Four Nights at Sea Page 9

  “Good. You’re pretty amazing the way you are, Charlie.” He curved his hands around her waist and pulled her closer to the edge of the table, closer to him. “There’s only one thing I wouldn’t like.”

  Disappointment filled her eyes and a line creased the center of her forehead. She looked down, pressing her lips together as she exhaled. “There always is.”

  “I wouldn’t like it if you were committed to another man,” he added quickly. “Anything else you want, I welcome.”

  “Anything?”

  Fuck. What was he getting himself into? Why did he feel the need to agree and wipe the expectation of disappointment from her face at any cost? She could want the Latin Lover and the All-American.

  Her eyes didn’t say that, though. She wanted acceptance. She wanted freedom, much like the freedom she’d lusted after while watching the orgy.

  “Anything,” he breathed. “I’ll be your net. You jump.”

  “And what do you get out of this arrangement?”

  He got his time with her. Simple. She did something to him he couldn’t explain, and he’d do whatever it took to make her smile. He didn’t want her to smile like a senator’s wife on the campaign trail, but in that free and heartfelt manner he’d glimpsed.

  “Blue balls,” he admitted. “Like the captain said, I can’t join you in your cabin. Trust me, I can’t lose this job. I tried to buy a ticket so that I could secure a passenger cabin and get around the rule of guests not being allowed in crew quarters and crew not being allowed in a passenger’s cabin, but the sailing was full. Company policy is very strict. If we’re found together outside of the public areas, or we engage in anything sexual outside Lovers Sail’s activities, I’ll be fired and put out at the next port. I don’t want to be left behind and waiting, Charlie. I want to be with you.”

  He trailed his palms up the side of her body, tracing her curves, until his thumbs played at the full undersides of her breasts. Her nipples hardened. She didn’t squirm or hide her approval.

  “I know. The personal consequences for you are big,” she said, nodding in agreement. “That’s why I don’t understand why you want to be my safety net.”

  “Because I get you. Any part of you that you want to give me.”

  She studied him for a long minute, then covered his left hand with her own and brought it to her breast. “I want to give to you. And I want to take.”

  “Yes,” he groaned. “Thank you.” His right hand curled around her nape, and he lowered his head and demanded her mouth in an immediate and hungry kiss.

  He took what she gave. Claimed it as his, and knew that regardless of what he’d agreed to, he wouldn’t share her sweetness with any other man. She was his and his alone. He would see to her every need and desire as long as she was willing to put up with a man who wasn’t made for long-term relationships. He’d keep it all in the present.

  Ford swept his tongue past her lips and lost himself in her heavenly taste, wishing he wasn’t the kind of man he knew he was. Wishing he was capable of holding onto Charlie for a long, long time, but knowing he wasn’t made that way.

  When they came up for air, she tangled her fingers in his hair and angled her face to meet his gaze. She smiled and licked her swollen lips.

  “Good thing for you and your balls this is a kink cruise,” she whispered, glancing down at his fingers playing with her breast through the dress. “I’m guessing it’s allowed for you to maul me in public?”

  “You’re guessing right.” His thumb skimmed over a puckered nipple. She moaned, and he licked his lips at her response. “It may not be the most traditional way to get to know you, or the most suitable form of attention to give you, but it does allow us to be together. It isn’t optimal, but I don’t care. What may be inappropriate in other settings is encouraged here. I don’t mind if you don’t.”

  “I’m learning that I really like inappropriate attention.”

  “Then let’s be inappropriate together,” he said. Ford traced the blue elastic of her dress and slowly worked down the material until he’d exposed a full breast. “More beautiful than I’d imagined,” he said, licking over the pale skin. “Delicious, too.” She arched her back and offered him more, tangling her fingers in his hair. “You’re so amazing.” Groaning, he sealed his lips to the hard pink tip.

  Charlie gasped as Ford suckled her deep into his mouth, and her body simmered with yearning. She dropped her head back and closed her eyes, feeling the tug of desire all the way to the moist heat between her thighs. The warmth of his mouth, coupled with the scrape of his teeth over the sensitive flesh, sent shivers dancing on her chest.

