James, Stephanie (11 page)

“Don’t forget I’m buying the drinks this evening,” she said cheerfully as they sat down. “Even though I

have definite qualms about the manner in which the race at the pool was conducted, I
did
lose. Never let

it be said I’m not noble in defeat!” She smiled up at the approaching steward. “We’ll have two gin and

tonics. Doubles.”

“Doubles?” the steward repeated politely.

“Doubles,” she said firmly and then turned the smile on a rather watchful Dev. Now for the titillating

conversation. She took a deep breath and widened her smile. “Did I ever tell you how interested the

scribes who wrote the bestiaries were in the, uh, mating habits of the various animals?”

He blinked. His long, dark lashes lowered briefly and then lifted to reveal a politely interested silver gaze.

“No, I don’t believe you did. A subject of great interest, hmmm?”

Tabitha cleared her throat. She had started this and she was damn well not going to falter now. As soon

as the drinks arrived she launched into her lecture on the sex habits of medieval animals. “They thought

elephants extremely modest, you know. So chaste that an elephant couple had to chew on a bit of

mandrake in order to overcome their natural shyness about sex.”

“Mandrake?”

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“Ummm. I guess the scribes thought it served as an aphrodisiac.”

“Rather like a modern-day couple having a few drinks before testing each other’s inclinations?” Dev

suggested in mild interest.

She peered at him a little sharply and then relaxed. He seemed genuinely interested in the discussion.

“Well, yes, as a matter of fact. I guess that is a good parallel.” She groped for another piece of

information. “They thought that the virility of a horse was hampered if you cut its mane,” she continued

brightly.

“Something to keep in mind next time I go to the barber.”

Tabitha frowned for an instant, trying to decide whether or not he was joking. “The texts don’t draw any

lessons for human males on the matter,” she told him dryly.

“I see. What other interesting facts have you gleaned from the bestiaries?” Dev sipped his drink,

watching her expectantly.

“Well, vultures, it seems, don’t go in for sex,” she confided smilingly.

“No sex?”

“It was thought that lady vultures just gave birth whenever the notion struck them.” That didn’t sound

very sexy. What else could she remember? “They thought vipers had a particularly violent method of

propagation. After mating, the female viper bit off the male’s head.”

“Do you mind if I have another drink? This discussion is getting somewhat gruesome.”

Tabitha straightened and signaled to the steward. “Heavens, no. I’ll get it for you. I’m still paying off my

loser’s debt, remember? We’ll have two more,” she instructed the steward.

“Doubles again, ma’am?”

“Yes, please.” Tabitha went back to her lecture. “Where was I?”

“The female viper was biting off the male’s head, I think,” Dev reminded her gently.

“Oh, yes. Well, if it’s any comfort, the monks writing the bestiaries didn’t approve of such activity. They

drew a few sharp lessons from it and passed them along for the, er, edification of human females.”

“What sort of lessons?”

Tabitha experienced a moment of awkwardness which she overcame with another sip from her drink.

Then she leaned forward and lowered her voice very meaningfully. “They strongly advised human wives

not to resist the approaches of their husbands.”

“In other words, not to plead a headache?” The silver gaze gleamed.

Tabitha nodded. “Here’s your drink. Might as well take advantage of the fact that I’m buying, hadn’t

you?”

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“Might as well.” He downed a healthy swallow and waited for the next bit of bestiary lore.

“They thought partridges did it a bit too often. The birds were thought to be very sexually aggressive,

constantly trying to mate. So much so that they often wore themselves out, poor birds.”

“Fascinating.”

“Lions were strongly approved of because they were thought to be loyal to their mates,” Tabitha went

on chattily. “There’s not much information on the mating habits of dragons and unicorns, though. No one

really knew too much about them, it seems.”

“Perhaps it’s just as well.”

“You’re probably right,” she agreed thoughtfully. “Some things are better left to the imagination. Would

you like another drink?”

“I haven’t had a chance to finish this one,” Dev pointed out politely.

“Oh. Well, perhaps in a few minutes.”

“Thank you. You’re very generous in paying off your debt.” His mouth kicked upward at the corners.

She smiled brightly. “I try.”

“Do you lose often?”

“Actually, no. I don’t get involved in many contests,” she explained with a chuckle.

“A non-participant?”

“Since kindergarten, I’m afraid. How about you? Were you the kind who went out for the team? Or did

you tend to keep to yourself?”

“I’ve never been much of a joiner or a team player,” he admitted. There was a small silence and then he

held out his empty glass. “I’m ready for the next drink.”

“I’ll order you a surprise this time. Something a little different.” They had so much in common, Tabitha

thought blissfully as she selected a Tequila Sunrise for her escort. So very much. Did he see it, too?

“The entire evening is turning out to be one surprise after another,” Dev drawled as the steward

departed once more with an order.

“And we’re only halfway through it,” she retorted. But the sense of mounting excitement rippling through

her was already making her head spin. Everything was going wonderfully on course. Dev showed every

indication of being more than mildly interested in following her sensual lead. All she had to do was keep

matters moving in the right direction and not lose her nerve in the process.

Gamely she plied Dev with drinks, watching hopefully for signs of relaxed inhibitions. She went back to

anecdotes about the mating habits of animals from the bestiaries, and somehow the conversation seemed

to keep its sensual orientation without much effort. There was nothing overt about the innuendoes,

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naturally. Dev wasn’t the sort of man who would embarrass her with blatantly sexual remarks, unlike

some men who had imbibed several drinks. But somehow everything seemed to be overlaid with a touch

of sensuality.

Perhaps it was simply the combination of her mood and the balmy Caribbean night. By the time they left

the cocktail lounge, Tabitha felt she had the situation completely in hand. Dev was, in fact, eating out of

her palm. She had the heady realization that she could do just about anything she liked with him just then.

