Maiden Voyage
Page 17
She picked up a slab of warm, aromatic bread and slathered it with butter, taking care not to look at him as she spoke.
"Will you be traveling back to Greece?"
"Not immediately. I want to see what kind of reception I might receive. My father has an office on Granada Island. I will meet him there."
She glanced up and nodded. "Nutmeg."
He lifted an eyebrow and tilted his head. "Excuse me?"
"The Spice Islands. I read about them in National Geographic."
What are you doing, you idiot? She glanced away, feeling foolish at her uncontrollable urge to direct the conversation away from the inevitable.
Nick's tone changed. "Granada is beautiful, unspoiled by tourism. We spent our holidays there when I was a boy." He smiled at the fond memory. "My father was able to spend some time in his office, and my mother could sunbathe and read..." His voice trailed off, and a shadow passed over his face.
Amanda took a deep breath. "What made you decide to call your father now?"
There, she'd done it. Set the stage for the final performance.
He looked at her long and hard, then glanced down at his hands. "Because of you. Your positive attitude, your belief that I could put the past behind me. I've wallowed in my own self-pity for so long that it clung to me like my own skin. I couldn't see that, like a lizard, I could shed that skin when I outgrew it."
"I hope you'll find happiness, Nick."
He reached across the table and took her hand. "I already have. You are a very sensitive and caring woman..." He smiled knowingly. "But sometimes I think you are your own worst enemy."
The warmth and security of his fingers felt so comfortable, as though she'd known him all her life.
She squeezed his hand. "I think you're probably right."
The awkward tension evaporated, and he sat back. "You can rest up today. We'll sail to Granada tomorrow."
She stared, her heart hammering. "We?"
His delighted laughter bounced off the stone walls of the bungalow.
"Of course! You didn't think I was going to give up my pirate booty that easily, did you?"
36
Nick lounged back into the comfortable cushioned chair and sipped black coffee while he watched Amanda examine the lush array of plants and trees in the terrace garden. Her soft brown hair fell around her shoulders, and her expression glowed with pleasure at the discovery of each exotic specimen. She was the picture of joy. He recalled their earlier conversation, and his chest tightened painfully. She'd been bravely prepared to leave, had thought he would cast her aside once he'd regained his place in society. And he'd been completely clueless to her emotions, thinking only of his imminent release from exile.
He drew on the mental image of her luscious body straddling his cock, demanding that he bow to her will. She was all woman, everything a man could want: submissive, but strong. Loving, but nobody's possession. And loyal. His heartbeat stumbled with apprehension. Was he man enough to keep her happy?
He rose and walked toward her, eyeing her round buttocks teasing him from beneath the soft folds of her dress as she leaned over to smell a gardenia. He laid his hand on her waist and caressed her hip.
"Do you like to grow flowers?"
She straightened up, her eyes sparkling with pleasure. "I love to. Unfortunately, the climate in northern New Hampshire doesn't support much for very long. It's either too hot, or too cold." She chuckled. "I grow weeds."
He touched her chin, soaking up the warmth radiating from her eyes.
"Everything grows well in Patras."
Her eyes widened briefly, he saw her recognition of where the conversation was headed, and courage sprang into his heart.
"Will you be my wife?"
A soft smile played around the corners of her mouth, and she reached up to caress his cheek, her voice almost a whisper.
"Nicholas, you barely know me."
"I know the real you, perhaps better than you know yourself. You are like the Goddess Hera, the protector of marriage, the guardian of family, mother, wife..." His love smoldered deep in his chest. "Seductress."
Amanda's eyes reflected her own inner fires. She opened her mouth to speak, her hesitation sending a rod of fear through his chest. He quickly placed two fingers over her soft lips.
"Please, Love. Think carefully before you answer."
Her warm, moist tongue touched his skin, sending currents of electricity up his arm. She tilted her head and took one of his fingers between her teeth and nibbled gently, her lips soft and erotically caressing. She boldly gazed through her lashes at him while she teased. Her small fingers grasped his hand and withdrew his finger from her mouth, dragging the tip down over her full lower lip. His pulse raced and his heartbeat hammered in his ears when she stepped close, brushing her breasts against his chest.
Her expression was soft, but serious. "I will, on one condition."
Numb with relief, he wrapped his arms around her firm body and hugged her fiercely. "Anything. What is it?"
She tilted her head way back, her gaze fierce, her voice but a whisper.
"You have to tie me to the mast again sometime."
About the Author
Dreama Faire lurks behind a woman with wire-rimmed glasses, no-nonsense business suits, and sensible shoes, but both hearts hammer the same breath-stopping beat: romance and erotica.
In her visible life, Dreama's professional career spans over eighteen years in the legal field. She is published in non-fiction, and fiction of other genres, mainly romantic suspense. In addition to MAIDEN VOYAGE, Ms. Faire has published a steamy short story, an erotic romance novella, and is currently working on an anthology of trysts.
Dreama's website is http://www.dreamafaire.com
She loves to hear from readers: dreama@dreamafaire.com