by Lynsay Sands
Speaking of coffins, where had those been? Vampires slept in coffins; the ship was full of vampires. Where did they keep their coffins? Jess pursed her lips as she considered the question. She hadn’t seen one in Vasco’s cabin. But maybe they kept the coffins down in the hull of the ship where the tourists wouldn’t find them.
That made sense, Jess decided. But wherever it was, he wouldn’t fly to Montana to hunt her down without his coffin just in the hopes of a good lay. That would be crazy, she assured herself.
“We were heading down to the restaurant on the beach to get some food,” Zanipolo blurted suddenly. “Did you want to join us?”
Jess glanced to the man, tempted to say yes. Now that he’d mentioned food, she was starving . . . and had been for a while, she realized. She’d been suffering hunger pangs for hours, even while she was in the water, but had been too distracted with other issues to pay it any attention. Now that he’d brought it to her awareness with his invitation, however, she was tempted. But . . .
“No,” she said on a sigh, her eyes shifting to Building 2 and then the path again. “Thank you, but I have to wait for Allison.”
“I think she would be here already if she was returning directly to the room,” Raffaele pointed out gently.
“But where else would she go?” Jess asked with frustration. She’d kind of come to that conclusion herself, but had no idea where else her cousin could have gone.
“Maybe she went down to the restaurant,” Zanipolo suggested. “There’s a band playing tonight, and she and the others were probably hungry after their tour. They might have headed there after getting off the bus.”
Jess perked up at the suggestion. That actually made sense, especially since none of them had had supper. At least, she hadn’t seen anything that might suggest the vampirates planned to feed them after feeding off of them. The blood loss might even add to their hunger, she thought. And her not having any money on her wouldn’t be an issue. The resort was all-inclusive; all she had to do was give her room number.
“Yes, I think I will join you, then,” Jess said, standing up, only to hesitate as she glanced down at her outfit. A towel over a ripped T-shirt and bikini bottoms was hardly acceptable attire for a restaurant. On top of that, the rest of her was probably a sight too. She wasn’t wearing a bit of makeup, which Jess didn’t mind so much, but she also didn’t have a brush and her hair had dried au naturel. It was probably a mess.
Sighing, she dropped back onto the bench. “You’d better go without me. I’m not dressed for a restaurant. They’d throw me out.”
Zanipolo immediately started to protest, but Raffaele said, “I have a better idea.”
Jess peered at him curiously, actually hoping he had a solution, because she was really hungry.
“Among the three of us, we must have something that you can wear,” Raffaele assured her. “We’ll go to our room and see if we can find you something. If we can, we can all go down to the restaurant. If we cannot, then Zanipolo and Santo can go themselves, look for Allison, and bring you back food.”
“Or,” Zanipolo countered, “you two can go to our room and see if we have anything for Jess to wear, and Santo and I can go down to the restaurant and wait for you,” he said brightly.
“He is very hungry,” Santo said solemnly.
Jess saw guilt flash across Raffaele’s face, and then he nodded. “Yes. Go. You’ve been waiting for your supper for long enough.”
Zanipolo grinned, but then said, “Call us if you can’t find anything for her to wear and we’ll bring back food right away. I’ll even order mine to go so Jess doesn’t have to wait.”
“Thank you, that’s very kind,” Jess said sincerely.
“Yes, it is,” Raffaele agreed. “Thank you, Zani. Now, go on. I’ll call you in a few minutes and let you know if we are coming or not.”
The two men started away, but then Santo stopped and peered back, his gaze sliding over Jess as she stood up. “One of my dress shirts is robin’s egg blue like your eyes.”
Jess raised her eyebrows and said uncertainly, “Okay.”
“I have seen women wearing what looks like overlarge shirts as dresses,” he explained quietly. “My blue dress shirt should be long enough on you to make a dress. It will be too large in the arms, but you can roll up the sleeves, and wear a belt, and the color would suit you. You may wear it.”