“Are you tired?” she asked, deliberately resting her head on his shoulder as they came to a halt by the

rail. She let her arm wind around his waist.

“No,” he murmured in her hair. “As a matter of fact, I feel much better tonight than I have since St.

Regis.”

“Not even a headache? How’s your leg?”

“My head and my leg are fine, thank you.”

“I see.” There went the obvious excuses for guiding him downstairs to his cabin. She would have to try

something more direct. “Aren’t you feeling even a little tipsy from all those drinks I ordered for you?”

“Pleasantly high would describe the sensation.” His breath gently fanned her hair as she snuggled closer.

“You don’t want to lie down or anything?”

“I hadn’t thought about taking a rest. Didn’t feel I needed one.”

“Dev,” she said, lifting her head with sudden resolve, “I don’t think I got around to telling you about the

mating habits of tabby cats this evening.”

She felt him go very still. Tabitha, herself, could hardly move now that she’d made her most suggestive

play yet.

“No,” he finally said, his voice sounding rather muffled, “I don’t believe you did. How would you

describe them?”

“Right now, I think it’s fair to say they could be described as quite…quite
wanton
.” Tabitha turned in

his arms and circled his waist with both hands. Then she lifted her face in the moonlight, inviting his kiss.

Five

«^»

Tabitha saw the silver flame of desire in Dev’s eyes as he obediently lowered his head and she knew she

had won. She had succeeded in seducing him. The knowledge bloomed in her like wildfire, sending small

shivers down her spine and making her senses tingle. She had actually made him want her!

As his mouth closed over hers she crushed her breasts against the hard planes of his chest, hoping he

would thrill to the contact as much as she did. The husky groan from deep in his throat told her he was

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surgingly aware of her now.

“Oh, Dev,” she whispered, lifting her fingers to twine them in his hair. “Tell me you want me just a little.

Please tell me. I want you so much…”

“How could I resist you, tabby cat?” he muttered hoarsely as she nibbled suggestively on his lower lip.

“So soft and warm and sweetly sexy.” His arms closed more strongly around her, urging her closer.

Tabitha didn’t hesitate. She buried her lips against his throat and let herself melt against his hardness. She

was vaguely aware that he had hooked the cane over the railing and was leaning back, balancing both of

them. Once again his legs had parted and she was between them, luxuriating in the intimacy of the

embrace.

“A sleeping dragon,” she murmured, her voice stirring with barely suppressed excitement. “I feel as if

I’m waking a sleeping dragon.”

“Do you see me as a beast, then?” he growled, gently dropping tiny kisses along the line of her shoulder.

“A fabulous beast. Gentle and strong and noble. A beast of legend.”

“Tabby, Tabby, your imagination overwhelms me,” he groaned. Dev’s hands slipped down her spine to

the contour of her hip.

“It’s not my imagination. You are all those things. You’re also shy and vulnerable and sensitive. The

perfect man,” she sighed. “And I’ve been wanting to make love to you all day. Will you mind very

much?”

“Tabby, I’m yours tonight,” he rasped thickly. “Take me and do what you will with me.”

It was exactly the response for which she had been praying, but still Tabitha hesitated as a thought struck

her. “Do you really mean that? It’s not just the alcohol talking?”

“The alcohol?” He sounded as if he were only half-aware of the question.

“I’ve…I’ve been plying you with drinks all evening long,” she explained in a burst of honesty that she

instantly rued.

“You wanted me drunk?”

“I wanted
you…relaxed
,” Tabitha corrected firmly.

“Ah, I understand. You used alcohol to lower my inhibitions and now you’re worried I’ll regret it all in

the morning, is that it?” She couldn’t tell what he was thinking. His voice sounded very muffled again as

he put his lips to her wind-tossed hair.

“Will you, Dev?” Uncertainty flared for a brief moment.

She felt him shake his head. “No, sweetheart, I won’t regret a thing. I know I shall wake up in the

morning with wonderful memories of tonight.”

“If you’re quite sure…”

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“I’m sure,” he affirmed. Was that a hint of impatience she heard now in his voice?

Tabitha gathered her courage once more. “Well, then, would you like to come downstairs with me,

Dev?” She pulled back, her hands still on his shoulders and searched his silvery gaze. The moonlight in

his eyes made them mysterious pools which she couldn’t fully delve, but there was no denying the passion

she saw there. Wordlessly she lowered her hand, taking one of his in a gentle grip.

Dev followed silently as she led him toward the stateroom decks. All the way down the long corridor to

her room she was pulsingly aware of his heavy, dark presence. Pushing aside the qualms and

uncertainties she ought to be experiencing, Tabitha reminded herself that she was following her heart

tonight. There was no need for fear or nervousness. If she gave in to either, Dev would leave in an

instant, she was certain. He would do nothing to frighten her.

No, she decided as she unlocked her cabin door. This was what she wanted.

“Tabby?” Her name was a question as she resolutely closed the door behind him and she came close to

touch his arm reassuringly.

“It’s all right, Dev. I know what I’m doing.”

“Do you?” he asked obliquely, his hands settling on her shoulders as she smiled tremulously up at him.

“Yes, Dev, I do. I want you. I…I care for you very much. I’ve been hoping all day long that you feel the

same.”

“How could I not want you?” he said simply, letting his fingers trail through her hair in slow wonder.

“Oh, God, Tabby!”

She opened her mouth beneath his, inviting him inside and responding intensely when he accepted the

invitation. She was falling in love with this man. There could be absolutely no doubt now. No one else

had ever reached her in quite the same way, and she had never felt this flickering enchantment with any