Free Undertow by Cherry Adair Page A

demanded.
    ´We·l goof around for a while to throw some of the competition off the scent.
    Although they·l track us soon enough.µ
    Ćompetition? I haven·t seen anyone else out here since we left port.µ
    Óh, they·l be here eventual y. Hopeful y later rather than sooner. There are the usual suspects. The Sea Witch for one. She can smel a good salvage from the other side of the ocean it seems. This time, I·m taking great pains to keep her, and any other bottom -feeders, off my ass. Al my salvages are important, but I don·t want anyone getting their hands on any part of the Vrijheid .µ
    Ís it dangerous? There could be a fortune down there. People have been kil ed for less.µ She turned to ful y face him, leaning her back against the rail. The sparkling lights on the wavelets behind her seemed to dance around her head.
    ´How do you stop other salvors from just diving down and helping themselves?µ
    Only two feet separated them now. Teal didn·t seem to notice, but Zane·s entire focus was consumed with touching her cool, translucent skin and kissing her sassy mouth. ´There are laws governing salvage.µ He watched her chew a corner of her lower lip, and damn³he wanted in on the action. Í·ve gotten al the necessary paperwork filed. I·m the custodian and exclusive salvor for the Vrijheid until³µ He made air quotes. ´³¶The salvage operations are completed.· There·s a prohibited zone a mile in diameter from the wreck. And if, and when, anyone shows up, we·l give them a copy of the federal arrest warrant that outlines what wil happen if they violate my custody. It·s al good.µ
    Íf whoever shows up is a law-abiding citizen and/or they can read.µ Teal said dryly.
    Zane grinned. ´That too.µ
    Í·d better³µ
    ´Do you³µ
    They talked over one another. He didn·t want her to go inside. Not yet. Śtay,µ
    he murmured softly.
    Í³µ

    He reached out to cup her warm cheek³had he ever met another woman who blushed? He found it sweet, and charming, and sexy as hel . He slid his fingers under her hair to cradle her nape. Curving his other hand around her waist, he held her gaze as he stroked his thumb over the soft, warm skin beside her ear. She sucked in a startled breath and shuddered. He gave a gentle tug, then dipped his head.
    For a moment she stiffened in resistance. He stopped, merely holding her, praying her opposition would pass. After a few erratic heartbeats, her body softened to al ow him access to her mouth. He pressed his closed mouth against hers. Her lips were cool. Smooth.
    Delicious. Not exactly eager, but not reluctant as he nibbled and tasted. He was 90 percent there, al he needed was for her to meet him the remaining 10 percent.
    For him the reason for the kiss was the reason for the kiss. This wasn·t a prelude to anything else. Knowing there·d be no sex, no intimate touching, heightened his senses and heated his skin. He kept his hands where they were.
    Nonthreatening. But he wanted to kiss her more than he wanted his next breath. He made a soft humming sound against her upper lip, then nipped her lower lip until her eyes fluttered closed. He parted her lips with his tongue. She tasted sublime. Teal mixed wit h coffee and a faint hint of the cinnamon in Maggie·s after -dinner apple pie.
    Zane forced his tongue to behave. Smal , soft nips of his teeth to her lower lip, a thumb stroked with maddening slowness across the curve of her ear, gentle pressure around her waist to draw her ever closer. He coaxed her using his considerable skil and more restraint than he·d ever used in his life.
    He traced her upper lip with the tip of his tongue, and wonder of wonders ³hers came out to greet him. His heart leapt. He danced his tongue with the very tip of hers, holding back the punishing kiss his entire body craved. A kiss he knew, with absolute certainly, would drive her away.
    He slid his hand up the smal of her back, feeling the tension along her spine under his splayed fingers. With his other