Page 22 of Unmoored

As we drift the last few metres toward the side of his houseboat, I grab the ropes to get us moored safely.

“It’s hard to see through you, you know,” Eden says from behind me.

I blink. “Oh yeah. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of chances to show you knots?—”

“Are there?” Eden grins.

I might be blushing, but I don’t want to get his hopes up. “Don’t,” I warn him. “You know the stuff that’s in your bilge?”

Eden almost gags, clutching the side of my boat as he stands up to unfasten his lifejacket. “Unfortunately.”

“That’swhat ropes remind me of. I don’t bring my work home.”

Eden switches tack, giving me a look from beneath his lashes that makes me want to follow him right onto the boat and into his cabin. “AmIwork? Am I particularly hard work… or the easy kind?”

“I’m not falling into that trap,” I warn him, narrowing my eyes as I help Eden pull the lifejacket up over his head. I toss it onto the passenger seat, and fuckingfuck, I can’t help but notice how much closer our bodies could be without all that foam in the way…

If only I didn’t have customers waiting.

“Damn,” Eden breathes out, resting his hands on my forearms. “You know, to be extra-safe, you could lift me aboard,” he murmurs, gazing straight up at me.

I lick my lips, unable to stop myself from putting my hands on his hips as my heart starts to race. “I could.”

There it is again. The sexual tension between us is as thick and hot as smoke. The seconds are ticking by. I slide one hand up into the small of Eden’s back, and I want to moan at how well our bodies fit together.

As I stare down at Eden, the tip of his tongue darts out from between his lips. He tilts his chin slowly up at me.

But it’s never felt thisrawbefore, like the stakes are so high.

“What?” Eden murmurs.

I lift my shoulders slightly, scowling like that will help me find the answers. But his smile doesn’t even waver, which makes me scowl even more.

Most people run away when I look at them like this.Well, no. They run awaybecauseI look at them like this, instead of using big words and fancy gestures, or cutting my business down to a nine-to-five—and only sailing the tides in between—that they can easily understand.

But I don’t think Eden’s like most people.

“I can’t figure you out,” I tell him at last. “And I want to.”

Eden just shrugs, undeterred. “You’re obviously the kind of guy who figures things out by doing them. If you want to figuremeout… I’ll bravely volunteer.”

I blink at him.

“You can do me all night long, if that’s what it takes.”

I’m caught halfway between a laugh and an open-mouthed gasp at the boldness and joy andsparklehe brings to everything. It’s a lot harder to be grumpy with Eden around. And a strange, exciting new part of me is answering his call.

I step closer, tightening my hands around his waist and hip. For the first time in forever… I’m feeling downright reckless.

Eden catches his breath and looks up at me, like he’s torn between a coy blush and genuine shyness.

“Do you really mean that?” I murmur.

Eden winks. “If you think you can handle me?—”

Just like that, I’m kissing him.

ChapterEight

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