The Devil She Knew(23)

"It's okay for you. Your whole life you've known you're a genius.  Besides, you dropped out of college so you could write your Journeyman  software and then sell it for - how much? A couple of million? More?"

He didn't answer. Her estimate must have been low and he didn't want to admit it.

She shook her head. "Forget it. I just thought you should know why I  don't want to talk about opening my own restaurant. I'm not ready for  something like that. I'm going to go home and take the GED. And I'm  going to see if I can convince the bride to let me substitute one or two  of my own dishes in place of the boring ones she's arranged with  Marianna, and try my hardest to make the night a success. If I do well,  Marianna might let me work more hours, handle more parties for her, and  expand our standard menu. I want to do more than just make the same old  mini quiches and crostinis over and over again. That's as big as my  dreams can get right now." She gave him a shaky smile. "We can't all  create Skynet and cause the downfall of the entire human race."         

     



 

He pushed his plate away so he could lean across the table, push one  hand under her hair and cradle the back of her neck. His eyes were warm,  the soft brown of burnished wood.

"Those are good dreams." He pulled her close enough to kiss her, his  lips lingering on hers for a long time before he drew back. "I only wish  you could look through my eyes, so you can see what a bright and  shining star you are, and how crazy it is to doubt it, even for a  moment."

She took a deep breath, her heart beating hard. She'd felt his kiss  through her whole body. His lips had awakened every inch of her skin,  every nerve and muscle.

"I'm smart enough to want to enjoy this moment, right here, right now,  no matter what might happen in the future. Once we make it to land, I'll  fly home to LA and my little dreams, and you'll go back to New York and  world domination."

She held her gaze firm, not wanting him to be able to tell how much she  wished they didn't have so little time together. But they were being  honest, and the fact they lived miles apart was something she had to  accept. "We probably won't see each other again."

He inclined his head in agreement. "Probably not."

"Two genius brainiacs like us will be able to figure out a way to get to  Denarau tomorrow. So for now, let's just enjoy our last night  together." She smiled, though she felt closer to crying. There was a  pain inside her chest, like her heart was breaking. Could she have  fallen a little bit in love with him?

Well, if it was too late not to get hurt, she'd just have to squeeze  every last drop of joy out of the short time they had together. She  wasn't going to waste tonight with tears or regrets. There'd be plenty  of time for both in the days and weeks to come.

"You know, I think you're the smartest woman I've ever met." He caressed  her cheek. "Let's make this a night we'll never forget."





15





After dinner, Nate lit the hurricane lamp against the growing darkness.  He poured them both a glass of liqueur and they compared the movies, TV  shows and books they liked, and the music they were into. Nate sipped  his drink, enjoying the way they could talk together so easily. He loved  the sound of her laugh and the way she tossed her head, her curls  bouncing around her face.

She was so vibrant, he could hardly drag his gaze away from her. How  could Suzie doubt herself? If only he could show her how incredible she  was. At least he could make love to her the way she deserved. He'd make  tonight special. As she'd said, this was their last night together.

Unless there was a way to see each other again. Maybe it needn't be their last night?

But spending time with her was addictive, and if he got in any deeper he  wouldn't be able to stop. Nate had sworn off long-term relationships  for good reason. The more people he cared about, the more vulnerable he  was, and why risk the pain of a relationship that would most likely fail  anyway?

Suzie should be with someone who wanted the same things she did, and one  day she'd no doubt want a family of her own. Nate could never give her  that. He wouldn't have children, not after what had happened to  Harrison's daughter.

Besides, he and Suzie worked in different cities. They'd have no future  beyond tonight, so he'd make love to her knowing he'd never get to do it  again. And he'd do it his way.

Nate wasn't like Troy, or any of the bad boys Suzie had dated. Tonight  he'd show her who he really was. He'd be out in the open. Literally. And  why not, when it was such a beautiful night? All he needed was to set  it up.

