All Hands Below (13 page)

She’d had to have it and have it she did without thinking of the cost. Much like this afternoon. She should have walked away, but she didn’t. Liam had touched her in all the right places, with his hands, his mouth. His tongue.

She shouldn’t have moaned so deeply or sighed so hotly, but she did. And later, as they lay with limbs locked and hearts thudding, he shouldn’t have said anything, but he did.

This,
Evangeline thought as she got dressed,
is what I get for having a one-afternoon stand.

Like buyer’s remorse on the glamorous outfit, she knew what lover’s remorse felt like. Her body had been on offer this afternoon, but he’d gotten to her heart.

She slipped her feet into black leather, soft-soled shoes, straightened, and then gazed at her reflection in the full-length mirror. The swelling in her ankle had gone down, too. While it still looked bruised and hurt like hell, she vowed she’d get through the evening, somehow.

The outfit looked flirty and fun and lifted her dampened spirits. She’d gathered her hair up and tamed it into a chic, under-looped ponytail. No longer did it resemble the pillow-tumbled, sexy mess it had been when she’d left Liam’s bed.

Oh, Liam!
She puffed out an agitated breath.
If only you’d just kept your mouth shut…

“Unforgettable,” he’d murmured against her damp forehead. “Irresistible.”

She’d smiled and run lazy hands along his jaw, savoring the rasp of his skin beneath her fingertips. Her body thrummed with satisfaction to hear the contentment that thickened his voice.

“You certainly delivered, Captain Rossi.”

His soft laugh bathed her ears. “Gold bars tend to hold quite the seductive sway.”

Her fingers stopped roaming. “I didn’t have sex with you because of your rank.”

“No?”

She’d almost objected when he’d moved away, taking with him their erotic connection. As he’d gathered his clothes, she’d stared at the sculpted vee of his back and resisted the itch to roam her fingers up and down its lean planes.

“I wanted you before I knew who you were, Liam.” She’d stressed his name to remind him of their intimacy. How she’d used it to beg him to kiss and lick her in that excitable place between her legs.

“I bent the rules with you on a moonlit deck. You also turned me down when I begged to give you more. But I think I know what this is all about,” she’d said. Her body clashed between wanting him and holding back from giving him a swift kick to his outstanding ass.

He’d shrugged into his shirt. “And that is…?”

“Your reminder not to expect more from you than your fabulous cock. Don’t worry, I got it. Just don’t lump me in with the rank bangers your precious gold bars helped you score before I came along!”

He’d paused and cocked a brow. “Rank bangers? Don’t hold back, Evangeline. Tell me what’s really on your mind.”

On a froth of steam, she’d done what any self-respecting one-afternoon stand would do. She’d climbed out of his bed, gathered her towel up off the floor, wrapped it around her well-sexed body, and limped in search of her clothes.

“Sit down. I’ll get your things.”

She’d sat on the edge of the bed. Moments later, he’d brought her fresh change of clothes to her, still in the bag that Eli had delivered to Liam’s stateroom.

“You realize that other passengers will expect to see you at the captain’s dinner tonight?”

“They’ll be disappointed.”

“No, they won’t, Evangeline. You will be there as I’m hosting tonight’s table. Especially,” his calculating gaze had lowered and zeroed in on her lower lip, “if you expect to see more of my fabulous dick and everything else that
comes
with.”

She’d hated herself for accepting the bossy kiss he’d placed on her mouth, tousled with his loving.

“I’m going to take a shower now.” As his eyes gleamed with satisfaction, his lips contoured with amusement. “I’ll see you tonight.”

****

Liam couldn’t concentrate.

The butternut and ginger-spiced bisque had been excellent. As was the cuts-like-butter prime rib on his plate, but he had no appetite. He also found the grins that his table guests didn’t bother to hide sly and ingratiating at best.

He glanced at the watch on his wrist.

“Have you ever gone rock climbing, Captain Rossi?” An auburn-haired stockbroker in her mid-thirties with a fondness for red wine asked. “You’d love it. All that stretching and muscle use.”

