Smoldering Desire (3 page)

“So…are you?” Shepherd asked with bated breath.

“I am,” she whispered happily.

“So you’re happy about this?”

Jada nodded excitedly.  “Yeah, I know I wasn’t at first, but now that I know that we’re having another baby, I’m ecstatic.  It’s going to be tough but we have our parents to help us out with babysitting.”

Shepherd leaned over and hugged her friend.  “Congratulations, girl.  I’m happy for you.  Where’s your hubby?”

“Getting drinks.”  Jada held up her hand when she saw that Shepherd was about to protest.  “Non-alcoholic for me.”

“I know that, just a knee-jerk reaction I guess,” she sheepishly admitted. 

“Not a prob everybody does it.  So where’s your man?”

Shepherd blushed and glanced down; she nervously ran a hand over the dress’s smooth fabric.  “I don’t have a man,” she mumbled but Jada still heard her, despite the loud music and conversations going on around them.  Shepherd looked in the crowd for him, she found him dancing with Mackenzie.

“But he can be for the cruise, then you can decide what you want after that.”

“Look at you, being all nasty,” Shepherd joked.  “But seriously, I need to think about what I want.  It’s kind of hard to make a decision so soon after not seeing him for ten years.  I really want to get to know him again.”

They watched as the dance floor filled up.  Farrah’s and Markus’s wedding reception was officially over; the ship had opened the doors allowing passengers in to party.

Jada stood up.  “I’m going to look for my hubby; we’ll finish our drinks in our bedroom.”  With a wink to her friend, she sauntered off in the direction of the bar.

Loneliness washed over Shepherd, she looked into the crowd, but since it had thickened, she no longer saw Devin or Mackenzie.  She sighed then leaned back in her chair.  “I guess I’ll get a drink too.”  She got up and walked over to the bar, where she ordered something to drink.

“I got that,” a voice said over her shoulder.  Shepherd turned around and found herself facing a chest; she craned her neck up and found a pair of blue eyes smiling down at her.

“Oh thanks,” Shepherd said gratefully then introduced herself. 

“I’m Marco.  Traveling alone?” he asked.

Shepherd grinned at him, admiring his sun-kissed skin, shiny black hair and dazzling white teeth.  “I am, I was part of the wedding.”  She jutted her chin toward Farrah and Markus.

“She’s a pretty bride, but not as stunning as you.”  His eyes leisurely roamed over her body, then stopped at her breasts.  She suddenly had the urge to cross her arms over them, instead she turned toward the bar, taking them out of his view.

Marcos noticed and chuckled to himself.  “Want to dance?”

“No, I’ll just enjoy my drink right now.  Thanks for asking,” she demurred; she knew that he wanted more than dancing.  She placed her elbows on the bar and began drinking, dismissing Marco.

“Shepherd,” a voice said in her ear causing a shiver of desire to slide through her and pool at her mound.

“Devin,” she said, trying to keep her voice from showing how he had affected her.

“Want to dance?”

“I’m talking,” she said stubbornly.  She turned to Marco who had half-turned away and was focusing on his next target, sensing a second chance, he eagerly faced Shepherd.

Devin grabbed her hand.  “Let’s dance.”

Marco, who was watching the scene through narrowed eyes, wrapped his arms protectively around her shoulders.  “She said she doesn’t want to dance.”

Devin stared him down.  “Pull back dude.”

Shepherd shrugged Marco’s arm off her.  “It’s okay.  I’ll dance with him.”  She knew that she wasn’t interested in Marco, nor did she want them to fight over her.

Marco shrugged and dropped his hand.  “Cool.”

Shepherd let him lead her onto the dance floor. 

Shepherd looked up at Devin.  “You’re so wrong trying to be so territorial,” she admonished, but she secretly liked it.

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“You could’ve waited until I was free.”

“That would’ve taken all night; I saw the way the other men were looking at you.”

“You need to be patient.”

“Another time, but not tonight.”  He held her possessively against him and Shepherd closed her eyes and moved to the music.  After thirty minutes of dancing they were both thirsty.  “Let me get you something to drink, I’ll be right back.”

