Free Sea Panther (Crimson Storm) by Dawn Marie Hamilton

the bed. While indulging in
the tactile sensation, an indentation marring the fine wood bulkhead grabbed
her attention. It appeared as if someone had thrown a punch. Robert likely
slammed a fist into the wall.
    She shuddered at the thought of such aggression directed at
her. But to date, he’d only been gentle—even last night while angry after the
attack, he treated her tenderly. Tenderly and passionately. Savoring the memory
of their intense kiss, she brushed the fingers of her free hand across her
lips. Why had he suddenly ended the kiss? He seemed to enjoy it.
    Guess he wanted to avoid the employer-employee thing. She
probably should too. An affair could get complicated in the tight quarters of a
sailing yacht. Made good sense to keep a distance, but she couldn’t convince
herself not to pursue Robert.
    Kimberly continued to check out his private space, feeling a
bit like a voyeur. Two crossed cutlasses hung above the dent. On the wall over
the leather settee hung a Scottish claymore. The two-handed sword looked like
one she’d seen in a Celtic shop in Anderson Creek, North Carolina during the
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of the Scottish Clans. How
odd that Robert would display antique weapons on a modern yacht. The salt air
couldn’t be good for the aged metal.
    Still clutching the laundry, she swung around. In a corner
of the room, a large piece of dark exotic wood scarred with claw marks hung on
ropes from the ceiling. Fortunately, there was no sign of Marion. Robert must
have taken the nasty bird with him.
    “What are you doing in my cabin?”
    Kimberly dropped the clothes in a heap on the floor.
    She twisted to face his stern countenance. “Sorry.” She bent
and picked up the messy pile of clean laundry, placing it on the bed.
    “Did Colin not tell you this cabin is off-limits to crew?”
    “He did.” She quickly folded a shirt.
    “And still, you chose to enter my private chamber?”
    She ventured a peek at Robert. A red flush of color crept up
his neck above the vee of the black tee stretched tight across his broad chest.
Did he realize how much the size of him intimidated her in the tight
constraints of the cabin?
    Kimberly repressed the urge to dart past him and out of the
cabin. It wouldn’t do any good; there was no place to run. “I didn’t want to
leave your clothes in the salon.” She gave him one of her famous speed smiles
and shrugged, continuing to fold the clothes. “Door was unlocked.”
    “My mistake.” His voice purred.
    Kimberly placed the last refolded shirt on the bed and
attempted to scoot past him. Before she could, he closed the door and blocked
the way. His eyes flared.
    “Let me show you what happens when someone chooses to
disobey the captain’s orders.” He pulled her into his arms and captured her
lips with a blundering mouth. The assault set her heart pounding at an alarming
rate. Excitement and need shot through her veins along with the blood. She
tasted his ferocity and returned it in kind.
    They meshed, becoming one.
    Fireworks exploded in her head.
    When he pulled away, his breath came hard, as did hers, and
his erection pushed against the buttons of his black jeans. “Leave my cabin and
don’t enter again without invitation. Do you understand?”
    She raised her gaze from his groin to his eyes. Their
unusual cinnamon color had brightened, appearing almost red. Weird. She shook
her head, but his eyes were definitely red. “Your eyes—”
    “Leave. Now.”
    She held fingers to her tingling lips and nodded
understanding, but didn’t move, mesmerized by the unusual light in his eyes.
    He turned away and leaned forward with hands pressed on top
of the desk. His knuckles whitened and his body heaved. Taut muscles rippled
with each heavy breath.
    “Go!”
    Kimberly choked back a sob, rushed into the passageway, and
ran to the refuge of her cabin. She’d made everything worse. How would she ever
be able to face him again?
    * * *
    Robert stayed