Sea Panther (Crimson Storm) (25 page)

W
here
the hell is she?

Robert shifted the bulk of his weight from one leg to the
other, yet again, and glanced at the mid-day sky. Bright sun. Blue sky. Weather
would remain clear. He returned his stare to the outside of the ballroom’s
double doors as if force of will alone would make Kimberly appear.

He’d been waiting for her on the terrace of the governor’s
home for what seemed like an eternity. In reality, no more than a half-hour
passed. After a quick post-ceremony toast to their nuptials, she’d gone to her
room to change into a simpler gown.

Preferably, a garment easy to remove
.

Soon she’d be all his. He chuckled. The governor had
snickered like a fool and poked him in the ribs when he’d informed Robert of
the romantic glen and waterfall in the hills above the great house. The
secluded pools were ideal for swimming in the raw, or so Archibald said.
A
perfect spot for a tryst
.

Robert wanted time alone with his new wife. He cracked a
smile.
Wife
—he liked the sound of her new title.

After too many tedious minutes, Kimberly joined him. Her
simple yellow frock with purple embroidered flowers made a striking contrast to
her dark coloring, but he didn’t plan for the dress to remain on long. He
couldn’t wait to have her naked in the spray of water cascading over rocky
outcrops, and over her luscious curves. An image of rosy nipples hardening in
the breeze teased his thoughts. He almost tasted her moist skin on his lips.

Her furrowed brow caused his sexual fantasies to shatter. The
muscles across his chest tightened. “Where is your smile, lass? Are you already
regretting wedding me?”

Mischief lit her eyes and her lips trembled before
stretching into a grin. “I’m wondering why you’re still wearing your plaid, but
don’t get me wrong, I love the way…” She raked the length of him with a hot
gaze. Tingles followed in its wake. “Well, you are the epitome of every girl’s
Highland dream. Though, I’m surprised you’re still dressed in your great kilt
with that knife tucked in the belt.”

He released the breath he held then accepted the large
picnic hamper collected from the kitchen and hefted it onto a shoulder. “My
costume is perfect for an alfresco lunch in the woods.” At her expression of
doubt, he added, “You will see.”

She snorted. Ignoring the lack of respect, he preceded along
the path through the tropical pleasure garden toward the forest.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

Robert couldn’t wait to witness her reaction to the falls.
He looked over a shoulder and quirked his lips. “’Tis a surprise.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Are you referring to the same
surprise you mentioned after the ceremony?”

He chuckled and turned all the way around. With his free
hand, he grasped her fingers and tugged her through the trees to the trail that
led into the hills.

“Slow down. These ridiculous silk slippers weren’t made for
hiking.”

“Shall I carry you?” He lifted a brow in challenge.

The impulse to throw her over a shoulder and run the
remaining distance to the waterfalls made him feel like a sex-crazed barbarian.
His cock jerked beneath the fabric of the plaide, and he stifled a groan before
it roared from his throat.

“Definitely not,” she said. “You would drop me and ruin our
lunch.”

“Dinnae underestimate me.” He stalked close.

“I never do.” She rolled her eyes. “I can walk just fine if
you’ll slow the pace.”

They climbed the winding trail rising through the rain
forest without speaking. He shortened his steps when she struggled for breath.

“Aren’t they beautiful?” she said after a deep inhale.

Jewel toned parrots screeched and flew from tree to tree
ahead of their approach as if the birds directed the way. “Aye, lass. They
are.”

Robert set the hamper on a rock to help Kimberly climb
through a particularly difficult section strewn with boulders. He returned for
the basket, and they continued along the trail. Little sun penetrated the leafy
canopy and the air cooled as they climbed becoming more comfortable. Still, the
day was hot.

“Not much farther,” he yelled over the roar from the hidden
cascades.

“Waterfalls?” Kimberly’s voice bubbled with excitement.

He raised a shoulder and bit back a grin.

Her pace quickened when they entered the clearing at the
base of the lowest falls. She ran toward the edge of the small pool and bent to
dip fingers into the crystal-clear water. As he drew close, spray moistened his
skin and wet his hair.

