Desire In His Eyes

by Kaitlin O’Riley

  She reached up and again splayed her fingers through the softness of his golden hair. The sensation aroused her even more. He slowly walked her back to his bedchamber; with her heart in her mouth, she allowed him to lead her, guide her to his enormous bed. She had no one to blame but herself for what was about to happen. She had willed this. She had, in fact, sought Harrison out. After being deprived of his company for days she had ached for him with a longing she had never experienced. Yes, this would be the first of her many adventures.

  And she did not doubt that being in Harrison’s bed would be a great adventure. And in all honesty, what did she have to lose? Her reputation would be considered lost already by everyone who knew her, so why not take her pleasure where she might? Harrison certainly promised pleasure, with his mouth, his hands, with his body.

  Juliette shivered in breathless anticipation as he continued to undress her with infinite care. With slow, methodical deliberateness he inched her dress from her, and she shimmied to ease herself from the garment. His breathing heavy, she stood before him in nothing but her chemise.

  “You are incredibly beautiful, Juliette,” he murmured low.

  A heated blush crept over her skin.

  He reached for the key around her neck. With a wicked grin, he removed it from her and tossed it behind them. She smiled before she stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around Harrison’s neck, pulling him toward her. He groaned as his lips found hers once again. As they kissed, she began to unfasten the buttons down the front of his shirt, exposing a long vee of his skin. His bare chest visible, Juliette felt her stomach tighten at the sight. With a hesitant gesture, she touched his warm and silky smooth skin as she traced the lines of his muscled chest.

  In a swift movement, Harrison lifted the shirt over his head. Juliette sucked in her breath, mesmerized by the broad expanse of male chest. She leaned in close and pressed her lips to his heated skin. She had no idea a man could be so soft and hard at the same time. Her tongue licked one flat nipple, and then the other, marveling in the feel of a man’s body. This close to him, she could feel his heart hammering inside the walls of his powerful chest. Drawn by the incredible warmth he exuded she kissed the taut ridges of his stomach. His body tensed under her mouth, but she continued to lean down, pressing her lips against his body. Spurred by his obvious desire for her, in a brazen move she reached lower and unfastened the front of his trousers and tugged them down. With shaking fingers, she untied the laces of his drawers and pulled them down as well. He stepped out of them with an ease and quickness that startled her. Faced with his nakedness, she suddenly lost her courage and glanced frantically up at his face. His stormy eyes were so intent on her, it felt as though he could see into the deepest recesses of her soul. Her mouth went dry.

  He lifted the hem of her chemise, and without a word she raised her arms over her head as he removed the last remaining vestige of covering she had. Now completely naked next to his bare and brawny body, her legs ceased to support her. She began to sink. Harrison, sensing her sudden weakness, grasped her in his arms again; covering her mouth with his in a kiss so possessive that Juliette lost herself completely. She pressed herself against him, holding on for dear life.

  Gathering her in his arms, Harrison placed her in the center of the large bed, covering her body with his. Juliette closed her eyes and kissed him, clung to him, her heart pounding erratically and about to burst from her chest. The intimacy of having a naked man atop her, his legs positioned firmly between hers, brought home the realization of her little adventure.

  He pulled away and her eyes fluttered open in alarm.

  Her words came out in a frantic whisper. “You’re not leaving me now, are you?”

  Harrison stared at her for a long moment. “Not unless you tell me to,” he murmured softly in her ear. Leaning on one elbow, Harrison brushed her face with gentle fingers, slowly tracing the line of her cheek. His seductive touch melted her.

  “No.” She swallowed hard. “I don’t want you to leave me.” There was no mistaking her meaning. At least she hoped not. Unsure why she desperately wanted to be with this man, she simply gave in to her desires.

  “Juliette.”

  Her name fell like a caress upon her and her stomach tightened. She reached her arms around his neck and stared at his ruggedly handsome face.

  He looked down at her, his gaze unwavering. “If I stay, you know what will happen between us?” he asked.

