He was already walking along the length of fence. When he went back to the Mercedes, she wondered if he was going to try his crashing-through-the-door tactics. Thank goodness, he only popped the trunk and pulled out their suitcases.
“Can’t we call someone?” she asked. “After all, we’re heroes. Someone should … what are you doing?”
He’d climbed back onto the boat and set down the cases. “I don’t know about you, but I’m too tired to wait for someone to let us out. Car or boat?”
“Well, I’m not sleeping in a car, that’s for sure.”
He motored a short distance from the dock, then released the anchor. He turned off the motor and said, “’Night.”
“Are you nuts?”
“No, I’m not.”
He looked way too serious.
“I didn’t mean nuts like … well, nuts.”
“I know. Look, I’ve slept on this boat before. It’s not too bad, comfort-wise.” At her questioning look, he added with a shrug, “When Wanda told me six months ago she didn’t like sex anymore, I needed some space. More space than the guest bedroom would allow. I spent a week on this boat before I realized sex with her hadn’t been that great anyway, so I moved into the guest bedroom and didn’t fight it.”
Her throat went thick. “I’m sorry. That must have been very hard on you. I mean …” Her face flushed, and he made an agonized sound. “I wasn’t trying to be punny, believe me. It’s just that, well, I can’t believe she wouldn’t … want you.”
He met her gaze, and the corner of his mouth lifted ever-so-slightly. “Thanks. Just be warned that if you prance around here in nothing more than a towel, I may not be responsible for my actions.”
She blinked.
“Is that all you have to say about it?” he asked.
“Fifteen percent of six thousand is nine hundred?”
“Perfect.” He started down into the cabin. “Hold that thought. I’m crashing.” He paused at the bottom of the stairs, looking sexy and dangerous and perhaps a little more human than he had before. “There’s the head, there are two bunks down here, and enough distance between them to guarantee your virtue, whatever that may be.”
She sucked in a breath, but he’d already taken that last step and disappeared into the shadowy depths of the cabin. “I’ll have you know I am quite virtuous.” She followed him down, pausing as she took in his bare back and luscious muscles as he removed his shirt.
“I’m sure you are.” He shucked out of his pants, leaving only an image of white briefs as he threw sheets and pillows on both beds and climbed into the bed on the right.
“I’ve only been with two men. I’d consider that pretty virtuous in this day and age.”
“I never thought I’d say this, but I’m too tired to fight with you. Let’s take up the gauntlet tomorrow, shall we?”
She walked over, hands on her hips. “You question my virtue and then hide in sleep? I don’t think so.”
He mumbled, “I didn’t question your virtue,” and rolled onto his side.
“Coward!” She walked carefully in the dark to her suitcase and pulled out her toiletry bag and a nightgown, then made use of the facilities. She washed her face in the tiny sink, changed, and walked back into the cabin.
When she surveyed the beds, she said, “Uh oh. I have to sleep on the one on the right. I always sleep on the right side at home.”
“Turn around, and the bed will be on your right.”
“It doesn’t work that way. Look, I’ll never get to sleep in that one.” She walked over to him. “Out. I’m the guest, I get my pick.”
He reached out his hand. “Help me up then.”
She shook her head, then tugged on his arm. Without any effort at all, he pulled her down onto the bed with him. Or more precisely, onto him. Before she could even think to fight him, he’d slid his arms around her stomach and pulled her up against him spoon-style. His bristly chin rubbed against her shoulder, and his breath felt warm against her ear.
There was no way she was fighting him.
“I haven’t had a warm, soft woman in my arms for a long time,” he said in a sleepy voice. “Just for tonight, Chloe. Let me hold you.”
There was no way in hell she was fighting him.
She settled in closer, inhaling the smell of him and soaking in his warmth. A sigh emanated from somewhere deep inside her. She was absolutely sure there was nothing better in this world than to be held by a man. Not even the purr of a cat or happy tears.
Except she wasn’t the least bit sleepy. She had too much buzzing through her mind, not the least of which was being in Dylan’s arms. And feeling his heartbeat against her back.
“There’s only one problem with lying here like this with you,” he said, breaking into her thoughts. “I’m not sleepy anymore.”
A thrum of excitement washed over her body and jumpstarted her heart. She rolled onto her back, looking up at his shadowy face in the dark. “Dylan —”
He leaned down and kissed her, a long, languid kiss that shot heat to parts of her body that had been long neglected. She could feel his hands skim the thin fabric of her nightgown, over her breasts and stomach. She could feel sensual heaviness growing inside her. Now she could tell Dylan wasn’t sleepy at all. That was quite evident.
He trailed kisses across her cheek and down her neck. She tilted her head back. His fingers teased her breasts, and one leg pinned her down to the bed, adding to the excitement. She reached out, finding his chest oh-so-close, the curves and planes tantalizingly warm and firm.
She wanted him so badly, it hurt. She wanted him not just for tonight, but for always. It was that feeling again, that rightness. And with the totally wrong man. She ran her fingers up into his short, soft hair, reveling in the bittersweet knowledge that she couldn’t have him. Maybe she could have some parts, but not the important one: his heart.
