Alaskan Exposure

by A. S. Fenichel

  Without further explanation, he deposited her feet onto the rocks.

  She wanted to drag more information out of him. She hated that he was being reticent but knew it was her own fault. He was punishing her, and she deserved it.

  The peace and silence of the cove was awe-inspiring. The sheer absence of sound drew her attention away from her petty issues. A high-pitched cry pierced the air. Charley jumped.

  Kyle laughed. “That’s a bald eagle.” He pointed to the speck of bird flying high above them.

  She took pictures of the cove with the plane floating and no other movement. “Do you come here a lot?”

  “When I can,” he said after a long pause.

  “You bring women here.” She was impressed with the lack of accusation she managed in her tone.

  “I have.”

  “What do you do with them when you bring them here?” Why had she asked him that?

  “I drag them into the rainforest and fuck them against the nearest tree.”

  She turned sharply and dropped her camera away from her face. She could feel the blush burning her cheeks. “You’re not serious.”

  He smiled. “No, Charley. I’m not serious. I impress them with my knowledge of the area and then I take them back to the ship and fuck them.”

  She sighed. “I’m sorry.”

  “Stop apologizing. Tell me why you acted that way. I thought we had a good time together and I thought it was your idea. And I thought we were becoming friends.” He took her hand and led her toward a path in the trees where they started a shallow climb.

  “I don’t really know. I guess you scare me a little.”

  He stopped dead. His face was twisted into a deep frown. “I scare you? Did you think I would stop you from leaving or hurt you?” He pulled her forward until her chest bumped against his. “I would never harm you.”

  She had to strain her neck to look up into his blue eyes. “Not physically.”

  “So you still think I’m going to break your heart?”

  She gently pushed against his chest, and he released her. Looking around, she saw that they were surrounded by trees. She could no longer see the water of the cove. A smarter woman might have been afraid but she felt safe with Kyle. He wouldn’t let anything harm her. Of that, she was certain. He was the kind of man who you wanted around in a crisis. After all, he was second-in-command of a ship the size of a small city.

  “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  “I take the same risk.”

  “I guess you do.”

  He smiled and took her hand before practically dragging her up the path. Her heart melted immediately. If she hadn’t had to jog to keep up, the rest of her might have melted as well. Kyle always had something simmering just beneath the surface. She’d never met anyone so filled with passion.

  They reached a small clearing. “Look,” he said.

  She turned. The cove lay below them. She could see the beach, the plane and the islands beyond. Instantly her camera was up and she clicked off a dozen shots at varying distances.

  Finally she turned and let her breath out. “Thank you.”

  Leaning up on her tiptoes, she pressed her lips to his. He didn’t pull away but he didn’t react for a second.

  A deep groan erupted from his chest, his arms wrapped around her and lifted her off the ground. All the passion of the night before poured into that kiss leaving her gasping for breath. His tongue plunged inside searching for hers. If she could have crawled inside the kiss, she would have stayed there forever. Perfection.

  When he carefully returned her to her feet and backed away, she felt her cheeks warm. She hardly recognized herself when she was with Kyle. He brought out a side of her she hadn’t seen since before she married Pete.

  They started back down to the shore where he picked her up and carried her out to Joe waiting on the float. Kyle handed her up to the pilot and he assisted her into her seat.

  Once they were all seated, Joe got them back in the air. Charley never stopped taking pictures. The sights she viewed through the lens of her camera took her breath away.

  “Whale,” Joe said.

  She practically jumped over the top of Kyle to see out his window.

  “Easy.” His hand rested on her hip.

  Even with the awesome sight of the humpback whale drawing closer as she adjusted her lens, Kyle’s scent distracted her. His possessive touch at her lower back gave her a sense of belonging to something. The sensation was unfamiliar. Her breasts leaned against his upper arm and shoulder and her ass was nearly in his lap. She wanted to act as if it were just her enthusiasm for the whale sighting, but as she turned to move back to her own seat, her face flushed.

  The blue of his eyes darkened, and she could see his passion building just as she felt the bulge in his jeans when she turned and scooted back to her seat.

  * * * * *

  He didn’t speak as he escorted her back to the ship.

  “Thank you,” she said at the bottom of the gangplank.

  He turned causing her to nearly crash into him. “Have dinner with me tonight?”

  She guessed it was a request, though it sounded similar to a command. “I don’t know, Kyle. I’m supposed to have dinner with Jules.”

  “Bring her along. Tell her to bring one of those cops with her too.”

  “How did you know they were cops?”

  “I know just about everything that happens on this ship. Will you come? I’ll make a reservation for four at Qsine.”

  She was intrigued by the idea of eating at one of the gourmet restaurants on board. Her protective instincts told her to run. What had gotten into her? Nothing but a bad marriage and an empty apartment.

  When she hesitated, he stepped closer. He didn’t touch her but she could still feel the heat from his body. “It was not just about the sex, Charley. I like you. I want to spend time with you, and we don’t have a lot of time.”

  His voice sent an electrical charge that ran directly from his lips to her pussy. She squeezed her thighs together and swallowed. “You don’t want to have sex with me?”

