Alejandro hauled himself out of the pool and grabbed a towel. “Of course he was, but other than for dinner, we won’t see much of him once the cruise begins.”
She pursed her lips. “He may not want to flirt after Dr. Hibiscus removes my stitches.”
“Higareda, wasn’t it? You’ll be a walking advertisement, so he would have done his finest work on you. You’re allowed to worry, but don’t obsess over it.”
“Do you actually expect to govern my thoughts?” She smiled, and there was no threat in her voice. “We should stay out of each other’s thoughts, Alejandro. Let’s agree to that.”
“We only argue on Tuesdays and stay out of each other’s thoughts. It sounds reasonable for the time being.”
“I suppose I could let you in on one thought.”
He brushed his hair dry with the towel. “Fine. What is it?”
“There are multiple ways to have sex that won’t leave me more bruised than I already am.”
“Fascinating. Let’s go to our cabin and try them all.” He scooped her up and placed her in her wheelchair.
She laid her hands in her lap. “I hope you’re always this agreeable to my suggestions.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Some men grow deaf to their wife’s voices, or so I’ve heard.”
“Where would you have heard that?”
She looked up at him. “A clever woman never reveals her sources.”
He pushed her to the elevator and pressed the button. “Are many of your model friends married?”
“None of them are. What are you trying, a process of elimination?”
“Am I that transparent?” He rolled her into the elevator.
“You’re very pleasingly solid.” She could almost make out the numbers on the elevator panel. She remembered him very clearly.
The bed in their cabin had been neatly made and the curtains opened to let in the sun. Alejandro helped Ana from the chair and pulled her close. “You have an energy that makes holding you feel incredibly good.”
“Tingling chemistry? You have it too.” She raised her arms to encircle his neck and rubbed against his hairy chest. “Everything about you feels better than good. I could stand and hold on to the balcony rail, but we should probably wait until after dark.”
“Unfortunately, the ship’s lights would prohibit it, but I like the idea.” He glanced around the room. The bathroom mirror showed through the partially open door, and he nodded toward it. “You could hold on to the sink.”
“Yes, I like watching you. Help me out of my suit.”
He took a step back but kept hold of her with one hand. “I got you into it, and I’ll be happy to peel it off.”
Her voice was low and suggestive. “Go slow rather than yank it off.”
“Peel you like a banana?”
She licked her lips and rose up to kiss him. “I’d rather think of myself as a peach.”
“You’d be delicious as a peach or plum or mango. Let’s go into the bathroom first, just to be safe.”
She held on to his side and hopped through the doorway. “See? I can get around now that I’m no longer dizzy. A ballet dancer has incredibly good balance.” She watched him in the mirror as he lowered the narrow bathing suit straps to uncover her pale pink nipples. Even if his features weren’t distinct, she appreciated his smile, but the bandage on her cheek bothered her. “If I’m not pretty enough to model any longer, you’ll tell me, won’t you?”
He paused with her suit at her waist. “The scar will barely show, Ana. Wait until Friday, and you’ll see.”
If she could see clearly, she didn’t add. She placed her hands over his, and he met her glance in the mirror, or at least she thought he did. “I’d been in El Gato a dozen times before I met you.”