Luck is a Lady

by CJ England

  "Take all of me,” he grunted using her own trick and grinding his hips against her. She cried out again and clutched at his shoulder, leaving marks behind to show her passion.

  He moved against her. Lightning and fire shot though her as his cock rubbed at her clit. The feeling was so intense; it was a pleasure-pain. “Justin!"

  "You're mine,” he growled as he pulled all the way out and then plunged back in again. “All mine."

  Lara moaned.

  "Say it,” he said fiercely, not even knowing why he wanted her to.

  "Yours,” she screamed, as he buried himself in her again. Her body imploded in hot white light as she surrendered to the fire he had wrought in her.

  The feel of her yoni clenching down on his own swollen cock sent Justin into his own climax. His head exploded with pleasure and he shouted her name again as she milked him dry. He thrust against her mindlessly, his own spasms reflecting hers, as he filled her with his hot seed.

  Afterwards, they both lay half unconscious, as their bodies shook from the aftermath of a passion so strong, neither of them could speak. Finally, Justin raised his head and kissed her lips. She sighed and snuggled against him and he smiled.

  Everything would be fine now. She had true feelings for him, he could tell. If he was lucky, they would grow into love. He refused to consider how he was feeling. The warmth and possessiveness was just because he hadn't been with a woman in a long time and God knows, Lara was an exceptional woman.

  She bit his chin and he felt his pulse leap again. He'd make sure this was a night they would both remember. He grinned inwardly. It was a good thing he was dead. He had a feeling if he wasn't, she'd kill him. He wasn't sure about this whole curse thing, but he had until Halloween night, and he was going to take advantage of every minute with Lara.

  And until then he had her eating out of his hand. Once again, he would be in control of The Lucky Lady. This would be a piece of cake.

  Chapter Six

  "You're what?"

  Lara blinked as he roared the words at her. She wondered if her hair had blown back from the force of his anger. “I said, we are going to have a Halloween Party as a grand opening promotion."

  She turned to face the employees and smiled, hoping Justin would calm down. “As you know we are going to have a special ‘Crew Night’ on Sunday, the twenty ninth, to celebrate all our hard work. We will take The Lucky Lady out on a test run and have a party at the same time."

  The room erupted in cheers. Laughing, Lara held up her hands. “You all deserve it. But then it's back to work. On the thirty first—Halloween—we will set sail on our first real cruise and we will promote it with a Halloween Bash."

  "Oh, no you're not!"

  Lara flicked a look at the furious man standing next to her. She spoke through gritted teeth in the semblance of a smile. “Not now, Justin. I'm talking to the crew."

  "Then tell them you made a mistake. My ship will not host another Halloween Party."

  Forgetting herself, she turned to him. “Your ship? We've been through this before!"

  He growled down at her. “It was my ship and always will be. I will not allow this ... this ridiculous event."

  Now Lara's temper was sparked. “Not ... allow?"

  Justin knew he was pushing too hard, but he couldn't help it. So much for controlling her. “I am the captain of this vessel! And I say no Halloween Party!"

  "You have no right to give me orders!"

  "I have every right,” he roared again. “I am not only the captain, I'm your lover!"

  Lara went beet red as she remembered the crew. She was thankful for the first time they couldn't see or hear Justin. Glancing at them, she saw they were all staring at her with that same stupefied look on their faces. They thought she'd lost it again.

  Turning her back on the angry man, she spoke to her crew. “It's going to be very busy over the next few days. We have less than a week to put it all together. I'm happy to listen to any ideas or suggestions. Just leave a note on my desk."

  She took a deep breath, knowing her next words would further infuriate Justin. “I think the Halloween idea is a fantastic one and will draw in a big crowd. We have to get our name out and this holiday is a good way to start. Stan and I are getting together all the particulars and we will be posting them as soon as we have everything finalized. I am looking for a sold out crowd for Halloween, so talk it up amongst your friends."

  "Should we wear costumes?” Tim asked.

