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His body warmed under her touch while she unbuttoned his shirt and pushed his jacket off his shoulders.

“Any requests, Sam?” Her voice shook a little, just like her hands did while she unbuckled his belt.

He kicked off his shoes and slacks, tossing his shirt and jacket onto the couch. “You, Pearly.” His arms brought her into his embrace, holding her snuggly to him. “Let me pleasure you. I can’t wait to taste you.”

She squeaked with surprise when he lifted her up and carried her to the bed, spreading her legs to kneel between them. She tried to sit up, but he pushed her down, pressing his palm on her stomach. He opened her with his thumbs, his tongue lightly teasing the sensitive folds. She didn’t try to sit up again but locked her fingers deep in his hair.

“Have your way with me,” she gasped. “You do it so well.” In her passion-induced drifting, she caught the scent of orchids and his cologne, the combination heady.

He needed no directions, probing deep inside her with his tongue and pulling gently on her clit until she bucked her hips up to attain full pleasure. She wanted to scream with frustration while he changed his exploration to her ass. His tongue worked its way down between her slit to lick her butt cheeks while he inserted two fingers inside her wet core. Making her wait soon paid off in dividends she had only wished for, his fingers stretching her while he sucked her clit with increasing force.

The explosion was coming, and she lifted her legs to clamp her knees around his head, the heat of approaching orgasm bringing out a soft scream she had to release. Fire and brimstone shattered around her while white-hot heat speared up from between her legs to light up the vacant darkness building around her.

His hands gripped her thighs, holding her to his mouth while she climaxed again, throwing herself into the blissful sweep of pleasure.

“Sam.” She couldn’t catch her breath, the strength in her legs gone, and she lay limp and exhausted.

She held her arms out to him when he stood up to remove his shorts and then lay down beside her. His erection pressed hot and strong against her thigh, bringing on another rush of desire to be in his control. He kissed her softly, tracing the underside of her breast until her nipples peaked with desire. She loved his intake of breath when she curled her fingers around his shaft, the way his stomach muscles tightened under her touch.

“Now, my lovely Pearly.” He paused to look at the paper bag at the foot of the bed. “I would love to break open that bag of party favors, but I’m at your service tonight.”

She smiled at his way of telling her he could wait until she wanted him. “We have all night, Sam.” She used her foot to pull the bag up toward them. “That’s the service I want right now.”

He reached for the condoms and dumped them over her belly. “You choose, my lovely.”

Eager to have more of him, Lana picked one and ripped the foil with her teeth, laughing huskily when she saw the color. “Red seems right for the moment.” She sat up to look at his cock and licked her lips. “My lord, it couldn’t be better.”

Temptation took over and she leaned over him to mouth the head of his erection, then licked her way up the underside to feel the texture of the veins and smooth skin. She tasted his hot salty essence and the scent of his soap, the perfect mingling of aromas teasing her senses. The head was in her mouth, the silky morsel warming her tongue.

He groaned, pulling her hand to his cock. “Enough, you tease. Put that red overcoat on me, and we’ll party as long as you’d like.”

Lana rolled the condom onto his erect shaft and stroked his belly. “Let’s start now, Sam.”

He pushed her onto her back, quickly pulling her legs up to his waist. His labored breathing tossed more fuel onto the flames, his deep thrusts urging her toward orgasm. She greedily clung to him, claiming him as her own, even if just for the moment. He was excitement and dark pleasure, carrying her away with him. She moved her hands over him, trying to take in every detail of his warm, muscular body, sliding her hand between them to feel the tight muscles of his belly.

He sat up and pulled her onto his thighs to face him. “Something new, Sam?”

“I like looking at you when we make love, Pearly.” He cupped her ass in his hands and pulled her closer. “You ready or do we need more time?”

She clenched around his cock and lightly spanked his hip. “Take me all the way, Sam.” His smile spoke of desire and unspeakable things like passion and love. “What are you thinking right now?”

“I’m thinking of how much time I wasted by not finding you two years ago.” He kissed her with persuasion, coaxing her mouth to soften under his.

