“The Sally Anne definitely has its advantages over catamaran sailing on a night like this,” Luke said, squeezing her against him. “This feels so right, Sandy, the wind, the sea, the stars and you. There’s only one problem.”
“What’s that?” she asked hesitantly.
“I’ll never be able to sail at night again without remembering how ordinary it all seems without you beside me.”
Her heart stuck in her ribs. A knot formed in her stomach and tightened with each swell. It didn’t matter where their relationship ended, she silently told herself. For once in her life, she’d take the risk and let her heart guide her actions. Like it or not she’d fallen in love with Luke Caldwell and she was determine to give that love a chance. She didn’t run from Eustice Emenacker. She wouldn’t run from Luke.
“There’s the island.” He stretched out his long arm and pointed to a sliver of white sand jutting out amongst the darkness. “We’ll have to anchor a little ways out. Do you want to go ashore? It’ll mean getting wet.”
“I’ll dry, she told him, remembering the extra clothes stashed below. I have a couple of bathing suits and clean clothes in the cabin. There are even some men’s things if you’re interested.”
“Oh?” Luke’s eyebrows arched up in a speculative query.
“Don’t look so smug, Luke Caldwell. They were here when I inherited the boat. No one has added any apparel to the locker,” she said, pleased he cared enough to be a bit jealous.
Seemingly satisfied with her explanation, he headed the boat into the wind. “Hold us here and I’ll go drop the sail and anchor.”
Grasping the ship’s wheel, she watched Luke pull down the main. The shadows shaded his physique as his muscular arms strained upward to grasp the halyard. His entire body was lean and hard. Sandra reveled in being able to watch Luke unobserved. She remembered the languishing love making of their previous night together, her sailor leaning over her, his muscles tense with the pent up passion yet to be released. She remembered his soft caresses.
“I’m going below and checking out the gear,” he said over his shoulder, breaking up her contemplations.
Several minutes later, Luke emerged from the cabin. His bare chest and legs stood out from behind a large waterproof bag the size of a beach ball. Curiosity wetted her appetite as she wondered what he was wearing behind the bundle.
She viewed his long legs covered with black hair. His chest displayed a wisp of curls laced with silver around his nipples. Then, she noticed he was blushing. Was he bare butt naked? she wondered in curious delight.
“What do you think?” he asked as he sat the bundle down.
Sandra gasped in shock. A laugh bubbled up in her throat. She swallowed hard to hold it down. Her stomach began to shake and the corners of her lips curled as she continued to fight back a fit of hysterics.
“I know a speedo isn’t my style,” he remarked with a sneer.
Her gaze traveled down to examine the piece of fabric stretched tightly about the lower half of his abdomen. The suit was a cranberry spandex which revealed everything manly about him.
“On the contrary, I think it’s perfect.” She smiled up at him and winked.
“It was the Speedo or nothing. Should I change out of this?”
“No, I always like packages gift wrapped. It makes the moment of unveiling all the more sweet.”
“Are you going below to dress, now?” Luke asked, trying to change the subject as he picked up the satchel of goods again. He could feel himself becoming erect and even the slightest bit of arousal would be more than noticeable.
“Sure. What type of swimsuit do I get?”
“You’ll see,” he promised as he waved his eyebrows up and down, teasing her.”
Moments later, she came up from the galley. Luke had to execute a double take to make sure he was looking at the same garment he’d noticed in the locker. What had seemed a plain rumpled yellow bathing suit, took on an air of sophistication as it hugged her slender body.
“Rather plain, isn’t it?” she asked as she pivoted in a circle for him to see.
“Sandra Anne Harris,” he stated as he moved next to her, “nothing could ever look plain on you.” He held her head between his hands and stared into her eyes.
Sandra’s heart pounded against her ribs. “Are we going ashore?” she asked, her voice low and fragile.
“It depends on how hungry you are,” he replied with a pirate’s grin. “Are you interested in dessert now or later?”
