by Roz Lee
“I could see that for myself.”
“She was surprised to see me.”
“She didn’t come here to see us?”
“Says she didn’t.
The men stared at the screen. Only the drone of the big diesel engines below their feet broke the silence that hung between them.
Drew spoke first. “What are we going to do about it?”
“We need to have a little chit-chat with her, I think. See if you can round her up, and bring her to the stateroom.”
* * * * *
Celeste slid into the extended puppy pose and exhaled. The stretch helped loosen the knotted back muscles she’d acquired since Sean walked back into her life. She did her best to ignore the rest of the class. The instructor gave her a pitying look when she’d arrived at the Kama Sutra Yoga class without a partner, and directed her to a mat in a corner. Celeste didn’t give a damn. Her cabin was too small to do the positions she routinely did to keep her body limber and her inner-self calm. If she had to endure the grunts and groans of the couples practicing sexual positions in order to get in her daily stretch, then that’s what she would do.
She let her shoulders and neck relax, and pressed her forehead to the mat in the extended child position. The peace she’d needed so badly swept over and through her. She took a cleansing breath in preparation for the slow slide upward.
Firm hands on her hips startled her. His heat spread from her hips all the way to her nape. He leaned over her in a partial caress, and whispered in her ear.
“Hello, Celeste.” His lips brushed along her pulse, sending her heart rate into the stratosphere.
“Goddamned spooks.” Celeste arched her back and used her hands to lever both of them upright. “Do they teach you to sneak up on people in spook school?” She knew they did, she’d just never gotten the hang of it.
Drew grinned at her. He looked good enough to eat, but she didn’t want him to know that.
“I’m glad to see you too. You look good.”
“Go to hell, Drew.” His naked chest was too close. She flattened one hand against it and shoved. A lightning bolt shot through her hand and turned her insides to liquid. He didn’t budge, but she managed to topple herself onto her ass, which didn’t help her mood. The smile on his face didn’t waver. Impossible to tell if the contact had affected him the way it had her.
“Been there, done that. I’ve missed you.”
A lock of hair escaped her ponytail holder and fell across her face. She tucked it behind her ear and stood. Dear God, he looked good. On his knees, his face was level with her crotch. . . . No. No. No.
“No? But I haven’t done anything.”
Had she said that out loud? Apparently so. “I have to go.” She feinted left and tried to dart past him. His reflexes were still excellent. His arm wrapped around her waist and stopped her in her tracks.
“Whoa there.”
“Let me go!”
“Not until we have a little talk.” He got to his feet without giving her an inch. She could have dropped him to his ass, but causing a scene didn’t seem like a good idea. Besides, someone might get hurt in the close confines of the Yoga room.
She allowed him to steer her outside. It wasn’t like she hadn’t expected this. With Ryan and Richard off the ship, she was going to have to deal with the people they’d left in charge. It didn’t take a genius to figure out who those were.
A few minutes later, she was in Ryan Callahan’s stateroom. Drew closed the door behind them and leaned his hard muscled body against it. Unless there was another door, that left the balcony as her only escape route. Not good.
She took a few steps into the room. Sean sat on what she supposed passed for a chair on this ship. It looked like a cross between a padded bench and an ocean wave. She’d seen several of them scattered around the public areas. They seemed to be popular places for engaging in sexual activity. He hadn’t changed out of the turquoise shorts all the crew wore. For the first time she registered that Drew wore the same outfit.
“What do you want?” she addressed Sean, but they all knew it was meant for both of them.
“We want to know why you’re here.”
“Are you in charge of the Lothario?” Business. If she could keep the conversation focused on business, she might survive it.
“I’m in charge of making sure we have enough radishes to sculpt. Drew is in charge of security.”
“Don’t forget chocolate. You’re in charge of that, too,” Drew added from his place guarding the door.
Sean’s eyes darted to hers and held her captive for a brief moment. She didn’t have a clue what he’d meant by his radish remark, but it was clear from Sean’s expression about the chocolate remark reminded him of something else, something that happened long ago. She’d never forget the evening she’d surprised him with the chocolate sauce. He’d allowed her to coat his cock and balls with the creamy sauce, then she’d licked it all off, and then he’d returned the favor.
She held his gaze, acknowledging the shared memory.
“What is it about sex and chocolate anyway?” Sean asked, no he purred, like a big, dangerous cat.
“I’m sure I don’t have a clue.” She tore her gaze away, focused on a sculpture over his shoulder. The artist captured every detail of a couple in a coital embrace. With a disgusted huff, she returned her gaze to Sean. “If you two are in charge, then I’ll have to deal with you. I work for the FBI now. There’s been a specific threat against the Lothario. I’m here to see if we can prevent it.”
Neither man moved. Sean spoke. “You’re with the FBI? Are you serious?”
“You have something against the FBI?” Who the hell did he think he was?
His eyes darted past her to Drew, then back to her. “Never mind. Tell us about the threat, and why we weren’t told about this earlier. We could have brought on additional security in Miami if we’d known.”