“Sure.  I’ll look for an empty table.”

“Kinda overdressed for dancing,” someone shouted in Devin’s ear and he jumped.  He turned toward the voice and found an attractive white lady with blonde hair grinning at him, her eyes were glassy and her words were slurring a little.  Under normal circumstances he would’ve talked to her…but not tonight, not with Shepherd waiting for him.

“I was in a wedding,” he answered, then turned away ignoring her.  He looked for the bartender.  He had given him his drink order but he had disappeared.

“Yours?”

Devin sighed.  “No, a good friend’s,” he answered, and her lips curved up into a large predatory smile.  She inched closer to him.

“You’re cute, wanna dance?”

“No thanks.”  He glanced impatiently down the bar for the bartender.

“Wanna go to bed?”  She snuggled against him, rubbing her breasts against his arms.

Devin leaned away.  “Oh, hell naw!”

“I’m Candi, what’s your name?”

“Devin,” he answered automatically.

“Devin, you’re cute and I’m horny, let’s go back to my cabin and get to know each other better.”

“I don’t think so.” He looked up to see the bartender coming toward him with his drinks.  “Thank you,” he said gratefully, then picked up his drinks.

“Then just kiss me before you go.”

“Hell no!” he said firmly. 

“Hell yes!” Before Devin could stop her, Candi pressed her mouth to his.  Devin struggled against her.  If he didn’t care about spilling the drinks on her, he would’ve pushed her away.

“Where is he?” Shepherd sliced her way through the crowd and ambled toward the bar.  She was halfway there when the crowd seemed to magically part, showing Devin kissing another lady.  An image of her pushing open his door to find him screwing another girl flashed in her head and she almost fell to her knees.  Instead, she caught her breath, squared her shoulders and marched over to Devin.  “Oh, I see that you really changed.”  She glared at him before she turned on her heels and stormed through the crowd.

Devin pushed Candi away, the drinks sloshed on her clothes.  “Get away from me.”

“Hey!” Candi yelled. 

Devin placed his drinks on the bar and raced after Shepherd. 

“Oh well, I can’t get every man.  At least I have something to drink.”  She picked up one of Devin’s abandoned drinks and began sipping it.  She peered into the crowd.  “So who will I be going to bed with tonight?”  Candi spied Marco; she pushed away from the bar and sauntered over to him. 

Devin caught up with Shepherd at the elevator.  The doors opened and luckily he caught her before she stepped in. 

“Where’s your friend?” Shepherd snapped.

“She’s not my friend.  I don’t know that lady.”

“But yet you were kissing her?”

“Yes—I mean no.  She was kissing me.  I was standing at the bar, waiting for our drinks and she just kissed me, I didn’t encourage her, I didn’t lead her on, she just kissed me, right out of the blue, honest.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“I do.  She was drunk; she was looking for a vacation fuck.  I was it; I bet if you go back to the club, she’ll be slobbering all over some other dude.  Besides how stupid would I be to kiss a stranger with you and all our friends nearby, that’s just begging for an ass kicking.  I said I changed and you got to believe me.  Do you believe me?”

Shepherd thought about what he just said, it made sense to her.  “I guess,” she said grudgingly.

Devin didn’t press for a better response, if he was honest with himself, he’d be skeptical too if he was in her shoes.  “Cool.  Let’s go on the deck.”  He found that he liked talking under the open sky while the ship seemed to crawl across the water.  He found it all relaxing and romantic.

Once they were on deck he wasted no time in getting close to her.  He pushed her against the railing and laced his hand in her hair, pulling her toward him.  He lowered his mouth to hers.  “I want you, Shepherd.”

She pulled away and peeked up at him.  “Devin?”

“Don’t tease me.”

“I’m not teasing you.  What happened to being friends?”

“Friends kiss.”

“They sure do.  Just like this.”  She pecked him on the cheek.  “That was a nice friendly kiss.”

“You’re kidding right?”

“Nope.”

“I want to taste your lips,” Devin breathed against her mouth.

“Sure.”  Shepherd puckered her lips and swiped them against his. 

Devin groaned.  “Stop playing with me girl.” 

