Romantic Acquisition (17 page)

Dinner was served
exactly
at
eight o’clock
and was an elaborate affair of five course
s, each served by waiters that stood at attention beside the door, ready to jump at the slightest request by anyone
.  The
vichyssoise
was wonderful but the lobster and asparagus with a sweet and sour salad
made her mouth
water
.  Everything was cooked perfectly and was laid out so artistically, Kate was loathe to take a bite until the scent wafted to her nose.  The meal
was topped off by a light dessert
of roasted fruit with a cream sauce
but Kate was too full from the other courses to fully appreciate the delicate tastes
.  Each course was served with the perfect wine and Kate was feeling wonderfully warm and cozy by the end of the meal. 

The conversation was lively and everyone had a comment on the latest American politics as well as the British Prime Minister’s comment
s
afterwards.  The people at the table were well informed and not afraid to challenge each other’s views.  Even Melissa contradicted something Phillip said and the others agreed
with her, ignoring Phillip’s feig
ned wounded look when they
disagreed
him on his response. 

Kate hadn’t laughed so hard in years.  She liked these people and was sorry when the couples drifted apart, leaving only Kate and Carlo sitting at the table alone. 

“Want to go for a wal
k?” he asked when she finally looked him in the eye. 

Kate nodded, thinking that the fresh air would clear her brain, fogged from the wine and cocktails.

“Let’s go,” he said and stood up to hold her chair for her. 

Kate followed Carlo out to the deck, enjoying the cool, autumn breeze on her face.  She smiled as she relaxed against the railing, wondering why she wasn’t angrier with the way Carlo had kidnapped her.

“What are you thinking abo
ut?” he asked from behind her, one hand coming to rest on the railing on either side of her.  His voice was close to her ear and she leaned back against his chest. 

She sighed as she looked up at the moon. 
“I’m thinking I should be angry with you.”

“And are you?”
he asked quietly. 

Kate
nodded
.  “Yes, I sup
pose
.
  You’re a very bad man, you know.
”

Carlo chuckled.  “No you’re not.  You had a good time tonight.  I’ve never seen you so relaxed.”

“Eh, it was the wine,” she said and shrugged it away.

“Not the company?”

“Oh, sure,” she said, waiving her hand, “Melissa and Ashley are very nice.”

Carlo growled and spun her around.  “I meant me, woman!” he laughed.  “You’re not going to give an inch, are you?”

Kate laughed at his grumbling.  “Okay, you’re pretty charming.  But you can’t take anything I say to heart tonight.  I’ve had too much wine.  You’ll never know if I’m telling you the truth or not.”

He raised one eyebrow at her response. 
“
Just the opposite, I’m guessing. 
I think I should ask you a whole bunch of questions.  You’re probably more honest now than you normally are.”

“Not true.  For instance, I’d never tell you how attractive you are,” she laughed and leaned forward to poke him in the chest.

“You already have.  The first time we met, in fact.”

“That doesn’t count.”

“Why not?”

“Because I was told five minutes before I met you that my company was about to be sold off to an awful, personality
-
less conglomerate. 
We had visions of hatchet men coming into the office and handing out pink slips without regard for anything or anyone. 
So I was already off kilter.  Then I walk out to greet my new project and you turn out to be this incredibly handsome hunk and that just blew me away
, with muscles in all the right places and sexy eyes
.”

Carlo had his hands on her waist and he doubted she even knew about it.  She was pretty toasted but he didn’t care.  If she was letting him touch her, he’d take it any way he could.  He wished he had the kind of personality that would allow him to take advantage of her
drunkenness
.  But he wanted her totally cognizant of that kind of decision. 

“So why should I ignore that comment?”
he said smiling at her hazy gaze in the moonlight. 

“Because you don’t know if I’m telling you the truth or if I’m lying to you because I’m currently your captive and am hoping for leniency.”

“I never grant leniency.  Ask Jeff or Peter, they’ll confirm it.”
  He pulled her closer, liking her teasing manner. 

“I don’t doubt it,” she said and stopped talking,
suddenly
aware of the fact that they were all alone and Carlo was so close her breasts almost touched his chest.  “Will you kiss me?” she asked.

“No,” he replied.

“Why not?”

“Because you’re drunk.”

“I’m not drunk, just very warm.”

“Whatever.  Kissing you could be dangerous.”

“Don’t you like to live dangerously?”
she whispered, leaning closer, her eyes looking at his lips. 

“Not with you.  Why don’t we get you to bed,” he suggested and took her hand in his to lead her down the stairs to her room.

“I suppose that would be the safest plan of action.  Coward,” she challenged.

Carlo stopped and laughed.  “You’re in an odd mood tonight,” he said but continued on after only a moment.

