18. Captain’s Confrontation #3
“Of course, it would be terrible for your reputation to lose a client,” she said sarcastically.
“That’s not it,” he confessed, taking her arm so she was forced to stop and look at him. “It’s because I care about you far more than I should, and the thought of losing you, of someone hurting you, puts a knife in my heart.”
“Sorry, that wasn’t fair. I hate that you’re caught up in this, whether it’s your job or not. That you and Mina are in danger because of me worries me most. I should’ve known better than to start caring about anyone. You shouldn’t have taken this job.”
He hated to see the fear in her eyes. Unable to resist, his eyes drifted to her lips, and he took her face in his hands and brushed his lips against hers, wanting to remove all traces of fear and hurt.
Her lips moulded to his as she fisted his shirt, pulling him closer until they were pressed against the wall beside the lift.
“I’m sorry. Someone could see us,” he said, sliding his palm down her throat to her shoulders to keep her still.
“Who cares!” Poppy lunged at him without a care in the world.
He would take anything she was eager to give. He held her firm against him, using his body to conceal her. He wanted to be gentle, but her demanding kisses set a wildfire in him. He nipped at her lower lip, and she moaned softly as he reminded her who was in charge.
“I can’t lose you,” Isaiah said, his grip tightening on her hair as her eyes met his.
“You won’t,” she panted, resting her hands on his chest. He was sure she could feel his heart hammering.
“Seeing the killer so close to you earlier, I thought my heart was going to stop.” He couldn’t bear to think of what could have happened. He almost wanted to thank the killer for not taking Poppy’s life at that moment.
“Don’t worry so much. The killer was enjoying watching me suffer too much to hurt me,” Poppy quipped.
“Don’t joke,” Isaiah said, running his thumb along her smiling lips. He wanted to taste her again, but the ping of the lift doors opening sadly ruined the moment.
The group of guests stared at them as they separated. With Poppy’s rosy cheeks, it wasn’t hard for them to guess what they’d interrupted. Isaiah and Poppy joined them, forced apart and to remain silent until they reached their suite, where Poppy started running a bath as soon as she entered.
“You know what I can’t get out of my head?” She started undressing, then smirked before he averted his gaze.
“That kiss?” he asked, lingering in her doorway. When he looked up, she was wearing a robe, and he could think again.
“That too, but why didn’t Joshua board with us and explain what was happening?” The sweet scent of oranges filled the space as she poured a fruity bubbling lotion into the bath.
“He got in over his head. Maybe he wanted to stop the killer without exposing his role in the plan. Private guests have more discretion; he was trying to keep his movements secret. Once the killer found out he was on board and working against them, he became a target.” Isaiah regretted that he had been so distracted by his suspicion of Poppy, he hadn’t noticed who lurked in the shadows.
He wished Joshua had been honest with her.
Poppy might not have boarded if she’d known the full extent of the danger, but voicing blame now was pointless.
“Why didn’t he just come with us? Why did he think he could handle it alone?
I have no clue who the woman in the footage could even be.
I would’ve said Calliope, but she was already dead,” Poppy said, pinning her hair up as the bathroom filled with steam.
“Even though he got tangled up in this mess, he was my friend once, and it’s awful knowing he died filled with regret. ”
“It’s okay to mourn for your friend, even if he went down the wrong path. We’ll find out who he was working with or against,” Isaiah promised, though she didn’t seem reassured.
She took a deep breath, and he sensed there was more she wanted to get off her chest.Slipping off her robe, she sat on the ledge of the tub with her back to him as it filled. He studied the tiles, trying not to be distracted by her bare curves.
“I’m sorry he’s dead, but I’m also relieved I’m not imagining injured people in jacuzzis.
Even if we’re working together, it’s troubling to know that security is more skilled at covering up than solving crimes.
My brain feels like it’s about to snap with all the possibilities,” she said, shaking her head.
“I recommend therapy when you get home.”
Poppy chuckled. “My aunt hated therapists. She preferred pushing through with a martini, pills and bitter smiles. The first two I’ll happily pass on, but I’m afraid I might have inherited the last.” She glanced at him over her shoulder.
It took all his willpower not to scoop her up in his arms and take her to bed.
“I don’t think your smile could ever be bitter,” he said, causing her to roll her eyes. He wanted to change the topic, not wanting her to think about her aunt. She had enough on her plate. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything – I think we’re past secrets,” Poppy said, slipping into the steamy bubbles.
“Why are you so drawn to water? You take more baths than anyone I know, and you went to the spa when you were stressed during our first night on board.”
Poppy rested her chin on her forearms as the bubbles swelled around her. “Whenever I was away from home for work, or even at home with my aunt, the bathroom was always where I was left alone. Until you.”
He smirked.
