Desire In His Eyes (8 page)

As usual Harrison woke before dawn. What was completely unusual was the naked woman beside him. Everything came crashing back to him in a split second.

He had bedded Juliette Hamilton.

Christ! He never should have done something so irrevocably stupid. He did not dally with innocents. Despite his belief that Juliette was on her way to reunite with her lover, he was now quite sure that this man of hers had not taken any liberties with her, for Juliette had been a virgin. His heart turned over in his chest.

There she lay, sleeping sweetly in his arms, the most terrifying angel he had ever met.

He took a breath and shook his head at what he had done. He held Juliette tighter to him, enjoying her warmth. Glancing out the small window, he saw the faint lightening of the dawn sky. The rough movements of the ship told him how stormy it was and he could hear the rain. He should get up and go above deck.

But first he had to deal with the beautiful woman sleeping in his bed.

Juliette’s silky, black hair spilled around them, her head resting on his chest. Her warm naked body pressed closed to his. She seemed a quiet and peaceful girl, not the impetuous and reckless beauty who had seduced him last night. Good God! She had seduced
him.
And he was not a man who was easily tempted.

Harrison would have to marry her now. The relentless thought pounded in his head. He did not want a wife particularly. As he had informed Juliette the night before, a wife and family were vague notions in his future. They were certainly nothing he was contemplating now. Yet here he was, with Juliette Hamilton in his bed. What was the old saying? Time to pay the piper? It went something like that. There was no help for it.

Harrison had taken advantage of her, and now he must take responsibility for what he had done, no matter what her plans in New York were. Juliette belonged to him now. He certainly could never allow her to marry someone else.

An odd possessiveness overcame him as he gazed down at her in the dim predawn light.

Now that was the most thrilling, most exhilarating thing I have ever done in my entire life.
When Juliette declared those words to him last night, he silently agreed with her. It
had
been thrilling and exhilarating between them and he loved that she had compared the feeling to when she had climbed the mizzenmast and felt like she was flying.

He pressed a kiss on her cheek and breathed deeply of her scent. Strands of her silky black hair lay against his arm. The feel of her body next to his awakened something in him that he could not define. He would marry her. Not only because it was the decent thing to do and Lucien would more than likely shoot him if he did not, the mere thought of another man touching her caused his heart to pound ridiculously in his chest.

What was it about her that caused him to react this way? What was so damned special about Juliette Hamilton? Yes, she was beautiful. And exciting. Stubborn and fearless. But there was something else, something more, about her that he could not easily put into words.

Her eyes fluttered open and they stared at each other for a long moment. She leaned up and kissed him before flinging her head back on the pillows. “Good morning, Captain.” She flashed him a sleepy smile. “It’s not time to get up already is it?”

“No,” he shook his head. “Not quite.”

“Good.” She wrapped her legs around his and snuggled deeper into his arms.

He welcomed her soft closeness by holding her tighter. He whispered in her ear. Such a small, delicate ear she had. “Are you saying you are not ready to get out of bed?”

“If it’s still dark out then that is exactly what I am saying,” she mumbled with her eyes closed.

Her warm body warmed his. “I take it that you are not an early riser?”

She muttered something unintelligible into the crook of his neck, which he took to be a negative response, and he grinned mischievously.

“Oh, well, it seems we must change your outlook on this matter. Don’t you realize how important it is to start your day early, Juliette? To rise with the sun?”

She did not move. He heard a sort of a snore.

He gave her a little nudge. “Wake up, Juliette!”

Frowning at him with her eyes closed, she grumbled, “It’s an ungodly hour, Harrison. The sun is not even up yet, so why should I be? Go back to sleep.”

“I’m the captain. This is my ship.”

“Then you can get up. I’m staying here.”

“There is a storm brewing,” he threatened.

“Even more reason to stay in bed,” she said remaining firmly entrenched in place. “Who wants to be out on deck on a rainy morning, anyway?”

“That is not a good enough excuse to remain abed all morning.” Although if anyone could tempt him to do just that, it would be in a bed with Juliette.

