He kissed her so hard that he couldn’t help but lean into her. His arms pulled her as close as possible. Her legs wrapped around his waist. He hoisted her up to keep a better grip on her. Eledon didn’t want her to escape his hold. He wanted her to know the safety of his protection. And he couldn’t care about why right now. He might be getting too attached to Dr. Barbie, but he’d worry about that later. At the moment, he was consumed.
Chapter 8
Katie’s hands rubbed his face, fingers sliding into his hair. She opened her mouth wider to deepen the kiss. She wanted more.
Then rational thought popped her bubble of bliss. He had left his estate to people he didn’t know and didn’t care what happened to it. He had won this boat in a card game. He did not mention a job and felt money was a burden. We don’t suit. But she had gone too far. Might as well enjoy a few more seconds of a delicious kiss with a beautiful man.
Pulling away was harder than watching someone’s vitals drop and deciding if more anesthesia would ease the pain and restore blood pressure or finish her patient off. But she could do the hard things. That’s how she moved from a dilapidated farm house to a condo downtown.
Katie pulled away, eyes closed. She ducked her head and slowly pulled in oxygen as she counted to ten. She wiped her mouth. “Eliam would have never kissed a woman without her expressed permission.”
Then she remembered the first time Eliam had kissed Lady Elizabeth. He kissed her senseless. He didn’t ask for her consent, and she loved both being too preoccupied to think and the kiss itself. “Oh, yes, he would,” she said. She grabbed Eledon by the shirt, jerked his head closer to her own, and took his lips with her mouth. Now she nibbled on his lip.
Eledon placed the palms of his hands over her shoulders. She loved the feel of his strong arms. But he held in her place as he pulled away?
She gazed up at him, lashes fluttering.
“What makes you think I want to kiss a woman who breaks away to mention her boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend?” Shock evident in Katie’s high pitch voice.
“Oh, is he a husband? That’s even better.”
“What are you talking about?”
Eledon rolled his eyes. “The perfect Eliam, of course.”
Katie laughed. She’d mistaken him for smart, but he was too dense to realize Eliam was fictional. Well, she needed a good buffer. A fling with Eledon would be fun, but likely end in heartache. They didn’t suit. “You’re right. I’ll just go back to my room.”
Chapter 9
Damn. Eledon had a perfectly smooth opening. Why did he ruin it? He checked his watch—damned English contraption, he preferred IST, Indian Standard Time—the sun had never really risen. The temperature had dropped about twenty degrees, and as if on cue, the wind picked up.
Shit. He headed back to captain’s pit to slow the craft’s speed. His father had always owned boats. He wouldn’t have gambled with the sea if he wasn’t sure he would win.
Eledon pulled Katie’s fish out. It was at least a five pounder, and he hadn’t caught anything. He needed to get the fish cooked before the storm picked up. It wasn’t safe to have propane burning while the boat was being tossed around. Eledon didn’t like the idea of Katie trying to keep herself steady against a violently rocking boat. Making sure she was well fed and the fire was out before the weather started was the least he could do.
Chapter 10
The wind had picked up so much that even inside Katie’s cabin with no real windows the air was too cold for a Texas girl. She pulled a hooded sweatshirt over her t-shirt. “The one year I make it out of the city, Houston will have a white Christmas.” She reached for her Kindle but the knock on the door could only mean one thing.
She opened the door. “Elia—” Frick. She had not meant to call him Eliam. “Eledon.”
She’d never seen his face so hard. He held out a plate. “I made lunch. I need sleep. Wake me up in a few hours.”
She took the plate. “Thank you. Aladdin, if you need to sleep, you probably shouldn’t nap so late.” She smiled trying to smooth over whatever upset him. “It’s vacation time.”
“Modern meteorology turns out to be more of a bet than any sane card player would make. There is a storm coming in. I need stay up all night to monitor it, and I won’t be able to stay awake if I don’t get some sleep. If the storm picks up, wake me.”
“No way. I got a freakin’ sunburn on the deck this morning.”
“Would you like to see for yourself, ma’am?”
She walked past his broad form.
Chapter 11
Eledon didn’t let his gaze follow her. He had too much pride to admit his puppy dog affection for a girl who kissed him then called him by her husband’s name.
Her stupid black Kindle glowed from the night stand. He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t help himself. He really wanted to know what in that case study had got her so bothered earlier.
He picked it up and tapped the screen.
“Sweetheart, were you harmed?”
She buried her head into his chest and nodded as tears slipped down her cheeks. My mother’s valise is in there. It’s the only thing that didn’t require burning after she died. She’d forgotten it at my aunt’s house, so it was never infected.” She burst into sobs. This was like saying goodbye to her mother all over again.”
Eliam kissed the top of her head. “You’ll have your valise.”
And just like that, the comforting presence flitted away from her. “Eliam?”
Eliam ran toward the burning building and Elizabeth ran after him.
“Sarah, you and Lauralye keep her away from the building. It’s not safe,” Eliam called over his shoulder.