  One side of his mouth turned up. “I would not say that. Sex with you is amazing and I would be a fool to turn it down. It’s just not all I want.”

  She didn’t know what to say. Her heart was in her throat.

  “Don’t think so much.” He looked away for a minute, and she thought he might be reigning in his temper. “Just have dinner with me.”

  She should say no. She should tell the captain that she wanted a different guide for the rest of the cruise. There was no future with Kyle and she was already falling for the handsome first officer. Her brain screamed reason at her, but her mouth opened and said, “Okay. What time?”

  “Eight.”

  “For four people.” A seed of doubt already festered in her mind.

  “I will make the reservations for four.” He ran the backs of his fingers along her jaw.

  It was a whisper of a touch but again her pussy tightened at the feel of his skin on hers.

  “I’ll see you then.”

  He gestured for her to precede him up the gangplank. Once inside the ship, he gave his pass to a security guard and she gave her key card to another. They each verified that they were supposed to be aboard, and he escorted her to the elevators.

  They were on deck four. When the doors opened, there were four people already inside. Kyle and Charley entered and turned to face the doors. Kyle pushed eight for her and nine for himself.

  “Do you work here?” A woman with a thick New York accent asked.

  Kyle turned and smiled at the older woman. “Yes, madam. What can I help you with?”

  “My cousin, Lynette came on one of these cruises last year and she said that they went up on the bridge. I have searched through all the papers that man left in our door slot, but I can’t find a thing on a visit to the bridge.

  She pointed to a man a few inches shorter than her with no hair and a look of utter mortification on his fa
ce. “Morty wants to see the damn bridge. I couldn’t care less but I hate to disappoint Morty.”

  If Kyle was offended by the brash woman, he gave no indication. He smiled brighter. “If you will give me your stateroom number and name, madam, I will see what I can arrange.”

  She rattled off the room and name and Kyle jotted it down on a small pad he produced from his jacket’s inside pocket.

  The elevator doors opened at deck eight with a loud ping of the bell. Charley stepped off without a word. She could hear the woman begin to ask about foot massages as the doors closed.

  Chapter Six

  It was a casual night in the main dining room, but Charley wore a cocktail dress to have dinner in Qsine. The carpet was navy, the walls stark white and the tables a perfectly executed combination of the two. A thin band of orange ran around the walls and each chair had a matching orange cushion. Small crystal chandeliers hung above each table.

  She followed Drew and Jules into the reception area. Laughter to her right pulled her attention to a small private dining area inside the wine cellar. Eight people dined in the intimate setting.

  She heard the maître d’ ask if he could help them.

  “We are meeting Kyle…” Jules turned to Charley. “What’s his last name?”

  “Macintyre.”

  The man’s face lit up. “Of course. The officer has not yet arrived but asked that you be seated and he has arranged a bottle of wine to start.”

  “Great,” Jules said. She looked over at Charley and raised her eyebrows. Once they were seated in the corner of the room with two walls around them and the least amount of possible disturbance, she added. “He’s really trying to impress you.”

  She ignored the comment.

  “You have to give the guy credit for the effort.” Drew looked around the room and nodded appreciatively.

  She had her back to the door but she still knew the moment Kyle approached. Jules eyes widened with appreciation, and Drew’s mouth turned down in a frown, noting his date’s perusal of the other man. Even if her companions had not seen him enter, she would have known he was there. The air in the room changed when he walked in. She found herself wondering if it was only her reaction or did everyone feel the intimacy of his presence?

  Kyle stepped so that he was in her view before he spoke. He wasn’t in uniform but the jacket and tie fit him perfectly, showing off his broad shoulders. Her mouth watered, and it had nothing to do with the fabulous scents wafting from the kitchen. “I’m glad you made it. I worried that the reservation would go to waste and I would owe Dmitri a big favor for nothing.” He gestured toward the maître d’ smiling.”

  “I said I would be here,” Charley said.

  He pulled out the empty seat adjacent to her. “You’re manner of agreement didn’t inspire my confidence.” He took her hand and kissed the back. A shiver ran down her spine. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  He reached across the table toward Drew. “Kyle Macintyre.”

  Drew shook his hand. “Drew Tolbert.”

  “Nice to meet you. Nice to see you again, Jules.” He shook her hand as well.

  “Hello, Kyle.” Jules had a seductive smile plastered on her face. She leaned forward exposing even more of her boobs in her straining spaghetti-strapped cocktail dress. Another half an inch and areola would be joining them for dinner.

  Charley’s annoyance with her friend was uncustomary. Jules was Jules. She liked to show off the boobs she’d paid good money for. She liked to flirt with men. She made no excuses for her behavior. She was a “take me as I am” kind of person. It was one of the things that Charley had always loved about her friend. Still, Charley didn’t like the way she was looking at Kyle. If she wasn’t careful she would be clawing at her best friend in the middle of the restaurant. She took a deep breath.

  “How are you enjoying the cruise?” Kyle sat and looked from Drew to Jules.

  “It’s been wonderful so far,” Jules preened.

  Kyle had the good sense to smile and turn to Drew. “You’re a police officer?”

