Sea Mistress by Candace McCarthy Page A

Seth padded toward her, barefoot, and gently tugged the shirt from her shaking hand.
    He allowed the shirt to flutter to the damp ground.
    Bess refused to look anywhere but at his face. Seth caught her chin. “Am I so hideous that you can’t bear to look at me?”
    â€œNo!” she exclaimed, jerking away. “Of course not!”
    But still she wouldn’t look down.
    â€œBess,” he murmured, coming close to her again. He captured her jaw a second time, lifting it gently to press a light kiss on her pink, trembling mouth. His head lifted, and he opened his eyes to study her flushed face. Her eyes were closed, and her features were relaxed in the pleasurable sensation that lingered from his gentle kiss.
    â€œBess,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you. I’d never hurt you.”
    Her eyes flew open to gaze up at him with innocent trust. “We shouldn’t be here.”
    â€œI know,” he admitted.
    â€œBut I wanted to come anyway.”
    His chest tightened with happiness. “Nothing could have kept me away.”
    â€œBut you’ve no clothes on!” Her voice was breathy, frightened. Still, she stepped back to look at him fully, and Seth’s pulse quickened as he watched her changing expressions. Curiosity. Awe. Desire.
    â€œDo I frighten you?”
    Bess eyed him frankly now, again with curiosity. “No.” She lifted her hand as if to touch him. Then she gasped and dropped her hand as if horrified at what she’d caught herself doing.
    â€œGo on,” Seth encouraged, reaching for her hand and raising it to his chest. “Touch me. It’s all right.”
    â€œBut I—but a lady-”
    â€œYou’re a beautiful lady, Elisabeth Metcalfe, but you think and you talk too much.” His tone was seductive. “Now touch me, and satisfy that innocent curiosity of yours.”
    She held his gaze, before she gave in to the urge to stroke the hard muscles of his chest. Seth stood, unmoving, as Bess’s soft hands brushed his nipples. But when she touched there a second time, he groaned and closed his eyes, and gripped her waist tightly.
    Bess gasped. “Did I hurt you?”
    â€œGod, no,” he muttered. He inhaled sharply and then opened his eyes. His muscles tightened; his hardened manhood throbbed against her skirts.
    â€œThen what—” Her question died in her throat when she shifted and felt the proof of his desire. “Oh, dear!”
    Seth laughed shakily. “Oh dear? Is that all you can say?” He paused. “Or do?”
    â€œI don’t understand.” Bess blinked up at him, clearly confused.
    â€œThen let me show you,” he said in a soft, husky voice. His blue gaze caressed her face; he drew her nearer by the sheer power of his will. “Earlier, you liked my kisses . . . did you not?”
    Her face heated. “Seth, please! It’s not the thing a man an—”
    He silenced her with his mouth, jolting her with passion. As Seth savored the sweet taste of her lips, Bess whimpered, but leaned into his kiss, as if demanding more than a slight token. She slipped her arms about his waist, dragging him hard against her.
    Seth shuddered with pleasure and deepened the intimacy. He became aggressive, his caresses urgent. Bess’s wild responses fueled a raging fire that seared his loins.
    He cupped her breast through the thin layers of fabric. He worried the nipple until it budded against the cotton cloth, and Bess moaned.
    â€œI want to see you.” He’d said the words before, but not with such desperation. The desire to see her earlier had been great, but now his whole body screamed for release, crying out with the need to see her, to press against her and learn the taste and texture of every inch of her.
    She pulled back, but not to object or to end their passionate encounter as he’d feared. Bess tried to unfasten the hooks at back of her gown,