But for now, she could have the sexy, sinful part of him. A taste to keep for always. He captured her mouth again, like a starving man finally allowed to eat. She returned the kiss with as much fervor, drowning in the sensation, fighting the crazy impulse that she wanted to cry.
She was crazy on him. Crazy to love him … not love, surely, but hot, deep infatuation. In love enough to get hurt again, that much she knew.
His hand slid up her leg, fingers pressing into her flesh as though he were fighting some overwhelming passion he could hardly control. She wanted to give him her love, her passion, and her body. She didn’t want to think of the price she’d pay later. She just wanted to hear his heavy breathing in her ear, feel the hardness of him against her leg, and to know that he wanted her.
For this moment, only her.
“Chloe,” he said in a breathless voice.
“Mmm.” She loved the sound of her name on his voice, especially when it was breathless with desire.
He nibbled on her ear. “You’ve only been with two men?”
She nodded.
“I didn’t mean what I said about your virtue. I was only being testy.”
“Apology accepted. Or was that an apology? It was kind of hard to tell.”
“It was.”
“You know what? Let’s not talk about my virtue right now.”
With an agonized sound, he pushed himself up. “Chloe, I don’t have to tell you that I want you.”
“But you could.” She couldn’t see his eyes, but she felt them on her.
“I want you,” he said, and she loved the agonized thread in his voice. “But I can’t make any promises to you. I don’t know what’s going to happen in my life, and with Teddy, and …”
&nb
sp; She sat up too and put her finger across his mouth. “I know. You don’t have to make any excuses. Or promises. I know I don’t fit into your life, and you don’t fit into mine. But right now …”
He leaned forward and crushed her mouth with his. After a minute, he wrenched away with a muttered curse. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” He got up and dropped down on the bed across from her.
“Then why are you doing it?” She held her breath, wanting to hear the right reason.
“Because making love to you would be using you. You deserve more than that. Besides, I don’t have any protection, and that wouldn’t be fair to you either.”
Bingo. She hugged herself and smiled. Not that he could see it in the dark, but she smiled anyway. “Thanks.”
“You could sound a little regretful, too.”
Then she out-and-out laughed. “I am. Even looking at you lying there across from me … believe me, I am. But you gave me something more than sexual gratification. You gave me respect.”
He let out a groan and rolled over. “You get respect. Not only am I not sleepy, I’m stiff as a rod.”
She crept over to his bed, then reached out and ran her hand down his leg. “There might be a way to relieve you of that problem and keep my respect at the same time.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Mm-hm.”
“You have my attention.”
“I can see that.”
“Are you sure —”
Then she found him, and he didn’t say another word.
An hour later, Dylan lay on his back with Chloe tucked under his arm and her cheek on his chest. He would never forget the feel of her hands on him. It reminded him of watching her with the clay, stroking, molding, shaping. Only he’d let himself close his eyes and drown in the physical sensation. Afterward she’d acted a little shy, not sure what to expect. He was too tired to think about what was appropriate, so he’d pulled her down on his bed with him. Her smile told him that’s what she’d wanted. They hadn’t said anything after that. He’d stared at the ceiling of the cabin toying with her soft hair.
He felt sexually satisfied, but not wholly satisfied. Something inside him wanted more, and it wasn’t his libido. Maybe because she wouldn’t let him return the favor. It wasn’t a completely unselfish offer. He’d wanted to touch her and watch her experience a mind-bending orgasm, too. That macho part of him wanted to know he could pleasure her as well. Mostly, he felt that fair was fair. She’d told him she wanted to do this for him and wanted nothing in return.
Because he’d wanted her so badly, he took what she offered. Now she was offering him something else, even though she was asleep. She was offering him the opportunity to hold a woman through the night. He hadn’t done that in a long, long time. Hadn’t wanted to do it with Wanda, though she’d never given him the chance to try.
He rolled onto his side. Instinctively, Chloe rolled over too, murmuring softly as she snuggled up against him. He slid his arms around her and pulled her even closer. She was warm and soft, and fit against his body perfectly. She was completely cocooned by his body. If he could, he would have absorbed her. He closed his eyes and absorbed her with his senses instead. But he didn’t go to sleep right away. In the dark, with the boat rocking from side to side, he reveled in a feeling he was sure he’d never had before.
He wanted to hold Chloe and never let her go.
In the light of the next morning, Chloe couldn’t believe how forward she’d been. She’d kept her virtue intact, though not by her choice. Keeping it didn’t resolve the ache in the pit of her stomach. He’d offered to return the favor, but accepting something like that, well, that was different than giving it. So she’d been left with an ache for more.
She’d heard Dylan get up before six o’clock. Apparently he was an early bird. She loved sleeping in late, especially when she’d been up very late in the night weighing the cost of respect versus making love to a gorgeous man. Not to mention the fact that he’d held her all night long and made her feel secure and content.
She had snuggled against his chest, felt his arms go around her, and had that same overwhelming feeling of belonging that she’d experienced in the tunnel. All she could think about was, This is how it feels to be loved and cherished. This is how it feels to love.
