"You haven't dated since your divorce," he said suddenly.
Carolyn started to glance around, but caught herself.
She didn't want to see Christian staring at her again and she could feel his eyes burning holes into the back of her head. She knew he was attracted to Jack, but it was looking more and more like the captain was straight, and she couldn't help that.
"I can tell you haven't had anyone's hands on you for a while," Jack continued conversationally. "You're as tense as a cat over water."
"Sorry," Carolyn muttered, but thought she had had hands on her, and very recently. Those few moments on the bus rose up in her memory, and she felt her ni**les harden as her body seemed to swell with remembered passion.
When Jack's hands suddenly slowed, Carolyn forced the memories from her mind and took a deep breath. He couldn't possibly see her br**sts from behind, but goose bumps had broken out on her skin and a shiver had run down her back at the flood of memories, and she suspected he'd noticed her physical response and mistaken the source. She was proven correct when he suddenly stepped closer, the heat of his body radiating along her back as his hands moved to clasp her waist.
"Well, that's encouraging," he breathed by her ear. "I was beginning to think you were completely immune to my charms."
Carolyn just bit her lip, not sure what to do or say.
"Dare I hope there's enough interest that you'd join me for dinner tomorrow night?"
Carolyn turned her head to glance back at him, and then gave a squeak of surprise as she found a wide black mass beside her. Christian's chest, she realized and raised her head to see him glowering down at her.
"If you can manage to tear yourself out of the captain's greasy hands for a moment, I'd appreciate a word with you," he said coldly.
Her mouth dropped open and she felt Jack tense behind her, and then she snapped her mouth closed and slid out from in front of Jack, muttering, "I'll be right back."
"I'll be waiting," he assured her, taking the helm again, but his narrowed eyes were locked on Christian's face and his expression wasn't friendly.
Sighing at the testosterone suddenly flying around her, Carolyn caught Christian's arm and dragged him to the rail at the back of the boat. Pausing there, she turned and scowled at him. "First off, that was rude."
Christian snorted. "Rude? He was all over you."
"Yes, but-"
She paused and then shook her head.
"I'm sorry. I know you're interested in him, but I wasn't coming on to him or anything, and I can't help it if he's straight."
He scowled, and she blurted out, "I'm sorry about the bus thing."
"The bus thing?" Christian asked grimly, each word succinct.
Carolyn winced. "My only excuse is that I wasn't feeling well and... well... you're attractive," she said helplessly.
"I just got confused for a minute. I'm sorry I kissed you. But you weren't fighting me off, and I know you were probably out of it and thinking I was Elton John or someone, but it didn't help."
When he just stared at her, his jaw hanging open, she sighed and added, "Frankly, I'm starting to think that I was right and I should... er... well, you know."
His mouth snapped closed and then he said silkily, "No, I don't know. Why don't you tell me?"
Carolyn eyed him warily. "What we talked about in the restaurant."
"We talked about many things," he said grimly. "Be more specific."
Crap, he was going to make her spell it out, she thought with annoyance. "Well, I'm thinking I should start something with Jack." His eyes narrowed, his expression tightening and she rushed on, "You're right, I'm not the type to just pick up some guy at a club, but I've spent a bit of time with Jack, and he's nice. And I wouldn't rush into it. He's invited me to dinner. There's nothing wrong with my accepting and maybe letting him kiss me to see how it goes."
When he stared as if turned to stone, she found herself babbling, "I'm obviously in some serious need of attention.
It was bad enough when I started having erotic dreams all over the place, but if I'm going to run around attacking my poor g*y friends-"
She closed her eyes and raised a hand to rub her forehead, muttering with dismay, "God, next I'll be kissing Bethany or something."