Calypso Magic (Magic Trilogy 2)

"I have large hands. Have you ever noticed?"

"Yes, very manly hands."

That sidetracked him for a moment. "Manly hands?"

She giggled. "Yes. That is a favorite word in my novels."

"Very well. Did you also realize that your breast overflows my manly hand?"

"Stop it! You are supposedly a gentleman, a ---"

"Very true. And I will also be your husband."

"No!"

"I think I should accustom you to the idea. Accustom you to my touch. I think you much enjoyed my touching you."

She sat up, her fat braid slapping against the side of his face, the blankets held like armor against her chest. Her face was flushed, her expression uncertain.

"My God, you're not afraid of me, are you? My cocky, mouthy Diana? And I, but a mere man?" He paused a moment, then added, "Perhaps a manly man?"

"You are about as amusing as an attack of biliousness."

"That's more like it. Why don't you lie down and let me hold you? You will get used to it."

To his utter surprise, she said not another word, and in the next instant, she snuggled down and lay her cheek against his shoulder. Her hand, fisted, sat atop his chest.

His arm automatically came down and pulled her closer against him. He was smiling, triumph a sweet taste, when she began snoring, loudly, interspersed with equally loud snorts.

"I imagine you can't keep that up for very long," he said. He kissed her forehead and closed his eyes. No, he thought again. Diana would never bore him.

He was right, she thought, striving for another snore. Damn him anyway. Here she was bound against him, his arm firm about her back. She didn't know what to do with her hand. His flesh felt very warm beneath her fingers.

When she couldn't produce another obnoxious sound, she said, with sweet understanding, "I know what it is that troubles you. You miss your little amour. Men, I understand from your precious Charlotte, must relieve themselves in several ways."

He wouldn't let her rile him. Relieve?

"However, I refuse to let you relieve yourself with me."

"You sound like a chamber pot."

The mention of that particular item made her realize that she had a distressing problem of her own. She decided to ignore it.

A few minutes later, he was frowning at her squirming. "What's the matter? Can't you get comfortable?"

This is awful, she thought, but saw no hope for it. She'd managed during the past week to take care of this physical need when he wasn't in the cabin. As for Lyon, she imagined that he, like most the crew, relieved themselves away from the wind off the side of the ship. She sighed. "Lyon, would you please leave the cabin for a while?"

"Be quiet. I'm sleepy."

"You don't understand. I need toOh, drat, please, just go, for a few minutes."

He began laughing, she felt the deep rumbling in his chest before the sound came from his throat. She lifted her hand from his chest and poked him hard in his stomach. He grunted.

"You tell me you're a gentleman. Prove it."

"All that talk about relieving, huh? When we're married I won't have to leave."

He saw from her face that this was an appalling thought. "Kiss me," he said, "and I'll leave you to the chamber pot."