By the end of dinner, he was ready to wring Oswald’s neck and Charley looked as if she’d gone into shock.
They thanked the captain for dinner and Charley practically ran from the dining room. Once Cristou gave him the nod, Kyle chased after her. He went to her room but if she was in there she was doing a great impression of not being there. He checked the martini bar, because he could really use a drink and thought that maybe she could too, but while Jules and company were all partying away, Charley was not with them. He walked the chilly night out on deck and didn’t find her.
Finally, he returned to his quarters. He slid the card in the door, the lock clicked open and he turned the knob. The door jarred one inch and then slammed into the inside bolt.
“Is someone in there?”
“Were all of those stories true?” Charley asked.
“How did you get in there?”
“The man from housekeeping who saw us together the other day let me in. Were they all true?”
The knot that had formed in his gut during dinner tightened. “More or less.”
She pushed the door closed, leaving him standing in the corridor. A moment later the door opened a crack.
He pushed in slowly. The room was completely dark. The curtains were drawn.
“What took you so long to get here?”
He saw her shadow near the desk and stepped inside. “I went looking for you.”
“Do you tell all of the women you sleep with that you love them?”
He hated that she felt the need to ask him that. Not that the question was unjustified. After all, he had enjoyed a lot of women since his engagement ended. “Why is it so dark in here?”
“You’re not going to answer?” Her voice dripped with sorrow.
He didn’t really want to defend himself or his past, but the tone of her voice made him ache to ease her mind. “I have not told a woman that I loved her since my ex-fiancée. That was quite a few years ago.”
A few seconds of silence passed, then he heard her move. At the click of the light switch on the sconce over the desk, his eyes trained on the sound.
She had let her hair down and it tumbled in waves around her slim shoulders. The stunning gown was gone and if she had been wearing underwear those too had been removed. A pair of strappy silver heels was all that remained of her earlier attire.
“Does this mean you’re not angry with me?”
She shrugged and her breasts lifted and fell in the most intriguing way. He closed the gap between them.
“I didn’t even know you and I have no claims on you.”
For some reason that made him angry. He tried to hide his annoyance by wrapping her beautifully naked body in his arms. He was dressed in his formal uniform. There were lots of buttons and ribbons that were probably poking her in various places. If it bothered her, she didn’t complain.
“You can claim anything you want any time you like, Charley.”
She looked as if she wanted to say something, but then her eyes drifted to the epaulettes on his shoulder. “This is a very sexy uniform,” she said.
“Do you think so?”
“Yes.”
The mood changed in a flash. He couldn’t decide if he was glad she didn’t want to talk about their future together or disappointed, but the subtle curve of her ass under his hands and the ache in his cock, could not be ignored. “Shall I leave it on?”
Her eyes widened and her words came out breathless. “Oh, yes.”
His cock jerked as if it were trying to break free of his trousers. “The wool and buttons aren’t irritating you?”
She wrapped one long, perfect leg around his hip and rubbed her entire body along his. “I like it,” she purred.
He grabbed her ass and ground against her. A low growl escaped his lips. “Charley, when will you stop surprising me?”
Pushing his hips forward again, he pressed her against the mirrored wall. She gasped and covered his mouth with her full lips. She felt desperate in his arms, as if she couldn’t get close enough to him and might climb right inside his skin.
He grabbed her ass with both hands, and she wrapped her other leg around him. His fingers slid under her until he could touch her wet pussy. “Jesus, Charley, you’re so wet.”
“Fuck me, Kyle. I want you inside me now.”
Where was the sweet woman the rest of the world saw when they looked at Charlene Ballantine? Every time he got her alone, that other woman disappeared and this exciting minx was left behind. He was in love with both of them. The only question was how did he convince her that they had a future, especially after the incident at dinner?
In order to release his straining shaft, he had to hold her up with one hand. Her hand slid between them and as he popped the button, she unzipped his fly, shoved her hand inside his boxers and gripped his cock pulling it free. A second later, she slid his head along her wet slit and perched it at her opening.
Kyle pressed forward as she relaxed down onto him, taking all of him deep in her pussy. They both froze and moaned loudly. “You feel so good, baby,” he said against her neck.
He pulled his hips back and slammed into her again. She cried out.
“Am I hurting you?”
“God, no. Don’t stop.” She clutched at his jacket.
He pounded her against the wall, over and over. Her pussy pulsed around his thick cock and she clung to him crying his name before sagging against him.
It took every bit of his control to stop himself from coming with her. He didn’t want this to be over too soon. She so perfectly fit around him. Carefully, he turned with her in his arms and maneuvered them onto the bed.
She was on her back and he was still tightly held inside her pussy. He shrugged out of his jacket. Charley smiled up at him. He kicked off his shoes and held himself up on straight arms. He picked up one arm and maneuvered her leg so her foot was on his shoulder. Putting that arm back on the bed next to her, he did the same with her other foot. He kissed her ankle, the shiny straps and spiked heels were dangerously close to his face.
