that’s a pun, I’ve heard better.”
“It is, and you haven’t,” he cracked. “Come on, let’s put these things in to soak and get out of here before your adolescent Lothario comes back.” He refused her help and she wandered out on deck, inhaling the odd but not unpleasant mixture of gardenias, fish and diesel fuel that drifted out from the shore; and when he came up behind her quietly and placed his hands on her shoulders, she leaned back against the warm solidity of his body as naturally as she drew her next breath.
“The trouble with these compact designs,” he murmured against her ear, “is that there’s only one place with room enough for two.”
She couldn’t bring herself to ask, but he told her anyway. “The forward cabin.”
Picturing the V berth where Kiel had slept last night, Willy didn’t answer, but he must have felt het pulses jump before he went on. “You were about to tell me the story of your life, weren’t you?”
At that, she stirred, and he took advantage of the movement to turn her and hold her to him with both arms. “You were about to tell me ,’’ she corrected.
“What about a trade-off?” He punctuated his suggestion with a kiss on each comer of her mouth and another on the tip of her nose, and when her arms, of their own accord, wound around his neck, his mouth found hers and began a taunting seduction that left her weak and trembling.
“See?” she whispered shakily when he lifted his lips from her soft, wanting mouth, “I told you that went without saying.”
“In the vernacular . . . you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” He rubbed the tip of her nose with his and his soft laughter played on her skin like some exotic breeze, and then he led her to the widest of the two benches and sat down in one comer, drawing her down to lean against him. When she put up her bare feet and snuggled comfortably against his chest, he held her loosely, his hand splaying out on her stomach to bum through the thin stuff of her dress. “All right, begin. You were born, right?”
“You’re absolutely right! How clever of you to guess!” she crowed softly, and he flicked his cigar over the side and brought his hand up to capture her chin and turn her face to his.
“Shall I fill in the details for you?” he asked, and she nodded, too affected by his nearness and the scent of coffee, cigar and clean, healthy maleness to do more.
“You were born in Florida . . . central, I’d say, because you don’t strike me as a girl who grew up on the water, yet you’re not altogether unfamiliar with it. Let’s see . . . father, a doctor, a dentist, or maybe a businessman who spoils his little girl by indulging her taste for pretty cars. Mother . . . ?” He shrugged and Willy felt the play of muscles beneath his dark red knit shirt. “Not a very dominant figure in your upbringing. You show much more influence of men. Sisters? I’d say none, but brothers, perhaps—much older and also prone to indulge in baby sister. How’m I doing so far?”
“It’s your story; you tell it.”
“All right, now, let’s see. Girl comes of age, having conquered every male within range, wants to expand her territory. Dad doesn’t like it, but he’s a pushover, and so girl sets out on her own and soon finds out she can turn any man she wants to upside down and wrong side out. Can’t resist playing little-girl games—lead ’em on, turn ’em off—but still waits for something trophysized before bringing out the heavy ammunition. The question is, has she spotted her trophy yet?”
The night air grew chilly and Willy shivered. Suddenly, it wasn’t so much fun anymore. She stared broodingly at the fingers that twisted together on her lap.
“Willy? No comment?”
She twitched a shoulder expressively, not knowing what to say without revealing the hurt she felt at his unflattering portrait. Somehow, she hadn’t expected him to consider her a mercenary flirt. She said as much.
“Did I say that? I
“It is, and you haven’t,” he cracked. “Come on, let’s put these things in to soak and get out of here before your adolescent Lothario comes back.” He refused her help and she wandered out on deck, inhaling the odd but not unpleasant mixture of gardenias, fish and diesel fuel that drifted out from the shore; and when he came up behind her quietly and placed his hands on her shoulders, she leaned back against the warm solidity of his body as naturally as she drew her next breath.
“The trouble with these compact designs,” he murmured against her ear, “is that there’s only one place with room enough for two.”
She couldn’t bring herself to ask, but he told her anyway. “The forward cabin.”
Picturing the V berth where Kiel had slept last night, Willy didn’t answer, but he must have felt het pulses jump before he went on. “You were about to tell me the story of your life, weren’t you?”
At that, she stirred, and he took advantage of the movement to turn her and hold her to him with both arms. “You were about to tell me ,’’ she corrected.
“What about a trade-off?” He punctuated his suggestion with a kiss on each comer of her mouth and another on the tip of her nose, and when her arms, of their own accord, wound around his neck, his mouth found hers and began a taunting seduction that left her weak and trembling.
“See?” she whispered shakily when he lifted his lips from her soft, wanting mouth, “I told you that went without saying.”
“In the vernacular . . . you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” He rubbed the tip of her nose with his and his soft laughter played on her skin like some exotic breeze, and then he led her to the widest of the two benches and sat down in one comer, drawing her down to lean against him. When she put up her bare feet and snuggled comfortably against his chest, he held her loosely, his hand splaying out on her stomach to bum through the thin stuff of her dress. “All right, begin. You were born, right?”
“You’re absolutely right! How clever of you to guess!” she crowed softly, and he flicked his cigar over the side and brought his hand up to capture her chin and turn her face to his.
“Shall I fill in the details for you?” he asked, and she nodded, too affected by his nearness and the scent of coffee, cigar and clean, healthy maleness to do more.
“You were born in Florida . . . central, I’d say, because you don’t strike me as a girl who grew up on the water, yet you’re not altogether unfamiliar with it. Let’s see . . . father, a doctor, a dentist, or maybe a businessman who spoils his little girl by indulging her taste for pretty cars. Mother . . . ?” He shrugged and Willy felt the play of muscles beneath his dark red knit shirt. “Not a very dominant figure in your upbringing. You show much more influence of men. Sisters? I’d say none, but brothers, perhaps—much older and also prone to indulge in baby sister. How’m I doing so far?”
“It’s your story; you tell it.”
“All right, now, let’s see. Girl comes of age, having conquered every male within range, wants to expand her territory. Dad doesn’t like it, but he’s a pushover, and so girl sets out on her own and soon finds out she can turn any man she wants to upside down and wrong side out. Can’t resist playing little-girl games—lead ’em on, turn ’em off—but still waits for something trophysized before bringing out the heavy ammunition. The question is, has she spotted her trophy yet?”
The night air grew chilly and Willy shivered. Suddenly, it wasn’t so much fun anymore. She stared broodingly at the fingers that twisted together on her lap.
“Willy? No comment?”
She twitched a shoulder expressively, not knowing what to say without revealing the hurt she felt at his unflattering portrait. Somehow, she hadn’t expected him to consider her a mercenary flirt. She said as much.
“Did I say that? I
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