“I’m tired.” She yawned unabashedly. “If you recall, we were up half the night.”

“Yes, you have a valid point there,” he agreed in an amiable tone, a helpless smile on his face at the memory. They had been up more than half the night. They had not been able to keep their hands off each other. It had been incredible, unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

“You can get up if you like, Harrison, but I’m staying right here.” Juliette tightened her hold on him with her legs and her eyes closed in determination.

“My, my, Miss Hamilton.” Harrison shook his head and made “tsk, tsk” sounds, while trying not to laugh. “You have proven yourself to be a dreadful seamstress, useless at scrubbing a deck, and now I detect a most disconcerting lazy streak in your character.” He gave an exaggerated sigh. “It seems the task is up to me to find some way for you to earn your keep aboard this vessel.”

He tapped his fingers along her shoulder. “Hmm…” He continued tapping thoughtfully on her bare, slender shoulder. Creamy smooth and delectable. Yes, it was a very tempting thought, indeed. Staying in bed with Juliette all day.

After a sudden bright flash of light, a tremendous explosion of thunder rocked the cabin, causing Juliette to sit up with a startled, high-pitched shriek.

Harrison laughed at her. “Now I know how to get you to wake up!”

She slapped his arm in exasperation and sank back into the depths of the warm blankets. “You are terribly mean. That was directly on top of us.”

He continued laughing. “Come now. Get up and come on the deck with me. I want to show you something.” In a swift movement he pulled the covers off, leaving her beautiful naked body revealed to him. He paused at the sight.

She stared at him, irritation evident in her blue eyes. “You are simply not going to let me sleep are you?”

“No.” He grinned wickedly at her. “You can’t beat me, so you might as well join me.” He leaned down and kissed her.

“Are all Americans as annoying and arrogant as you?” she snapped as she tried to tug the covers back over herself.

“Not quite.” He yanked the blankets away from her and gave her a nudge toward the edge of the bed. “Now get moving.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” she grumbled miserably as she staggered from the bed.

Harrison chuckled at her sarcasm while suddenly feeling cold at her departure from the warm blankets. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, enjoying the view of Juliette’s bare bottom as she crossed the room and began to dress. For a long moment, he debated grabbing her and pulling her back into bed and making love to her all day, but as the ship lurched on the waves of a storm, his sense of duty swayed him in the other direction.

A half an hour later, after hot coffee, they both stood on the captain’s deck behind the wheel. Juliette was bundled up in his clothes, covered in oilskins and boots with a large southwester hat pulled down low over her head, and screaming in delight as the
Sea Minx
bounded over the roaring waves. It was a rough and wild ride and Harrison loved the fact that Juliette was loving every minute of the high waves and wind. He had certainly weathered more severe storms than this one, but it was a fairly strong squall just the same. It would not last much longer. Most people would be losing their breakfast over the side of the boat, especially a first-timer like Juliette. But there she stood, gamely hanging onto the railing, her blue eyes alight with excitement and a beaming smile on her beautiful face as she stared out at the ominous sea and clouds. She amazed him.

A blinding flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a tremendous crash of thunder. Juliette did not flinch.

“You’re not even a little afraid, are you?” he called to her over the pounding rain.

She turned her sparkling eyes toward him. “Are we going to capsize?” she asked.

“Not a chance.” Not in a storm this weak they wouldn’t and certainly not on his watch. He would not risk having Juliette up on deck if he thought she was in any danger, which is why he had also insisted she wear a cork lifejacket tied over the oilskins.

“Then I’m not afraid.” She grinned at him, her angelic face wet with rain.

Harrison’s heart flipped over in his chest at her sheer bravery and beauty. He had never met a woman to compare to her.

When the storm abated, Harrison and Juliette returned to his cabin to change out of their drenched clothing.

As she plucked his oversized, wet shirt from her body, she chattered in excitement. “That was absolutely thrilling! I’ve never seen waves that high before! Oh, my heart is still racing! That was by far the most adventurous thing I’ve ever experienced. Everything on this ship makes me feel as if I am truly living!”

