tone.
“Well, my ex-husband for one, and then I guess the few guys I dated since my divorce. Before that, my family. You hear if often enough, you start to believe it, I guess.” There was resignation in her tone.
“I won’t hear you say anything like that again about yourself. I’ll not accept you feeling that way while you’re on this island. I’ll make it my mission to prove to you otherwise.”
She sighed deeply. “It’s really sweet of you to say that. Makes me feel…protected.”
He was about to answer when he noticed she was staring at his eyes.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded slowly, taking a step toward him. “It’s the most fascinating thing.”
“What is?”
“Your eyes,” she said softly. “They keep changing colors.”
He took the opportunity offered and lowered his face to hers. He didn’t hesitate, but took his time in reaching her lips. Her breath hitched at the same moment he claimed her lips. He didn’t want to scare her, so he kept things light. Soft. Gentle. His mate needed handling like royalty. Like the queen she was.
The longer he kissed her, the bolder her tongue became stroking his. She moaned and sighed into the kiss. When he didn’t think he could control himself any longer, she pressed herself to him. His dragon roared. Her body shuddered. He had to pull back or risk taking her then and there. His beautiful, shy, but bold mate.
He smelled her increasing arousal and couldn’t help but want to do more than just kiss her. He’d have to wait until after he told Smoke that he’d found their mate.
They reluctantly separated from each other, both gasping. Both tried catching their breaths. Turning to face down the beach, an orange glow caught their attention.
Valentina pointed down the shoreline to the bonfire with many people gathered around. “What’s that?”
“That’s one of the events we have. It’s a history play about the most famous female pirates,” he answered.
“Lady pirates?”
“Yeah, you want to watch? It hasn’t started yet.”
Her smile grew wide. “Really? That sounds so great. Let’s go.” She blew out a breath. “Too bad it’s so far down.”
He stepped in front of her and crouched. “Get on,” he said.
“What?”
“Get on my back. I’ll carry you down there.” Man, he really hoped she went along with it. He’d get to feel her against him. The thought of her pussy pressed to his back was almost too much for him.
“Are you for real? I mean, look at me,” she said. “I’m not tiny, and I weigh quite a bit.”
He glanced over his shoulder, putting a knee in the sand. His eyes traveled from her head to toes and back up. Fuck, he was hard as a damn rock. The scent of her embarrassment filled the air.
“You’re beautiful, Valentina.” His voice cracked at the end. She cocked her head and stared at him for a moment. “What?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. All right. I guess I’ll let you carry me. I might break your back, but since you insist, let’s go.” She pushed against his back, arms around his neck.
With a squeal from her, he lifted onto his feet. He was in heaven surrounded by her. She was light and soft and perfectly womanly. Perhaps she would allow him to carry her everywhere she needed to go. That didn’t seem likely though.
When they reached the bonfire, he noted several of the guests gathered, sitting a safe distance from the flames. Several couples, and a few families with younger children. He let her down, and she sat, patting the sand next to her. Possessive fire flowed through him. Their mate wanted him.
He sat down, his thigh touching hers. Her lips tilted into a soft grin. From behind the group, the old pirate actor walked through the folks. In his pirate voice, telling them to move, to get out of his way or he’d make them walk the plank.
It’d been a long time since he’d seen this play. He’d forgotten how much fun it was. He slid his hand over in the sand to touch hers. When she didn’t pull away, he intertwined their fingers. She glanced at him, holding his gaze for a breath.
“Aye, maties,” the character said, gaining his mate’s attention. The actor was twenty feet from the fire, unfolding a chair and TV tray, beer mug in hand. After taking a long chug, he slammed the stein on the tray and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand in an exaggerated movement, earning a few chuckles.
He turned to the audience