A Woman Made for Sin (29 page)

Aimee stilled for a second, and only when their eyes were once again locked did she
resume speaking. “But after tonight I am not going to pursue you any longer. I will
refuse any attempts to force us into marriage and I will mimic your endeavors this
past year to avoid each other. Or . . . you can take what I am offering.”

Reece’s eyes narrowed, but he did not move his gaze from hers.

“I will give you my love and a future with me by your side, either on this ship or
at our home with our children. You choose. After tonight we will become either strangers
or lovers. But either way, you will need to do something for me in return.”

Reece’s jaw clenched. The catch. There always was one when a woman proposed a deal
or compromise. Did Aimee think he would confess his undying love? Was she going to
demand that he swear off other women if he refused her? Did Aimee think she could
persuade him by blaming him for her self-imposed spinsterhood?

“And just what is it that you expect me to do?” he finally managed to grind out.

“Either way, you must admit what you are accepting or refusing.”

Stunned and perplexed, Reece creased his brows in confusion.

Aimee gave a delicate shrug of her shoulders. “Admit that my reputation is ruined,
and as a ruined woman, I am now more of a risk to
you
than you are to me. Recognize that my love for the sea is sincere and acknowledge
that I
could
be one of those rare women who could be happy away from family and friends for weeks
at a time on a ship. Concede that my presence is
not
a problem for the crew. And . . .”

Upon her hesitation, Reece mentally braced himself. Everything she had said was true.
If her brother had not been able to keep her whereabouts a secret, then she was right
about her reputation, just as she was about loving the sea and being able to mingle
with his crew. But just as he would never admit any of those things, neither would
he acknowledge her final demand—to admit his love. Only he would be haunted with that
information. Someday Aimee would change her mind about him and it would be a lot easier
for her to find and commit to another without a past love.

“I want you to admit that last December meant something to you. That I was not a mere
dalliance. That you would not have reacted the same way to just any woman who kissed
you awake. I want you to tell me that I was not just a bit of muslin, willing and
easily accessible.”

He swallowed, rattled by her last request. “You know all that you said is true.”

“Even December?”

“Especially December,” he answered, his voice hoarse with emotion.

She closed her eyes and he spied a tear sliding down her cheek. “Thank you.” Then,
straightening her back, she asked, “What is your choice?”

He shook his head. “Aimee, I cannot be with you . . . I wish I could, but I just .
. .”

She looked at him, and with a small nod of her head, moved past him to go to the door
and leave. The moment she stepped around him and out of sight, his future, which had
always been so clear to him, became blank. He could recall his dreams—growing the
fleet, living on the water—but it was suddenly all meaningless. He could achieve every
goal he ever set, but unless she was in his life, he would never be at peace, never
be truly happy. And he would know that it was not Society, or titles, or circumstances
of birth that were the cause of his loneliness. He would have only himself to blame.

Reece grabbed her arm and swung her around and roughly pulled her up against him.
Aimee splayed her fingers across his chest and without any hesitation she lifted her
face. He pushed all of the reasons why he was not the one for her out of his mind
and gave in to his desire to once again feel her lips against his. Soft, warm, and
inviting—everything he remembered and more.

Aimee closed her eyes and blocked out everything except Reece. Finally, he was kissing
her. Not from shock or lack of self-control, but because he wanted her and he could
not let her go. The moment his fingers curled around her arm, tendrils of fire licked
every nerve in her body. When his mouth opened, she welcomed him and swept her own
tongue inside, delighting in the taste of him. A deep groan of satisfaction escaped
his throat and he crushed her to him, deepening the kiss. And still it was not enough.
All Aimee knew was she wanted to be closer to him, to touch and be touched and know
that he was finally hers and she was his.