She used the back of her leg and ankle to leverage against his shoulders and lift herself. His cock slid out nearly to the tip before she lowered back onto him. Each time she did this he pressed forward, meeting her thrust for thrust. She was so wet there was a squishing sound with every plunge. His body stiffened as he felt his orgasm building.
“Not yet,” he said and pulled completely out.
“What?” she asked.
She was so stunning, laid out on his bed. The gentle rocking of the boat and the dim light coming from the one sconce added to her perfection. He moved down her body and lapped at her sweet nectar. Her ass bucked off the bed. He lifted her legs so that her thighs rested on his shoulders and she carefully lowered her heeled feet to his back as he devoured her pussy.
Circling her clit produced a high-pitched panting sound that he had not heard from her before. He took the tiny bud in his mouth and suckled it gently. Her hands gripped his hair and she stifled a scream.
She grabbed a pillow from the top of the bed and when he sucked her clit harder, she let loose the scream into the soft down. One thumb pressed into her wetness, sliding in as far as it would go and pulling out again as he licked and sucked. She was coming apart. He could feel her canal pulsing. He pulled the digit out and pushed in deeper while suckling her clit. She bucked against his face and pressed his head deeper as wave after wave of orgasm racked her body. Her pussy clenched around his thumb soaking his hand with fresh juices.
Her head was thrown back and she had the corner of his pillow stuffed in her mouth to muffle her cries. He moved away slowly. Her response had only made him harder, if that was possible. His body craved hers. It was unfortunate, but he knew he would not last long after seeing her come so beautifully.
“We really have to be more careful,” he said, pulling a condom from the bedside table and rolling it on.
She blushed. “Sorry, I couldn’t wait.”
“Never be sorry for th
at, baby.”
She smiled wickedly and rolled over and onto her knees. She leaned her head near the bed and lifted her ass toward him. Her pink, wet pussy peeked out from between her thighs. An instant later, he was on his knees behind her, holding her hips and pressing deep inside her tight pussy.
He was right about one thing. This was not going to take long. She fit him like a glove and each time he slammed inside her, a small scream of pleasure pushed from her lips. The feel of her silky passage clutching at his cock combined with that delectable noise was pushing him quickly to his release.
He saw one of her hands disappear beneath her and then felt the tickle of her nails on his balls. That was it. The orgasm shook him. His body jerked and pounded into her in several quick thrusts. His legs barely held him as they shook with the discharge.
Her pussy clutched at him and she came again milking his seed and crying his name. She collapsed onto her stomach.
Kyle reluctantly got off the bed and went to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. When he returned, Charley was reclined across the bed in the wrong direction. He picked her up and moved them to the pillow end, pulled up the covers and tightened his embrace.
“Mmm, that feels wonderful.”
“What does?” He loved the sleepy sound of her voice.
“You wrapped around me.”
He gave her a squeeze. “I’m sorry about dinner.”
She shrugged. “It’s all right.”
It really was not all right. He could hear it in her tone. He hated that she had been uncomfortable and he would not be around in the morning to make it up to her. “I have to be to work at seven in the morning.”
She rolled toward him and kissed his collarbone. “You had better get some sleep then.”
She pushed up and away from him.
“You’re not staying?” His gut tightened and he sat up ready to grab her and pull her back into the bed.
Charley was already out of the bed but she turned toward him with her hands on her hips. Her hair was a mass of red fames sticking out in every direction. Her skin was rosy and she was still gloriously naked. Her head cocked to one side. “I’m turning off the light.”
His entire body relaxed with relief. How had he gotten to this point? She had him tied up in knots.
She flipped the switch on the sconce and a moment later she was back under the covers with him. Kyle breathed a sigh of relief. A sense of calm settle over him as her body melted against him, all of her soft curves fitting into his hard angles as if they had been made for each other.
Chapter Twelve
Captain Cristou had arranged for a formal tea service in his quarters. Charley managed to print out half a dozen shots that she thought the captain would like to have.
As he looked at the pictures, she couldn’t help thinking about dinner at the captain’s table.
She knew none of it was Kyle’s fault. He was a single guy, living a lifestyle that was conducive to getting laid a lot. There was nothing wrong with that. Since she’d first met him, he’d been a perfect gentleman. He’d made her feel as if she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She’d done things in bed with him that she’d never have believed she was capable of. He stripped away all of her inhibitions without even trying.
Something about the two of them together was magical.
So why did the monologue from the food and beverage director keep replaying in her mind over and over again. All those women were famous, young or beautiful and available for a quick affair. Those types of women would continue to take cruises and continue to pass Kyle their keys.
She would be on the other side of the world and know nothing about it. Her chest ached with the knowledge that their time was almost up.
He’d said he loved her. He’d even claimed to not have said those words since saying them to a woman he was planning to marry. Her mind was a jumble of a thousand different scenarios and none of them ended well.
She sipped her tea.
