Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [55]
She inhaled sharply.
He glanced up swiftly. “No?”
“I wasn't rejecting you, dammit. We're not going to get anywhere if you keep treating me like a cripple. It just felt . . . exciting. It's all connected, isn't it? You touch me there and I feel it . . . everywhere.”
“That's the way it works.” His voice was thick. “And sometimes it works very fast. So I think we'd better get downstairs to my cabin.”
He tried to get his breath. “Did I hurt you?”
“I don't remember.” Kelby had been passionate in the extreme and there might have been roughness. She had no right to complain. After the first few minutes they had both been almost animalistic. She vaguely remembered her nails digging into his shoulders. “Did I hurt you?”
“No, but you surprised the hell out of me.”
“It surprised me too. It wasn't like that with the men Carolyn chose. She did her best, but that was . . . clinical.”
“I bet she was disappointed.”
“Yes, she said we'd try again later. I shied away from it, but if I'd known it was this good, I might have gone along with her.”
“I think you should stay with me. I'm a proven product.” He drew her closer. “No bad vibes?”
“A few, at first. But then they went away. I guess it was because we were like a couple of bears trying to get at each other. It seemed very . . . natural. If there was a victim in this bed, it was you, Kelby.”
“And I'll gladly sacrifice my body again. I'm happy I could please.”
She didn't speak for a moment. “It was interesting.”
Kelby chuckled. “Not the most enthusiastic comment on my sexual expertise.” He brushed his lips on her temple. “And it was more than interesting to you. You were damn hot.”
“And that was interesting too.” Melis moved closer to him. “It went on and on. I believe you must be like Pete.”
“What?”
“You once said you were highly sexed, like Pete. I think you're right.”
“Is that a hint? I'm ready.”
Oh, yes, he was ready. And so was she. It was incredible that she could want it again so soon. The years and Carolyn must have brought healing. She would have been so pleased. . . .
Kelby raised himself on one elbow. “Where the devil are you going?”
“To my cabin to shower and dress.” She hesitated. “I want you to know that I realize this didn't mean anything to you. I meant to tell you before, but I got distracted.”
“I was a little distracted myself, and it did mean something.”
She smiled. “A damn good time. But I know you don't have any reason to trust women, and I never realized until tonight that a man can be vulnerable too. I just wanted to tell you that I'm not going to sue you or cry buckets when you go sailing away. No commitments. That's what's so good about what happened tonight.”
“Is it?” He was silent a moment. “Then why don't you come back and we'll indulge in some more uncommitted sex.”
She shook her head. “I have to check on Pete and Susie.”
He threw the sheet aside. “I'll go with you.”
“Why? You must have things to do here.” She grimaced. “Like sleep. We didn't get much.”
“Nicholas is still in town and I don't want you to go anywhere alone.”
Archer. How could she have forgotten him? “He hasn't called me yet.”
“Thank God. I don't think I could handle that at the moment.”
“You can't have someone trailing behind me all the time.” She moistened her lips. “Get me a gun, Kelby.”
“Okay, but a gun isn't the solution to every problem. You need a bodyguard, and you'll get it. Either me or someone I trust.” He headed for the shower. “Archer would love to get his hands on you, and you're not as protected as you were on the island. I'm not going to have to visit a morgue and identify your body because you're being stubborn.” The bathroom door closed behind him.
Carolyn lying dead and savaged on that cold metal table.
She shivered as she opened the door to the hall. That memory was like plunging into the depths of icy water. She would take the bodyguard. These last hours had reinforced again how much she owed Carolyn. She wasn't entirely healed, but she was on the way. Debts had to be paid.
And she had to stay alive