Reece reveled in the small hungry sounds Aimee was making deep in her throat. She
had ruined him ten long months ago. Before Aimee, kissing had been an enjoyable pastime,
but not something that would ever cause his emotions to become involved. As with all
things concerning the pursuit of pleasure and women, it was predictable, easily attained,
and dismissed. But the touch of Aimee’s lips against his was unlike anything he had
ever experienced. She was everything he had ever wanted and never thought to have.
He did not deserve her, but he had not been able to stop himself that afternoon. He
just wanted more, and that one soft kiss had turned into something that had consumed
him day and night. And now that she was in his arms again, he wanted to believe this
was real . . . that she not only wanted him, but always would, for she was all he
would ever want. Easing back, he cupped her cheek. “Are you sure?”

Aimee blinked her passion-filled eyes, but he could see she understood the question.
“Only if you promise not to regret this—regret choosing me,” she said, her green eyes
boring into his.

Reece swallowed and dove his fingers into her hair, letting her feel the tension in
him. “I cannot change, Aimee. I will always be who I am now and nothing more.”

Aimee closed her eyes and smiled. When she opened them again, Reece caught his breath
at the love shining from the emerald depths of her eyes. “I know who you are, Reece
Hamilton. What’s more, I know that you
cannot
change. We have known each other for years, but while you were ignoring me, I was
not ignoring you. I know you are loyal, passionate, patriotic, and so many more things.
I also know that once you have committed to something, it’s forever. And you’ve been
torn because your heart is committed to me and the sea. You thought you couldn’t have
both. But you can.”

All words came to an abrupt end as he took her mouth in a searing kiss. Reece had
been completely unprepared for the flood of sensations her words would have on him.
He wanted her to be his wife, to be the mother of his children, to do things right
and in the right order, but he most desperately needed to make her his. And the way
she was pressing her body against him, Aimee needed him as well.

Reece groaned and Aimee’s eyes closed as the full force of his hunger broke over her.
This kiss was not like the others. In those, Reece had held something back. Now, she
could feel a new level of tension radiating from him. He was no longer trying to fight
his desires. Instead, he was surrendering to them, and in return she was giving him
everything she had. It was too late to retreat, even if she had wanted to do so. Her
whole being was already committed.

A soft whimper came from deep in Aimee’s throat and the soft, sensual sound nearly
pushed reason aside. Reece was already tight and hard with arousal and he had to fight
to remain in self-control. He refused to just bury himself in her. Aimee would know
the beauty and all the pleasure of making love.

Reece’s lips captured hers one more time before trailing to her jaw and down her neck.
Aimee could hear his breathing—harsh, uncontrolled, and ragged with need. It excited
her almost as much as his touch did. His hands were gliding over the soft material,
up and down her back until they cupped her cheeks. Remembering what those fingers
had done to her in December, a frisson of longing rippled on the surface of her skin
and Aimee moaned her pleasure into his chest.

Reece whispered her name. An aching hunger was growing in him that only Aimee could
assuage. He needed to touch her, see her. Not daring to raise his mouth from hers,
he started to slowly slide the gown down her shoulders. His lips followed, leaving
a trail of sensual kisses along her collar bone. When he moved the material down her
arms to reveal her chest, he stared in awe. Her skin was creamy and flawless.

Something fluttered in her stomach as she saw him taking her in. She drew in an unsteady
breath and let the gown fall to the floor.

Slowly and seductively, his gaze slid downward. “You are so beautiful,” he muttered,
overwhelmed with emotion.

A small thrill shot through her, making her feel alive in a way she never had before.
She was not going to retreat, but she suddenly felt lost. She had been pretending
to be knowledgeable in the art of seduction, but the confidence she had mustered was
disappearing fast. “I don’t know what to do.”

Reece’s eyes darkened to an intense blue hue. “Just let me love you,” he whispered,
his concentration strained. She was so perfect that all he could think about was touching
her.

Gathering her in his arms, Reece returned his lips to hers and instantly his body
reacted to the touch of her naked skin. Need tore through him. He was on fire. His
blood, his muscles, every fiber of his body burned for her.