  Her mouth went dry. She merely nodded at him. Of course she knew what would happen between them. She was dying for it to happen. She practically locked the man in his cabin with her. If it didn’t happen, if something didn’t happen soon, she would surely die of this intense wanting. Juliette had no frame of reference for this situation with Harrison. Lying naked in a bed with a man’s naked body on top of hers had to be the most delicious experience of her life. That old medical text never described this sensation, that was certain. If Harrison didn’t get on with it already, she would perish from unfulfilled desire.

  As if he read her mind, Harrison leaned down and began kissing her again, and Juliette melted into him. Yes, melted. There was no other word for how her body virtually became part of his. Her mouth eagerly sought his, their warm tongues entwined in a spiral dance, his kisses leaving her hungry for more.

  And he gave her more. He kissed her mouth, her cheek, and made his way along the curve of her throat, the hollow of her neck, down her collarbone and up to the peak of her breast. Again, the fervent touch of his lips on her sensitive skin left her reeling. The intimacy of his touching her was like nothing she had ever experienced. An intense thrill coursed through her body and pooled low inside her, causing her to arch her hips.

  “There’s no rush,” he said in a husky voice. “We have all night, angel.”

  Juliette held her breath. With a languid pace, he brushed delicate kisses upon her other breast, leaving her shaking with pleasure. His hands caressed her, while she clung to him, her fingers mindlessly stroking his neck and splaying into his hair as he moved between her breasts.

  She blew heatedly into his ear, kissing and nibbling. His blond head moved lower, kissing an impassioned path along the taut lines of her stomach. She shivered and trembled in anticipation as he leisurely kissed his way around the curve of her hip and down her upper thigh. While gently massaging her leg with his free hand, he continued to kiss her ever so gently, circling the area of her greatest need. Juliette thought she would shatter into a million pieces if he didn’t touch her and would just as soon shatter if he did touch her. His teasing assault on her senses seemed to last forever.

  A wild gasp escaped her when his hand finally cupped her and her back arched in response to his touch.

  Harrison grinned wickedly as he rose to meet her mouth with a kiss, while his hand continued to move magically below. He then whispered, “Ah, it seems I have finally found the way to capture your complete attention.”

  The exquisite sensations he created within her left her wanting to cry. When he gently and slowly slid one finger inside of her, Juliette did cry out.

  “Oh, Harrison,” she gasped, her fingers digging into his shoulders. She truly could not bear any more pleasure, yet she knew there would be more. There had to be. But good lord, how would she survive it? This intimate act involved more than she could possibly have imagined. No wonder Colette could not describe it to her.

  He kissed her again and Juliette let herself drown in the feelings Harrison evoked as he continued to arouse her with his skilled fingers. Wicked fingers. Heavenly fingers. Time and space lost all meaning. The cabin disappeared and her entire focus narrowed to the man next to her and how he touched her so intimately. The pleasure built within her and she held her breath, frantic and clinging to him. A sudden burst of pure bliss descended upon her.

  Again she called to him. He kissed her lips and she called his name into his mouth. Juliette clung to him, her fingers digging into his broad shoulders.

  In that instant, Ha
rrison moved over her and pushed the hardness of himself inside her in one even thrust. Unprepared for the impact of Harrison inside of her, her eyes flew open. His eyes stared intensely down at her, a look of longing on his handsome face. Surprised by the force and strength of him, but welcoming him all the same, Juliette arched up to meet him, matching his thrust.

  He groaned and began to move steadily within her.

  “Juliette.”

  He uttered her name as if it were a plea. Not sure exactly what it was he wanted, Juliette willingly let him lead her, moving with him. She matched his rhythm.

  Now this, this, was what she had been craving. Longing for. This is what she needed. She could not even think coherently. She could only feel, and touch, and kiss, and enjoy…Good God, her whole body throbbed with pleasure.

