Page 10 of Shiver Me Timbers

But… hell. She wants to get away from this boat? Away fromme? Ellie may as well shove me overboard and be done with it.

“Listen.” It’s a battle, but I keep my voice steady. “About earlier, in the wheelhouse. About what you said. I know you’re disappointed—”

“I’mdisappointedwhen the falafel place is out of olives, Duncan. Hearing the love of my life doesn’t want me back is a lot worse.”

The love of her life? Stupid, obnoxious hope floods my chest, brimming and golden, but I stamp it down. Now is not the damn time to get off course.

Stockholm Syndrome.

Focus.

“You’re twenty three,” I say. “You can’t possibly declare me the love of your life when you’ve barely lived.”

Ellie inhales sharply through her nose, then lunges to her feet and starts pacing up and down, shaking out her sweatshirt sleeves. I blink up at her as she begins to rant.

“Oh, you are so patronizing, Duncan Matlock. Seriously, I might feed you to the sharks. As if you have any right to dictate how I feel! As if you even have the first clue! You might not like these feelings, you might think they’re silly and worthless, but that doesn’t make them any less true.”

Silly?Worthless?It’s my turn to lurch off the bench, my legs wobblier on the teetering deck than they have been in decades. Stars slide past overhead, and seawater sucks at the boat’s hull, and Ellie’s arm feels so small when I grip it, tugging her to a halt.

She’s warm. Soft and squishy andright. She glares up at me, her face pale and taut in the moonlight.

“Of course I fucking like it.” I squeeze her gently, anger prickling up my neck, and I shouldn’t loom over her like this, shouldn’t breathe so hard or get so close, but now that I’m here I can’t seem to step back. “That’s the problem, Ellie, because one of us needs to see sense. You know how wrong this looks: you and me. You know what folks will think. I’m nearly twice your age, and I’m bitter and harsh, and if your dad knew the sordid things I think about you sometimes—”

Ellie wrenches her arm free, and she’s panting now too. Twin spots of color burn on her round cheeks. “Oh, don’t play that card with me. We have no idea how my dad would feel about this, and we never will. And since when did you care what anyone thinks, huh? There’s only one question that matters, Duncan: do you want me or not?”

Do I want her?

Do Iwanther?

Ellie is like air to me. Like the ocean.

Natural. Essential.Home.

“You know the answer to that.” I’m growling through my teeth, turning beastly beneath the stars. “You already fucking know. Don’t push me, sweetheart.”

“Then say it.” Ellie tilts her chin up, eyes sparking with challenge. “Say it, you stubborn ass.”

You know what? The hell with this.

I’ll do her one better. I’llshowher.

Ellie squeaks as I crowd her against the rail without warning, penning her in on both sides. And the water is dark and choppy out there, the gathering wind lashing angrily at our cheeks, but I barely notice it. Barely see anything beyond the startled face blinking up at me.

Blood simmering, I press our bodies together. Seal us tight, pinning her to the rail without mercy.

And I’ve thought of this so many times. Pictured it.

Longed for it.

She’ssoft. Ellie’s squishy beneath that sweatshirt, she’s got so much give, and Christ knows I’ve caught a thousand glimpses of her shape, knew she’d sprouted some real curves, but I’ve never let myselffeelthem like this. Molded to my chest, her body warm and welcoming.

Ellie smells like soap and freshly baked cookies. Her heat soaks into my front.

She’s heaven. I could die happy here.

Ducking my face to her throat, I breathe her in like a starving man—and I know things are slipping out of control, but I can’t help myself.

“Are you happy?” I grit out, lips moving against her neck. Her throbbing pulse tickles my lower lip, and Christ, we can never go back from this. What have I done? “Is this what you wanted, Ellie?”

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