“The threat was specific to this ship, but beyond that we have no idea what they’re planning.”
“Who is they?”
“PEN—Preserve Earth Now. They’re an eco-terrorist faction known for their radical stunts to draw attention to their cause.” She relaxed a little. This was her job, her comfort zone. She held the reins, could control the situation.
“I’ve heard of them,” Drew said. “Why a cruise ship? Don’t they usually go after car dealerships and ski lodges?”
She turned so she could see both men. Having one in front and one in back brought back too many memories, the kind she didn’t need in the middle of a serious business discussion.
“That’s been their M.O. for the last few years. However, they’ve gotten on the bandwagon about ballast water. Word is they want to draw attention to the problem.”
“And you have no idea how they plan to do it?” Leave it to Drew to find the fly in the soup.
“Unfortunately, that is correct. All we know is they’ve selected the Lothario for their first stand.”
“Why weren’t we notified?” Sean. All business. Analyzing. Calculating. Assessing.
“We only found out yesterday. My associate and I were booked on this cruise within hours of sailing. Consider yourself notified.”
“Your associate?” Drew questioned.
“Bree Stanton. Cabin 5250.”
“Redhead? About five foot six?”
She turned to Drew. “Yes. You know her?”
“You could say that.”
Celeste was all too afraid she knew what he meant. Drew was in many ways the archetypical sailor.
“You and your associate can relax and enjoy your vacation, courtesy of Uncle Sam. Drew and I will take care of this.”
At the sound of Sean’s voice, she turned to face him. She knew as soon as he said he was in charge that he meant it literally.
“What exactly do you mean by that? If you think I’m going to buy into the theme of this ship while you do your spook thing, you have another think coming.” She wasn’t ready to relinquish her
duties to a couple of former spooks, even if they were more than that to her.
Sean’s eyes darted to Drew again, and then came to rest on her. Premonition tingled along her nape and shivered down her spine. They were up to something, and she’d bet her best vibrator, the lifelike one that reminded her of Sean, that she wasn’t going to like it.
She was right.
“You owe us a decision.”
Just like that, the conversation shifted from business to personal.
“You just heard my decision.” She made one last attempt to grab the wheel and regain control before the mutiny was successful.
“Don’t act as if you don’t understand, Celeste. The business decision has been made. Drew is in charge of security. The decision we want is a personal one.”
Querido Dios. Her heart lurched and sank to her toes like an anchor. Five years ago, he’d asked for a decision, the same one she was sure he was going to demand now. She made the only decision possible then, she’d run away. Apparently, all she’d done was postpone the inevitable.
“You can’t be serious.” The words were barely a whisper.
“He is.” Drew’s soft voice came from a spot not a foot behind her. He’d moved without her noticing. Both of them were capable of moving like ghosts, hardly disturbing the air around them. For a spy it was a good trait, but in a civilian, it was unnerving.
“Don’t get in a snit. You don’t have to decide today.” Sean said it as if it was perfectly logical, when they all knew there was nothing logical about this.
“Well, that’s good.” Stall. Her mind whirled with possible escape scenarios. Short of jumping ship though, she couldn’t come up with a single one.
“You ran away five years ago so you wouldn’t have to decide between us. The way we figure it, you have a whole week, well six days if you don’t count the day we dock. We’re reasonable men. We know you need current information in order to make a decision, so this is what we’re going to do.”
Celeste folded her arms across her chest and locked her knees. As long as the ship didn’t make any sudden moves, she might remain upright. Sean’s face gave away none of the emotion she knew lurked beneath the surface. She’d hurt him when she left without explanation. He didn’t have to tell her that.
“You get to spend two days with each of us, alternating. We’ll toss a coin to see who goes first. That’s only fair, don’t you think?”
She couldn’t think. Too much information. Too many feelings. Too many memories. Too many needs. She hovered on the edge of something. Something dangerous and seductive.
“Uh.”
“Good, you agree.”
“Wait!” She found her voice, and a small portion of her brain began to function. “That’s only four days. What about the other two days?” She couldn’t believe she asked that when she should have been raging at the two of them for their macho, high-handed, lunatic plan.
“The fifth day is shore day. We’ll spend it together, the three of us.”
Her mind and body flashed to another time they’d spent together. They’d believed it was the end, but it had turned out only to be the beginning of the end. The end had been a long time coming, but she could see it clearly now, six days away.
“On the sixth day, we expect you to choose. Neither one of us is willing to let you walk out of our lives again.”
Her knees shook, and her hands were clammy. “What if I don’t want either one of you? It’s been five years. Maybe my feelings have changed.” Like hell, they have.
“They haven’t.” Drew’s breath fanned across her nape. When had he gotten that close? Damn. This wasn’t good. Not good at all.
“You want one of us, or both, right now.” Sean had always been observant, and blunt. “I can see it in your eyes.” He inhaled deeply. “Your body betrays you.”