  “Yeah, from New Jersey.”

  “I saw that you are here with a group. Other officers, I presume.”

  “We all went to the academy together. We try to meet every so often and catch up.”

  “That’s nice. I should try to arrange that with some of the guys I went through the academy with.”

  “Did you go to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy?”

  Kyle smiled.

  Charley felt that smile down to her toes.

  “How did you know?”

  Drew shrugged. “The accent, Boston or just outside. Educated, but it’s still there. I just put two and two together. I’m a cop, that’s what we do.”

  “Well done,” Kyle said.

  Charley watched Jules as her attention turned to Drew. She liked this cop from New Jersey. There was no doubt in her mind. Any flirting her friend did with another man was strictly to make Drew jealous. Suddenly she felt much better.

  The food was delicious and the conversation throughout dinner flowed easily. She couldn’t think of a more exquisite evening. She was surprised by how well Drew and Kyle got along. They both knew a lot about the military. Drew was well-versed in the law of the land while Kyle impressed with his knowledge of the laws governing sea travel. It was interesting to hear where all of those things crossed each other.

  An orgasmic crème brûlée melted on Charley’s tongue. It was all she could do to keep from moaning in ecstasy over the sweet, creamy confection. It was so good she didn’t flinch when Drew asked Kyle if he wanted to join them in the nightclub for dancing.

  He looked at her as if waiting for approval. “If you want to,” She said.

  He cocked his head to one side as if he was trying to read her mind and decipher exactly what she’d meant. “I’d love to, though I have a duty shift in the morning, so I’ll have to make it an early night.”

  As they were leaving Qsine, she tugged on his elbow to hold him back where Jules and Drew would not hear her. “You don’t have to come dancing if you don’t want to.”

  He stopped and turned so that his back was to the other couple as they walked toward the back of the ship. He stepped closer and looked down at her, forcing her to crane her neck to meet his gaze.

  Her heart jumped into her throat. Everything about him was sexy and overwhelming. Her body trembled.

  Kyle touched both of her arms lightly and rubbed from her elbows to her bare shoulders. “The woman I desire is going dancing in a darkened room, with hot music. Where else would I want to be?”

  “Kyle, I—”

  His finger pressed against her lips cutting off her objection. “You’re thinking again, Charley. Don’t think. Just for a little while.”

  In spite of her resolve not to fall for him, excitement bubbled inside her. She smiled and nodded saying nothing about the evening being a big mistake. He took her hand, and she allowed him to lead her to the nightclub.

  The rest of Drew’s friends were already sitting at a table against the wall. The club was dark. The dance floor filled the middle of the room, with a stage on either side. Cocktail waitresses made their way around the room in short skirts and spiked heels. The wall was lined by a bank of cushioned benches.

  Once the introductions were made, she thought she would feel awkward. It was obvious that Bob had been interested in her and she’d forgone dinner with him and his friends in favor of Kyle. However, he shook Kyle’s hand giving no indication he was put out. They sat down on the bench, behind a low table, with a good view of the dance floor and listened to a classic rock band.

  One of the waitresses came over. The tall brunette gave Kyle a come-hither look. Charley watched him carefully, but couldn’t detect any sexual interest in the pretty girl. Yet she had looked as if she might rip his clothes off at any moment. She really couldn’t hold that against the girl. He made her feel the same way.

  “Hi Varinka. I’ll just have water, please,” Kyle said.


  Charley might have imagined it, but she thought she saw a hint of malice in the girl’s hazel eyes before she gave her a practiced smile.

  “Vodka martini, please.”

  Varinka nodded and walked away.

  “Are you dating that girl?” Charley asked.

  His eyes opened wide. “No. She’s just a kid.”

  “She’s beautiful.”

  His shoulders lifted in a casual move. “She’s a nice girl, and it’s her first time away from home. I meet with all the new crew members once a week to go over ship policy and the captains instructions. Sometimes the young ones get attached.”

  He turned back to watch the dancers, and Charley watched him. She could see how a young girl could have a crush on Kyle. Hell, she wasn’t so young and she was nursing a pretty big crush herself.

  They sat holding hands in the dark listening to the music. Even with all the people in the club, the atmosphere was intimate. Charley’s face heated with a blush as if everyone could read her thoughts and knew she wanted to jump Kyle’s bones.

  It didn’t take the waitress long to return with their order.

  “Not drinking?” Charley asked when the drinks arrived. The music was loud enough so that she had to get close to his ear to be heard.

  He leaned down until his mouth touched her ear. “I really do have an early morning.”

  His lips were warm and soft. His breath tickled the sensitive skin of her lobe. She took a big gulp of her drink and popped an olive in her mouth. Her nerves were a bundle of indecision. On the one hand, the memory of their lovemaking had her pussy wet and ready to repeat. But on the other, she was already falling for a man who could only break her heart in another five days. At least on land, she wouldn’t know when the other shoe would drop. With a merchant marine she was assured that when the ship left port in Seattle she would never see him again. Her chest clenched. How had she gotten so attached to him so quickly?

  Jules was already dirty dancing with Drew. Her round ass moved to the music against his crotch.