by Julia Harlow
She set her fork down and, taking another sip of champagne, raised her eyes to meet Ty’s. His fork stalled, suspended in midair. His blue eyes were dark and focused completely on her, and the smile spreading across his sensual mouth could only have been described as carnal.
“Take your bite,” she ordered and watched the fork disappear in that mouth she no doubt lusted after. His eyelids closed too, and he moaned.
“Oh, God, that is good.”
“Have you had this before?”
“Not this exactly, but a variation. It’s one of my favorite dishes. Not everyone knows how to do it as well as Chef Kelly. Have you?”
“No. This is a first for me.” They both took a second bite at the same time. Isabel felt the smooth movement of the yacht as it progressed over the water. After they finished the second course, Ty suggested they dance. Isabel was more than willing to be enfolded in his arms again.
As the soft notes of an instrumental version of “The Look of Love” played, Ty’s hand curled around her waist and pulled her close to him. Her body molded against his hardness. He smelled of soap, clean laundry, and just the barest hint of some expensive spicy scent. When she wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her cheek against his chest, he nuzzled into her hair.
“God, you feel so good, Isabel. And smell so good.” His deep, husky voice reverberated in his chest.
An exceptionally good dancer, Ty commanded her body as he whirled her around the lounge. It made her wonder if his expertise on the dance floor translated to the bedroom. She needed to drag her mind back from those erotic thoughts and concentrate on not drinking too much of the superb wine selections.
The remainder of the courses was served at the dining table. Their conversation flowed easily from the delectable details of the meal and the exquisite presentation, to the music and the chef’s selection of wines to pair with each course. Isabel finally felt compelled to acknowledge the exceptional evening.
“This is by far the most spectacular first date, or any date, I’ve ever been on.”
“Good. I’m hoping it will help me score before the night’s over.”
“Ty!” Her eyebrows flew up, and she sat back in her chair, her lips pursed in disapproval.
He leaned forward and reached for her hand, clasping it in the toasty warmth of his. “Hey, I’m just being honest about how much I want you.”
She was quiet for a moment. “I’d love to see the rest of the yacht. Will you take me on a tour?”
Ty set his napkin on the table, pushed his chair back, and stood. Offering her his hand, he led her first to the lowest deck and showed her the exterior swimming platform, pointing out the five guest cabins, engine room, and crew quarters. Next they moved to the upper level with its exterior aft deck, sky lounge, captain’s cabin, and bridge. On the sun deck, he showed her the glass-enclosed gym and Jacuzzi.
“You’ve seen most of the main deck, except for the galley, and they’ll be busy cleaning up right now. There’s also a stateroom for a personal assistant or bodyguard, whichever you may have with you. But what I really want to show you is the owner’s suite.” His blue eyes twinkled as he grinned down at her.
~*~
Ty had always admired the décor of this room. The color combination of pearl and slate-gray provided a soothing ambience. The gray-on-white map of the world stenciled above the bed added a clever design touch. The room was sleek and spare with chrome bedside lamps and dark wood built-in cabinets and drawers.
He hadn’t planned on making love with Isabel here. His first choice would have been his penthouse at The Admiralty. But being with her this evening had him so hot he realized there was no way in hell he could wait that long. His need for her was primal, and from the way she seemed to respond to him all evening, he sensed she felt the same way about him, which only served to arouse him even more. His biggest fear was that this moment he’d been dreaming about would be over too quickly, and he wanted to savor it. Well, he sincerely hoped it would be more than a fucking moment.
As they entered the owner’s suite, his hand tightened around Isabel’s small waist. He let go, lowering himself into a chair. He motioned to a silver tray with a bottle and two dessert wine glasses on the bedside table. “Would you pour us each a tawny port?” He definitely didn’t need to watch her move around in that tantalizing dress any more than he already had to pique his arousal, but somehow he couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
Those alluring hips swayed ever so slightly as she made her way to the tray and carefully poured him a glass of port. Her sweet smile almost undid him as she turned and handed him the glass. “I think I’d better stop with the wine and champagne.”