  “Tell me what you want,” he rasped, his lips still on her.

  She moaned in protest, aching for his mouth to return. Her body ached for his attention. “Please.”

  “Please what, baby?”

  She raised her head and met his gaze. With uncertain hands, she freed her other breast. “Please take me in your mouth. Let me feel the zing of excitement. The warmth. The heat.”

  He lowered his lips to her new offering, placed soft kisses on the sensitive skin and around the rosy tip, before he sucked it deep and nibbled on the hard peak. As his mouth worshipped her breast, he guided her hand beneath her skirt and settled it inside her bikini bottoms. His fingers skimmed over her hip, and the tie released. Cool air swept over her damp center.

  “Charlie, show me what you like,” he said, biting gently on her nipple, while joining her right hand with his and sliding their joined fingers between her wet excitement. “Show me, chère.”

  “Here?”

  “Right here. Right now,” he said. “Charlie, you want this. Take it. I want your taste on my fingers and the scent of your excitement in my mind when I leave you. Let me hear what you like. Show me what you do when you’re alone. Let me see you lose control. Come for me.”

  Slipping her finger between his, she slid her thumb up to her clit and circled the pulsing nub. “I don’t . . . I can’t.”

  “Fingers, baby.” Ford coaxed, moving his hand back to her breast and rolling her nipple between his thumb and index finger.

  She slid two fingers into her heat and thrust, while her thumb stroked her clit.

  “You look so hot getting yourself off, Charlie. If it wasn’t for the damn surveillance camera, I’d be laying you out on the table and—”

  “Camera?” Her hand stilled.

  “Keep playing with yourself. Add a third finger,” Ford demanded, pinching her nipple until it stung. “The camera is at your back. Only I can see you, so pink and shiny, so pretty and wet.”

  He leaned back against the cushion, nodding his approval when she slipped a third finger deep inside her and pumped her hand faster.

  “You’re so beautiful, baby. I can’t wait to put my mouth on you and get you nice and ready for everything we’ll be doing together.” Sliding his thumb through her slick folds, he swept over her clit and sent sizzling electricity through her body. “That’s it. Hurry. Get yourself off before Patrick returns and hears your hand slapping your gorgeous wetness and the throaty moans that are driving me insane.”

  Shit. The bartender could return. He would see what she was doing.

  “That’s right. Patrick will know how naughty you are if he catches you. He’ll know you like the thrill of sex in public places. The thrill of getting caught.” Ford brought his thumb to his mouth and spread her cream on his lips. “And you’re not going to stop working yourself until you come for me.”

  Excitement mixed with trepidation, and Charlie’s heart raced. She brought her left hand to her mouth and licked up and down two fingers, coating them with her saliva before she lowered her hand and fit them on either side of her sweet spot. Determined to come quicker, she squeezed, rubbed, and pumped until it was difficult to breathe.

  Keeping her gaze locked with his, she felt her legs tremble as he rolled a nipple between his fingers, and her orgasm made its appearance, building quickly and simmering through her bo
dy. She bit her lower lip and moaned real loud.

  “So fucking hot,” Ford said, sweeping his thumb over the sensitive bundle of nerves. “Now, baby, now. I’ve got you.”

  She shattered into the marvelous prism of release and collapsed into the strong embrace of the man who truly had her. No judgment. No expectations. She could just feel. Strong hands smoothed down her back as he held her hips and pulled her onto his lap. She dropped her head onto his shoulder and buried her face into his neck, breathing hard to resurface, as she straddled his lap.

  “That was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen,” Ford said against her hair, dropping a kiss on the top of her head and adjusting her dress to cover her breasts. “I can’t wait until we disembark in Mexico. I’m going to take you so hard you won’t be able to walk straight for hours.”

  She couldn’t speak, but she sighed her agreement. No one had ever looked at her with such longing, spoken to her with heated desire, or made her feel so wanted. Even the use of his very, very descriptive words made her feel excited . . . more like wonderful.

