Again, he clinked the handcuffs. “This time you don’t get away, Kate.”
She crossed her arms, held her head up high, and kept her voice cool. “This is the women’s locker room.”
He said nothing, but came closer.
Kate held her ground and shook her head. “Get out before I get you thrown off the ship.”
“You’ve turned into a spitfire.” Harry laughed. “Did you learn that from your dad?”
“No. There are cameras everywhere.” She sidestepped away from him, but he grabbed her head, then reached up and his hand went to her neck.
She couldn’t turn her neck. She pushed him away, but he held her so tight. She couldn’t breathe. Then he took a step towards the door.
No way. This wasn’t going to happen. Kate Sparrow wasn’t weak. Fire raced down her spine. She coughed, but told Harry. “Daddy paid you, and he’d not like you of all people to kill me.”
“He did hope to reason with you.”
His grip on her neck lessoned. She rubbed her arms. Could she fight her way out of this room? She’d have to pass him in the aisle. “Will you go with me to speak to your dad now?”
She gulped. “Of course.”
She bit back the rest of her response. She took a step closer to him and the aisle.
His hand went to grab her arm. He held her tight until they made it close to the door. Then she told him, “I need to get my shirt on.”
Harry glanced down at her, as she held her shirt on her stomach. He let her arm go, “Hurry.”
At least he hadn’t handcuffed her. She had one chance. Her hands curled into a ball, and she ran out of the locker room.
Daniel stood there. He leaned at the door, and his brown eyes memorized her. Her heart warmed now as she gazed at him in a blue tee shirt and a pair of jeans. She ran right into his arms, and his hands circled her. “Why aren’t you dressed?”
The electric thrill that went through her fueled her. She reached up to trace his strong chin with her fingers, then she kissed him.
His lips on hers set her off better than fireworks.
He leaned down, held her tight to his body, and she forgot everything else. All that mattered right now was Daniel Collins.
Chapter 24
Kate shivered in Daniel’s arms. He got a whiff of her strawberry shampoo, and his mouth watered. She was pliant in his arms, and he traced her back, then kissed her, again. Even her mouth had the taste of strawberries and ice cream, but something else that was unique was mixed in her kiss.
She closed her lips, and he stopped the kiss. Then she smiled at him. “Let’s go to our room, Daniel.” Her voice cracked.
He crossed his arms. “What happened? Gigi said you were in the shower.”
“Harry came into the ladies’ room.” She stared at the ground then twirled around towards the door. “I was getting dressed . . .”
“The guy from last night?” Daniel’s body froze. He swore to protect her. “Did he touch you?”
“No and no. He works for my father or did.” She turned around and met his gaze. She couldn’t tell him the whole truth. Then her hands traced his hips and his entire body became alert to her every brush of his skin. “He didn’t see anything either, but he could have.”
“Let’s go.” He held open the door for her, but steam built inside his gut. “I will kill him. He shouldn’t scare you.”
“Wait. Let it go. I don’t get scared.” She took his arm, and led him to the stairs. “I told him off, and he left.”
He scratched his head. Something else had happened. She guided him down the flight of stairs. Cold daggers of suspicion sliced at him, and Kate held back. “What did he say that bothered you, Katie?”
“To call my father.”
“He almost kidnapped you off the ship for you to pick up the phone?”
“It’s complicated.” She froze. He helped her regain her steps. First her feet dragged, and her body became heavier on his arm. Then she sped back up to lead him. He almost breathed easier, but her eyes averted his. He held his tongue and she continued to speak. “Plus, my sister told all three of your ex-girlfriends we’re sleeping together, though I haven’t figured her angle.”
“Wait.” Daniel stopped walking, and she tugged on his arms. She almost fell forward, but he caught her. She stepped back. He nodded. “Is that why we’re going to our room? I don’t care, what your sister said. We’re going to go find whoever Harry is, and I’ll deal with him man-to-man.”
“No.” She took his arm and dragged him again. He moved, as she told him. “Stay with me.”
He took a step forward with her, but he held his head high. “Men don’t go into the ladies’ room.”
“I sent him packing. He doesn’t matter.” Kate reached back and looped her fingers around his belt. Then she stopped, reached up, and traced his stubble. “I want you, Daniel. Last night, fear drove me to bed. Today, I don’t want that to happen again.”
His body went rigid from her touch, but he should be a gentleman. “Let’s go ice skating, Katie.”
She had her lower lip out. “I think we should go to our room.”
He ran his hand through his hair. He ought to kiss her, but pressure and Kate hadn’t mixed well. Besides, he liked her good opinion of him, and he’d keep her safe. “No one will get to you, not while you’re at my side.”