  Lara nodded. “Yes. If you are scheduled to work that night, then a costume is mandatory. If you want to dress like they did back when the Lady was on the river, that's cool too."

  "You can't be serious,” Justin growled. “Tell them you made a mistake. There will be no party."

  "I won't,” she whispered back at him. “Everything I said, stands."

  "You can't do this!"

  "Watch me!"

  Angrier than he'd ever been, Justin jerked her around to face him. “Don't do this Lara. If you do, you will be sorry."

  She pulled herself away from his hard hands, wondering what the crew thought of her gyrations. “What are you going to do, Justin?” she said angrily. “Scare everyone? That would just add to the ambiance."

  He ground his teeth together angrily. “I will not allow this to happen. I will sabotage every machine on this ship before I let you have this party."

  Lara stepped away from him in shock. Again she forgot the watching audience. “You would destroy all the hard work we've done? Just because you don't like parties? Are you crazy?"

  Grabbing her by the shoulders, he gave her a little shake. “I'm not crazy. I have my reasons, woman. Do not refuse me, or I will destroy everything. This I swear."

  "Then tell me why, damn it. You're not making any sense."

  Justin thought of the last Halloween party he'd been to and shuddered. “You will have to take my word for it. Abandon the idea. Now!"

  Tears sparkled in Lara's eyes as she looked up at him. So much for their truce. It had lasted just long enough for her to fall in love with him, but it was obvious The Lucky Lady and it's past meant more to him than she did. For a brief moment she wondered if this was how Bridget had felt.

  "Lara! Tell them."

  Sudden fury filled her. She was sick and tired of having everyone else tell her what to do. She pushed him hard on the chest. “How dare you! How dare you tell me how to run my boat! If I wanted to, I could dry dock this ship and you'd never sail on her again. What do you think about that, Captain?"

  "Lara ... I—"

  "Or,” she said as her temper got the best of her. “I could burn her to the ground and collect the insurance money. Then where would you be? Stuck in limbo somewhere?” She poked a finger into his hard chest. “I swear to you, if you touch one bolt on her, I will do it just to spite you. Who's the boss now, Justin?"

  Justin froze in the act of reaching for her. He stared at her for a moment before his eyes misted over in rage. When he spoke his voice was filled with icy fury.

  "You would do that, wouldn't you?” He stepped back and wiped her touch away as if it were poison. “You are just like Bridget, destroying everything and everyone you touch. You disgust me."

  Lara's face went paper white at his words. Her dark eyes searched his as they filled with tears. She'd just been mouthing off in temper, but Justin looked like he meant every word. How could she have fallen in love with a man who thought so badly of her? Sickness crawled up her throat and she bolted past him, grabbing her purse off the table. She had to get out of there.

  Justin swore loudly as she ran through the main door. He chased after her, calling her name, but it did no good. By the time he got to the gangplank, she was off the ship. And he couldn't follow her there. He watched helplessly as she climbed into her car and peeled out of the driveway.

  "Damn it,” he swore again.

  "I guess so,” came the mocking answer. “It's no wonder you haven't gotten laid in a hundred years.

&nbs
p; He turned swiftly to see Diana staring at him. “That mouth of yours is going get you into trouble."

  She laughed. “And yours doesn't?"

  He gave a growl of irritation. “She makes me angry."

  Diana laughed again. “You returned the favor."

  Justin stuck his hands in his pants pockets. “She can't have a Halloween Party. I don't want to go through it again."

  "You really are an idiot,” Diana said fondly. She smiled at his look of affront. “My God, Justin. We all despise Bridget for what she did, but you've taken it to an art form.” She shook her head at his confused look.

  "It wasn't the party that cursed us. It was the woman. Having a party now won't hurt. It could actually be fun and draw the people in. Just like your Lara needs."

  "I hate Halloween."

  Diana rolled her eyes. “It's just a holiday. You're letting Bridget win by acting like such a fool. And you didn't help the situation by refusing to tell her the reason. Or by telling her she was like that bitch."