Nate drained the last of his drink and went to the forward cabin. That  bed was narrower than the one in the stern, so the mattress would be  easier to move.

"What are you doing?" Suzie asked, as Nate hoisted the mattress and  bedding, muscled it up the steps to the cockpit, then onto the deck. He  dumped the whole lot near the bow where Suzie had been sunbathing that  first day. So much had happened since then, it seemed they'd been two  different people who'd argued with such passion. He smiled. They still  had passion, that was for sure.

She joined him on deck and he motioned upwards.

"Look at that." The stars were brighter than he'd ever seen outside a  planetarium, and he could pick out different colors  –  not just white,  but red, blue, and yellow. The Milky Way looked like glittering milk  powder scattered across the sky.

"Wow," she whispered, moving so close he could feel her body heat. Her  head was craned up, her eyes wide and catching the starlight. "It's  lovely out here. Who knew there were so many stars?"         

     



 

He pulled her close. "Speaking of heavenly bodies … "

The starlight was bright enough that he could admire the deep bow of her  lips before he kissed her smile away. She tasted of sweet liqueur.  Delicious.

He took his time over the kiss, enjoying the feel of her and the instant  arousal her touch always caused. Then he slipped his hands underneath  her T-shirt, stroking her back. Her skin was warm and silky. As he  tugged the shirt up, she lifted her arms to help it come off over her  head. His own shirt dropped to the deck a moment later. This time when  they kissed, he could run his hands up the length of her back, enjoying  the way her long curls tickled his hands.

When she took a step back from him, he wanted to protest. But she  shucked off her shorts and panties and lay down, wearing nothing but an  alluring smile. The words died on his lips. Tonight, he had to be the  luckiest man alive.

He eased down next to her and drew her close so he could murmur in her  ear. "You're lovely enough to stop my heart, you know that?"

She bent her head so she could put her ear against his chest. "Liar. It's still beating."

He laughed. "Actually, it's beating pretty hard right now. It's either going to stop or burst."

"In that case, we'd better make the most of what little time you have left." She stroked the bulge in the front of his shorts.

"At least I'll die happy." Pulling his shorts off, he kissed her again.  He loved the feel of her nipples against his bare chest, her long hair  tickling his shoulder, and his naked length pressing against her warm  belly. He loved her low, throaty laugh, and the way she dragged her  fingernails slowly up his spine.

Was he falling for her?

He knew better than to open his heart, especially to someone he'd never see again. He couldn't afford to fall for her …

But the thought disappeared as she wrapped her fingers around his cock.  She stroked his length, then cupped his balls with her free hand. He  breathed out hard. If she did that, he wouldn't last nearly as long as  he intended to. No, he wanted to taste her again, to lick her slowly,  savoring every moment, and every inch of skin.

He started with her neck, kissing his way down to the base of her  throat. Then he moved to her breasts. Her nipples had some serious  attitude, the way they stood up and saluted. He licked them approvingly,  then nuzzled the swell of her breast beneath her nipple. That curve of  skin fit perfectly into his hand, and he stilled for moment, studying  its delicate shape. "I think this could be my favorite part of your  body," he mused. "Although, to be fair, the jury's still deliberating."

"Really?" There was a laugh in her voice. "But what about this part just  here?" She ran her fingers lightly down her stomach, bumping over her  silver belly-button ring, and stopping just above her pubic hair.

He bent his head and gently licked the trail her fingers had made,  grazing the tip of his tongue across her skin. "Mmm," he agreed. "A  strong contender. The jury's got a difficult decision to make."

"And have they taken this part into consideration?" Her fingers  disappeared between her thighs for a moment. Hell, she was sexy. He  followed them eagerly, flicking his tongue across her sensitive skin.  Her gasp of pleasure made his blood pulse even harder. She spread her  legs for him, giving him access to explore her. When he pushed two  fingers inside her, she gripped his shoulder and gave a low moan.