city, and I’ve never seen it from this…perspective.”
He rubbed her arm and pulled her close. “You’re shivering. We should go back inside.”
She hung on to his arm and went in with him. “I’d love to come again during the day, if we can.”
“Of course,” he answered. “Anything you want.”
“Careful, sailor,” she cautioned. “Those words can be dangerous to a man’s health.”
“Oh?” he smiled down at her as they got back to the dining table. “How so?”
She looked around, and then back up to him. “I can show you, but this part of the ship, the deck is it?” He nodded so she went on, eyebrows raised. “The deck is a little too…public. Can we go inside? Or downstairs?”
“Yes, there’s a cabin down below. Why? Getting a little frisky, are we?”
“With you around, all I am is frisky these days. Come on. Let’s go,” she said, widening her smile. “I’ll show you danger.”
They got down to the private cabin. Abby pulled him inside to the bed. She sat on the edge and wasted no time in reaching for his belt buckle. Slipping the strip of leather from his pants, she spun it about, humming seductively as she went, and flung it across the room. She heard it hit the wall and cringed a bit, then smiled.
“Oops. Sorry.”
If it left a scratch or hole, she would feel so dumb. The room was spacious. Abby could feel the gentle rocking of the yacht as it moved over the waves.
“So tell me, what’s dangerous about this?” he asked, sliding his hands gently over her hair while she pulled his slacks to the ground. As always, his touch set her on fire.
“Nothing really.” She looked up at him and licked her lips slowly. “It sounded good when I said it. You know what?”
“What?”
“Sit here,” she instructed, patting the spot on the bed beside her.
“I want to tell you something.”
“What’s that?”
She paused before she spoke. She had not intended to share anything—it was a moment of clarity. “I never dreamed of anything like this.”
“What do you mean? Cruising on the yacht?”
“Yes. No. Yes and no.”
“You’re confusing me, Abby.”
She shifted and turned to him. “I mean yes, the yacht, and dinner last night, and being with you. And enjoying our time together. A week ago, I didn’t know you. A week ago, I had not even wished for anything quite this—intense, and amazing, and beautiful, you know?” She paused as she felt her eyes welling up with tears. She was grateful he didn’t react to them, but waited for her to continue. “I want to tell you thank you, Andrew. I’ve never felt so alive.”
He reached both arms around her and gave her a warm, long embrace. “You don’t have to thank me. I should be thanking you. For that screeching whistle on the night of the blizzard. It was what helped me find you. And you’re right, it’s not been a week. But it’s been the best few days I’ve ever had. You couldn’t know how wonderful this time has been for me too. There’s no gift I could give you, no yacht, no meal, no clothes that I could buy you that would adequately show you the difference you’ve made in my life. Thank you , Abby.”
They sat silently and held each other for a few minutes, basking in the moment.
***
ANDREW thought he had had a winning idea when he pulled Abby into the suite’s shower stall, but now that she followed him there, he reconsidered. In hindsight, the tub in the next suite would have been a better option for what he planned. This stall barely had enough room for one—let alone two full-grown adults. And since one of them was him, a strapping over-six-foot hulk, there was even less room. Abby was facing the showerhead, her eyes shut tight, and sighing in the hot stream of water as it cascaded down her face and over her breasts.
He envied her. In the back of the shower where he stood, it was chilly. And he was naked. He also envied the water. To caress those perfect, perky, just large enough, but
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