Elizabeth’s youngest sister threw herself to the ground and grabbed Elizabeth’s ankle. Sarah wrapped all of her limbs around her sister. Sobs ripped out of Elizabeth. A moment ago, she had thought nothing could hurt like losing her mother a second time. But she was wrong. Losing Eliam would hurt a million times more. With Lauralye clinging to her ankle and Sarah wrapped around her, movement was hard, but not impossible. She took one step closer to the burning structure. Then two.
“Really?” Sarah snapped. “You’ll drag Lauralye closer to the fire?”
Elizabeth’s heart dropped. No. She wouldn’t move her baby sister any closer to the fire, because it was too late. Eliam disappeared through the smoke-billowed front door. Sarah’s tentacle-like grip held her up now rather than restrained her. The wind had been knocked out of Elizabeth. She didn’t know when she would breathe again. She didn’t know if she wanted to. Eliam sprinted back out of the entrance, threw a flaming valise into the yard, and stomped it.
Elizabeth dropped to her knees, crying.
“Let her go,” Sarah said.
Lauralye released Elizabeth’s ankle and stood.
“Thank you, God. Thank you, God.” Elizabeth cried. Then she picked herself up and rushed toward Eliam.
He caught her before she collapsed. Her lips touched his skin anywhere they could find.
He chuckled. “Nice to see you too, my lady.”
Smoke from his clothes filled her lungs. She could only imagine what he must feel like. She scanned his body up and down looking for burn wounds. “Are you hurt? Tell me you’re not hurt.”
He stroked a hand up and down her back. “I’m fine, love. I’m fine. Your valise is here, but is probably unusable. If you wish, I can have it reconditioned.”
Her lips found his. Her kiss was urgent and intense.
“Or I could just stand here and kiss you. That works for me.” He leaned his head down and whispered, “There will be talk.”
“You’re marrying me. There will be plenty of talk. Did you hear about the Duke’s daughter who married a Gypsy?”
“I haven’t heard about her yet. The gossip must have been very hard on her. Her friends probably laughed, and she wouldn’t be welcomed by most of the ton.”
“But he took care of her and her sisters. And she n
ever wanted for anything else. She only needed him—you’re marrying me,” she repeated.
His response was nothing at all like what the English gentlemen she’d been groomed for would do. With all the tenets and local nobility from neighboring estates behind them, Eliam held Lady Elizabeth much too tightly for propriety. He cupped her face and tilted her head back like he would kiss her right there in front of everyone. But then he just brushed his lips across her forehead and stepped back.
Elizabeth looked at him wide eyed.
He threw a glance to their audience and let his gaze meet hers again. “If I kissed you the way I want to there will be talk. I’d have to duel three men before we leave here tonight, because I will kill any man who insults you.”
“We’re—” Her voice hitched. “We’re leaving together?”
“You cannot throw out promises of forever and expect to leave alone, my lady.
Damn. No wonder Katie spent so much time with her Kindle. Eledon wanted a girl like Elizabeth. A girl who would run toward a burning building for him, even with her sisters barricading her way. More importantly, Eliam was a fictional boyfriend. Eledon had a chance. But his Dr. Plastic Nails would barely even speak to him. She wasn’t rampaging a burning building any time soon.
A persistent tapping pulled Eledon from his thoughts. He glanced up to find Katie tapping her foot, one hand planted firmly on her hips, her plate shaking with each movement of the ship in the other. “What are you doing?”
He still held the Kindle. He couldn’t deny his guilt. “Sorry, it was on. I was curious.”
She nodded, silently.
He opened his mouth to say something, but shut it.
“It’s not stormy. It’s only dark.”
“It’s early afternoon.”
“The sun always sets early in winter.”
He shrugged. “Sweetheart, it’s going to storm. But we’ll be fine. I’m good at captaining a boat.”
“Of course. Every man who wins his boat in a card game is a superb seaman.”
He cocked his head. “Of course. Otherwise, he wouldn’t accept a boat as payment.”
“Put my Kindle down and get out, please.”
“Of course, my lady.” He winked at her. “You can call me Eliam any time you want.” He strutted past her.
Chapter 12
She doubted Aladdin’s dramatic display, but she’d wake him up all the same. Let him keep his miserable ass up all night watching for storms that would never come. She passed the time with Eliam and there was no place she’d rather be. She let him sleep hours longer than he’d wanted.
Ready to go to bed, she banged on his door to wake the beast.
He answered with a string of words she couldn’t understand.
“Umm…okay?” she said.
“I’m getting up. Go to hell.”
That she understood.
She retreated to her room, relieved she didn’t have to see him. He had found her out. Dr. Katie Pearson escaped into books about undying love and happily ever afters. She spent most of her day monitoring heart rates, while pumping drugs into unconscious bodies, and she wasted the rest of her time on fairytales. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, Eledon previously thought she had a boyfriend. Now he knew the only man she ever talked about was a fictional character from one of those fairytales.
She laid down on the bed. The mattress stabbed her in places and let her body sink in others. As the boat rocked from one side to the other, she shifted to her left then her right. Finally, she drew her knees up, rolled into a ball, and went to sleep.
