He stood and pulled her to her feet. By the flickering light of the hurricane lanterns, they made their way to the main stateroom. Sabrina had unpacked into the adjacent room and Alex’s room was across from hers.
Vlad kept hold of her hand and eased her into the master bedroom with its breathtaking panoramic views of the Tyrrhenian Sea from every window. He pushed the door closed and switched on the low lights in the cabin.
“It’s light enough to see. Do we really need those?” Sabrina’s hand fluttered in a self-conscious way toward the low compact blubs casting a dim shadow over her body. Luminous streaks of moonlight poured through the line of windows set into the perimeter of the room. That same light dappled the cream linens on the bed.
“Da, yes,” he replied. In that dress—and he knew she was braless—she looked literally good enough to eat in just the moonlight, but the habit of long years prevailed. He never slept without a light on if he could help it. He knew the total darkness on the night of the hurricane had no doubt precipitated his nightmare. No matter how many years passed, he felt as timid as a lamb in the darkness. He had conquered many things in his life, but that foolish fear kept him in its grip still. She didn’t need to know that. But the light would remain on.
There was a small stretch of polished mahogany at the base of the enormous bed in the center of the room.
Otherwise, the cabin was all glass and metal save for the capacious warmth of the deep mattress. The gentle hum of the engine and the faint swish of the waves against the vessel were the only sounds he could hear over the roar of blood in his veins.
He told himself to go slowly.
Vlad released her hand to unbutton his shirt and saw her shiver. Her gaze was trained on him. He just looked back at her, enjoying the way her breasts swelled and peaked inside her dress, and then he reached over to release the single button at the halter’s neck. The thin top of the lemon linen fell, revealing her glorious breasts, unbound and even more abundant than he remembered.
He moved closer until he was a breath away from her. He dropped his head and unable to resist, he ran his tongue over her bottom lip before sitting on the ottoman at the foot of the bed and settling her on his lap.
She fit there perfectly; her bottom covering his raging hard on and he wanted to savor this moment because having Sabrina in his arms was what he’d been dreaming about for three long weeks. Again, he smoothed his tongue over her bottom lip, and this time her mouth dropped open just like in his fantasy. Now he was distracted by the ripe fullness of her breasts and he couldn’t stop himself from bending his head to them and just for a heartbeat, saluting them with his tongue as he inhaled her familiar scent. When the jasmine filled his head, his arms tightened around her, and the need overwhelmed him. He ground his mouth into hers with barely controlled urgency.
Her mouth opened to him like the petals of a flower, and she gave him complete access.
He knew her mouth had never tasted sweeter. He placed his hands at either side of her head to hold her in place as his tongue drove her lips wider and suddenly he was certain he couldn’t get enough.
All of his great plans for restraint, for a measured lovemaking, went out the window. At this moment, he couldn’t even recall those careful plans, how he had strategically arranged for Alex to join them on this trip because Vlad knew he needed an extra layer of protection against Sabrina. With Alex and the crew running interference, he’d reasoned, it was unlikely his encounters with Sabrina would get too far out of hand. He and Sabrina would be together, be intimate, but in a restrained fashion and he would not lose control. He would have her on his terms.
Now she was here, and she was with him all the way. Her hands had climbed up to his shoulders, and she held on even as her head fell back to give him what he demanded.
When he finally lifted his head and their ragged breaths filled the air, she rested her face in the hollow of his neck and said, “Vlad,” softly against his skin, before she lifted her head and looked him in the eye. “Make love to me,” she whispered.
He stood up then, and her dress fell completely away as he lifted her in his arms, leaving her in a lacey thong. He lowered her gently down on the bed and then just looked at her pale, gorgeous curves.
Her face flushed at his scrutiny, but she held his gaze even as her entire body grew rosy and her breathing became even more labored.
Swiftly, he shed his remaining clothes, his eyes never leaving hers. Anticipation was a torment, and he knelt between her knees on the king bed, his erection jutting powerfully.
He leaned down and she reached up to grasp his shoulders. “Ooh, I found your tattoo,” she whispered, her finger tracing the crescent moon stamped on his right shoulder.
“And I found yours, moyo solnyshko,” he rumbled, “the moon to your sun.” Reaching down he grasped her right foot, the one with the sun gleaming above her anklebone, effectively splaying her legs even wider.
He was in no mood for talking, and Sabrina gasped as his hands closed over both of her ankles and he tugged her into position for him. Eyes still intent on hers; he ripped away the scrap of lace that separated him from her. Then with jaw clenched, he covered himself quickly and entered her in one powerful thrust. After that moment, he stopped briefly, trying without success to slow the hell down. His arms corded and shook with the effort, but it was no use. With a groan, he let go and surged into her again, and then again.
In moments, orgasms ripped through them both, and Sabrina’s ragged cry was smothered under Vlad’s mouth as he covered her lips in a rough kiss.