She was breathless, gazing at him in stunned disbelief. “Did you think about me all that time, or are you being suave?”

“You, my lovely, took all my suave with you on that cold wintry night.” He nibbled her ear, kissing the tender spot under the lobe. “Hell yes I thought about you, looked for you around every corner. You’re not easy to forget.”

Should she confess her own torment or take his pretty words with a grain of salt? He was an agent with a busy past, and he knew all the right things to say.

She snuggled closer to take in all his warmth. “Let’s start a new chapter, Sam.”

He laid her down, covering her with his body, and settled between her legs, filling her with so much passion there wasn’t room for caution. His mouth that could sometimes appear angry possessed hers with the heat of deepest desire, their tongues touching, teasing, urgent. She tasted his exotic cologne, knowing it would lie in a fine veil over her skin after they made love. She wanted to be with him every second of the rest of her life, to be held in this erotic, spellbinding way.

She arched to him as he mouthed her nipples, the need to take all of him rushing over her like a hot wind. His thrusts were hard and deep, claiming her with their power and urgency until she reached orgasm, her lungs forcing her to breathe when she couldn’t. The exquisite sensations of her muscles contracting and shuddering around his cock took her far from any other need. She didn’t relax after the fireworks but clung to him with all her strength, urging him on to the same glorious, fiery orgasm she’d had. His energy carried him over the top, and he came with a loud moan, holding her close while his tremors subsided.

He rolled onto his side, pulling her over to lie across his chest. “Baby, if you’ll wait a few minutes, we can go again.”

Lana patted his ass and noticed his glutes quivered under her touch. He’d had a fantastic orgasm. “I’d never turn down an offer like that, Sam.” She laughed and combed his dark hair with her fingers. “Maybe we should rest a bit, shower, and have something to eat.”

His eyes were closed and Lana gazed at him for a while before getting up. A wisp of regret moved around her when she allowed herself to think how right this moment was and how soon it would be another haunting memory.

She wouldn’t be greedy, not when he obviously needed a nap. After getting clean panties and a bra, she decided to dress for comfort, taking a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt from the closet. Once she was standing in the warm spray of the shower, she sighed, having to admit the personal time felt good. The arrangement would be permanent in a few days. She had to get used to it all over again.

Waking Sam wouldn’t be necessary, she discovered. He stood outside the shower, waiting for her to open the stall door and leaning against the doorframe. “You should have dragged me out of bed, gorgeous.” He handed her a towel and kissed her shoulder. “You smell like a woman should.”

“And you look tired.” She wrapped the towel around herself and patted his stomach. “I’ll get dressed and wait for you. I know you’re hungry by now.”

“You’re not wrong, baby.” He yawned and stepped into the shower, the water’s spray covering his last words.

Just like a real couple, taking separate showers and not hearing everything the other one said. Lana picked up her clothes and went back to the bedroom, looking in the closet at Sam’s things hanging intimately close to hers. The road of twists and turns had somehow brought them to this place, and she couldn’t shake the foreboding cloud that spoiled the glow of the moment.

Shrugging it off, she put on the clothing and brushed her hair, winding it into a coil at the nape of her neck. She put on a pair of blue deck shoes and looked for her purse. She found it on the floor by the door. Sam’s Glock and shield drew her attention, bringing her out of the sweet reverie she’d been in.

“What’s going on, Pearly?” Sam wasn’t teasing, his voice deep and smooth. “You look a little out of sorts.”

“Nothing of the kind, Sam.” She took a pair of jeans and a sage green shirt from the closet and tossed them in his direction.

“How about some shorts and socks, Pearly?” He put the shirt back on its hanger and brought out a dark blue, long-sleeved chambray. He took the underwear she chose and pulled them on, eyeing her with quiet speculation. “I won’t be long, baby.”

She watched him put on his clothes, amazed by the minimum amount of time it took for him to come out a finished, awesomely sexy male in jeans and chambray. She took the bottle of aftershave from his hand and sniffed the contents.

“Let me put this on you tonight.”

The gleam in his eyes was enough to strike an instant cord of desire in her body. Her hands shook slightly as she poured the fragrant liquid into her palm and then pat it onto his chin and beautifully sculpted cheeks.