“Oh, I see,” Jess said, a wide smile claiming her lips. “Thank you.”
“What?” Zanipolo howled, turning on the large man. “Robin’s egg blue? Seriously? You never say more than one or two words at a time, three at most on the rare occasion, and the first time you speak more than that it’s about women’s fashion? Really?” He shook his head. “Damn, big guy!”
“Shut up,” Santo said mildly, taking the smaller man’s arm and turning him away. “Walk.”
Jess grinned as she watched the pair continue along the path, Zanipolo taunting the big man, and Santo strutting along, ignoring him. It made her think of a cartoon she’d once seen where a large bulldog was walking along ignoring a much littler dog who was yipping and hopping excitedly around him.
“Shall we?” Raffaele asked, and Jess glanced around to see him gesturing toward the buildings in front of them.
“Oh, yes. Sorry,” she said, moving onto the path that ran along the buildings. “You’re in Building 2, right?” She’d been a bit stressed when she’d rushed out earlier and wasn’t sure.
“Yes. And you?”
“Two as well,” she murmured. “But we’re on the fourth floor. You were three?”
He smiled faintly. “Yes.”
Jess nodded, and then searched her mind for something else to say. She didn’t know why, but she was suddenly nervous around the man. Not about her safety. They’d had her in their room while she was unconscious, and then once she’d woken up and hadn’t done anything to harm her. In fact, the man had saved her life. Still, now that it was just him, she was very aware that they were alone, and that she found him attractive, and really, she hadn’t been making very good decisions today when it came to attraction—
“You have had enough exercise today, I think.”
Jess blinked her thoughts away and glanced around to see that they were standing in front of the elevator in Building 2 and he was pushing the call button. Obviously, the comment had been to explain why they weren’t using the stairs. Smiling faintly, she murmured, “Thank you. You’re right.” Grimacing, she added, “I’m sure I’ll feel it tomorrow.”
“A good massage should help with that,” Raffaele said, ushering her onto the elevator when the doors opened.
“Yeah, too bad I won’t be here tomorrow to book one in the spa,” she said on a sigh.
“What?” Raffaele glanced at her sharply. “You have plans for tomorrow?”
Jess hesitated, and then admitted, “Actually, I was thinking it would be better if I leave Punta Cana and go home. I was hoping Allison would return, and I could get into our room, pack up, call to see what time the next flight is, and leave.”
“I see,” Raffaele said slowly, but then fell silent, his expression conflicted. She got the feeling that he didn’t want her to go, but thought it might be for the best.
Which was probably just wishful thinking on her part, Jess decided. At least the part about his not wanting her to go. They’d just met, after all, and other than his being kind and helping her, had shared little interaction. She hadn’t even really explained what had happened to her today, and how she had ended up jumping off a ship.
No, there was no reason he should care whether she stayed or left. But then there was no reason she should regret having to go, and yet Jess was sorry she couldn’t stay and get to know him better. Raffaele was an attractive man. He was also kind and helpful, and made her feel safe for some reason. Plus, he wasn’t a pirate or a vampire, was very polite, and hadn’t once said anything crude or—
A ding sounded, announcing their arrival at the third floor, and Jess gave
up her thoughts and stepped off the elevator when the doors opened. When Raffaele followed and took her elbow to usher her along the hall, Jess experienced the same tingling sensation rushing along her skin as she had when she’d grabbed his hand to stop him from pursuing Cristo.
“It’s too late for any flights this evening,” Raffaele said suddenly, his voice slightly husky.
“Oh,” Jess murmured, distracted by the sensations she was experiencing.
“The airport is probably closed for the night,” he added, pausing at the door to what she presumed was the suite he shared with Santo and Zanipolo. Raffaele released her arm then to retrieve his key card, and Jess started to breathe again, realizing only then that she’d been holding her breath as she focused on his effect on her.
