She brought her hand up to touch his cheek. "Lyon? Are you all right?"
Then she felt his hand on her breast. Her eyes widened. His face blocked out everything. He kissed her gently.
Oh, dear, she thought, and then she stopped thinking. The insidious warmth seemed to explode low in her belly. Her body arched against him. She wanted more. She wanted
Lyon released her abruptly, cursing vilely. He quickly turned away from her and rose, only to realize that he was quite naked. He grabbed a blanket to cover himself. He was breathing hard, his manhood thrusting outward. He had to keep his back to her. He wouldn't allow her to see the evidence of his lust.
"Turn away, Diana, now."
She obeyed him, her mind in chaos. Was she that inept at kissing? That repellent to him? Stop it, you silly fool! What a perverse creature she was.
"Stay that way or you will have your maidenly sensibilities thoroughly lacerated."
"Why?"
Was that her voice? So high and thin as Harmon's chicken soup?
"Be silent."
Her breast throbbed. Not a hurt kind of throbbing, but a very nice sort of throbbing, and it sent waves of feeling to her belly. She remembered that time when he'd assisted her out of the carriage and carried her. Only this time, the feelings were stronger, more confusing. Her lips were still warm and tingly from his mouth.
Lyon shrugged into his dressing gown. Still, his rampant manhood was in extreme evidence. He quickly sat himself in the chair behind the small desk.
"You can turn over now if you like."
She did. She stared at him thoughtfully, seeing the tension in his eyes, the flush on his tanned cheeks, the rigid set of his shoulders. She didn't realize that her eyes were as soft-looking as creamy butter, vague and a bit dazed, but Lyon did.
"I think," he said very slowly, "that we should have Captain Carstairs marry us today."
All dreamy vagueness disappeared at his words.
"Why?"
"Don't be a fool, Diana! You wouldn't be a virgin if I hadn't fled the bunk."
"Just because you were feeling my womanly parts?"
"Just one womanly part. And, I might add, that one part was nearly enough to send me over the honorable edge. Now, I expect you to be reasonable about this."
He had caressed her breast and kissed her. Was that all that was needed for a man to lose his mind? His control? She discounted her own feelings. In any case, they were long gone. Perhaps she'd just imagined those very oddspurts, or whatever one called them. She decided to feel sorry for him and his male weakness. After all, he'd left her because he'd wanted to be honorable, hadn't he?
"I will be reasonable," she said, easing deeply under her blankets. "You will probably regain your aplomb in a few minutes and regret your words. Now, I am still sleepy." With that dismissal, she turned away from him and closed her eyes.
"Diana, I am going to beat you. Again. Thoroughly."
"Ah, so you have your manly parts under control? Now you will resort to threats?"
He said nothing and she was beginning to relax when she felt him ease beside her on the bunk.
"Lyon!"
"Be quiet. Lie still. It's still very early and both of us might as well get some more sleep."
Small chance of that, he thought.
"Diana?"
"Hmmm?"