“Would you do something else for me?” Why did his voice sound so shaky and hoarse? Didn’t he have any more control over himself than a horny teenager?
“What would you like me to do?” She stood before him, by far the most irresistible woman he’d ever set eyes on.
He worried that she’d balk, but he wanted it so badly that he had to ask. “Would you slowly take off your clothes for me while I watch?”
Just as he suspected she might, she shrank back, her expression somewhat stunned. “Excuse me?”
“I want you to strip for me. I’ve dreamed about this moment ever since I first met you. Would you do that for me, please, Isabel?”
She tilted her head to one side and stared at him. “We need to have the talk before . . . um . . . before anything else happens.” Her cheeks blushed the color of Gala apples.
It actually pleased him that she’d brought this up. It confirmed that she was careful and conscientious, even though he’d already suspected as much. He spoke up first. “I haven’t had sex for over two months. Make of that what you will. I got a clean bill of health from my doctor last week, and I have condoms with me.”
She nodded, her gaze steady as she met his eyes. “Okay then, I have only had one other lover, and that was in college. Make of that what you will. I also have a clean bill of health. I’m on the pill, but if you still want to use a condom, it’s your call.”
So they were back to her stripping for him. By her stiff and hesitant movements, Ty could tell she was uncomfortable. She drew in a deep breath and then began to carefully sweep her hair to one side so she could reach the zipper at the back of that alluring little black dress.
“Need some help?” He’d been so distracted by watching Isabel’s every movement that he’d forgotten to take a sip of the port.
“No, I’ve got it.” Watching her wriggle around to unzip the snug-fitting dress was worth every second it took. When she finally had the zipper down, she slid the dress off first one creamy white shoulder and then the other. Before pulling the dress down any further, she paused, letting him gaze his fill. The top edge of a lacy pink bra teased with a hint of the perfect, full breasts he’d only ever imagined in his wildest dreams. He desperately needed to see more and forced himself not to go to her and yank that dress down the rest of the way himself.
He finally took a slow sip of port, letting the delicious liquid slide down his throat, and felt his erection strain painfully against the fabric of his trousers. Don’t rush it, Griffin. This is what you’ve been dreaming of.
One of her arms was free of the black strap of the dress, and a second later, the other. With the dress bunched at her waist, he now had an unobstructed view of her breasts in that lacy pink bra. Full creamy mounds spilled over generous cups. Fuck! How long could he possibly stand it before he absolutely had to wrap his hands around those incomparable breasts? He drained his glass and set it on the floor beside the chair.
With a swivel of her luscious round hips, the dress was at her upper thighs, exposing the top of her lacy pink bikinis. Okay, he was going to explode in his trousers if he didn’t focus his brain on mortgage tables and interest rates.
Her thick dark hair fell forward as she shimmied the dress down to her ankles and gingerly stepped out of it. Now she wore only lace-bordered thigh high
nylons, a pink bra, and panties. Ty felt as though he’d been propelled into everyman’s wet dream. My God, this exquisite woman exemplified a sex goddess to end all sex goddesses: flawless pale skin, lustrous dark hair, and hourglass figure perfection. Not to mention a sweet innocence he found beyond enticing. He gripped the arms of the chair to keep from launching his body at her.
“I’ve never done this before, Ty. Is this enough?” The shy note of hesitancy in her voice touched him at his core.
“You’re doing great, sweetheart, but I really need to see all of you. Except the heels and nylons. Leave those on.”
He watched her incomparable chest rise and fall when she sighed. “Okay. But only for you, Ty.” Then she reached around and unclasped her bra. The lacy straps slid down her arms, but she held the cups against her breasts. After wavering for a moment, she met his eyes and lowered the cups, letting the pink lace slither to the floor of the cabin.
Ty was speechless. He had never set eyes on a more perfect woman. Her breasts were full, round, and marble-white; the deep pink nipples puckered. Her small waist cinched in before curving into the sweet swells of her hips. When he collected himself enough to formulate a brief directive, he forced out the hoarse words, “Now your panties.”