She glanced at the number on the door as he unlocked it, and was surprised to see that this suite was the one directly below the one she and Allison shared. Small world, she thought, and cleared her throat to say, “Then I’ll have to see if I can catch a flight out in the morning.”
First thing in the morning, Jess added silently. She knew she wouldn’t get a lick of sleep tonight. She’d lie awake in bed, jumping at every creak and sound because Vasco had her key card, and while it didn’t reveal a room number, he also had her driver’s license, with her name on it. Not that he’d needed that, she thought with a frown as she recalled Cristo telling Vasco her full name. All the man had to do was control whoever was working reception and make them tell him her room number. Yeah, it was going to be a long night.
Actually, Jess wasn’t sure she’d sleep well once she got home either, now that she knew Vasco had her home address. Chances were he wouldn’t follow her to Montana, but what if he did? Maybe she should go to a hotel when she landed, get some sleep, and then start looking for an apartment or something. The very thought made her frown. She really didn’t want to sell the house she’d inherited from her parents, but knew she wouldn’t feel safe there anymore.
“Jess?”
Dragging herself from her thoughts, she glanced up to see that Raffaele had the door unlocked and was standing to the side, holding it open as he waited for her to enter.
“Sorry,” she muttered, slipping quickly past him into the room.
“The shirt Santo mentioned is hanging in the closet in the bedroom,” Raffaele said as he followed her in. “Go take a look and I’ll see if I can find something for you to use as a belt.”
Nodding, Jess led the way through the sitting area and into the bedroom. She headed straight for the closet, while Raffaele moved to the dresser and began to riffle through the drawers.
Jess found the shirt right away. It was the only blue dress shirt in the closet. As Santo had said, it was a lovely robin’s egg blue. Pulling it out, Jess eyed it with interest, noting that it was a very soft, thin linen that would feel amazing on.
“I might have to improvise something.”
Jess glanced around at that comment to see that Raffaele had given up on finding anything in the dresser and was now staring at the suitcase that stood next to it. The suitcase had a dark blue luggage strap around it. Eyebrows rising, she walked over to join him and peered at the strap. It was custom-made, with “Property of R. Notte” stamped on it in black. “That might work. And it’s even blue.”
“Yes, but I suspect it will be too large,” he said, his brow furrowing.
Jess shrugged. “Most luggage straps can be adjusted from something like forty-one inches to eighty-something. That one probably does too.”
“Much too big, then,” he said with a sigh.
“Not if I wrap it around my waist twice,” she pointed out.
Raffaele’s eyebrows rose at that, and then he grinned and murmured, “Clever lady.”
Jess stiffened at the words. It was what Cristo had said to her in front of the lobby. And it brought the pirate and Vasco, and everything that had passed between them, immediately to mind.
“Jess? Is something troubling you?” Raffaele asked, reaching out to take her free hand gently in his.
She sucked in a breath at the shock of awareness that again tingled its way up her arm from where his skin touched hers, and then just shook her head and stared at their entangled fingers. As she did, he used his hold on her hand to turn her arm slightly so that he could get a better look at the scrape by her elbow. Frowning, he ran a finger lightly alongside the injury. The action sent another tingle through Jess, one that made her shiver and close her eyes.
“I originally intended to take you to see the resort physician, but—”
“The resort physician?” Jess’s eyes widened with surprise.
Raffaele nodded solemnly. “You should really be examined by a doctor to be sure your injuries will not be an issue.”
Jess smiled faintly at his concern. She thought it was sweet, but shook her head. “I’m fine. I don’t have any injuries.”
Raffaele arched an eyebrow and then returned his gaze to her arm.
“Well, a couple of scrapes, maybe,” she muttered with chagrin. “But nothing serious.”
“You also have scrapes on your stomach and hips,” he said quietly, “and they are very large and appeared deeper than this one.”
Jess glanced to him sharply. “When did you see my stomach and hips?”
“I carried you up here from the beach,” he reminded her gently. “The life jacket only partially covered your stomach, and didn’t do anything to hide your hips.”