“I believe that.” Then she twirled into his arms, and her lips were inches from him. “Daniel, unlike every other man I’ve ever met, your lips on mine burns through me.”
He gulped and lost his argument.
What would she look like, barebacked and open to him? She almost kissed his lips, but turned to drag him down the stairs. His heart echoed in his chest as he followed her swiveling hips for a second. She turned and curled her finger in and out and called him forward. His body became stiffer, and he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her curves.
He’d followed her every direction.
Chapter 25
Kate opened the cabin door with her plastic key, and stumbled into the room. Her lips ached to kiss him again, and her skin glistened from awareness that she’d change her life today. She held her breath and prayed a bit. Daniel would know what to do, but if she told him how she’d never been with a man, he wouldn’t touch her. She took a bottle of water on the dresser with a price sticker on it and opened it for a sip. She needed water to cool her body down, because the image of a half-naked Daniel replayed in her head from the other morning.
Daniel ran his hands through his hair, and she put the water bottle down. He had an honorable streak in him, and he’d keep his hands to himself. She swallowed and decided she’d not tell him her innocent state, not yet.
In a minute, she’d have the guts to tell him.
First, she decided to be bold. She reached for her shirt, and threw it onto her bag. His jaw fell open, and she kicked off her sneakers.
His gaze raked her body, and lingered on her chest for a moment.
She smiled then stretched out on the bed. He came closer to her, and she tugged on the band of his jeans. “Guess I need to rest before we head out, Daniel. Care to join me?”
He stepped back then turned off the bathroom light. She sat on the bed and fixed the pillow to lie down. He then joined her on the bed and stared at her. “You look good, Katie.”
“Turn off the light.” She instructed but scooted closer to him.
“No, I prefer seeing you.” His brown eyes gazed at her body. Heat coursed through her, but she refused to run. She licked her lip, but he tilted his head. “You’re trembling.”
She rubbed the back of her neck. “You noticed?”
He nodded. “Sometimes you look so innocent.”
Virgins shook, and experienced women took what they wanted. She opened her mouth to kiss him. Instead, she bumped into his forehead.
He laughed and shook his head. She laughed, and a little electric frenzy in her skin almost stopped. She gulped and then reached for her jeans to unzip them
. His eyes widened, and she winked at him. “Daniel, you’ve made certain promises . . .”
“You sure, Katie?” He kissed her neck. “There is something you haven’t told me.”
“We’ll play Clue later, when it’s time to leave the ship.” She unsnapped her own bra and threw it to the side of the bed. She refused to sit back and wait, but she held her hand in front of her. “If you need to stop, Daniel, do it now.”
“Absolutely not.” Daniel traced her hand, and she relented to drop her hands to the side. “You’ve been skittish.”
“I’m not now.”
Then his fingers traced up her legs, settled on her hips, and his lips came closer to her for another kiss. She gazed into his brown eyes, only half open. He opened his mouth and would have asked a question, but she licked her lips and leaned forward to kiss him first.
Then he tugged on her jeans to drag her closer. She complied. Her naked skin electrified, as she brushed against him.
The fire inside her grew from his continued kiss.
Then his hands traced the lines of her jeans to unsnap her. Goose bumps went up her body
“Last night your tease drove me half mad, Katie.” His admission fueled her heat. She leaned up to kiss him again. “You’re beautiful, Katie.”
She met his eyes. “I don’t know what to do when I’m near you. You’re everything I dreamed of.”
“You’re better than what I planned.” His fingers brushed against her hardened nipple, and she trembled. He kissed her chin. “You’re sweet. So different from what I thought.”
She stared at the ceiling then giggled. She wrapped her arms around him. “Sweet and me? My mother was the last person who thought that.”
“I’m in her debt, then.” Daniel kissed her neck, and she lost her train of thought.
She circled Daniel, then stepped back to remove his blue shirt and lifted it over his body. He held his hands up to assist her. She smiled. The man’s bulging biceps made more sense for a construction worker, not a sexy doctor. “You’re perfect, Daniel.”
He shook his head. “Kate, I’m am nowhere near perfect. You’re light and adorable. Weren’t you supposed to be vain and self-centered?”
His hand brushed down her bare back, and left a trail of tender tremors in his path. She moaned. Then he kissed her cheek and her mouth.
Her hands grabbed his hair, to hold on to him as a wave crashed through her.
He swallowed. “Tell me to stop, Katie.”
“Don’t you dare.” She closed her eyes, then kissed him.
His lips trailed lower on her body, and his fingers lowered her jeans. She lifted her hips and he tugged the jeans off her. Her face heated, but she refused to leave.
Then he stared at her like a young boy who stared at his presents on Christmas morning. She covered her mouth to hide her face.
His eyebrow lifted. “What’s so funny?”
