She stepped close to him. “When I told ye today that I only wanted to be your employee, I want ye to ken that it isn’t because I don’t care fer ye.”
“Ye care fer me?” It soothed him somewhat. But it wasn’t enough.
“I do.” She rested her hands against his chest. The touch was light he could smell her sweet scent like spring flowers after a rain and the feel of her was making his manhood twitch with need. Excitement rushed through his veins. “I only said that because I…” she took a breath and, he couldn’t help himself, he wrapped his hands around her waist so that their bodies came together.
“Why?” he asked.
Nibbling on her lip, she looked up at him. “I don’t want to get hurt. At least not by you. You are the one thing that’s been good for so long and I don’t want to ruin it the way everything else in my life ends up ruined.” She drew in a breath. “And you…you deserve a woman who can give you all the best in life.”
Those words were like a punch in the gut. Words failed him, so instead, he captured her lips with his own. Her hands came up around his neck pulling him closer as he slanted her mouth opened and swiped his tongue against hers.
She moaned, pressing closer, and he slid his hands down the fullness of her hips to come around her behind and bring her closer. He nearly came undone. The kiss lengthened and deepened. Without real thought he lifted her into his arms and carried her to his bed. He didn’t have a plan. But as he lay her down, his weight on top of hers, he wanted her more than anything he’d ever desired in his life.
Her lips were devouring his and, for a moment, he tried to pull back. Thoughts played through his head distantly. She’d never been with a man. It shouldn’t be like this. He should wait. But when her legs locked about his waist and the juncture between them pressed to his manhood, all his best intentions left the room.
They began to move together. Their clothes still separated them but the rhythm was delicious. And then it wasn’t enough.
More…he needed much more.
Ripping at the buttons on his shirt, he heard them pop, scattering along the floor. Pulling the sleeves down his arms, he tossed the garment letting it sail across the room. He didn’t bother to check where it landed, he’d hardly lifted his lips from hers.
Still kissing her, he started on the tiny row of buttons on the front of her dress. He wished she’d worn the more simple clothing. As he finished the last button, he nearly growled with frustration to find a corset and chemise underneath. What did a man have to do to touch a little skin?
He tugged the dress down her arms so that it pooled around her waist. “Elle,” he murmured as he began kissing a trail down her neck and across her collarbone.
“Blair,” she returned.
He loved the breathy sound of her voice, the way her legs slightly trembled around him.
“Blair,” she said again with more urgency.
“I ken, love,” he said. “I’m working on these damn strings.”
“No, Blair. Do you smell smoke?” She started to push at his chest.
Focusing on the room, he stood up to find a thick cloud of black smoke filling the room. “Hell and damnation,” he roared, as he spun around.
How had McKenzie gotten to the boat so quickly? But as he turned, he saw his shirt ablaze on top of the desk. He’d inadvertently lit it on fire.
Crossing the room in a two long strides, he grabbed the garment and snuffed out the flame. Then crossed to the porthole to toss the garment out into the water.
But as he did it, smoke poured from the room.
Elle coughed and jumped from the bed, then threw open the door.
“Fire,” someone yelled from the deck.
That was the moment that Blair realized just how bad this was going to be. It might have been better if it had been McKenzie after all.
He jumped in front of Elle to cover her, and began fumbling with her buttons once again. He used to be good with a ladies’ buttons. What had happened to him?
But he didn’t get them done in time. As he reached the buttons at her breasts, he heard Will from the hall. “Blair Sinclair, ye’ve gone and done it now.”
Elle heard Will and her eyes widened as she looked up at Blair. He scowled back, his eyebrows drawn together, his mouth pinched. His fingers slowed as he continued to do her buttons.
“Aye,” he answered without turning.
“Ye ken what this means?” Will said.