  As their rhythmic movements coincided with the swaying of the ship, Juliette lost herself in Harrison’s embrace. He surrounded her, filled her, completed her. The utter maleness of him engulfed her being. She reveled in the feel of him, while another peak began to build within her. Giving in to the increasing waves of pleasure that coursed through her body, Juliette’s breath came in short, frantic gasps that matched the increasing frequency of Harrison’s thrusts. She thought of nothing but him, of Harrison making love to her in his bed on his ship. This man wanted her. And she had let him have her. The power and closeness of this profound exchange overwhelmed her.

  As Juliette’s pleasure peaked, so did Harrison’s. They both cried out each other’s names as ecstasy claimed them.

  Juliette frantically hoped that Harrison did not notice the stray tear that escaped her eyes as passion crested within her. Never had she felt anything so intense and astounding. She lay curled in his powerful arms, reveling in the feel of his skin against hers, attempting to regain her breath. Harrison continued to press kisses into her hair. They held each other tightly as the ship rocked beneath them. In a caring gesture, he pulled the quilt over the two of them and settled back next to her.

  She snuggled into the crook of his arms, not the least bit uncomfortable or embarrassed by what they had done. She murmured to him, “Never mind climbing the mizzenmast, that was the most thrilling, most exhilarating thing I have ever done in my entire life.”

  Harrison chuckled and kissed her. “Good God, Juliette. You are something exceptional. Do you know that?”

  “Of course, I do,” she said sleepily. She closed her eyes, unable to keep them open another second, and snuggled even closer. Her head rested in the curve of his neck. She had never felt as at home as she did then. She sighed contentedly.

  Harrison hugged her tightly to him. He whispered something to her, but she could barely make out his words. She could recall nothing else, except a deep sense of complete and utter peace and contentment.

  10

  There’s Got to Be a Morning After

  As usual Harrison woke before dawn. What was completely unusual was the naked woman beside him. Everything came crashing back to him in a split second.

  He had bedded Juliette Hamilton.

  Christ! He never should have done something so irrevocably stupid. He did not dally with innocents. Despite his belief that Juliette was on her way to reunite with her lover, he was now quite sure that this man of hers had not taken any liberties with her, for Juliette had been a virgin. His heart turned over in his chest.

  There she lay, sleeping sweetly in his arms, the most terrifying angel he had ever met.

  He took a breath and shook his head at what he had done. He held Juliette tighter to him, enjoying her warmth. Glancing out the small window, he saw the faint lightening of the dawn sky. The rough movements of the ship told him how stormy it was and he could hear the rain. He should get up and go above deck.

  But first he had to deal with the beautiful woman sleeping in his bed.

  Juliette’s silky, black hair spilled around them, her head resting on his chest. Her warm naked body pressed closed to his. She seemed a quiet and peaceful girl, not the impetuous and reckless beauty who had seduced him last night. Good God! She had seduced him. And he was not a man who was easily tempted.

  Harrison would have to marry her now. The relentless thought pounded in his head. He did not want a wife particularly. As he had informed Juliette the night before, a wife and family were vague notions in his future. They were certainly nothing he was contemplating now. Yet here he was, with Juliette Hamilton in his bed. What was the old saying? Time to pay the piper? It went something like that. There was no help for it.

  Harrison had taken advantage of her, and now he must take responsibility for what he had done, no matter what her plans in New York were. Juliette belonged to him now. He certainly could never allow her to marry someone else.

  An odd possessiveness overcame him as he gazed down at her in the dim predawn light.

  Now that was the most thrilling, most exhilarating thing I have ever done in my entire life. When Juliette declared those words to him last night, he silently agreed with her. It had been thrilling and exhilarating between them and he loved that she had compared the feeling to when she had climbed the mizzenmast and felt like she was flying.

  He pressed a kiss on her cheek and breathed deeply of her scent. Strands of her silky black hair lay against his arm. The feel of her body next to his awakened something in him that he could not define. He would marry her. Not only because it was the decent thing to do and Lucien would more than likely shoot him if he did not, the mere thought of another man touching her caused his heart to pound ridiculously in his chest.

  What was it about her that caused him to react this way? What was so damned special about Juliette Hamilton? Yes, she was beautiful. And exciting. Stubborn and fearless. But there was something else, something more, about her that he could not easily put into words.