  Justin flinched as he remembered his harsh words. “I didn't mean it."

  "She thinks you do,” Diana pointed out. “You hurt her."

  Guilt curled greasily in his stomach. “I lost my temper."

  "I'm sure she did too. But you aren't going to make any headway beating the curse if you keep acting like an idiot."

  "Enough,” he growled. “I will make it up to her."

  "I sure hope so,” the singer said as she faded from sight. “As much as you hate Halloween, I hate this boat."

  * * * *

  Where was she? Justin paced the deck as he glanced up at the moon. Other than giving the other Ethereals the information about the upcoming Halloween party, he'd been here all night waiting for Lara. But it was almost three in the morning and there was still no sign of her.

  He stared down the darkened street, willing her to appear. He'd have something to say to her, all right. She had no right to worry him like this, just because they'd had a difference of opinion. He had decided to forgive her for the crack about burning the boat down. He knew it was a heat of the moment remark. But she should damn well know what he'd said was too! Even if it had been a little personal.

  His head jerked up when a set of headlights could be seen, but he gave a growl as they continued past the small parking lot. If she didn't get back soon ... He stomped to the bow railing and stared out into the open channel. The silvery moonlight reflecting off the small swells made the water shimmer.

  He pounded his fist on the railing. What if something had happened to her? She'd been so upset. Maybe she'd wrecked that car of hers. He never really trusted those things. They were still so foreign to him. Worry, anger and fear all churned in his stomach. If only he could leave the ship. He was sure he could find her. But he was stuck on board The Lucky Lady. For the first time in one hundred years, the curse was intolerable.

  More headlights flashed and this time he gave a growl of satisfaction as he saw them stop in the parking lot. He paced to the top of the gangplank and watched as Lara climbed slowly out of her car. She stumbled as she walked, shaking her head dizzily. Fury filled him again as she came into the light.

  Her makeup was smudged and her clothes were awry. It even looked like she was missing a shoe. Her blouse was covered in dirt and her long hair was messy and pulled out of its braid. Justin ground his teeth. All this time, he'd been worried and she'd been out carousing with another man.

  Lara weaved up the steps of the gangplank, happy to be home. What a night. The fight with Justin had just been the beginning. Now all she wanted was a hot shower and bed. She'd deal with everything else ... later.

  "Have fun?"

  Justin's deep rough voice came out of the dark and she jumped. Clutching her hand to her breast, she glared up at him. “Damn it. I wish you'd stop that."

  He sneered down at her. “It is still my ship. I can go wherever I want."

  Lara closed her eyes. “I'm tired, Justin. Can we fight about this in the morning?"

  With a hiss, he slid his hand into her hair and pulled her head back. “You dare dismiss me? You spend the night with another man, coming back filthy and smelling of drink, and you think you can just walk away?"

  Her eyes popped open. “What? What are you talking about?"

  He gave her a hard shake that made her teeth rattle. “You belong to me ... remember?” Giving in to his anger, he pressed his lips against hers in a bruising kiss. She squirmed beneath him unable to get away from his devastating mouth. He pulled her closer to him, wanting to hurt her as much as he was hurting inside at the thought she'd been with someone else. He'd show her who the master was here.

  Finally she was able to tear her mouth away. She pressed a shaky hand to her now swollen lips. “What is wrong with you?"

  "You ask me that when you are out whoring with another man?” he roared at her.

  Her head pounding, she pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes. “I don't believe this. I don't fucking believe this.” She moved her hands and stared up at him and he was taken aback by the naked fury in her face.

  "I don't have to explain myself to you, you ... stupid jerk! Not after what you said to me earlier."

  "You will explain this!” he shouted as he grabbed at her tousled shirt. “You didn't even bother to hide your actions from me."

  Lara's eyes narrowed. “You want to know where I've been and what I've been doing?” she spat at him.

  "Tell me!"