He cradled the back of her head then he raked his fingers through her hair, bobby pins fell to the deck, her hair tumbled down to her shoulders.  He pulled her to him, stared in her eyes, his gaze questioning.  Shepherd’s lips turned up in acquiescence.

Devin lowered his mouth to hers and he groaned softly when her lips softened under his.  He tenderly kissed the corners of her mouth and he felt her smile, and he paused long enough from his kisses to return it.  He gently sucked on her bottom lip.  Wanting to taste him, Shepherd opened her mouth, inviting him in.  A moan slipped out when Devin slid his tongue in her mouth.  She shivered with desire as his tongue grazed hers.  Devin pulled on her tongue and eagerly sucked it. 

“I want you so bad,” Devin said.  He brushed his lips over hers.  “Please say yes.” 

CHAPTER 6

The next day Devin and Shepherd joined a couple dozen passengers on an excursion to Water Island's Honeymoon Beach, where they spent hours snorkeling, swimming and enjoying the sun.   The crew had even cooked the crowd a Caribbean BBQ lunch.

“Let’s get away from the crowd,” Devin said.  They had spent the last four hours surrounded by families and he wanted to enjoy the tropical paradise with Shepherd away from it all. 

“Sure.”  Shepherd stepped up and dusted the sand off her body. 

“You got a little here.”  Devin brushed some sand off her bikini clad bottom, his hand lingered on her butt. 

Shepherd winked at him.  “I think you got it,” she drawled before sauntering away.  Devin stood still, hypnotized by her perfect globes.  A beach ball hit him, knocking him out of his trance; and he raced after Shepherd.  They strolled until they found a table nestled under some trees set away from the crowd. 

“Stay here, I’ll be right back.”  Shepherd watched him race away, he was in better shape than he was in college.  After their snorkeling trip, he had kept off his shirt and his ginger hued muscles gleamed in the sun.  Every opportunity she got, she brushed a breast, her thigh or her hand against him. 

She watched him until he disappeared, then she sat back in her chair and enjoyed the scene in front of her.  Families were playing on the beach and in the turquoise colored water, couples were sunbathing, and some sightseers were strolling around taking pictures of the tropical paradise. 

Devin returned a few minutes later carrying a bottle of champagne and two plastic flutes. 

“Hey, where did you get that?”

“The captain was cool he kept it in the refrigerator for me.  Once I told him our story he was happy to help.”

Devin popped open the bottle then poured the sparkling liquid into their flutes.  He lifted his glass.  “This is to our future.”  They sipped.  “You look so beautiful,” Devin said.  All day, he had enjoyed seeing her scantily clad body. 

“Thank you.”

“I wish there weren’t so many people around, I’d make love to you on the beach,” he whispered and Shepherd flushed, she took a sip of her champagne.  “Cat got your tongue?”

“Not at all.  I was picturing us on the beach.  Remember we did it on the beach once, during spring break, in Cancun.”

“Yeah, I remember.  We did it so fast because we were afraid of getting caught.”

Shepherd giggled.  “That quickie went down in the record books…it was so good.”

Devin leaned in.  “So um, do you want to break a record?”

“I would love to, but not today.”  She motioned toward the tour guides.  “I think it’s time to go, they’re beginning to pack stuff up.”

“I bet if we hurry we can do it.  All I have to do is slip that bikini bottom to the side…and it’s on.”

“Are you serious?” Shepherd asked breathlessly.  “You really want to do it now?”

“Yeah, we can do it in the water or we can take a chair into that wooded area.  You can sit on my lap.  All I have to do is cover your lap up with a blanket.”

“Okay, let’s do it,” Shepherd agreed, her heart thudding. 

They gulped down their champagne; and Devin pointed to an area right over her shoulder.  Shepherd peeked behind her and studied the area; she immediately decided that it was perfect.  Devin caressed her arm.  “Ready?”

“Yes,” Shepherd whispered. 

Devin re-corked the champagne and threw away the plastic flutes.  He grabbed a chair and flung a blanket over his shoulder.  “Come on.”

They casually strolled across the sand, careful not to draw attention.  Devin set the chair down.  “Ready?”  Shepherd nodded.