“No, but it certainly sounds challenging.” Liam’s mind thumbed through images of his body stretched along Evangeline’s curves, his cock muscling into her tight pussy, and he smiled.

The woman stroked the stem of her wine glass. “It can be intense.”

“I’m sure you’re right about that.” Liam took a sip of his sparkling water.

Then he saw them from across the room—lovely legs that went on for days. A filmy black fabric veiled them as they tiptoed down the floating spiral staircase made of glass and brushed steel.

His heart lurched against his ribs, remembering how those legs had felt wrapped around his waist. His neck.

Liam’s gaze ate up the curve of her hips. Hips he’d gripped tightly in his hands. His ears still echoed with the sound of her whimper when he’d finally thrust into her.

Did a hush blanket the room?

She stopped at the base of the staircase and looked around. She ignored his table. Ignored him.

His disbelieving gaze watched as she spotted Eli Buckelew at a nearby table. With a look of puppy dog appeal, Eli pointed to the empty seat next to him.

She shook her head and turned to the seating host as he tripped over himself to get to her. He waved his hand in the direction of the captain’s table, where Liam waited.

Where Liam seethed.

She shook her head once more and gave the host a smile full of pleading appeal. The host nodded, turned to Liam, raised his shoulders in a helpless shrug then escorted her to her assigned table.

Eli sat, also ignored, with a look of crushed hope on his face. The seat next to him sat empty. The seat next to Liam sat empty.

Liam’s guests, there when this afternoon’s drama played out, understood the message she was sending. They all looked over at her unused china, her bone-dry wine glass…and the bouquet of red roses that occupied her chair.

“Perhaps she didn’t understand Carlito,” offered a member of his wait staff. “I will go remind Miss Spencer a place has been assigned for her here.”

Liam did not stop him. She knew damn well she had an invite. He studied the people who occupied her table. Her friend, Maisy, was nowhere to be found. After a discreet inquiry, he was told that she and Mr. Capshaw had ordered a balcony meal service delivered to Maisy’s stateroom.

The waiter returned with a message. “Miss Spencer respectfully declines to dine at Captain Rossi’s table.”

Liam nodded, sipped from his wineglass this time, and smothered his temper beneath the most charming smile he could muster.

****

Evangeline toed her sandals off her feet and climbed into one of several hammocks scattered across the deck.

She gazed up at the serene night sky. Nobody, she thought smugly, would find her here.

“How can it be,” wondered a voice out loud, “that we’re floating at sea, and we can still smell flowers?”

Evangeline twisted up from the fine mesh roping to peer into the darkness. “Eli?”

“May I join you?”

She nodded and watched him come forward, toting a chair with him, which he parked alongside her before dropping himself into it.

“How are you, Evangeline?”

“Mmm…pretty mad at the world right now. Yourself?”

“Not good. You didn’t answer when I knocked on your door earlier.”

“Sorry. Didn’t feel much like seeing anyone.”

“Can we talk about what you saw this morning?”

Since he’d made the effort to look for her, she owed it to him to hear him out. “Sure. Why not?”

He whistled out a breath of relief. “I’m sorry about this morning—about the whole thing. Last night, I’d just left my friend’s party and was on my way to my cabin when I ran into Kerri. She’d been having drinks alone at a poolside bar and, like me, she might’ve had one too many. She asked me to walk her to her cabin. I didn’t want her meeting up with someone that might take advantage of her.” He laughed at the irony. “So, I made sure she got to her cabin safely, and…well, I won’t say I don’t know how it happened.”

“Then don’t. I don’t need details.”

“Right. Bottom line, I screwed up.”

Evangeline shook her head, at a loss for words. What could she say? She’d spent the afternoon in bed with another man.

“I’ve felt like shit ever since. Believe me, I had every intention of making it an early night so we could go in to George Town together.”

“Don’t beat yourself up, Eli. I realized as I was hobbling around George Town looking for Maisy that maybe what I came on board to find wasn’t meant to be.”

“Could this have anything to do with Rossi? ‘Cause it was all over the ship—the spectacle between the newly minted captain and the passenger who banished herself to his room. Then, no one saw either of you for several hours. Is it serious?”

Evangeline laughed. “No.”