He didn’t say anything to that.  Before she knew what was happening, they were standing in front of her door and Carlo was pushing her through it. 

He left her with a swift kiss and closed the door behind him after he left. 

Kate
sighed as she stared at the closed door.  She shrugged her shoulders in regret.  Then turned to the room and
took off the lovely dress
, hanging
it
carefully
in the closet.  She washed her face and searched the drawers for a nightgown.  Unfortunately, she didn’t find one.  By that time, the wine was making her so sleepy, she just gave up and climbed between the satin sheets naked. 

Carlo knocked on Kate’s door one more time.  It was almost
ten thirty
in the morning.  He’d already knocked twice and he was starting to become concerned. 
He remembered how he’d left her the night before and wondered if she’d been drunker than he’d thought. 

When she didn’t answer again, he opened the door and stepped into the room.  He saw her then, sleeping between the sheets as if she had no cares in the world.  Her face was beautiful with long, black eye las
hes laying against her gorgeous
skin.  Her hair was fanned out behind her and almost fell off the side of the bed. 

She looked like an angel; a beautiful, seductive angel sent from heaven to torment him. 

Carlo walked over to the bed and watched her sleep for a moment.  He considered letting her sleep but since everyone else was getting ready to leave the ship and go on shore in
Aruba
, he thought she’d probably want to see a little of the island. 

“Kate, can you wake up?” he asked softly
, shaking her naked shoulder
.

She stirred slightly and Carlo tried again.  “Kate, wake up.  It’s a beautiful day,” he said and pulled her hair out of her eyes. 

Getting that close to her was a mistake.  By pulling her hair back, he realized that she was
completely
naked and the sheets were satin.  He groaned as his body reacted to his view. 

Then she rolled over onto her back.  The sheet slipped from her hands that had previously been holding she sheet against her chest.  The satin slipped down to reveal the luxurious swell of her breasts.  With just a slight move, he knew a nipple would pop out
and he groaned
.  He wanted to look away but his eyes were transfixed by the beauty of her and his
body reacted instantly, becoming
painful
as he looked down on the perfection of her skin
. 

But what was new
?
he asked himself.  He’d been in an almost constant state of arousal for the past
two months
.  Why
should today be any different from the last
sixty
? 

A moment later, her eyes opened slightly.  With a languid movement, her arm came up and wrapped around his neck, bringing his face closer to hers.  Then she kissed him, slowly, sensuously, her fingers tangling in his hair, her body lifting to come closer to his.  The sheet slipped down and Carlo could no longer fight the temptation.  His hand reached up and pulled her closer, taking over the kiss and adding his passion to the fire slowly building between them. 

Carlo knew she was still only half asleep. He knew he should stop her and wake her up fully, then ask if she really meant everything this kiss was promising.  But he was only human.  He indulged himself in the kiss, his hand coming to caress her bare shoulder, moving downward to stroke her waist, then slowly moving up to caress her breast.  When his palm covered her naked breast, he swallowed her gasp in his mouth and pushed her back against the pillows. 

His mouth followed where his
hand
led and Kate allowed it, pulling his mouth closer to her breast, crying out with her pleasure as his tongue flicked over her already hard nipple.  Kate writhed in the pleasure, wondering how she was going to survive without going up in flames in his arms. 

“Kate, are you coming?” a female voice called from
down
the hallway. 

Kate froze at the new voice and looked around her.  She was staring right into Carlo’s eyes and reality sunk into what she’d thought was a dream. 

“Oh, excuse me.  I didn’t know you weren’t alone
, Kate
,” Melissa said and smiled as she backed out of the room. 

Carlo sighed deeply and put his head on the pillow behind Kate’s head.  “I’m doomed to live in a constant state of need, aren’t I?” he said.

“I’m sorry, this was my fault,
”
Kate said, her voice squeaking out of her throat as embarrassment choked her. 

He rolled back over her, stopping her from moving with his weight. 
“No, it wasn’t.  I knew you were asleep but I couldn’t stop myself.  I want you too much,” he said, staring at her eyes now.  “There’s going to be a time when we won’t be interrupted, you know.”

“Please let me up,” she said, unable to move since his large body was half covering her.  She was embarrassed and just wanted to curl up into a ball of humiliation. 

“Kate, I’m not going to let you run away from me this time.  But you have a slight reprieve before you and I have a long conversation.  We came into port this morning.  Why don’t you get dressed and meet me on de
ck?
  I’ll show you around the island.”

He got up and headed for the door. 

Her curiosity overcame her embarrassment and she asked,
“What island
?
  Where are we?” she asked, pulling the sheet up to her chin.

He didn’t look back when he answered her. 
“
Aruba
.  Get dressed.  You have ten minutes before I come back down and find you,” he said and pulled the door closed.