The photo studio aboard the ship had agreed to let her use some of their equipment early in the morning. The man in charge of the studio had given her one hour. He had been very firm on that one-hour part. Charley had rushed but she still thought she’d come up with some pieces that would please the captain.
From the look on his face, she was sure she had succeeded.
She had also put together a short slide show for him on her laptop.
“These are incredible,” he said.
“Thank you, sir. I’m glad you like them.”
“You are very talented.” He held up an eight by ten so that the sun streaming in the window didn’t glare as he examined the photograph of his ship from the air.
Charley didn’t think the cruise line would choose that one for their catalog. It was a bit too artsy, the way the turrets created shadows on the deck and the reflection of the ship in the water. But she loved the way it had come out and was happy that the captain did as well. The only people in the shot were two deck hands who diligently polished the brass railings. She was already planning a spot on the wall of her gallery for the piece. She even entertained the idea that they might be good enough to have a show. She would put together a new portfolio and talk to some people when she returned home.
“I thought the marketing department might like some of these.” She clicked on a folder on her laptop’s desktop and started a slide show of beautiful but more mundane pictures of the sights and the ship.
“Oh yes. These are perfect for the catalogs. I’m sure they will be well pleased with them. You will likely be offered more work, Miss Charley. Would you enjoy cruising the world and taking pictures?”
She couldn’t help thinking about exiting the ship in less than twenty-four hours. She would never see Kyle again. She shrugged with what she hoped was an attitude of nonchalance. Inside, her heart was breaking. Why wasn’t she more like Jules? Why couldn’t she have a wonderful affair and walk away feeling good?
She had to admit that the time she’d spent with Kyle was the best time of her life. It should be enough. She should be happy that she had the experience. Didn’t they say, it was better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all? Bullshit!
She had to snap out of her reflections. The captain had continued to speak on the subject of working aboard a ship.
“You will be able to make a living and still take these types of pictures.” He held up the art shots in his hand. “It’s an ideal situation for an artist. You put up with a bit of the ordinary for the chance to shoot the most fantastic places in the world and create fabulous art.” He held up a shot of the whale they’d seen outside of Ketchikan. She had been able to zoom in on the animal’s eye. She loved the solemn look the creature seemed to convey in the shot.
“Yes, you’re right of course. Look at this.” She tapped the keys of her computer and showed him the picture she’d taken of the arch of the whale’s back with a snowcapped mountain in the background. It was beautiful and perfect for a sales catalogue.
The captain smiled and clapped his hands. “You see.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You don’t sound convinced. Is it Kyle that is the problem?”
“Sir, I… Kyle and I… It’s…” Evidently she had lost the ability to speak.
Always the gentleman, Captain Cristou waved a hand dismissing whatever excuses she was attempting to make. “He is a good man. You should not listen to what other people say about his past with other women. He is obviously in love with you. None of what happened in the past matters any longer.”
“Sir, I don’t think—”
“Of course I see you’re point, he lives on a ship for six months at a time.” He shrugged. “Then he finds another ship while you are living in Florida waiting. It won’t be easy for either of you. Once he’s a captain and has his own ship, it would be better. You could travel with him in comfort.”
Charley didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t tell the captain that she and Kyle would likel
y never see each other again after tomorrow. The good-natured Greek would never understand. Even if he did, she didn’t want to see sympathy in his eyes. She hated the way people had felt sorry for her when her marriage ended. She cringed at the memory of all those sympathetic glances and people telling her how sorry they were. Failure rang in her ears over and over again. She couldn’t make Pete happy. She couldn’t keep her marriage together. Those well-meaning people only compounded her sense of defeat. Even though she’d spent countless hours in therapy trying to learn that the break had not been her fault alone, she never wanted to feel that from others again.
Captain Cristou must have realized he was the only one talking. “I apologize, my dear. It is none of my business. I think of Kyle as if he was my own son and I want to see him happy. I think you make him happy, but perhaps I am mistaken. Perhaps it is not what it seems.”
She smiled. “Thank you for the tea, Captain. I hope you like the pictures.”
He stood when she did, put the photographs on the coffee table and smiled. “It is a wonderful gift you have given me. I love them and shall have them framed when we make port for our maintenance next week.”
“I’m happy you like them.” She gathered her laptop and walked toward the door.
Cristou took her hand and kissed her on both cheeks. “You should always remember that love is a very rare and special thing, my dear. If you find it and throw it away, you may never find it again.”
He didn’t give her a chance to respond as he opened the door to the corridor. “Enjoy the rest of the cruise, Charley.”
“Thank you, Captain.” What more could she say?
He escorted her into the corridor and that is where he left her.
* * * * *
Kyle wasn’t able to go into Victoria, British Colombia when they docked around five o’clock that night. He had taken an extra shift for a crewman who’d gotten sick. Charley and Jules made their way through town on foot. They had arranged to have the famous Empress Tea at the ivy-covered Fairmont Empress Hotel. The hotel was a small, red-brick castle sitting along the Inner Harbor of Victoria.
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