“Oh,” Jess muttered, aware that she was blushing. She could feel the heat in her cheeks. Irritated at herself for it, she handed him Santo’s shirt, and then turned away from him and opened the towel so she could get a look at herself. She’d been so eager to cover up that she hadn’t had the chance to check the scrapes on her stomach and hips before wrapping the towel around herself earlier. Now she peered down at her stomach, and then her hips, and winced as she saw where she’d been skinned while forcing herself through the porthole. Jess had known it was happening at the time, but was surprised at how big they all were. None of them appeared too terribly deep, but they were deep enough, and the one on her stomach was a monster, stretching across her entire stomach from side to side.
Still, while they weren’t pretty, they weren’t life-threatening either, Jess decided, and closed the towel over herself again before turning back to face Raffaele. “I’m fine. Really. They’ll heal quickly.”
“Infection is a real danger in the tropics,” Raffaele informed her quietly.
Jess was frowning at that when he cleared his throat and asked, “Do you have any other wounds anywhere?”
“Probably,” she admitted with a grimace. “Some bruises at least, maybe other stuff.”
“What kind of stuff? Where?” Raffaele asked at once.
“My back for one,” she admitted, recalling Allison attacking her while she kissed Vasco. “I got hit in the kidney pretty hard. It probably bruised.”
“May I see?” he asked with concern.
Jess hesitated, but then sighed and turned her back to him again and opened her towel. This time, though, she let it drop just below the waist of her bikini bottoms and glanced over her shoulder. “Is there a bruise?”
“Hmm, yes,” Raffaele murmured, and she felt his fingers gently probing the area, making her shiver as more tingles raced through her. “You have a couple of bruises back here actually.”
“Yeah, aside from getting punched, I got knocked around a bit,” Jess admitted, turning to face him so that he’d stop touching her. “Allison—Well, it doesn’t matter. I just took a tumble off a raised surface,” she muttered, unwilling to discuss how she’d been bounced from a bed by her cousin who was jealous of the crazy-sexy vampirate who had been ravishing her.
“You have a bruise here too,” he said with concern.
Jess glanced down with a start when he ran one finger lightly across the curve of her breast where the edge of the knotted T-shirt didn’t cover it. The action reminded her at once that she hadn’t wrapped th
e towel around herself again, but it seemed a bit late for that. Besides, between the ripped T-shirt and the bikini bottoms, she supposed she was wearing more than she wore on the beach. Of course, she didn’t usually have people touching her this way in her swimsuit, Jess thought, and glanced down at the bruise he was examining. She was quite sure it was a result of her forcing herself through the porthole. Before she could say as much, however, she noted the way her nipple was pebbling and pressing against the cloth of the T-shirt in response to Raffaele gently probing just the curve of her breast. It seemed a ridiculous response to her. It wasn’t like he’d actually caressed the nipple that was sticking its head up for attention. But her body obviously wanted him too.
Dear God, Jess thought with dismay, was she just going to respond like this to every man who touched her now? She’d never been like this before. Maybe her hormones were out of whack. Perhaps a trip to the clinic was a good idea.
Stepping back, Jess closed the towel, and then reached out to take the blue shirt from him. Heading for the bathroom with it, she muttered, “I’ll be right back.”
“Of course,” Raffaele said. “I’ll call Zanipolo and tell him we’ll be down soon and he needn’t order the food to go.”
Jess merely nodded, and closed the bathroom door. Spotting the hook on the back of the door, she hung the hanger there and then quickly stripped off her T-shirt. Dropping it on the floor, she considered her damp bikini bottoms, but then left them on. She had no underwear. Wet bikini bottoms were better than nothing, Jess decided, and removed the shirt from the hanger to pulled it on over her head. It was big enough for her to get into it that way, and much easier than undoing and redoing the buttons.
Of course, the sleeves were too long. She would definitely have to roll them up, but it did reach two-thirds of the way down her upper legs.