His eyes zeroed in on her fingers when they slipped under the lace at the top of her panties. As she leaned over to slide them down her thighs, those full breasts undulated, and his fingers itched to caress them. After she stepped out of the panties and stood up, Ty’s eyes were glued to the silky, dark curls at the apex of her thighs. If he couldn’t touch her there soon, really, really soon, his balls were going to turn blue. He knew he should move, or at least say something, but he never, ever, wanted this incredible vision, this enticing moment in time, to end.
Before he realized what was happening, Isabel bent over to retrieve the dress and clasped it in front of her, covering her body. When his eyes finally reached her face, he saw tears trickling down her cheeks.
In a nanosecond, he was at her side, his brow creased in concern, his voice soft. “What’s wrong, Isabel? Please don’t cover yourself up in front of me. Don’t ever cover yourself from me. Tell me why you’re crying?”
She swiped at the tears with the back of her hand. “I know you’re disappointed now that you’ve seen me with my clothes off. I’m fat and unattractive. You can say it. It’s the truth.”
“What in the hell are you talking about? You are the most exquisite woman I’ve ever seen.” He pulled back to gaze down at her lovely face, her rosy cheeks streaked with tears. Would he ever be able to figure out this complex woman?
“I finally remembered why I was so upset that day in your office. The expression on your face when you stared at me, the exact same way you looked at me just now, brought back a memory I’d just as soon never remember for the rest of my life.” Her body shuddered as a sob escaped her lips.
“What do you mean? What memory?”
She paused and almost choked to speak what came next, “Willard.”
Chapter 12
“Who the fuck is Willard and what the fuck did he do to you?” Ty growled, clenching his fists at his sides, every muscle in his body tense. If anyone had hurt this lovely, precious young woman, he’d find him and make him pay for every single tear Isabel had shed. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, led her over to the bed, and urged her to sit down, feeling her body tremble against his chest. After she sat down on the edge of the bed, he headed into the en suite bathroom and returned, carrying a pearl-gray silk robe.
“Here, put this on, sweetheart.” Draping it around her shoulders, he helped her slip her arms in and cinch the tie at her waist.
“He didn’t do anything, really. He was my stepfather, Ellen’s dad. He told me I was fat and ugly. And stupid. He told me that a lot.” More tears slid down her soft cheeks, and Ty ground his teeth as she continued. “I must have been at least a little bit intelligent, because by the time I got to college, I made the Dean’s List every quarter and even had a 4.0 in Computer Science. Believe me it wasn’t easy. I had been granted a hefty scholarship based on my GPA. How he could call me stupid . . . but I guess I am.
“I made him mad one afternoon when I yelled at Susan, his oldest daughter, for some nasty thing she’d said to me. I can’t even remember what it was now; there were so many nasty remarks. Willard took me to his den and made me sit down while he ‘lectured’ me, which meant he belittled and badgered me.
“He told me it was my fault that his family was in such discord and that he was sending me away to a private school in Indiana. My mom had just come home from the grocery store when she found me in his den, curled into a ball, shaking and ashen-faced. That was why she finally left him.”
Ty shook his head in utter disgust. “That asshole is some sort of sadist. And fucking blind. Where is he now?” He’d never wanted to go after someone as much as this Willard dickhead, and he felt himself gritting his teeth and needing to punch something. Hard.
She put her hand on his forearm. “It’s okay, Ty. I know I have my flaws. Don’t blame Willard for speaking the truth.”
That did it! Ty was on his feet and exercising what remained of his control not to shout. “There is absolutely no truth in what he said about you, Isabel. Don’t you see? You are none of the things he asserted. In fact, you’re the complete opposite. You’re beautiful and intelligent and your figure is beyond perfect. Why won’t you believe me instead of that asshole Willard?”
“Please don’t yell, Ty.”
