by Lori Foster
She placed her hand over his mouth to silence him, but he kissed the center of her palm, ending with a flick of his tongue. Singed, she snatched her hand away quickly, shocked by his carnal intimacy. The feeling of his slick tongue jolted every nerve ending in her body and electrified her with unbearable craving.
“Stop. We can’t let this happen. Not now.” She was frantic to hold onto her willpower, but his wicked, provocative caresses held her spellbound.
His hand cupped her chin, holding her face still as his eyes bored into hers with blatant intent. “Look at me.”
“No, I can’t.” She squeezed her eyes shut to block out the naked desire in his eyes, the savage tension brutally etched on his mouth. “Just hold me and let me enjoy your closeness … just for one night.” Her body ached and it was difficult to breathe, but if she allowed him just one kiss, she wouldn’t be able to hold back the emotions she’d been fighting to keep in tight check. The sheer intensity of her need for him rocked her equilibrium, shocking her profoundly.
He didn’t answer her plea but honored her request by holding her securely against his powerful body without attempting to kiss her. Her head lay pressed against his solid chest as she heard the loud thump of his heart matching her own.
Silence enveloped them as the night air bathed their heated bodies in dew. Much later, they fell asleep with Sofia’s head cradled on James’s chest and his large hand possessively resting on her hip.
CHAPTER 6
James opened his eyes and squinted at a glaring yellow sun. He felt inordinately warm as he kicked at a sheet covering his legs. Peering down at his prone body, he realized with a start that he’d fallen asleep on the chaise lounge wearing the toga. He glanced at his watch. Six-thirty A.M.
Where was Sofia? Erotic thoughts of the sultry Latin beauty helped him shake off the remaining sleepiness. Last night, every time he’d gazed into her exotic dark eyes he had burned with a primitive need to make love to her. He had wanted to bare her delectable curves and kiss her naked flesh in the moonlight, to make love to her until she was clinging to him, writhing against his body in ecstasy.
His hands clenched into frustrated fists. Lately he had felt like a hormone-crazed teenager, lusting after Sofia in a loaded constant state of arousal. He had never been so violently attracted to a woman he’d known for such a short time. How was he going to get through another day playing the gentleman when all he wanted to do was bring her to peak after unbridled peak of excitement until she screamed with the pleasure of her release?
It had been pure torture when she’d fallen asleep beside him. He hadn’t even gotten a chance to kiss her sumptuous mouth, to feel the softness of her full lips and savor her delicious taste. Yet he’d been stone hard most of the evening, ready to go off like a rocket. He had held her velvety body in his arms, dangerously close to orgasm, yet unable to slake his lust. His sex stirred and thickened just imagining how her baby-soft skin would feel to his lips. Last night, he’d had to honor her request by simply holding her when his raw frustration grew more volatile by the moment. Like a rigid statue, he’d forced himself to lie there with her sweet-smelling body in his arms, his self-control nearly annihilated.
Sofia had been so sincere and tender in the way she had talked about his dad that James no longer saw her as a gold digger. She was at a vulnerable low point in her life and was probably looking for some sort of security, but it couldn’t be with Dad. James no longer worried that she was only after Dad’s money. Her wide brown eyes had been so earnest; he’d been hard pressed not to believe her.
It was glaringly obvious that she shouldn’t marry Dad. James’s original intent had been to seduce her with swift, ruthless purpose, providing the evidence of her moral weakness so Dad would change his mind about her. But after hearing her soul-baring confession about being fired, he had believed every word. A fierce need to protect her from further hurt had blinded him to the initial reason he’d planned to seduce her. Hell, he’d been so incensed over what Dr. Fernandez had done to her that he would have relished beating up the loser.
They had talked volumes about so many subjects and shared so much of their inner selves last night that he felt he knew her well. Sofia must have realized that she had much more in common with him than Dad. It wasn’t just the age difference; it was a generation thing. She was young and into experiencing new adventures; Dad had already experienced enough. Dad was a helluva lot more interested in bridge and golf than rock climbing and climbing the Ocho Rios waterfalls. James was damned sure about it!
