Tempest - Kris Michaels Page 0,41

away from him and hissed when she put too much pressure on her toe. "Damn." She shifted her weight, so her toes were in the air and she was walking on her heel again.

"Want me to carry you?" he offered as she exited the cabin.

"You? Anytime. That other guy? No thanks. I mean he's nice and all, but I don't know him, and he goes all He-Man, picks me up, and carries me down the pier. He looks really familiar, though. Like the actor––"

"Yeah, he gets those comments a lot. You'll be safer in the narrow passages if you walk. Once we have more room, I'll carry you to where we're going."

"No, really, you don't have to carry me. Seriously, it may take me a hot minute to get there, but I am capable of walking."

"Perhaps I want to hold you. You didn't consider that option, did you?"

His low rumbled words charged the plugged-in feeling again. The sensation was thrilling with an edge of excitement which bordered on anxious agitation in the most wonderful way. Stimulating, disquieting and a total composure wrecking ball. She swallowed hard and then cleared her throat as he gazed at her. "No. I didn't."

His smile spread across his face. "Perhaps it is time you did."

She watched him move forward to open the passage door at the end of the hall. Oh yeah, there was little room for thinking of anything else. Ever.

Chapter 12

Self-control had never been a problem for him. Yet, every time he was close to Pilar the only thing he wanted to do was plaster her body against his and revel in the soft, sensuous curves which teased him through the almost see-through coverup she wore. Her firm, toned legs were all the enticement needed at this point. Hell, a stiff breeze could give him a hard on right now and at forty-three, a horny, sex-crazed, teenaged boy was the last imitation train he needed to hop on, but chugga-chugga... there he went.

He waited for her, holding the door open. As soon as she passed him, he let the door shut and swept her into his arms.

"Oh! Seriously! I can walk."

"And I can walk faster." He strode through the back portion of the second level, a bank of chairs that centered in front of a theater sized projection screen.

"This is an amazing ship. Is it Guardian's?"

"No ma'am. It's mine." Smoke stuck his head out of the galley. "I'm rustling up some lunch. Sage has the helm."

"Pilar, may I introduce––"

"Dan Collins." He wiped off his hand and extended it to the woman he held.

She shifted the book she was gripping and took his hand. "Pilar Grantham."

"A pleasure to officially meet you." Smoke gave her a dazzling smile, the one he pulled out when he wanted people to fall under his spell. The same one his little brother gave to millions of adoring fans. The brothers were from the same mold. Magnetism surrounded them and siphoned people into their orbit. Which was probably why underwater demolitions was the guy's specialty. Not many rabid fans out on the ocean, even fewer under the water. Although the man had other skills. Specialized and deadly was a hallmark of all the Shadows.

"Has anyone ever told you that you bear a remarkable resemblance to––"

Smoke barked a laugh and spun on his heel going back to the galley. "All the time! Wouldn't it be awesome to be that guy? I'll bring lunch to the dining area in a couple of minutes."

Tempest chuckled, adjusted her slight weight in his arms and headed toward the aft of the spacious interior cabin. He sat her on a padded leather chair which swiveled but was bolted to the floor.

He noted the computer had inline encryption attached to the exterior USB device. Smoke and Sage were efficient. He lifted the lid and called up a blank document. Currently they weren't online, and they wouldn't be until he had a comprehensive briefing to give Guardian. When he did, he'd encrypt the document and have Guardian's cyber unit connect to the computer to ensure the link was shielded and unassailable. Physically, precautions were in place, and the yacht had state of the art sensors on the hull and stabilizers to ensure they weren't boarded without warning.

"So, as you know, I did not ask my mother specific questions, such as are you involved? Have you committed a crime? What is your role in this event? All of those questions would have involved me in a moral and ethical