  “Hey, boss. Need a refill?”

  “Not yet, Patrick,” Ford replied, still holding her, still caressing her back. “Thank you.”

  If she could have, she would have moved. Instead she giggled against his neck and remained cradled against him. “Good thing he didn’t catch an earlier elevator.”

  “Hm. Good thing,” Ford repeated, sliding his fingers through her hair. “It was very close, though. We’ll need to work on improving your time.”

  She laughed and finally managed to push up and look at him. “You’re something else, Ford. Are you expecting me to be the Energizer Bunny or something?”

  “Or something,” he said, earning a playful punch on his shoulder.

  “How about you discreetly tie my bikini bottoms in place?” Charlie asked, adding a sweet smile when he didn’t display any intention of doing so. “Pretty please.”

  “I don’t think so.” He tugged on the side that was still tied and released it. “How about we agree that you wear dresses, and only dresses, for stolen moments on the ship?”

  “Unless you’re going to be stingy with those stolen moments, I don’t have enough dresses,” she countered. “Not possible.”

  “Do you have a dress that you could wear to dinner?” Ford asked, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief as his palm caressed her naked ass.

  “Yes, but it’s short. Real short. My big butt will be—”

  “Nothing is too short for this cruise. We’ll get more dresses for later. And I love your just-right butt. It’s lush and curvy and fits perfectly in my hands.” He pulled the bikini bottom from between their bodies and tucked it in his pocket. “Skirts will do as well. Did you pack any skirts?”

  She nodded.

  “No panties tonight. Wear the short dress and leave this one on the bed.”

  “Ford, that’s irrational. I’m soaked. I smell like sex. Everyone will know.”

  “Not that I mind, but do you really think anyone on this ship will notice? What’s more important is that I’ll know and you’ll know.” He brushed his lips over hers. “I don’t care what anyone else thinks, and neither should you. I’m going to make sure you get what you want, over and over, all day long. It’s bad enough I can’t take you to bed, but I’ll be dammed if I can’t have easy access to that beautiful sweetness.”

  Her body heated and tingles danced on her skin. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

  “Very,” he replied. Lowering his hand between their bodies and beneath the skirt of her dress, he slid a finger through her swollen folds and turned his wrist to rub her clit with the heel of his hand. “I love how wet you are.”

  “Boss?” Patrick called from across the lounge. Ford held still and looked at him. “There are a lot of passengers milling around, and I think we’re going to be busy earlier than usual. I tried to reach Juan to come in early, but there’s no answer. Christina said something about catching a nap, so her phone is off the hook. Would you stick around so I could run down to her cabin and let her know? I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

  “Of course,” Ford replied, pushing two fingers inside Charlie’s tight heat. “Can you improve your time and come for me before he returns?”

  She nodded and dropped her face to his neck, aching to feel her body soar again, and believing he was her safety net to jump.

  “Good answer,” he said, placing a kiss at her temple. “I want you all over the hand I’m going to use to take care of my personal problem once I’m in my cabin.”

  A fling with Ford promised more ecstasy than she ever thought existed. She’d take it. She’d take him. Even if it was temporary.

  Chapter Ten

  Charlie snuggled against his neck and inhaled his masculine scent as she tried to regain control. She drew deep breaths, her chest heaved, and her heart pounded against his. Her pleased body writhed as he stroked the lingering euphoria of her orgasm and soothed her moans with a kiss.

  “That was very, very beautiful, Charlie,” he whispered against her ear, encouraging her with kisses. “You did so good. You have no idea how you make me feel. How hard I am because you’re in my arms, available to me. Can you imagine how much I want to bury myself inside you and lose myself in your snug little body?”

  Damn! She tightened around his fingers and the urge to move against his hand overwhelmed her. She’d completely lost it. With all decorum tossed aside, she remained in a state of physical ecstasy, exposed and vulnerable in a public space, feeling no regret for her blatantly wanton behavior.