“Can we be silent and enjoy the peace for five minutes?” she asked. “Just five more minutes of pretending that no one is trying to kill me?”
“Five minutes sounds good.”
Poppy rested her head on the edge of the tub.“And during those five minutes, you can undress and get in this tub with me, because it’s far too big for one person,” she teased, leaning over the edge and spilling water on the floor as she kissed him.
“Your wish is my command.” He stripped off his clothes and climbed in behind her so he could hold her in his arms.
After endless caresses beneath the bubbles, neither could take much more teasing.
Isaiah carried her out of the bathroom, her legs wrapped around his waist and she nipped at his neck, making him harder.
Each step to the bedroom was a laboured effort; it took all his strength not to lay her out on the bathroom tiles and take her.
On the bed, her eyes burned with needas she propped herself up on her elbows to watch him.
He placed a soft kiss on the inside of her thigh.
She gasped when he shoved her legs apart and kissed up her thighs before devouring her.
Her groans matched his own as his tongue explored her needy core.
Feeling her legs tremble against his shoulders and her breathless moans was intoxicating.
He loved driving her to the edge, only to pull away before she had a chance to explode.
“Isaiah, don’t stop,” she pleaded, gripping his hair, driving him on.
His name on her lips was something he could listen to for the rest of his life.
Her back arched off the bed as she told him she was close, lost in the sensation of his tongue on her.
It didn’t matter who she was; in spite of all her fame and fortune, nothing was going to steal this moment from them. She’s all mine.
He didn’t stop until her moans turned into cries of release. With a satisfied grin, he pressed a gentle kiss against her inner thigh.
“If only I’d known this was how to make you smile, I’d have had you on your knees sooner.
” She chuckled softly, her cheeks flushed as she stared up at him.
“You have the best smile.” She ran her fingers along his spine, sending shivers down his body.
Her lips pressed against him. He shuddered as she eagerly tasted her arousal on his tongue before he eased down her body.
His lips trailed from one breast to the other, nipping just enough so she would feel him tomorrow, then returned to hers as he caressed between her thighs and she writhed against him.
Poppy’s hands drifted from his hips, and a groan escaped him as her delicate touch caressed him.
“I need you,” she rasped in his ear beneath him as he teased her.
“Such sweet words. Now look at me. Don’t close your eyes or I’ll stop,” he ordered, pulling her up from the bed so she was straddling him. Her hooded gaze met his as she rocked her hips against his. The desire in her gaze ruled him.
“Take what you want, Princess,” he ordered, and his lips silenced her moans as she eased herself onto his hard length, taking every inch until his eyes rolled back in his head. With her chest against his, he wondered if she could feel his heart hammering.
“You’re what I want,” she gasped. “What I need.”
His eyes snapped open, and her mischievous smile nearly undid him.
“Is that an order?” He thrust forward, and she bit his shoulder to silence herself.“Fuck, Poppy,” he growled, fisting her hair to stop her before she ruined him for life.
“I’m the boss, after all,” she said, rolling her hips.
He tried to hold her still, trying to draw out the moment, but wrapped up in her body, he couldn’t stop himself from making her his.
“Then I should make sure my client is satisfied with my performance.” He laid her down, pinning her hands above her head so she was at his mercy.
She arched her back off the bed as his thrusts came faster and faster; he released her hands as he felt her tightening around him, and she dug her nails down his back as she came undone, clinging to him.
Her writhing sent him over the edge, and he buried his head in her shoulder as he cried out her name.
Sweat clung to their bodies as they held each other, trying to catch their breath.
Once he could remember his name, he pressed his lips to hers, and she unwrapped herself from him.
“I don’t think I can move,” she panted as he rolled away from her carefully.
“Good, because you aren’t to leave this room.” He winked, discarding the condom in the bin. The sheets were pulled from the bed, and he smiled to himself as he watched her wrap herself up in them. “What are you doing?” he asked as she turned on the bathroom light.
“I’m not going to walk around naked, and we have Sophia’s dinner to get to!” She blushed, closing the bathroom door.
He hadn’t expected her to be self-conscious, but he wanted her to be comfortable. When she came back, showered and dressed in a short red dress, she stood by his side of the bed.
“Can you zip up my dress the rest of the way?” she asked. She smelt like that delicious shampoo, and it made him hard again. He didn’t think he’d ever get enough of her.
“I think I like you all wrapped up,” he said, brushing her hair over her shoulder. He kissed between her shoulders and felt her shiver. He loved how her body responded to his touch.
“Oh yeah?” She frowned a little as he kissed her shoulder and then her neck. She tilted her head, giving him better access. He didn’t need to be told twice.
“Because then I get to unwrap you.” His lips brushed her ear as he tugged down the zipper and brushed the tiny straps from her shoulders.
She gasped as he pulled her down onto the bed. They were going to be very late to dinner.