  Her eyes fluttered open and they stared at each other for a long moment. She leaned up and kissed him before flinging her head back on the pillows. “Good morning, Captain.” She flashed him a sleepy smile. “It’s not time to get up already is it?”

  “No,” he shook his head. “Not quite.”

  “Good.” She wrapped her legs around his and snuggled deeper into his arms.

  He welcomed her soft closeness by holding her tighter. He whispered in her ear. Such a small, delicate ear she had. “Are you saying you are not ready to get out of bed?”

  “If it’s still dark out then that is exactly what I am saying,” she mumbled with her eyes closed.

  Her warm body warmed his. “I take it that you are not an early riser?”

  She muttered something unintelligible into the crook of his neck, which he took to be a negative response, and he grinned mischievously.

  “Oh, well, it seems we must change your outlook on this matter. Don’t you realize how important it is to start your day early, Juliette? To rise with the sun?”

  She did not move. He heard a sort of a snore.

  He gave her a little nudge. “Wake up, Juliette!”

  Frowning at him with her eyes closed, she grumbled, “It’s an ungodly hour, Harrison. The sun is not even up yet, so why should I be? Go back to sleep.”

  “I’m the captain. This is my ship.”

  “Then you can get up. I’m staying here.”

  “There is a storm brewing,” he threatened.

  “Even more reason to stay in bed,” she said remaining firmly entrenched in place. “Who wants to be out on deck on a rainy morning, anyway?”

  “That is not a good enough excuse to remain abed all morning.” Although if anyone could tempt him to do just that, it would be in a bed with Juliette.

  “I’m tired.” She yawned unabashedly. “If you recall, we were up half the night.”

  “Yes, you have a valid point there,” he agreed in an amiable tone, a helpless smile on his face at the memory. They had been up more than half the night. They had not been able to keep their hands off each other. It had been incredible, unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

>   “You can get up if you like, Harrison, but I’m staying right here.” Juliette tightened her hold on him with her legs and her eyes closed in determination.

  “My, my, Miss Hamilton.” Harrison shook his head and made “tsk, tsk” sounds, while trying not to laugh. “You have proven yourself to be a dreadful seamstress, useless at scrubbing a deck, and now I detect a most disconcerting lazy streak in your character.” He gave an exaggerated sigh. “It seems the task is up to me to find some way for you to earn your keep aboard this vessel.”

  He tapped his fingers along her shoulder. “Hmm…” He continued tapping thoughtfully on her bare, slender shoulder. Creamy smooth and delectable. Yes, it was a very tempting thought, indeed. Staying in bed with Juliette all day.

  After a sudden bright flash of light, a tremendous explosion of thunder rocked the cabin, causing Juliette to sit up with a startled, high-pitched shriek.

  Harrison laughed at her. “Now I know how to get you to wake up!”

  She slapped his arm in exasperation and sank back into the depths of the warm blankets. “You are terribly mean. That was directly on top of us.”

  He continued laughing. “Come now. Get up and come on the deck with me. I want to show you something.” In a swift movement he pulled the covers off, leaving her beautiful naked body revealed to him. He paused at the sight.

  She stared at him, irritation evident in her blue eyes. “You are simply not going to let me sleep are you?”

  “No.” He grinned wickedly at her. “You can’t beat me, so you might as well join me.” He leaned down and kissed her.

  “Are all Americans as annoying and arrogant as you?” she snapped as she tried to tug the covers back over herself.

  “Not quite.” He yanked the blankets away from her and gave her a nudge toward the edge of the bed. “Now get moving.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain,” she grumbled miserably as she staggered from the bed.

  Harrison chuckled at her sarcasm while suddenly feeling cold at her departure from the warm blankets. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, enjoying the view of Juliette’s bare bottom as she crossed the room and began to dress. For a long moment, he debated grabbing her and pulling her back into bed and making love to her all day, but as the ship lurched on the waves of a storm, his sense of duty swayed him in the other direction.