Merde.
“Let’s flip a coin and see who gets her first.” Drew stepped between her and Sean. He pulled a coin from his pocket and turned it so she could see it had two distinct sides. Neither one of them were cheaters. Small consolation.
“Heads, I get her. Tails, you do.”
Sean nodded his agreement. Drew flipped the coin in the air and caught it as it spun downward on its invisible axis.
Celeste watched in fascinated horror as the two men she loved flipped a coin for her as if she was a carnival prize. Drew’s hand closed over the coin, and she jumped as he slapped it on the back of his outstretched arm. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. One by one, Drew peeled his fingers away. Then he lifted his hand to reveal the coin, gleaming silver against his sun-bronzed skin. Sean sat forward, and Drew leaned toward him.
Drew scowled.
Sean grinned.
It took less than a few seconds, but it seemed her life passed before her eyes. God help her. They were right. She did want this.
“You’re mine tonight.” Sean stood for the first time since she’d arrived. Her feet were braced against the pitch and roll of the ship, but they should have moved when she told them too. Instead, she remained rooted to the spot as Sean closed the distance between them.
Her eyes locked on his chest as he loomed over her. In her peripheral vision, she saw Drew take a step back, but he didn’t leave.
One strong hand closed over her shoulder. The other fisted under her chin and forced her face up to his. She stared, wide-eyed as Sean lowered his lips to hers.
Chapter Three
She had to be in shock. It was the only explanation for her mute acceptance of their plan. After kissing her senseless—well, she’d already been senseless, Sean turned her around and marched her to the door, and through it. Seconds passed while she stood outside the cabin, dazed, confused and aroused.
Her feet began to move then, carrying her to her cabin—she hoped. In truth, she didn’t have a clue where she was going. Away. Away from Sean and Drew. She’d done it before, but this time, she had no place to go.
* * * * *
“We need some rules.”
“Isn’t it a little late for that?” Drew crossed to the kitchen, separated from the rest of the suite by a high, black granite bar. He needed a drink.
“No. I don’t think so.”
Drew searched the kitchen for a serious drink. He settled for coffee. “What do you have in mind?”
“A day is one twenty-four hour period. Mine begins when we finish this discussion. Your first day begins tomorrow at the same time. We alternate days until Friday. Friday is shore day, so we can spend time with her off the ship, together. No one-on-one time on Friday. Saturday night is the costume party. We get an answer then. Whatever she decides, we abide by.”
“What if she decides to walk away again?”
“We abide by anything, except that.”
“Agreed. Anything else?”
“No touching her during the opposition’s allotted time.”
“Does that mean I can talk to her, or anything else, as long as I don’t touch her during your twenty-four hours?”
“Yes. I think that’s fair. After all, we do still have to consider this eco-terrorist thing. Damn, Drew. Why didn’t we know she’d gone to the FBI?”
Drew leaned one hip against the counter and sipped his coffee. “We didn’t want to know? Either one of us could have tracked her down. It wouldn’t have taken more than a few minutes of our time.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I don’t know. I guess I didn’t think I had a right to. You were living with her at the time.”
“I should have gone after her, but. . . . ”
“You were too big of an ass to admit you were wrong?”
“No. I wasn’t wrong. We both deserved an answer, and you know it. That’s why you’re going along with this now. You may be sleeping with half the women onboard this ship, but you still love Celeste.”
“So do you. Let’s not forget that.”
“I’m not likely to forget. Now go see what you can find out about this eco-terrorist group. W
e’re eating away at my time with Celeste.”
* * * * *
A cabin steward brought the note, a brief command to be ready to go to dinner at a specific time. Typical of Sean. No negotiation. No consideration of what she might want. But then again, he knew what she wanted, especially in the bedroom.
She showered and pulled on the evening wear provided by the ship. It took all of three seconds to fasten the silk sarong in place, and slip her feet into the spa-style sandals that came with it. She’d never been one to use much makeup, so she was ready long before Sean’s scheduled arrival. He’d be on time. He always was.
Having the extra time wasn’t wise. She had too much time to think about what she was doing, the sheer stupidity of it. If she hadn’t been able to decide between the two men five years ago, how was she supposed to decide now? They led different lives now. They’d moved on.
The thought stopped her in her tracks. Had they moved on? She certainly hadn’t. Sure, she’d moved, to another job, another city, but moved on? No. Not by a long shot. There had been other men, but none of them had lived up to her standards. Standards set by Sean, and Drew too.
Could they pick up where they’d left off? It hadn’t been such a good place to leave off. There had been lots of anger and hurt those last few weeks, right after they’d returned to the States. That last mission had changed everything between the three of them.
Celeste slid the glass door to one side and stepped onto the small balcony. The stiff salt breeze caught her hair and swirled it around her face. She caught it in one fist and held it to one side as she leaned against the railing. The last mission they’d served on had nearly gotten them killed, and in the process, it had killed her relationship with Sean, or at least changed it beyond recognition.