“Do you still want me to court you?”

“Eli, be real! I don’t think you really want to marry me.”

“Evangeline—”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve got lots of time to have children. And the way I figure it, I met a nice guy—
you
—in a few short days on this cruise. Imagine what’ll happen if I give myself more chances like this? Maybe I’ll take a Naughty Nautical Singles’ Cruise in the spring. Anyway, what about her?”

“Who?”

“Kerri Lorenzo. Is she someone you might want to get to know?”

“Yeah. Right. In our drunken midnight revelations, she said the man she really wants is not interested in her.
Your
Liam.”

Evangeline blushed. Liam hadn’t been thinking of any other woman while making love to her. That much her body knew.

“Promise me one thing, Evangeline. If you change your mind by the end of the cruise, you’ll let me know?”

She smiled. “It was a good offer. Even if you did cheat on me within hours of our almost-engagement.”

“Will you have breakfast with me in the morning?” He reached into the hammock to take her hand. “After all, it’s Christmas Day.”

“Since everything is in shambles, why not?”

He laughed. “You know I’m going to have to chase you now. Right?”

“I couldn’t run from a rabid turtle in my condition.”

The sound of footsteps approaching put a stop to their friendly banter. Seeing Liam’s hard body decked out in full winter blues—dark trousers, jacket, a crisp white shirt, and a bow tie—launched her heart into overdrive.

Eli stood.

“Mr. Buckelew,” Liam greeted crisply. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

“A bit. Evie and I were getting caught up on…ah…current events.”

“My apologies for the intrusion. One of your cruise mates is drunk and threatening to jump overboard.”

Eli swore. “Where is he?”

“The park balcony, but not to worry. Security has things under control.”

“I’ll talk to you later!” Eli said to Evangeline as he took off running.

“And
you
…” Liam leaned over her and planted his palms on the hammock above her shoulders so she couldn’t escape. Four strips of gold laced each cuff of his jacket and reminded her of his power on this ship. His gaze grilling into hers reminded her of his power over her. “You stood me up.”

Evangeline breathed him in, her senses so tuned in to him that she could smell the fine leather he’d lounged on. The jammy richness of the wine he’d sipped lingered on his breath.

“I had other plans,” she said, and shrank into the hammock.

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t want to show up at your table and be flaunted as the new captain’s temporary tail.”

“For God’s sake, Evie. You left no one in doubt what you were up to when you marched your little ass down to my stateroom! But,” he raised his hands in a magnanimous gesture, “while I understand how being seen with me would be an issue for you, we’re both unattached, consenting adults. Now, will you meet me in my stateroom later?”

She looked away from him. Her gaze found safety in the stars. “It’s not a good idea.”

“You don’t sound so sure,” he drawled.

“That may be true. We both know how much I—” she broke off, fearful she would give too much away.

“How much you…”

“How much I enjoyed this afternoon,” she blurted.

“Okay. I enjoyed it, too. Very much. We can have that tonight. Again.”

She gritted her teeth. He was so matter of fact.
What’s the problem, Evangeline? You want me. I want you. Let’s go fuck.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“It was a one-time thing. Remember?”

“We can make it a two, three, or four-time thing.”

“Nice that you change the rules as you go, Liam.”

“Only if the other player wants to change them, too,” he murmured.

Of course she wanted to change the rules! She wanted to ball them up, mash them under her aching foot, and kick the stinking rules right off the starboard bow.

She wanted Liam’s touch. His mouth. She burned for his body. His cock. His kisses. His heart.

“Or are you still planning to hook up with Buckelew?”

The deathly softness in his tone made her stop gnawing on her bottom lip.

“And if I was?” she threw at him. Might he be jealous? “You made it clear that I shouldn’t expect more than this afternoon’s romp in the sheets with you.”

“Evangeline,” he gritted, “this
thing
between us may be temporary, but I don’t share, sweetheart.” He straightened.

“Really?” she stormed back at him.

“You bet,” he replied, then deposited a bundle of roses on her stomach. The opal moonlight shining down on them revealed the color of their petals—rich, velvet red. As their meaning dawned on her, it was too late.