He stretched, amazed at how revived he felt after sleeping on the plastic chair. Normally he was a bit of an insomniac, and he didn’t usually sleep more than four or five hours at night. He couldn’t believe how deep his slumber had been once he’d finally fallen asleep. It must have been the hypnotic effect of holding Sofia’s warm, luscious body in his arms. Intoxicating.
Prompted by a rampant need to drive some sense into her thick little skull, he rose from the chair. With decisive intent, he hurried inside to get to his room quickly, before the other passengers saw him dressed in the toga. Once he showered, he would look for Sofia on the deck during her morning jog and they would have that talk.
When he got off the elevator on his floor, a steward intercepted him.
“Excuse me, Mr. Connor,” the smiling young man said.
“Yes,” James replied, noting that the steward seemed amused that he was still dressed in the ridiculous toga.
“The flowers you ordered for your wedding have already been set up in the captain’s quarters.”
“Did you just say wed—” James stopped himself just in time. “Ah, yes. The wedding flowers,” he said, recovering immediately. “Very good. What time will the ceremony be? The captain said he’d confirm it to me today.”
“Four o’clock this afternoon,” the steward replied, giving James an odd look.
“Yes, that’s what he mentioned. Thanks.” James hurried toward his cabin before the steward realized he’d given the wrong Mr. Connor a choice bit of information.
There was only one thing James could do now if he ever hoped to hold his head up. He had to come clean with Dad and confess his feelings for Sofia. He couldn’t live with himself knowing that every time he looked at his father’s new bride, he’d be lusting after her. It wasn’t just her lush body he coveted; it was all of her. He loved her honesty and kindness, her big heart and toughness of spirit, the way her dark, luminous eyes twinkled with mischief, and the way her radiant smile illuminated her lively face. He was drawn to her uninhibited dancing and how she relished experiencing new adventures. All of this had shone through last night when she had dropped her defenses and shared her innermost feelings.
James had never admitted to anyone just how much he regretted the fact that he would never have children. Yet he’d shared this weakness with Sofia and she had simply gazed at him with a haunted look in those big brown eyes. Her eyes had turned sad as she’d held his cheek with her soft hand and assured him that not all marriages ended in divorce.
Surely she wasn’t planning on a family with a seventy-year-old man. The thought was disturbing. It wouldn’t be fair to a baby to have a father who was a senior citizen. Didn’t she realize that by agreeing to marry Dad she had denied herself the joy of having children? And, damn it, hadn’t she told him that she adored babies? The only baby James wanted her to have was his. Period.
In a stunning revelation, he realized that he wouldn’t breathe a calm breath until he made Sofia his woman, and that meant only one thing. God, the staggering realization nearly sent him to his knees! Not once in his thirty years had he been tempted by the thought of marriage. But now all he could think about was not letting Sofia slip through his fingers. His need for her was so pressing, so violent, that he wouldn’t rest until he made her his wife. He had to find her and tell her before it was too late.
But first he had to go to Dad and put his heart on the line. He had originally set out to seduce Sofia, but
instead, he’d fallen in love. He’d have to confess all of it to Dad, then ask for his forgiveness. He could only pray that one day his father would find it in his heart to understand and forgive him. The thought of hurting Dad made James feel like the worst heel on earth and he would have done anything in his power to avoid it, but there was no other way.
Deep in his gut, James knew what he had to do. He only hoped he could stop Dad and Sofia before they made a huge mistake.
CHAPTER 7
Seated in a chair in Daniel’s cabin, Sofia faced the dear couple with sad news. “I can’t go on living this lie. I have to own up to the truth with James. I’m so sorry.”
“We know it’s been hard on you, Sofia,” Daniel said with gruff fondness. “But it will be over very soon.”
“I never intended for this to happen, but it was beyond my power.” Sofia’s voice rose in anguish. “Don’t you see that I’ve fallen in love with your son?”