“What’s the appetizer?”
“Champagne, cheese, crackers and fruit.”
“Umm. I do stock a boat with good provisions, don’t I?”
“Delectable,” he replied and drew her into him, fitting her soft curves into his lean hard body. “Come on. I’ve the raft ready. I’ll even volunteer to row.”
“How can a girl turn down such a gallant invitation?” she asked with a teasing laugh.
On shore, Luke retrieved a blanket and all the promised food stuffs from the duffle. They sat side-by-side, staring out over the ocean and onto the star studded horizon. Both remained silent, feasting on cheese, crackers, grapes and apples.
Satiated, Sandra felt her eyelids becoming heavy. Luke poured her another glass of champagne and she laid back upon the blanket to study the sky from a different angle. She heard Luke packing away the few remaining scraps of food, but didn’t move. Every sight and sound seemed a part of a harmonious play being acted out for her enjoyment alone.
Luke lowered himself down on the blanket beside her. She didn’t look at him. Their bodies didn’t meet, but an indescribable heat emanated from him. He reached out and took her hand, his touch pulling her further into the intricate patterns of the night. He brushed his lips against her palm. Sighing with contentment, she couldn’t believe how perfect being with him felt. Giving her love to this man couldn’t be wrong. She wouldn’t make her mother’s mistake and wait for someone to write her an invitation in the sky.
“Sandra?” He drew her around onto her side.
“Yes,” she drawled out as she looked straight into his eyes. Such a handsome man, she thought, admiring the sharp angles of his nose and jaw.
“Sandra,” he repeated and then continued hesitantly. “I’ve given our relationship a lot of thought lately.”
“You have?”
“Yes, I have.” He pulled her in closer to him and ran his hand through her hair. “I have come to the conclusion I never want to sleep again without you in my arms.”
“That could be rather tricky,” she cautioned with a smile.
In reply, he cupped her head in his hands and he lowered his mouth onto hers. His tongue stroked the soft lining of her mouth in invitation. His movements told her in the unspoken language of the ages, what his pent up emotions sought.
Stroking his shoulder blade with the tips of her fingers, she felt him shudder. She allowed her tongue to mate with his as he rolled her onto her back. What did he mean by he didn’t want to sleep alone?” she briefly wondered before being swept away by the heat of his touch.
“You feel so good in my arms,” he murmured in a deep voice against her neck. “I’ve never wanted another woman the way I want you.”
“Even your ex-wife?” She instantly hated herself for asking, though she couldn’t stand the thought of her handsome sailor with another woman even if she lived in his past.
Luke eased away from her. “Sandy, I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for you.” He lightly bit her shoulder and then brought her bathing suit straps down revealing her breasts. “My ex-wife was a mistake. I never loved her.”
Sandra ran a long leg between Luke’s thighs in reply and stroked the back of his leg with the sole of her bare foot.
Luke kissed down her neck. His hot breath ignited her flesh with a deep unsatisfied need. He suckled her nipples with wet kisses until each stood erect, looking like delicate pearls, rounded, smooth and perfect.
She arched her back and pressed into h
im. His name rolled off her lips. Gazing up into Sandra’s face, he could see the passion blazing in her half lidded eyes. The heat in his groin rose. Bending his head down, he pushed the yellow film bathing suit down to her hips, revealing Sandra’s concave stomach. He dappled kisses down the center of her abdomen while gently kneading the flesh on her waist and back. She smelled sweet, he thought, like wildflowers on a hot summer’s afternoon.
Luke slipped his hand underneath the fabric to caress her hips. He then guided the fabric off, down the firmness of her legs. In response, she pulled his body upon her and began weaving her hands methodically over his back until they rested under the waistband of his bathing suit. The gentleness of each touch combined with the sound of her breathing brought Luke close to losing control.