Their lips embraced, moving hungrily against each other. Tongues teased, tasted, tantalized.
Aimee was breathless and anxious and exhilarated at the same time. Never had she felt
as beautiful as she did in his arms. Gone was any fear. She felt only passion and
love.

Reece held her close, becoming intoxicated with the feel of her skin against him.
His body was tight and so hot he thought he could breathe out steam. He knew he was
in danger but fought to remain in control. He kissed her again and, feeling her quiver
to the point she could no longer stand, he swept her up in his arms and made his way
to the bed.

Aimee closed her eyes, basking in Reece’s strength. He carried her as though she were
weightless. Never having been petite like Millie, the thought of a man wrapping his
arms around her with ease was one she had refused to entertain. But Reece was no gentleman
of leisure. The arms encompassing her were taut with muscle, just like the rest of
his body. Awed by such strength, Aimee began to stroke his torso through the opening
of his shirt.

Reece moaned as the soft touch of her fingers brushed erotically over his skin. He
was burning with desire. The feel of Aimee in his arms and her softness cradled against
his chest was almost too good to believe. Reece still could not fathom why a woman
so beautiful, generous, and passionate would want him, but he no longer had the strength
to push her away. Not now. He no longer needed to justify what he felt. There was
a rightness in being with her. Aimee felt like his soul mate, and only when he was
with her would he ever feel whole.

When Reece slipped away, Aimee opened her eyes just in time to see him divest his
final piece of clothing. Pressing her thighs together, she bit her lip as her hungry
gaze wandered over his body. She had never seen a man fully naked before. Reece’s
muscles rippled across his chest and stomach, but unlike the other large, brawny men
of his crew, there was a trained and controlled power radiating from him. She could
have examined dozens of nude men before him, but Aimee knew that none would have compared
to him.

His blue, watchful eyes never left hers as he lowered himself slowly on top of her,
pushing her into the pillows. Every nerve ending in Aimee’s body immediately responded.
When she felt the unmistakable evidence of his desire pressed against her, she sucked
in her breath and reached out to touch him, verifying he was real.

Reece shuddered as her fingertips began to trace the contours of his arms. He wanted
to give her time, but he could not take his gaze away from her mouth. It was slightly
open, beckoning him to kiss her. Powerless to stop himself, he lowered his lips to
hers. The pressure against her mouth was deep and persuasive and undeniable, but Aimee
did not retreat. Instead, she moaned with pleasure and stroked his tongue with her
own. In return, he feasted on her, devouring the sweet interior she so willingly offered.

Aimee had been told by countless men and women of her beauty, but in Reece’s arms
she finally felt the words might actually be true. His hands were caressing her everywhere—her
shoulders, her arms, her back, and she loved the size and warmth of them. Needing
to touch him in return, she pressed her mouth to his neck, relishing the salt-tinged
flavor of his skin.

Reece closed his eyes. Her breath felt warm and sweet on his skin. The agony of staying
away these past few months was nothing compared to the torment of her touch. His hand
slid over her thigh, and the shiver that raced through her set him on fire. He had
been a fool to believe time and distance could cause him to forget how incredibly
soft her skin was. But this time his naked body was touching hers, and it only intensified
his pleasure.

Aimee moaned again and began to move under his touch. Every muscle in her body was
tight with sexual tension and it was taking all Reece had to control the urge to pin
her hips and possess her. He needed to stop her restless motions and trapped her legs
between his muscular thighs. Catching her chin between thumb and forefinger, he turned
her head so she met his eyes. Passion and love stared back at him. No hesitation.
No hidden questions. No desire for delay. He shuddered in response and closed his
mouth over hers for a long moment before his lips freed hers to trace her jaw and
trail downward.

Head tilted back, Aimee sank her fingers into Reece’s hair and gasped as he found
the pulse at the base of her throat. His chest rubbed against her nipples and she
arched her back, lissome and eager for more. Strong, powerful hands shifted to her
waist and her breathing fractured as he began a sinuous, tantalizing glide upward
along her body.