9
C ork was concerned Daisy seemed so out of it. She’d fallen asleep on the helicopter and barely woken up on the drive to the marina and the transfer to Intrepid . He told himself she was just exhausted, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
It was late by the time they’d arrived on the boat, and he had to admit he was pretty wiped out, too.
Beck had shown him to the cabin they would stay in. He lay her on the bed and gently removed her shoes, shorts, and top, wanting her to be comfortable, then covered her with a soft blanket. She was a sleeping beauty, and he gazed at her for a moment.
He turned off the light and walked over to the window and peered out the lowered blinds. Their cabin faced the berm, protecting the harbor with the sea beyond. It was dark now, and he flicked on a soft light, making sure it wouldn’t disturb Daisy.
He was hungry, but he didn’t want to leave the cabin. Grateful for the bowl of fruit on the table, he grabbed an apple and banana and ate them. Needing more, he hunted around for a mini fridge, pretty sure there would be one, and there was. Stocked with cheeses, meats, pastries, and other treats, he filled up and washed it down with a beer. He was crashing hard and nearly fell asleep on the couch. Getting a couple of bottles of water, he put one on the bedside table beside Daisy.
He needed to sleep too, and careful not to disturb her, he lay down next to her. As soon as he’d settled and pulled the comforter over him, Daisy rolled over. He put his arm around her and drew her closer. Liking how she rested her head on him.
Lord, it felt wonderful to lie down. He listened to Daisy’s breathing and with the gentle rock of the boat it wasn’t long until he was sound asleep.
Cork woke. For a moment, he didn’t know where he was. It was dark out and took a moment for him to remember he was on Intrepid . Thunder boomed overhead and he figured that must’ve been what woke him. He shifted and the body next to him moved with him.
He remembered he was in bed with Daisy. It was perfect.
Her arm draped over his waist, and her face tucked into his side. He pulled her closer, careful not to wake her and drew the covers over both of them. The warmth of her body, the soft sounds of her breathing, comforted him and eased him back to sleep with the echo of thunder around the boat.
“Cork, wake up.” Daisy’s voice pulled him up through the layers of sleep, wresting him from a very nice dream. “Wake up.”
He murmured, not really ready to open his eyes yet. “What’s up? Something wrong?”
He heard her sigh. “Where are we? How did we get here?” She gave him a nudge.
“We’re on Beck’s boat. Don’t you remember anything?” He opened his eyes and saw she was propped up on her elbow.
“Actually no, I don’t. The last thing I remember was being on the helicopter flying back here. So, what did you do—carry me?”
“Kinda. The flight from St Williams and the dive must’ve really done you in because you were out,” he told her and wished she’d go back to sleep. “I’m beat, can we talk in the morning?”
“That’s not like me. D-did we..? Because I’d hate to not remember that.”
He squeezed her gently. “No, comatose women are not my style.” He chuckled.
She gave a little snort. “I should hope not, but that’s so weird.”
“Not really. You’ve been busy with everything. Maybe the flight here and the dive brought it to a head.” He closed his eyes. “Come on, relax.”
“This is nice,” she whispered. She didn’t move her arm, and her fingers gently stroked his side.
Cork sighed and rubbed his thumb on her shoulder. “Yes, it is. It’s the middle of the night and way too early for this. Sleep.”
“Mmm, you too.” She snuggled closer to him.
Together like this seemed so totally natural. Like it was where they were meant to be. They’d grown closer with each passing day. He was drifting off, content and happy.
Lying cuddled up to Cork was so nice. In fact, it was more than nice, it was perfect. I closed my eyes again, not really wanting to move. This was just so darn cozy. My mind ran over everything that we had done yesterday up to the time I blanked out. For me to do that had to mean deep down, I felt safe with him. That he’d not let anything happen to me, and it moved me to the core.
He stroked my shoulder, and it lulled me. My body grew heavy, and I relaxed into the cushy bed. Being beside him made it even better.
“How long do you think we’ll stay on the boat?” I whispered.
“Why aren’t you sleeping?” His voice was soft.
“I can’t.”
“Couple days, depends how nasty Gilbert is.”
“Mmm.” I was so toasty under the sheets, and he was so warm. I drifted off and woke up a while later. Cork was still asleep with one arm flung over his head.
I sighed. Dawn began to peek around the window blinds, so I could faintly see his features. He opened his eyes and we looked at each other, silent. He tightened his arm around my shoulder. I raised my hand and cupped his cheek.
“I like you, Cork.” Admitting I liked him was easy. The difficult part was the trust thing. So far, he’d given me no reason to suspect him, but damn it, my dad had really done a number on me where trust and suspicion were concerned.
“I like you too, Daisy.” His smile was enough to chase the disturbing thoughts from my mind, and even more so when he pulled me onto him. I rested on his chest, searching his face to see what he was thinking.
All I saw was a softness in his eyes, and the slow smile that sent tingles racing through my body. He wrapped his arms around me, one hand sliding up my back to tangle in my hair. He drew me down to him until our lips touched.
I moaned when those tingles erupted into full scale trembling. I wanted him, dare I admit it, even more than the Sirena .
“You taste salty,” he said against my mouth.
I swept my tongue over his lips. “So do you.”
“Interested in taking this into the shower?” he asked.
I needed no prodding. “Yes, let’s. We’re still salty and sticky from the dive.”
“I’d be happy to wash it away for you, madam.” His voice held a suggestive tone and I giggled.
“Sounds wonderful.”
We slipped out of bed and Cork took my hand, leading me to the bathroom. It was crazy magnificent, totally not what I would have expected on a boat. But then this was a super yacht, so quite fitting.
He turned me around, his hands resting on my shoulders. “Okay?”
I nodded and reached for his shorts while he pulled my bra straps down, trapping my arms so I wasn’t able to move. I gasped when he lowered his head and pressed his lips to the curve of my neck.
That did it for me and I sagged into his arms. “Undress me.”
“With pleasure. But first…” He blazed a scorching trail from my neck to my mouth and closed his over mine. Nudging my lips open, his tongue met mine. The kiss, so deeply glorious and sensual, made stars burst behind my closed eyelids.
His fingers caressed my skin as he undressed me; I gasped and lost myself in the excruciatingly wonderful the way he touched me. When my arms were free, I wasn’t as gentle as he and pulled at his clothes until we were naked in front of each other. Our eyes locked, and the softness once reflected in his now held a fiery passion that matched the heat in me.
“Cork,” I said, my voice a whisper.
He smiled and gathered me into his arms. I gasped when our skin touched. My breasts pressed against his chest, our hips meeting and his arousal so very evident against me. I slid my arms around him, loving the sensation of his hardness under my fingers. His hands slid down my back and cupped my ass, lifting me easily, and I wrapped my legs around him.
He walked into the shower, and I reached for the knobs, turning on the spray. Soon, hot water rushed down our bodies and enveloped us in a cocoon of mist.
“I’ve wanted you since that first time I saw you on the balcony at the fundraiser.” His voice was a low growl. He let go of me and I slid down his body. The way he looked at me made me feel as if I were about to catch on fire.
He was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen, and it almost brought tears to my eyes. But he was so much more than that, more than just a pretty surface. Every day more layers to him peeled back, giving me glimpses of the man he was at his core.And I was falling for what I was seeing.
“Me too. Even if I did resist a bit.” The words I spoke came from somewhere buried in my heart. Soul. I realized how alone I’d been and how wonderful it was to share the world with another person.
We explored each other, caught in the continued discovery of us as the rosy glow of sunrise stained the mist and water showering us in a sultry embrace.
We came together with a passion that left me breathless and aching for more.