Unlacing her hands from around his waist, he rolled to his side and stood to remove his suit. Standing before her, he examined her face. Not a trace of reluctance clung to her delicate features. His heart slammed into his chest with a rainbow of emotions. He didn’t know how this woman had come to be his, but he vowed to cherish her, as he lowered himself down onto the blanket beside her.
Turning onto her side, Sandra smiled up at him. “You make quite a seductive image laying there bare, Luke Caldwell,” she teased.
“I was thinking the same thing about you.” Luke reached out and caressed her exposed breast.
“I could become addicted to you,” she confessed with parted lips still moist from their kiss.
“You could? Well, it’s too late for me, my little mermaid. I’ve been under your spell since the first time I stared into those emerald green peepers of yours.”
Sandra let out a husky laugh as he drew her into him, encasing her in a hug. Currents of heat ran through her as her hard nipples rubbed against his chest.
Luke brought his hand around to the soft hair at the juncture to her thighs. Meeting his touch with approval, she whispered his name in a hoarse throated voice. He sought out her moist heat, fueling her passion to full force.
Her fingers dug into his back for support as a multitude of emotions and sensations flooded through her with each caress.
“Luke, love me.” Her voice quaked with her need for him.
He pulled away to retrieve the small foil package tucked into the duffle. “Let me get . . .” Sandra pulled him back down upon her and guided Luke into her.
“Oh, Sandy,” he panted, fighting for control. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I love you,” she whispered in near desperation.
He kissed her feverishly, letting his caresses tell her what his words couldn’t. After Alex, he hadn’t thought he would ever love another woman again. He didn’t think any woman would ever love him. Sandra had said the words, though. She loved him. Sandy loved him, he thought as he gave himself up to his passion, melting into her molten heat. The sound of Sandra’s voice reverberated through his mind.
“Yes, Luke, yes.” The words formed into a chant, keeping time to the slow, deep thrust of his manhood. Her words began to slur into a mere pant as the pace became faster, harder, driving them both to their limit.
Luke felt himself lose all control, his body mindlessly pacing towards his and Sandra’s release. Clutching his back, she arched her hips to meet him.
“Oh, yes,” she cried into his shoulder. He groaned and released himself within her, going as taut as a mainsail in a gale force wind.
Both lay spent in one another’s arms. Sweat clung to their nakedness, binding them together. She ran her fingers through the soft curls on his chest while absorbing his scent, the rhythm of his breaths and the rush of waves against the shore. Secure in Luke’s arms, she drifted into a translucent dream world.
* * *
Sandra awoke to the opalescent light of the moon. Her head lay on Luke’s shoulder. Instinctively, she brought her hand up over his chest. Curls of hair tickled her fingertips bringing back the lush memories of their love making. Not only was this man scrumptious to look at, he was a dream in bed.
Suddenly the realization struck her like a boom upside the head. He hadn’t proposed to her. Actually when she thought back on it, he hadn’t even asked her to live with him. What he’d said was he loved her and wanted to sleep with her. Nothing had been said about marriage. And, she’d even . . .
She rolled over, out of his arms and rose to her feet. Standing over her handsome rogue, she felt like kicking sand in his face and yelling. It wasn’t his fault though. He hadn’t taken advantage of her in the slightest. She’d been the instigator all the way. In fact, until this very moment, she hadn’t realized how very much she wanted to be this man’s wife.
Digging through the duffle bag, she found an oversized parka and put it on. The fleece lining of the jacket warded away the chilling breeze on her skin, but not the cold ache in her heart. She walked to the shore line. Her toes sunk into the white sand. It felt grainy and foreign. Such a contrast to the hot fine texture it held in the warmth of the sun.
She stared out at the Catalina 30 and wondered what Luke’s intentions were for their relationship. Her throat tightened and the corners of her eyes stung. She should’ve seen this coming, she told herself. Knowing it was her own fault, however, didn’t make the stabbing ache in her chest go away.