Daniel squeezed her hand. “Yes, and I couldn’t be more delighted. I think that James feels the same way about you.”
Sofia’s stomach twisted. “He won’t when he finds out the truth. If I don’t go to him right away and confess, he’ll never forgive me.”
“Of course he will, dear. James is a lawyer; he’ll listen to your explanations before making judgments.” Daniel smiled. “Besides, this is a good thing for him. It leaves you available for him to pursue.”
“I can’t help but be worried about his reaction,” Sophia fretted.
“Can’t you hold off just a little longer, until this afternoon?” Daniel asked.
“Sí, mijita. Please wait until the captain marries us,” Lucita pleaded. “Then you can tell James the whole truth and we’ll be happy to explain that we were behind the scheme all the time.”
Sofia shook her head. James’s pride would be wounded and he’d never believe another word she said. “He’s going to hate me for the deception, the lies … He’ll feel like I made a fool out of him!” she cried.
“No, I won’t!” James boomed, entering the room, to Sofia’s profound shock.
“Good God, have you been lurking behind the door, eavesdropping?” Daniel demanded, his face reddening with outrage.
“These walls are like paper. I heard every word,” James said, grinning with unrepentant male arrogance.
In speechless shock, Sofia’s mouth dropped open. How could he be cheerful after hearing everything?
“Well, I’ll be damned, Dad,” James said, shaking his head with amused merriment. “You and Lucita … I couldn’t be happier.”
“I thought you never wanted your father to remarry,” Sofia muttered, narrowing her eyes at him with mounting suspicion.
“Yes, but that’s because I thought he was going to marry a sweet young thing like you, honey.” He nodded at Daniel. “I heartily approve of you marrying Lucita. She’s mature and lovely and shares your interests. I can’t imagine a woman more suited to be your wife, Dad.”
“Well, that’s a relief,” Tia Lucita chortled, giving James’s hand an affectionate squeeze. “I’m looking forward to being your father’s wife.”
James chuckled wryly when he next spoke, although he made a deeply disturbing confession. “It looks like we were operating on our own agendas independently.” Sofia heard a low rumble of mirth in his chest. He turned to Lucita and smacked his forehead as if he’d just figured something out. “To think I set out to romance your niece just to show Dad that she was all wrong for him! At least Sofia showed me she has an iron core beneath the softness. Much as I tried to tempt her, she didn’t allow me to seduce her.”
Sofia felt as if James had just given her face an openhanded slap. Feeling vulnerable and terribly exposed, she burned with humiliation. In paralyzed horror, she stared at the three people before her, her pride shattered.
Daniel’s face reddened in outrage. Lucita patted Daniel’s arm as if to say, “Let them work it out.” And James, damn his arrogant hide, grinned at her, entirely too pleased with himself.
“How dare you!” Sofia shrieked at James before dashing out of the room in a frenzy of shame.
James ran after her and caught up with her in a heartbeat. Pulling her against his strong chest, he kissed her long and hard, his mouth crushing hers with unrelenting passion. She struggled to get away from him, but he picked her up and carried her toward his cabin. Flinging the door open, he carried her inside and set her on her feet.
She reached up to slap him, but he caught her hand and turned it over, palm upward. His hot, hungry eyes never left her face as he kissed the center of her sensitive palm, sending a current of lust shooting through her quaking body. “What are you trying to do to me?” she cried, pulling her hand away from his moist, warm lips. James’s firm mouth softened sensually and she watched the savage passion in his eyes become tempered with a look of tenderness. “I’m showing you how much I love you, Sofia. Give me a chance.”
“You’re hateful!” How could he stand there and profess to love her when he had just confessed his hidden agenda in front of his dad and Tia Lucita? “You’re no better than my ex-boyfriend Manny who cheated on me, then tried to force me into forgiving him.”
“I’m nothing like your ex-boyfriend and I’d never cheat on you, Sofia. I love you,” he repeated, this time more forcefully.