He struggled to get a handle on his temper; he realized his face had to be fiery red. He took a deep breath. “Sorry, sweet thing. It’s just frustrating that you don’t trust me to tell you the truth.” He sat back down next to her and noticed that she was twisting the tie of the robe around her fingers. He leaned over to kiss the corner of her pretty mouth. “How old were you when this Willard shithead said those ludicrous things?”
“Fifteen. It was right before we moved out and my mother divorced him. But, honestly, Ellen and her sisters had been beating me over the head, saying the same things pretty much non-stop for nearly five years. None of them weighed more than a hundred pounds. They were nothing but blond beanpoles.
“You have to understand this, Ty. I was five-foot-seven and needed a support bra by the time I was eleven, taller than most of the girls and boys in my class. And I was always . . . well, um, full-figured.”
He draped his arm over her shoulders and managed a small smile. “You mean you were a babe. I bet the guys teased you mercilessly because they were crazy about you. I know I would have been at the front of the line, teasing you just to try to get your attention.” He curled his hand around her neck and bent to kiss her cheek.
“You do know that, when that psycho said those things about you, you were at the exact age for anything negative to make the most impact. Remember I have a younger sister. You must know how wrong he was. He was determined to be cruel, to hurt you, for whatever insane reason.” His fingers gently swept a curl behind her ear. “You’re beautiful and perfect, Isabel. You believe me, don’t you?”
She sighed. Those sad green eyes gazed up at him, but her reply had a steely edge to it. “I don’t think so. I’ll always be fat and ugly in my mind.”
“You’re just being stubborn now. How old are you? Twenty-five? Isn’t it time you let that fifteen-year-old’s insecurities go? Don’t let Willard and Ellen and her bitchy sisters win. Don’t let them have the last word.”
He lifted her hand and softly kissed her knuckles. “Haven’t you ever noticed all the men staring at you wherever you go? Let me tell you it’s definitely not because they think you’re fat and ugly. I know, Isabel. I’m one of them. And it’s not just your beauty. You’re the whole package: classy, down-to-earth, intelligent, funny, compassionate, sweet, and beautiful. Not too many women, if any, I can say that about.”
Her head came up a little bit. “You really think so?”
Peering down at her, he chuck
ed her under the chin with his forefinger. “I know so. Listen. If you want me to take you home now, I’ll understand.” He couldn’t imagine her wanting to stay after being so upset.
The tension seemed to leave her body like knots unraveling from a rope. She rested her head against his shoulder, and after a moment, she sighed deeply. Then she lifted her head and smiled up at him. “No. I’ll tell you what I want. I want to get under the covers in this incredible bed and then watch you take your clothes off for me.”
That completely threw him. “What?”
“You heard me. Get to it, mister.” She bent down and slipped off her heels before standing and making her way around to the head of the bed. Pulling back the covers, she shrugged out of the robe and slid her supple naked body into the bed.
Ty sat for a moment, still on the edge of the bed, then slowly unfolded his tall frame to face her.
“This is stupid. It feels weird.”
“Why should it feel weird? I did it for you. Don’t you think I’ve dreamed of seeing you naked?”
His eyebrows shot up. “What? You have? Why?”
She giggled, pulling the covers up to her chin. “That’s the thing men don’t ever seem to understand. Women enjoy looking at your bodies every bit as much as you enjoy looking at ours. So, take it off. Take it all off.”
Ty shook his head, clearly embarrassed. But at her insistent stare, he shrugged off his jacket, tossing it on the nearby charcoal-gray upholstered chair. After loosening and pulling off his tie, he flipped it over to join the jacket. Next he toed off his shoes and reached down to peel off his socks. Keeping his eyes locked on hers, his nimble fingers unbuttoned his shirt. After he had it unbuttoned, he slid the shirt off his shoulders and let it fall to the floor.
“Okay. Is this enough?”
She giggled again. “What’s the matter, big guy? I stripped down completely for you! And you couldn’t possibly have any body-image issues.”
He grumbled something under his breath but then reached for his belt.