Kimberly straightened and pleased him with a smile that
brightened her face. “Beautiful.” She reached up and pinched a blossom from an
overhanging vine. “I don’t know what kind of flowers these are, but I love the
citrus fragrance.”

He leaned forward to inhale the bloom, though her feminine
scent was what drove him wild. The fabric of her gown became translucent from
the mist. Pert nipples pressed against the sheer bodice and a shadowed V
taunted from between her thighs. Bloody hell, she’d taken his suggestion and
wore nothing beneath the frock. He forced air in and out of his lungs as blood
rushed to his already hard erection.

She stuck the bold yellow flower behind an ear. “Such a lovely
place for a picnic.”

He tamped down on the sexual urges. “Not here. Come. ’Tis
only a wee bit farther to the special place the governor told me about.” His
voice sounded like it had been scraped across jagged rocks, and he attempted to
clear his throat.

With arms outstretched, Kimberly twirled in a circle. “This
is the perfect spot.”

“Archibald claims there is a better place.”

“Okay, let’s go. Lead on.”

He rolled his eyes to make her laugh. When she did, the
husky sound grabbed his balls and squeezed. He struggled to draw another
breath.

“Thought we were going to another spot,” Kimberly said,
tilting her head. The damn sexy woman knew exactly the effect she had on him.

“We are,” he croaked.

Bloody hell. Tides, currents, depths—he ran boring data from
memorized nautical charts through his mind in an effort to reel in the lust.

She followed him up a steeper climb. Where the ground
leveled off, he moved aside a huge fern frond and waved Kimberly through. Her
pleased gasp warmed his chest near the heart.

* * *

The governor had been right. The forest room, decorated with
abundant foliage and tropical flowers and cascading water, was perfect for an
afternoon picnic. Kimberly kicked off slippers, hiked up her skirts, and waded
into the tranquil pool at the base of the lowest falls.

She danced in the shallows, turned to kick water at Robert,
but stopped at the sight of the sharp-looking knife he pulled from under his
kilt. Another appeared. They’d probably been strapped to his thighs. He laid
the two weapons beside the hamper and retrieved two more from his boots. Then
he withdrew the leather sheath with the fancy handled knife from his belt and
added it to the pile.

Her eyes nearly popped when she recognized the pistol he
yanked from behind his back and added to the pile of weapons. The gun was one
of the antiques she’d found along with the other pirate paraphernalia while
searching the sea chest on
Night Thrill
. He’d have no need of any of it.
They would stop Zola before the curse turned him into a vampire and a shifter.

“Planning for war?” Kimberly rubbed a palm over her belly,
trying to make the queasy sensation go away.

“We are not in
our
time. The past is fraught with
danger.”

She understood, but pushed aside the unpleasant
implications. The last thing she wanted to worry about was why he carried
weapons or what they had yet to face together. “You do believe you belong in
the future.”

He hesitated, staring at her with one of those annoying
unreadable expressions. “I belong with you.”

In an attempt to make light, she tried to imitate his
Scottish dialect. “Ach, you ken how to make a lass swoon.”

They both laughed, but her smile faded when Robert dropped
his belt and unpinned the brooch holding the plaid fabric at the shoulder. She
let her gaze follow the fabric as the great kilt pooled at his feet, leaving
only the long shirt remaining to cover his assets. The muscles in his thighs
flexed when he knelt and spread the wool over the ground like a blanket.

Her insides clenched with desire. She couldn’t hold back the
groan that escaped. His lips quivered into a smile in response to the desperate
sound. He plopped onto the ground covering, pulled off the primitive boots, and
got comfy.

“I told you my costume would come in handy.” He reached for
the picnic hamper, opened the lid, and rummaged through the contents. A flask
and two pewter mugs appeared, and he poured them each wine. “Join me.”

He tilted his head toward the spot beside him. She stepped
from the water and walked toward him. Their gazes met, a promise passed between
them. She sat beside him within a circle of silk, arranging the fabric as best
she could.

He handed her a cup and raised his own. “To my wife.”

His toast made her warm and fuzzy. “To my husband.”

