"I appreciate your consideration. My temper is a little frayed these days."
"Then we'll have to do something to repair it." She moved toward him across the cabin. "I have a suggestion." She stopped before him and took his hand. "You're usually very relaxed afterward." She put his hand on her breast.
A long shudder went through him. "What the devil are you doing here?"
"I don't think I could make it any plainer." Her hands went to the knot of her sarong. "But I'll try."
He snatched her hand away. "Stop it. This isn't the time… Christ, what am I saying?"
"Foolishness."
He ran his fingers through his hair. "I think you're right. I should just reach out and grab… No, goddammit; it has to be right this time." He pulled her down to her knees on the floor in front of him. "Is it lust? Did you come here because it's the Josephine and it's what you became accustomed to doing? Because if it is, then you can just get out of here…" He muttered, "Maybe."
"There will always be lust." Her smile faded. "But that's not why I'm here." It was time. It had to be said, but she couldn't look at him when she said it. She laid her cheek on his knees. "I… love you. It would please me if you would marry me. I'd like to live with you all my life. I'd like you to give me children." Her throat was tight with tears and she tried to joke. "If you do, I promise I'll even let you ride Kapu."
"Then how could I resist?" She was suddenly on his lap, his face buried in her breasts. "God, I love you. I was afraid it would take months to get you to-" His words were muffled. "I didn't know what to do."
She held him fiercely close. She would never let him go again. She said shakily, "You did very well."
He lifted his head, and his blue eyes were gleaming with mischief. "I can do better." His fingers fumbled with the knot of her sarong. "Now that I know you're not just using me to quench your-"
The door of the cabin was flung open. "You've got to come quick!"
They both turned in astonishment to see Josette standing in the doorway.
"There's a storm coming. Can't you feel this deck pitching?" Josette said. "I've been trying to quiet them, but I need you." She suddenly became aware of Cassie's dishabille. "Oh, an orgy? How interesting. Well, you can do it later. Is that your sarong? You're right, it's much more shocking than my trousers. You must let me wear it sometime." She frowned as she returned to more important concerns. "Don't just sit there. I need help with the horses." She turned and vanished from the open doorway.
"I'm going to throw her overboard," Jared said through his teeth.
Cassie was still dazed. "She stowed away?"
"She must have sailed down the coast in her boat and managed to hide herself in the cargo hold before we arrived here." Jared stood up and put Cassie on her feet. "God in heaven, what am I going to do with her?"
Cassie started to laugh; she couldn't help it. Life would never go as expected for them. There would always be twists and turns, storms and sunlight. Well, what of it? Serenity would probably bore them both.
"Exactly what she told us to do. We're going to help her with the horses." She took his hand and lovingly smiled into his eyes. "And have our orgy later."
About the Author
Iris Johansen has won every major romance writing award for her achievements in the genre since the publication of her very first novel, which earned her the Best New Category Romance Author Award from Romantic Times. She has won the
Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Award as their reader's favorite author, and most recently was honored with Romantic Times's Lifetime Achievement Award.