Not love, she’d told herself. Not with Dylan. She wasn’t sure he could actually love and cherish someone. Now she was sure, absolutely sure, that’s what she wanted.
Great.
She forced herself up and used the head. Once she changed into her pink jumpsuit and matching Keds, she came up on deck. Now the gate was open, and there were plenty of cars and boats around.
“Got locked in last night, eh?” one man said as he launched his boat. “Could be worse.” He nodded toward her.
Dylan turned to find Chloe standing behind him. He gave her a lopsided grin. “Yep, could be worse.”
He was wearing white pants and a dark blue T-shirt. Now that she had touched that body, it wasn’t going to be the same.
He caught her gawking. Instead of laughing, though, he pulled close. “Thanks for last night.”
She shrugged, keeping herself from touching his clean-shaven face. “It was the least I could do. You were up early this morning.”
The trace of his smile faded. “I thought it’d be a good idea. For both of us.”
She wished she could stay in his arms longer, but he pulled back and got into position to pull the boat up to the dock. What did he mean by that? Would he want more than just a snuggle? Her own body came alive at the thought, but she quelled the urge.
“I’m starving,” she said, not only meaning food. “We didn’t get dinner last night.”
“I’m hungry too. I think it’s the first time since … well, since the accident.”
The content expression left his face. He shouldn’t be hungry or content, that’s what he was thinking. Not until Teddy came home.
After catching breakfast at a roadside diner, Chloe said, “I need to call Lena. I can’t wait to tell her that we found Mac, that she probably saved his life.”
“You want to use my cell phone?” She’d never seen him without that phone by his side.
“I’ve got a calling card, thanks.”
“Here. Use mine. I’m going to check in at home too, see if there’s any news.”
Lena answered, and before Chloe could get a word out, she said, “How could you do this to me? I told you I didn’t want my name mentioned. It’s like Sarasota all over again, the press camped outside bothering me, people asking me to find their missing dogs, cats and money! Chloe, you promised!”
Chloe drooped. “But you saved that boy’s life.”
“I know. But I was supposed to find Teddy. See, it’s still not working right.”
“I’m sorry, Lena. Someone overheard me telling the police. We had to explain why we suspected the boy was there. Enough to break down the door.”
After a moment of silence, Lena said, “I don’t want to talk to you right now. All I keep seeing is that dead little girl, and the whole mess with the press and then your mother. I can’t keep reliving this. I have to go.”
Chloe listened to the tone until it got annoying. She’d messed up. Lena had helped her, and she’d messed it all up. It seemed that nothing was going right.
Dylan took in her bereft expression as he walked up. “I take it your aunt’s mad at you.”
She nodded. “Camilla’s heard about it too?”
“Our finding Mac is the big news now that the hostage situation is over. No one was killed,” he answered just as she was about to ask.
“That’s scary,” she said. “Don’t read my mind like that.”
“Reading your mind is scary. I also bought this.” He held up the Keys newspaper, where Mac’s rescue had made the front page. He pointed to Lena’s name and details of the Sarasota case.
Her heart dropped down to her feet. She closed her eyes and looked away. “I don’t want to read it. All r
ight, read it to me.” She grabbed the paper and scanned the article. “This is terrible. Horrible. She is never going to forgive me for this. You don’t know Lena; she holds grudges, not just for weeks or months, but years.” She shoved the paper back at him. “I don’t want to read anymore.”
“Keep it in case you change your mind … again.”
“Did Teddy benefit from all this?”
“A tiny mention, but not much. And of course, more speculation about us.”
“Oh. I didn’t think…” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I made a mess of everything.”
He lifted her chin. “But we found Mac. Come on. Let’s keep heading south. We’ll figure out a response to the papers later. At least we can distribute some fliers. Then we’ll head home, and you can make peace with Lena.”
“Making peace with her isn’t going to be easy.”
“But she loves you. She cares about you. You’ll win her over.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because …” His face went blank. “Isn’t it true?”
“You were going to say something. Because … what?”
“Nothing.”
“She told you I was coming down here by myself. Didn’t she?”
He put on that poker face.
“You didn’t come down to Lilithdale to see how I was doing. You came because you felt obligated. Because somehow Lena convinced you to. We were never a team, were we?”
“I wouldn’t say that. I thought we worked pretty well together.”
“I feel like a big, dumb jerk. You didn’t believe in the visions at all, did you?”
He looked as though he were trying to come up with a diplomatic response, but finally said, “No.”
She started walking toward the car. “I thought …” She couldn’t even say it.
He grabbed her by the shoulder and turned her to face him. “Thought what?”
“I thought you wanted to be with me,” she pushed out. “I don’t know. Maybe I am crazy. But it makes sense now.” She knew how persuasive Lena could be. Dylan didn’t have a chance. And now that she knew he’d just gone along to keep her out of trouble, she felt awful and embarrassed about giving in to her desires last night. “That’s why you wouldn’t compromise my virtue. You weren’t being honest with me. Isn’t that right?”
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