  “I can,” she said. She couldn’t compose full sentences and she didn’t care. She licked a path up his neck and gently sucked his earlobe into her mouth. “I want. Can’t move.”

  The vibrations of his chuckle passed through her chest and traveled to her pulsing clit. She closed her eyes and simply felt. She couldn’t think. It was crazy. She was crazy. How could she let her body take control of her sensibility?

  She didn’t know how much time had passed, but eventually she came down, her breathing settled, and the spasms receded. Charlie lifted her head and glanced between her legs. The blue material of the dress rested on his tanned hand, which disappeared beneath it. His thumb circled her nub, in slow and soothing caresses.

  “Look at how pretty your cream shines on my hand. You’re so wonderfully responsive and give so well. It’s taking all my control not to bury my face against you and lick every drop of your sweetness.” Groaning, he removed his hand and adjusted the skirt of her dress. He then brought a finger to his lips and sucked it into his mouth.

  Her breath caught and her stomach did a somersault.

  “Do you realize how utterly delicious it will be when I taste this directly from the source?” He continued the verbal and manual assault, not giving her a chance to process it all in her mind. Her body simply reacted.

  “I can’t believe we’re talking like this. Actually, I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she whispered.

  “We are. You are. You did. Twice. And I’m so grateful you did. What a treat,” he said, stoking her desire and eliciting a heated response. “I’m looking forward to more. So much more.”

  The idea of more made her dizzy. Yet she wanted more. So much more.

  “What about you?” She lifted her head, the inequality of their situation suddenly dawning on her. The sexual gratification had been one-sided. “I came twice. You didn’t.”

  “I’m not keeping count, sugar. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said that watching was the hottest thing ever. Those little hands moving inside that pretty treasure is so sexy. Your gorgeous breasts bouncing free and teasing me like cherry-covered desserts are so sexy. Everything about you is sexy.”

  “But you?”

  He shook his head. “The camera was pointed at your back, which means it was pointing to my front.” He tucked her hair behind her ear, tracing the curve with his fingertip. “Plus, you’re covered by the skirt of your dress. They can’t see a
thing—other than the bulge in my pants when I stand up.”

  “Think about math problems,” she suggested, remembering their conversation in the taxi and giving him sass. “That should offer some relief.”

  “Nothing but you will give me relief, chère. I’m too far gone.” Ford cupped her face and caressed her jaw with his thumb. “I can’t stop touching you. You better write that article fast, because when this cruise is done, you won’t have any time to use the laptop. The only kind of lap you’ll be seeing is my lap.”

  “Rather cocky, Mr. Ford.” The sharp inhale of air and the color punctuating her cheeks proclaimed her willingness, still she didn’t hide her smile. Even after two climaxes, his words made her clench in anticipation. “This is crazy, but I like it. I’ve never been so focused on pleasure and so on edge in my whole life.”

  “Glad to hear,” he said. “Know, and have no doubt, that I want your beautiful body draped over mine, your lips on every inch of me, but Patrick will be returning at any moment. Two orgasms will have to hold you for now.”

  I’ve never had two orgasms in a day, let alone back to back, but this can’t go on. We won’t be able to work together. We can’t, she thought, slanting her burning lips over his mouth in direct opposition to her words. “One last kiss.”

  It was a quick kiss, because Patrick returned the moment their lips met.

  “I’m keeping you pasted to my side for the next four days. If for no other reason than your body responds to my touch and your mind wants what I know about cruise romances, you can let loose. Enjoy. Stay in the moment.”

  “You can’t keep touching me. I lose focus, Ford. I need to focus.”

  “Come on, chère. Let me walk you to your cabin, the one that’s off limits to me, so you can get ready for the Erogenous Zone event. You’ll enjoy tonight’s activities. After happy hour, there’s dinner, and then the ‘Always Kiss Me Good-Night’ workshop.” He turned his body and helped her to her feet, adjusting her dress once she stood. Then he took her hand in his and intertwined their fingers, bidding the bartender farewell as he led her to the door.