“You do that so well, Pearly, I think we should make it part of our daily routine from now on.” He reached for his weapon and clipped it on his belt. “I can’t wait to give you a pedicure.”

She only heard the part about a daily routine. Was he suggesting something permanent? That was insane thinking on her part. He humored her, never ran short of charming platitudes. He’d had two years to find her and make his intentions clear. Too little too late. Plus, this had to be the worst timing on earth for two people to go off track with personal emotions. Hot sex and time alone. That’s all it was. They were on assignment, not a damn vacation.

“I think we should go make another head count, Sam.” She opened her purse and dropped her weapon inside, slinging the strap over her shoulder. “We contact the bureau when we come back and report our plans. I won’t try to take Antigua down without telling them our location.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He sounded a little pissed off, but she didn’t care.

They had spent far too much time romping in bed while Antigua did God knows what.

* * * *

Sam put his arm around Lana’s waist, trying to protect her from the jostle of half-drunk passengers who had partied too long and were wandering around like a herd of steers looking for water. He sensed her cool reserve toward him earlier and racked his brain to figure out what had happened. Hell, he’d grown an iron shield around himself to let women’s anger bounce off his hide. But this woman got to him.

He stopped Lana at the entrance to the lavish buffet spread out for their enjoyment. The feeling trouble wasn’t far away nagged hard now. “How do you feel about kidnapping, Pearly?”

She didn’t appear alarmed or surprised. “What are we talking about here?”

“Just a hunch.” He took her arm, guiding her to the table. “I’ll tell you while we eat.”

She didn’t say anything while they filled their plates, but he could practically see the wheels turning in her brain. Right now, she looked so damn sexy he wanted to carry her back to their cabin and forget Antigua. No time for that now. Maybe never again. It seemed being with Pearly on a permanent basis required time and perfect circumstances, neither of which he had.

They sat at a small table near the exit and observed the crowd. Sam grinned with amusement when Lana pocketed a handful of hard candies. She shrugged and laughed, patting her pocket like an ornery kid.

“They taste awfully good in the middle of the night.” She probably didn’t know it, but she had revealed something private about herself. She liked midnight refrigerator raids just like him.

Suddenly conscious of the weapon he carried, Sam pulled his shirt together. “Say, Pearly. You carrying tonight?”

She swallowed her bite of lobster and nodded. “What’s on your mind?”

He grimaced, not sure what his answer should be. “Something’s not right. What’s to keep Antigua’s new friends from off loading this tub and taking the stash with them?”

She narrowed her eyes and tapped his arm. “Not a damn thing, especially if half this crew is working for Antigua.”

He knew she was on the mark with her thinking and they had to act fast or be chasing that sucker for the next six months.

Sam wiped his mouth and tossed the napkin onto his plate. “Think about it. Cuba’s a short boat ride away. While we’ve been babysitting Antigua, his men have been coming and going at will.” He clenched his teeth, angry at his lack of intuition. “What’s to keep them from taking Antigua with them on the next trip?”

She leaned over to touch his cheek. “So, let’s talk about getting that animal in a cage.”

“We’re going to be out here for one more day.” He squeezed her shoulder. “We can’t let him slip through the noose.”

Chapter Seventeen

Walking to the pool area seemed to take forever, the waves hitting the sides of the ship sounding louder than Lana noticed before. Just nerves, she told herself. Sam hadn’t spoken since they left the dining room and that made her anxious as well. What was wrong with her? She knew this moment had to come, but somehow it hadn’t worried her. Not until now.

The darkness hovered around the ship like an ominous cloak, silencing the rowdy voices that usually filled the night. The evening activities had drawn most of the passengers to the lower decks for a final big band party.

As they reached the entry door, Sam pulled her close, hugging her tight. She could hear the rumble of his voice with her ear pressed to his chest.

“Pearly, before we take Antigua down, I want to make sure you’re ready.”

“That’s a funny thing to say, Horn.”

“Well, hell.” He kissed her roughly. “If you have any ideas or just plain want to wait until we dock, tell me now.”