She put her hands over her ears in a futile gesture of denial. “You only say that because I was the forbidden object of your desire, something unattainable … a challenge. Well, now you know the truth about Lucita and Daniel, so you don’t have to seduce me to prove what a money-grabbing floozy I am!” She grabbed the door handle and twisted it. “I’m leaving. I never want to see you again!”
“Stop it,” he ordered quietly, removing her hand from the handle. With firm gentleness he held it prisoner in his strong grip. “Hear me out.”
Her mind told her to walk out on him and show him just how despicable she thought he was, but her heart won out. Deep inside she wanted to give him a chance to redeem himself so she could resume respecting him as much as she had before he revealed his cruel motives for seduction.
She tugged at her hand, but he wouldn’t let go. Fuming, she looked at her watch. “You have five minutes to convince me that you’re not the lowest rat on earth,” she said, thrusting her chin out in a deliberate challenge.
Not taking his eyes from hers, he clasped her other hand and joined it with the one in his hands. His eyes turned the bluest shade she’d seen, their depths so filled with longing that she was almost moved to tears.
“I want to marry you.” It was said simply, implacably, as if he’d wanted it all his life.
“Marry you?” Sofia froze before him, her body rigid with disbelief. This coming from a cynical man who disdained marriage, a man who would do anything to stop his father from committing the mistake of getting wed! She collected her wits and pulled her hands out of his grasp. “I’d sooner marry a skunk; at least his stripe would warn me of the stink.”
“Sofia,” he warned, his tone deepening with impatience. “You forget that the three of you have been playing me for a fool this past week. I should be furious with you.”
She felt her heart thud against her chest with a loud thump. “I know.” She lowered her gaze to the floor, to hide the nagging guilt that plagued her.
He tilted her chin up and met her gaze evenly as his sharp tone gentled to a tantalizing drawl. “But guess what, honey? I don’t really give a damn in this instance. I’ve already forgiven you.”
“You have?” She had been so busy being incensed that she hadn’t stopped to realize that James would feel betrayed, too. At the very least, she owed it to him to listen.
“I realize that my callous admission hurt your feelings. It was damned stupid of me to say it in front of your aunt and Dad. I never meant to hurt you. But I blurted it out because I was so relieved that you weren’t marrying Dad and that I wasn’t going to betray him by going after you.”
She could already feel herself cavin
g into his sincere blue eyes, but she needed a better understanding. “You’re a lawyer. I can hardly believe that you just blurted something out that wasn’t true.”
He put his hands on her shoulders and held her anchored with his gaze. “I never say anything without deliberation in the courtroom. But this is different. Unfortunately, what I said was true and I’m ashamed I ever thought of using you that way. Last night I desperately wanted to make love to you, but not because I wanted to expose your base nature to Dad. By then I was torn up inside with wanting you because you revealed a beautiful side of yourself. I love your big heart, Sofia, and your tender soul.”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at him, her heart swelling with love.
“I lose control around you. Hell, I’m turned inside out right now just trying to tell you how much I need you.” His earnest blue eyes searched her face as his hands tightened on her shoulders. “I can’t live without you, Sofia.”
In helpless surrender, she swallowed against a lump in her throat. “Really?”
“Yes, damn it,” he growled. He pulled her against him, his large hands holding her buttocks as he pressed her against his swollen erection. “Look what you do to me. I’m about to burst. I’m on fire. God, I’ve never felt this crazy for any woman. Ever!”
He kissed her thoroughly, nibbling her lips, rubbing his tongue against hers with a carnal hunger that made her legs buckle and her body hum with pleasure. She slumped against him and held his shoulders for support as he raised the back of her dress and slid his hands into her panties. He palmed her bottom where her buttocks met her thighs, then maddeningly parted her feminine folds and stroked the delicate pearl within. She moistened against his fingers until she was moaning, begging for release with soft, plaintive cries.
Cupping her cheeks in his hands, he lifted her off the floor as his fingers played havoc with her, mercilessly teasing her tender flesh. Just when she thought she would climax against his hands, he set her on the edge of the bed and tore off his clothes.