Read Online Winter of the Passion Flower (The de Vargas Family) by Annie Seaton - Free Book Online Page B

certainty the plantation remained
secure. Stepping from the shade of the jungle into the open plantation, the
warm sunshine caressed them like the steam of a Turkish bathhouse. Indigo
stopped, pointing at the cliffs ahead, covered with a mass of brilliant blue
flowers in full bloom.
    “The blue passionflower,” she said proudly.
“The plant is complex. It has five sepals and five petals similar in
appearance, surrounded by the blue corona. Each plant has five yellow stamens
and three purple stigmas. As I said before we will only be able to collect the
stamens today.” She walked to the base of the cliffs, before reaching up to
pick a large bloom. “Unless by some miracle, Luis arrives with the containers.”
    Zane watched her as she gently held the
stamen between her forefinger and thumb before removing it from the rest of the
plant. He did not move or speak, standing silently with his arms crossed.
    “Do you have a problem with that, Captain?
It is a very simple process.”
    Zane kicked at the damp mulch beneath his
feet, turning his back to her, arms still folded across his chest.
    “Oh God, what now?” she asked crossly,
moving around in front of him. She stared at him. “What on earth is the matter
now?”
    “Madame.” Zane glared at her. “Your
botanical knowledge is most impressive, however I am struggling to understand
why in God’s name, we have traveled over two hundred years for the collection
of this plant. I have seen it growing wild in our time, against sunny walls on
the Cornish coast. Indeed, some of my voyages in the navy were to protect
expeditions that brought back this same plant to the temperate gardens of
Cornwall.” He shook his head and his frustration was apparent.
    “Place your trust in me, Captain. If you
recall, you were commissioned solely, to pilot my submarine. It is necessary.”
Reaching to touch his arm, she smiled as Zane walked toward the vines. “Now we
must commence work. And watch out for snakes.”
    The morning grew hotter and perspiration
trickled down Indigo’s back and her shirt stuck to her uncomfortably. Working
their way through the plantation, she insisted Zane break regularly to drink
plenty of water. Finally they reached the plants at the base of the cliff and
she waved to him, calling him to join her at the point where the vines snaked
up the cliff face.
    “Now, to answer one of your many questions,
Captain.” With a mischievous smile, Indigo continued. “Take off your shirt.”
    Zane did not move.
    “Please,” she added.
    He pulled his shirt off over his head and Indigo
fought for self-control as she gazed at the well-sculpted chest in front of
her. Tearing her eyes away, she held her hands together, fighting the urge to
run her fingers across the taut stomach where a V of dark hair snaked into his
jeans. Smiling up at him, she knelt down, using her knife to slit his T-shirt
open down one side, laying it flat on the ground. Gently lifting each stamen
from the small pile gathered, Indigo placed them on the cotton fabric. “Now we
only need a few more of the larger blooms that grow on the cliff face and we
will have enough. Can you climb up there?”
    Nodding, Zane climbed a couple of meters up
the cliff face, gaining footholds in the twisted stems of the vine. Drinking
the last of her water, Indigo watched as he carefully removed the stamens from
the largest blooms that were tucked into a small crack and protected from the
weather. He cradled them gently against his bare chest and he stretched out for
those just beyond his reach. The muscles in his tanned back flexed when he
reached for the highest passionflowers, and the now familiar warmth worked its
way down to the juncture between her thighs.
    Can I trust
him?
    He was certainly a fine physical specimen.
The captain would make a pleasant addition to her enterprise and to her bed.
Making a sudden decision, Indigo followed her instincts, calling up to him.
“You have gathered enough, Captain. We must