her mother was alone. It was one of the reasons he had stepped in to find the senior citizens home for Helen’s mother, relieving Helen’s mind of the worry about her mother living alone.
“What is your mother like? Is she as pretty as you are?”
“Oh, no,” Helen waved. “My mother is stunning, even at sixty five, she turns heads.”
“She was pretty old when she had you. Why did she wait so long?”
Helen swallowed painfully. “They found each other and married late in life,” she said, as if that explained everything. It didn’t and there was so much more to the story, but she didn’t want to tell him, feeling feminine and wonderful for the first time in a long time. Those feelings would disappear if he knew everything and he’d pull back, horrified at the real story.
Dinner again was amazing, compounded by the fact that Dimitri was either holding her hand or touching her in some way during almost the whole meal. It was more relaxed tonight, the six of them ate out under the stars instead of in the formal dining room. While the others laughed and joked, Dimitri held her hand under the table, his fingers stroking hers and sending shivers along every nerve ending. When the meal was over, Dimitri excused himself as well as Helen, saying they had a bet to settle. The others only smiled politely but Helen was grateful for the cover of darkness as he led her into yet another room on the ship. This one looked like a music room, complete with a baby grand piano and a stereo system that would put a radio station to shame. He turned on soft music and watched her, noting the way her body immediately started swaying with the beat of the music.
“What bet do we have to settle?” she asked, leaning against the wall as he fiddled with some dials and levers. “I don’t remember betting you anything, nor do I think I’d ever be so stupid.”
He laughed and looked over at her, one eyebrow raised. “What do you mean?” he asked as he walked to where she was standing. He took her hands in both of his and pulled her along with him as he walked backwards to the dance floor. Soft lights moved slowly about the walls and ceilings, adding yet another layer of romance to the whole night.
“I mean,” she said, already sensing her mind starting to muddle, “that from what I’ve seen, you don’t gamble. You might use the words ‘bet’ or something similar, but everything you do is perfectly calculated so the odds are unfairly on your side.”
He thought about that for a moment as he pulled her closer, settling her hands on his shoulders. “So you don’t think I take risks?”
She shook her head, inhaling unsteadily. “No. You’re too smart for that.”
Dimitri laughed. “You look very beautiful in that dress, Helen,” he said. “What made you pick this one over the pink one?”
Helen licked her lips and considered lying to him, but she decided against it. “Because one time, about three months ago, you mentioned how much you like me wearing blue. So I chose the blue one tonight.”
His eyes gave her the reaction she had been hoping for and his hand cradled her shoulder gently but firmly. “Good answer,” he said. “And it suits you perfectly.”
“Thank you.” She could barely breathe, her eyes looking at his lips and willing him to kiss her again.
“I’m going to kiss you again,” Dimitri warned her as he swayed gently to the jazz music.
Helen sighed happily. “I know.”
“I might do more than that,” he said, his hand smoothing up her spine.
Helen looked up and into his eyes, her smile still in place as she laughed at his warning. “You don’t give a girl much notice, do you?” she laughed.
Dimitri growled and bent his head to take her lips in his gently. He kissed her softly at first, but then the passion blew out of control. She held onto his shoulders with both hands, her body edging closer to his without her knowing what was happening.
Without warning, Dimitri bent down, not releasing her lips as he swung her legs up in the air, carrying her to the long sofa set against the wall. He sat down, placing her in his lap and then leaned over, his mouth devouring hers the whole time.
Helen held on with all her might, unsure of what to do but assuming that if it felt good to her,