what’s gotten into me today. Please, reconsider. You’re already here and, unless you’re planning on swimming back to shore, you’re stuck. You don’t have to go. I’m sure the ship has a clothing store of some sort. We’ll go to the director and get this all straightened out, I promise. This is just a little inconvenience. Look at the bright side. We’ll probably score free margarita pitchers poolside. I saw these coconut monkey cups on special.”
“I don’t call having my room raided by a…” Again a manly brow rose and Clare paused in frustration. Every time she looked at him her body quaked with hot desire. It made it hard to concentrate. Her stomach leapt with longing.
Dominik shifted his weight and his gaze darkened. It was almost as if he knew what he did to her. He left her feeling vulnerable and exposed. She didn’t like it. She was used to holding her own, especially with men. The fact that Dominik melted her with just one heated look and a single syllable from his gorgeous mouth, made her very nervous. She didn’t have sexual impulses that made her want to jump just any cute man. That kind of thing she left to Kira. She shook her head in confusion, feeling helpless and very alone.
Weakly, Clare finished her thought, “I don’t consider having my personal belongings thrown overboard a fun time. My favorite shirt was in there and now I have nothing to wear but this stupid bedspread. I’m going home.”
“You can borrow something of mine,” Kira offered, “just until we can find that gift shop.”
“Your stuff won’t fit me. It barely fits you.”
Kira grinned. Only she would be proud of that fact.
“There is no need for that,” Dominik stated. His Russian accent slipped leisurely from his lips. He crossed over to a dresser, pulled open a drawer and lifted out a red silk dress. He carefully laid it on the bed, caressing it as if his fingers felt something far beyond just silk. His dark gaze looked directly into hers. “You can wear this.”
“I don’t like dresses!” Clare snarled, growling at him just to be difficult. She had a few dresses she wore to work but he didn’t need to know that. She tapped her foot like a spoiled child and pouted her lips. “Whose dress is it anyway? Is it yours? Oh, gawd, Kira, you didn’t hire a transvestite to show me a good time did you?”
Kira shook her head no, and Clare was slightly sorry about kicking her sarcasm into full force.
“You must wear it.” Dominik actually managed to look apologetic. “And you cannot go home. The ship is already far out to sea. Unless, like your friend has said, you would prefer to swim back to shore.”
Clare’s mouth opened, ready to lay into the handsome irritation. She lifted her finger on the beginning of a tirade. Dominik smiled, lifted his hand, and again she felt the warm and fuzzy calmness. The man seemed to exude it like a heavy perfume.
“Come on,” Kira said with a small laugh, before Clare could get a word out. She grabbed the man’s arm and pulled. “Dominik, why don’t you wait in my room with Cabin Boy, where you’ll be a little more welcome?”
“That is my room.” The sexy man, otherwise known as Kira’s latest male conquest, motioned behind him to Kira’s room. He frowned as Kira shot him an indignant look.
Kira rolled her eyes. Clare still stared at the red dress and didn’t move. Kira pushed both men through the door. It always amazed Clare how Kira could appear to take control of any situation. “Just go wait in there for now! We’ll just have to get this whole room mix-up taken care of at the ship orientation. It was a welcome mistake, but a mistake all the same. Oh, and you two, don’t do anything unless you take pictures.”
They looked shocked as Kira shut the door on them. Turning around, she dusted her hands for effect. “Oh my, he’s so incredibly hot. I would have so jumped his bones! Why in the world were you screaming like that, Clare?”
“You’re
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