Katie sat at the table in a house she’d seen a million times before but never thought she would actually see. Eliam’s strong hand ran through her hair. She loved this dream. But when she smiled up at him, his face was rounder than usual. More like Aladdin’s?
And then a booming cannon tore her from her slumber.
“Aladdin!” she screamed.
Her eyes opened. She struggled to slow her breathing, but the cannon fired again. “Ahh!” She screamed. Her body shook.
A quiet tapping came at her door. She tried to get out of the bed, but she somehow had tangled herself in her covers.
The quiet tapping gave way to a loud thud and a splintering door. Eledon burst into her room. “Are you okay?” In two long strides, he crossed to the bed, where she laid tangled in sheets. “Katie, are you okay?”
“What was that? What happened?”
“What was what?”
Another cannon ball thundered through the boat and Katie stiffened.
Eledon grinned. “You’re afraid of thunder. Come on, sweetheart. You’re spending tonight in the captain’s room with me.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Wouldn’t you like that?”
“I’ve never been into ice princesses. I have to stay awake to watch the storm. You’re terrified. There is a port window in there and a bed for Dr. Plastic Nails to get her beauty sleep.
“I’ve already told you my nails aren’t plastic.”
“And I’ve told you my name isn’t Aladdin. Say it right.”
“How?”
“Ella like Cinderella. I know you know Cinderella. I’ve seen your Kindle. Ella don. Without the pause. Eledon.”
“Fine. But Aladdin is funnier.”
His deep, dark eyes held hers. “Say my name, Katie.”
Her body tingled. Everywhere. His low voice was an electrifying shock to places a man she’d barely known for two days should have no effect on. “Eledon.” The word was softer than she meant it. Almost like a purr.
Eledon grinned. Damn him. He knew he had an effect on her.
Katie tried to stand, but immediately slapped the mattress.
Eledon scanned the length of her body and shook his head. “How did you do that?” He untangled the sheets around her legs, and scooped her up.
“What are you doing?”
“I don’t think you should be walking, while the boat rocks like this. You’re going to fall down. Don’t worry, doc. You’re safe. Let me take care of you until you have better sea legs.”
He carried her past the threshold to the open galley. Cold rain poured on them.
“Wait,” Katie said.
He stopped.
“Can I just get my Kindle, please?”
He chuckled. His eyes danced though he didn’t speak. He turned around, grabbed the Kindle and battery pack, and handed it to her.
The rain was cold, but Eledon had her in the dry, warmth of the captain’s quarters in seconds. He placed her feet on the floor, and grabbed a bright orange life vest hanging from the wall. “Seems like you’re having a rough night. Maybe, you should sleep.” He slipped a hole of the life vest over one arm.
Katie looked up at him.
He waited for a moment before speaking. “Come on. Raise your other arm.”
“I’m not a child.” But she complied.
Eledon laughed. “I understand this, doc.” He fastened the belt around her waist.
The proximity did something to her. She wanted to kiss him again. Really wanted to kiss him again. “I’ve got it,” she snapped clicking the belt around her breast in place. His hands over her breast would have shaken any composure she had left. “Why do I need a life jacket to sleep anyway?”
He moved to the chair in front of the port window. “I’d just prefer you’re safe if the boat is rocked too hard.”
The boat lit up.
And before she could speak, thunder crackled through the sky.
She screamed and hugged Eledon. She let out a slow breath. “I thought it would hit us.”
“You’re safe, beautiful. I told you. Just get some rest.”
An orange glow lit the boat and the piercing sound filled the air again. “How could anyone sleep through this?” she asked.
He opened the top drawer of his built-in storage and took out a bag of Christmas-shaped marshmallows. “Maybe this will help.”
When he grinned, she wanted to kiss him again. The way they
had kissed on the deck. Instead, she reached for the marshmallows.
“Sorry it’s been such a rough ride,” he said. “You think being trapped on a boat with me will make this your worst Christmas ever?”
She shook her head. “No. The year the single mom died was my worst Christmas ever. The only real benefit to being an anesthesiologist is that the primary surgeon has to break the news to the family. In this case to a twelve-year-old, who likely ended up in foster care.”
Eldon’s lips formed an “O,” and he whistled. “Katie, why do you keep working in an occupation that makes you sad?”
She shrugged. “I went to school for ten years. I graduated with $200,000 in debt, and I have the skills. I might as well do the job. Someone has to. It pays for my red-soled shoes, as you call them.” She sighed. “Although, I hardly ever get to wear them.”
“Find an Eliam and let him pay for your red-soled shoes.”
Katie laughed. “I’ll put that on my to-do list. My best friend dropped out of med school our first year and married our other best friend. They have two adorable kids, but he’s hardly ever home for holidays. And the only Lou she owns were mine first.”
Eledon pulled a green marshmallow from the bag. “Hard knock life.”
“Sure, there are people with worse problems. However, if you grew up in the middle of nowhere Texas watching Sex and the City, wishing one day you could be one of those people, and if your goal in life was red-soled shoes, giving them up to change diapers is not appealing.”
A Merrily Matched Christmas Page 14