The clink of cups could hardly be heard over the roar of the
waterfall. When they finished the wine, he removed a small package from the
basket. Paper ripped and a bar of soap fell from the wrapping.

“Lavender from France,” he said. “I thought you might enjoy
a shower.”

“How?”

“I was told there is a hidden cavern behind the highest
falls where the spray is quite refreshing.”

“Where? Up there?” She pointed to the largest cascade about
sixty-feet above them. The queasies came with a vengeance to swirl in the pit
of her stomach. What was he thinking? He knew she hated heights.

“We will climb the falls together.”

She swallowed hard. She could do this. After all, she’d
proved she could control the fear of heights when she rescued Robert from the
rigging on
Night Thrill
.

With a flick of a wrist, he sliced a chunk of soap off the
bar with one of the knives. He stood and pulled the tunic over his head.
“Undress.”

She slid her gaze from his face, over the broad chest, and
lingered on his erection. Pure lust hit her hard, pooling low and thick,
replacing any remnant of fear. The urge to caress the silk encased steel had
her raising an arm and reaching for him.

“Undress,” he growled, gaze intent.

The husky demand made her pulse quicken. She stared, arm
hanging in midair.

“Hurry, lass.”

She rose, and Robert spun her around so her back was to him.
“Let me perform this service for you, sweetling.”

Deft fingers made short work of the row of tiny buttons
holding her gown in place, several flying off to scatter across the forest
floor. Her heart hitched as the dress slid to the ground and she stepped away
from the silk. Robert draped it over a rock then smiled. She crossed both arms
over her chest, feeling exposed and vulnerable in the warm sunlight, but
wanting him with all her heart.

“Dinnae cover yourself. I love looking at you.”

Heat burned her cheeks, but she dropped her arms. It wasn’t
as if he hadn’t seen her nude before. Why today felt different was beyond her.
Duh. Marriage.

A devilish grin formed on his face, and she had the urge to
pinch him. Before she could, he grasped her hand and dragged her toward the
base of the falls, to the edge of the pool where water gently lapped the shore.

“You have to be kidding. I can’t climb up there.” He was
nuts. No way would she make it to the upper falls unless he knew of a path
along the side through the foliage that wasn’t visible.

“Come.” They plunged into the water up to their knees. Her
skin prickled with goose bumps, the cooling effect much appreciated after the
heat of the day though it didn’t quell the warmth of desire. He splashed her
and she splashed back. She laughed aloud. Hardly able to believe she frolicked
out in the open with no clothes on.

They waded across to the base of the first little falls.
Robert said something, but she couldn’t hear over the roar of rushing water.
She leaned closer. “What?”

“Step where I step. Archibald described a way through the
rocks, and I think I have found it.” He stepped up and over a moss covered
rock.

She followed, and as they climbed, he guided her around
slippery-looking rocks, mini cascades, and larger spills. The firm grip he kept
on her hand was reassuring. Silt squished between toes. Bubbles shot up from
beneath the surface to tickle her ankles, bringing a smile.

Wet skin glistened golden across Robert’s back in the
sunlight. Muscles flexed with each stride. The sight of his tight butt had her
wetting dry lips. She swallowed and tore her gaze away to focus on the upper
falls, their destination. A shiver of anticipation teased. Losing her balance,
she slipped and swayed. Her breath caught. The fear of falling made her twist
awkwardly and she flung her free arm forward.

Robert released his hold on her hand, whipped around and
grabbed both of her shoulders. Their gazes locked. Affection shimmered in the
depth of his eyes. She would always be safe with him. Need swelled. She wanted
him to kiss her. She tilted her head, lifting her lips to him. The peck to her
nose took her by surprise.

Robert leaned away and grasped her fingers. “Are you all
right?”

“Yes. I love this place,” she yelled over the rumble of the
falls.

“I am glad.” He flashed pearly white teeth free of fangs.

She nodded and they continued their climb. When they reached
the uppermost falls, he disappeared through the silver wall of tumbling water.
Unsure whether to follow, she waited until a hand appeared, and he pulled her
through the spray to join him in an amazingly quiet space. Under the falls,
sound muffled.