Sandra sat down at the water’s edge and buried her head in her knees. Absorbed in her thoughts, she didn’t hear Luke coming towards her. A warm hand touched her shoulder. Turning her head, she peered out over her arm. She noticed he too had pulled on a sweat shirt from the bag and put the skimpy swimsuit back on.
“I missed you,” he said in a low tone which wore the signs of concern. Sitting next to her, he put his arm around her back and brought her into him.
“The wind makes it chilly out here at night.”
He waited in silence for a reply, but all Sandra could manage was to stifle a sob. A sliver of emotion shook her stomach. She tightened her abdominal muscles and willed them to stop. It only proved to irrupt into a shiver which ran into her chest and shoulders.
“Sandra, what’s wrong?”
“We shouldn’t have come here,” she spat out. “It’s my fault. I should have known better. You never mix business with pleasure.”
Luke’s body went rigid. “Are we back at that point again? I’m supposed to be the big bad wolf out to swallow up your small helpless business.” Placing his hands firmly on each side of her head, he titled her face up and held her gaze.
“You invited me on this outing.”
“I did. It’s my fault.” She heard her voice crack and swallowed down the bitterness. “I’ll take full responsibility. You don’t have to feel obligated to me in the least.”
“Damn it, I don’t feel obligated,” Luke cursed. “I love you.”
“I didn’t mean for this to go this far.”
Gazing down into her pale face, Luke’s stomach knotted like a sea sick sailor. “Are you upset because . . . we didn’t use any protection?”
“No.”
“Sandy, it’s going to work out. Listen, I’ll take care of the general management of the charters and you can take over the advertising and shipments. We’ll make a great team.”
“A team? What are you talking about Luke?”
“When we’re married of course. Marry me, won’t you, Sandy?”
“Why? Because we had sex and I might be pregnant. Not hardly.”
He stroked a tear from her cheek with his hand. “I told you last night, I didn’t ever want to be without you.”
“That’s a far cry from a marriage proposal, mister.”
“Well, it was meant to be. Let’s just say, things, well, were a bit hot before I had the chance to formally make myself clear.”
In the subtle light of the moon, Sandra could see a true pirate’s grin on his face. “You look like a man who’s about ready to claim stolen goods as his own.”
“I suppose I am,” he replied still grinning from ear to ear. Moving onto one knee, he grasped her hand in his. “I’ve waited a
lifetime to do this right. Sandra Anne Harris will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Sandra sucked in her breath unable to believe what she’d heard. “What about the businesses?”
“As I was saying, I’d like to put them in both of our names. I think you’d do a great job advertising and managing the finances. I could take care of the general management and charters.”
“So, you are after my business?” she asked half teasing.
“No. I’m after you, he stated firmly. “If you don’t want to incorporate, so to speak, I still want to marry you. In fact, I’ll even sell The Emerald Boat. Whatever it takes.”
“You’d sell out?”
“Yes, I’d sell my business for you. Losing the business I could get over. I couldn’t get over losing you.”
Wrapping her arms around Luke, she buried her face in his neck as tears spilled from her eyes.
He pushed her back from him and analyzed her expression. “Does that mean you’re willing to marry this mess of an old sailor or is something else wrong?”
“It means you couldn’t get away from me if you started swimming now.” Suddenly a flick in the tidal pool near them caught her eye. She grabbed his hand in hers and led him over to the small circle in the water. Bending down, she realized it was a starfish. “Look, it’s purple.”
“There are a lot of different colors, depending on the reef. He must’ve been trapped by the tide.”
“He’ll die,” she stated in trepidation.
“Not if we give him a little help,” Luke moved over to their pallet and dug through their provisions until he came up with a good sized covered bowl. “This looks like a good temporary home to me.”
He rinsed the bowl out with salt water and moved to rescue the unsuspecting sea star. Herding the small animal into the deeper portion of the pool, he washed it into the bowl.
“There, now all we need is someplace to release him. Should we take him home to Hank or let him go out at sea?”
Sea Star Legacy Page 28