“I’m nervous,” she answered him, then she covered her mouth with her hand. She’d tell him the truth, in a minute. Then she dropped her hands and helped him unbutton his pants. He kicked off his pants. Morals made her stomach queasy. He came closer, and she decided to tell the truth. “I don’t take men home, to bed.”
“Good. I don’t like sharing.” His hand traced her hips and the only barrier between them now were her panties. His hands trailed up her body, and he leaned down to kiss her. “Don’t be nervous, sweetheart. I’d never hurt you.”
If she didn’t speak up, she’d be the liar. She closed her eyes, inhaled, but the smell of his skin invaded her senses. She sighed. Daniel would know what to do. She opened her eyes, and stared into his brown eyes. A strange hunger to caress him took over her body, and she reached down to touch his manhood.
She smiled, sat back, and tugged him to relax on the bed with her hand on his shoulder. She’d lie down and tell him.
Then his hands traced down her, and her nipples hardened from his unexpected brush. Her head bucked backward. He took her breast into the palm of his large hand, and kneaded gently. Heat rushed through her. “Harder, Daniel.”
He squeezed her nipples once more, and her body electrified.
Her breath came in spurts and a furnace broke inside her. She moaned in agreement. “I’m more sensitive than I thought.”
He winked at her. “Tell me what you want. I like it.”
Something foreign took over her body. She traced his stomach muscles then reached to brush against his cock again.
It grew bigger, and her mouth watered.
He tugged her panties off.
She knew she ought to tell him, but instead she traced his shaft with her hands.
He kissed her forehead, and she opened her mouth. A bit of ice ran through her and she bit her lip. “That won’t fit.”
He brushed her apex with his finger. “Katie, you’re more than ready.”
She opened her mouth, but a sigh came out.
Then he traced her pelvis again, and an electrical storm inside her grew. He kissed her cheek. “You’re already moist.”
“Looking at you causes this reaction.” She kissed his nose, then arched back for him to touch her.
Then he kissed the area between her breasts, near her heart, but his fingers pushed into her vagina.
Her body craved far more than a finger. She traced his body with her leg. “Sweetheart, you’re teasing.”
“Hell, yes.” She arched her body into him. “I want this. I want you. Don’t make me wait.”
Then she opened her legs, wider, and squeezed his hips to come closer.
He shook his head, laughed, then pushed inside her.
She bite her lip, and stilled. She felt an uncomfortable stretch, and she wasn’t sure what to do.
His mouth fell open. “Katie, you’re a virgin?”
“Technically, not now,” she said and her body relaxed more. He slipped further in, but held still. The fullness of her body made her hot. She kissed his ear. “Don’t stop. The awkwardness passed. Please, Daniel.”
A shiver went down her body. She closed her eyes, but then he moved inside her. “You should have told me, sweetheart.”
The fire inside her grew.
Her cheeks were slightly wet, and she had a smile on her face. “It’s wasn’t important.”
He stilled again. “You’re important, Katie.”
She nodded her acknowledgment of his words, and then threw her head back to moan.
He moved deeper inside her. Daniel became one within her and filled her.
Her body tingled with electrical currents, and then she lost total control.
Chapter 26
How long had she slept? Kate’s body hummed from last night, and she let out a happy moan of approval. She dared not stir. Her body fit under Daniel’s arms, and she refused to let herself move.
She closed her eyes, and re-imagined the second he’d taken her fully. A giggle escaped her throat. She’d never believed sex changed anyone, until now.
She ran her hand on his arm, lightly, to not wake him. His warm skin made her heart race. What would it be like to be a woman capable of staying with a man? In a few days, she might be free.
Then a coldness inched up her spine.
First she had to get the evidence against her father, today. In two days, she had to turn in what she found and broker a deal for her innocence. She might have to stand at trial and face her family and how she betrayed them. The press would likely paint her a villain, and Daniel deserved none of her problems. She’d have to leave him, but she’d return to see where the chips landed the moment her nightmare ended.
She sat up, but emptiness filled her. If she, somehow, managed, then she’d let the tingles from last night’s activities stay on her body.
She swallowed again. Daniel should have someone available to love, without baggage. He was perfect and respectable.
Was there was a way to cut the morning sun?
The cruise would end soon. She sighed and wished it wouldn’t.
She stood up, determined.
The ship was anchored. They were in the Grand Caymans.
Today, the bank. Tomorrow, the wedding. The next day, the cruised ended, so she’d tell Daniel goodbye and broker her deal. She grabbed her clothes and stepped toward the bathroom, determined to do this.
At the door, she glanced at Daniel’s watch for the time. Seven-fifty-five. Stephanie. Breakfast.
Borrowing the Doctor (The Collins Brothers Book 2) Page 12