“
Everything
?” he asked, eyeing her naked, damp body. Slowly, he held out a dry towel to her. She was more than stunning. Last night in his arms she had been more than passionate. Juliette seemed to live every opportunity to its fullest.

She took the towel, her eyes lingering on him. “Yes, everything.”

The light in her eyes as she looked at him caused an odd sensation in his chest. He smiled back at her, watching at she modestly wrapped the towel around herself, covering her luscious breasts. “Why do you think that is?” he asked, unable to take his eyes off of her.

She cast him a triumphant smile. “Because for the first time in my life I am doing exactly what I want, without anyone telling me what I should or should not do. I have no mother or father scolding me about my behavior and how I should show more decorum and act more ladylike as my sisters do. I have no prim aunt or stuffy old uncle lecturing me on my deportment. I have no sisters or brother-in-law, however well meaning, warning me that I am causing a scandal. I am free.”

“You are forgetting someone.” With leisurely movements, he stripped off his own wet clothing.

“Am I now?” She stared back at him in blatant appreciation.

Because he knew she was watching him, he ran the dry towel over his naked body with deliberate slowness. “Most definitely.”

“I’m sure I don’t know to whom you are referring,” she responded in a somewhat flirtatious tone, her eyes lingering on his lower body. “I don’t believe I’ve forgotten anyone.”

“What about the captain of this vessel?” He gave her a wolfish grin. “Are you already forgetting that you must obey all his orders?”

“Ah, yes.” Her hands still clutching the towel closed in front of her, Juliette took a step toward him. Her blue eyes twinkled. “How could I forget? It seems I have a handsome sea-captain ordering me about.”

“Handsome, eh?” He liked that, coming from her.

“Oh, yes, handsome. Very.” She stepped closer, a smile playing around the corners of her mouth.

“It’s the rule of the sea. You must obey all orders from a captain.”

“All orders?” she questioned in mock surprise, her eyebrows arching.

“Yes,” he said. “To the letter.”

“I see.” She nodded at him, her eyes directly upon his.

Fascinated by the interplay between them, Harrison felt his body respond heatedly to her nearness. “Come closer,” he commanded.

She moved until she stood an inch or two from him. He could smell the sea spray in her hair, which hung in dark, damp tendrils around her face. God, but she was a beautiful woman. She stared up at him expectantly.

“Drop the towel.”

Her amused expression vanished as her sultry eyes darkened with desire. Without the slightest hesitation, Juliette let the white towel slip from her fingers. It fell to her feet on the floor with a quiet swish. She stood naked before him. He sucked in his breath at the sight. Her creamy white skin glowed luminous in the candlelight. He fought the impulse to touch her. For now.

“Now kiss me,” he murmured how, his voice husky with hunger for her. He held his breath, waiting to see if she would follow his order.

“Aye, aye, Captain,” she whispered before standing on her tiptoes to place a kiss on his lips.

Her bare breasts brushed against his chest and he suddenly could not breathe. Harrison wrapped his arms around her, easing his mouth over hers in a slow and deep kiss. A small sigh escaped her as their tongues met. He could easily drown in the sweetness of her and not care if he ever came up for air again. Her fingers splayed through his damp hair, massaging his scalp in slow, easy motions sending shafts of pleasure through his body. Their lips clung together as his hands stroked the length of her back, reaching lower to caress the curve of her smooth buttocks. Her skin warmed under his touch and she seemed to melt against him. He lifted her easily in his arms and carried her to his bed. He lay beside her, placing delicate kisses along her cheeks, her nose, her chin, and down her soft neck to the hollow of her throat, aching to feel every inch of her with his mouth.

Harrison made love to her all afternoon as the
Sea Minx
sailed into calmer waters. Afterward, they dozed in each other’s arms and didn’t even dress when they finally roused themselves enough to eat. Robbie had brought food to the cabin, his eyes as wide as saucers when understanding dawned that Harrison and Juliette where in the cabin together. Undoubtedly they were the talk of the ship, but there was no help for it now. His crew would take it in stride, and Juliette did not seem to mind; at least not at the moment. But he would deal with that issue later.