  Pushing past him, she made her way to the bow and leaned over the railing trying to calm herself. Again she asked herself; why had she fallen in love with this jerk? He was arrogant and controlling and downright hateful at times.

  "I'm waiting."

  Her eyes sparkled angrily. Add impatient to that list too. “I went for a drink."

  "That much I can smell on you!"

  "I swear I'm gonna push you in the water if you don't shut up,” she shouted. Whirling around, she faced him. “I found this neat little club down in Cocoa Beach called Coconuts. It has an outside bar that overlooks the ocean. I had a couple of drinks."

  "More than a couple."

  "Shut up!"

  He snarled at her but went silent.

  "Got hit on a couple of times too, but I turned them both down.” She sniffed. “After your attitude earlier, I wasn't in the mood for masculine company. So I went for a walk on the beach. I wanted to clear my head."

  "For nine fucking hours?"

  Her eyes narrowed at him. “I can walk on a beach as long as I want. You aren't the boss of me just because we slept together! And no, it was only for a few hours. For your information, I got in my car to go home about eleven."

  Justin knew his head was going to blow off he was so angry. “It takes you four hours to drive back from this Cocoa place? I don't think so."

  She shook her head wearily. “I don't know why you're so worried about it."

  "By your own words, you belong to me."

  She shrugged her shoulders. “You ended that when you told me I was just like the woman you hate most in this world."

  "I was angry. You know I didn't mean it.” He grabbed her shoulders again. “Now tell me where you were?"

  Tired tears filled her eyes and spilled over. “On the way home, I was driving along this stretch of road on the coast. I got a flat. I had to fix it."

  Justin went still. “It doesn't take that long to fix a flat tire, does it?"

  Lara wiped at the tears. “No, but it does take that long to find an all night vet."

  He gaped at her. “What? Why?"

  She almost laughed. If she hadn't been so tired and hurt, his incredulous face would have been funny.

  "When I was fixing the tire, I heard this sound coming from the side of the road. I found a kitten. Its leg was crushed. It had obviously been hit by a car and left for dead. I had to get it some help, so I tracked down a vet."

  She sighed. “I spent the last few hours in the waiting room of the clinic. I wanted to s
ee if she would be okay or not."

  Justin stared down at her. “You've been with a cat?"

  She nodded.

  "Christ, Jesus,” he muttered. Guilt burned his stomach. When was he going to stop thinking the worst of her? He was exactly what she'd called him. A stupid jerk. Worse, he was an untrusting stupid jerk. Then he remembered the stink of alcohol on her. What about that?

  As if she'd heard him, she turned away. “I want to take a shower. I'm tired and I smell. Can we finish this in the morning?"

  He looked down at her shadowed eyes. They still weren't done, but now he had an overwhelming need to take care of her. To make up for his ugly behavior of before. Without asking for permission, he swept her up in his arms.

  "What...?"

  "Hush, sweetheart,” he murmured. He headed for the doors and it was just at the last minute he realized he couldn't go through them like an Ethereal would. Pushing them open, he walked through the shining casino and down the short passage to her small stateroom. He carried her into the bathroom and turned on the hot water.

  "Justin, you don't need to do this."

  Bending down, he covered her mouth with his in a deep kiss. “I know, but I want to. Let me take care of you. It's the least I can do for being such a fool. I am so sorry, Lara."

  She was so tired she didn't have the strength or the heart to say no. When he was treating her so sweetly, she was putty in his hands. She was unmoving as he efficiently stripped off her clothing and then his own, lifting her into the small cubicle.

  She giggled as they shuffled around, trying to get situated. “You are too big. Only one of us really fits in here."

  His eyes glinted. “Then I guess we better fix that."

  Confused, she looked up at him. “How?"

  Gently, he ran his hands over her, covering her with the jasmine scented soap she loved. She leaned into his hands, enjoying the warmth and strength of him as he washed her.

  "Feels good,” she murmured.

  "It will feel better in a moment."