He got a fist in his belly with such force that he fell on his rump.
"There is no talking to you, no reasoning with you!" She jumped at him, pounding his chest.
He grasped her about her waist and pulled her down on top of him. Her legs tangled with his, her breasts were full against his chest, and his body responded instantly. Damn her anyway and her effect on him. He scowled in the dark. "Do you have cat eyes? I do trust that you were aiming for my chest and not my manhood again."
He felt her arm raise and quickly grabbed her wrist, bearing it down. He slid his other hand to her bottom, to hold her still against him.
"Let me go."
"Only if you promise with absolute sincerity to attempt no more damage to my poor body."
Diana felt him hard against her belly. She felt herself wanting to press against him. It was too much. "I promise."
"Liar. If ever in the future you try to play me false, I shall know it."
"I am not Charlotte!"
He rolled her over onto her back and quickly brought his leg over hers. Now he could see the faint shadow of her face. "I wish I could see you better. I wish I could tie you down. I wish that you weren't being so very womanly at this time."
He lowered his face and kissed her. He first landed on her nose, then her cheek. When he found her mouth, she tried to bite him.
"Leave me be, Lyon."
Her voice sounded thin as air. She was frightened. Of himself or of her own feelings? His opinion of himself and his prowess dictated that she was afraid of herself.
"You're naked, damn you!" Her hand fell away from his back as if scalded.
"Yes, and I wish you were as well. A pity. You already knew I was naked. Your hands have been all over me."
He released her and rose. "No more crying, Diana. Go to sleep and try not to dream about my demise. It won't happen."
"No," she said very low, "'tis my demise you want."
"Don't be more of an idiot than you have been." He gingerly stepped around her and eased back into the bunk.
"I should like it vastly if you would cease flaunting your body in front of me."
Lyon knew she couldn't see him, at least not specifically. "Flaunting my body? I have never before heard of a man being accused of that. But no matter. Will I wear you down if I keep flaunting? Will you be able to keep your hands off me?"
He laughed deeply at the fairly accurate picture of Diana grinding her teeth in rage.
"Shall I teach you how to flaunt, Diana? Of course, women seem to do it naturally, but perhaps you would like lessons? I could advertise myself as a Flaunter Extraordinaire if ever I find myself in a financial quandary. What do you think?"
"I am delighted that you find your own wit so amusing. But then again, you are your own best audience."
He leaned his elbows on his knees, cupping his chin in his hands. "Did I ever tell you about a little bitch I had as a boy? As in a female dog, I meant to say. I didn't? Well, my dear, her name was Chloe, a silly name perhaps, but it suited her mongrel breeding. I found her nearly starved in a ditch, and saved her hide. Was she ecstatic about my saving her? Oh, no, she wouldn't bring herself to trust me. Every time I tried affection, she bit my hand. A most ungrateful bitch, wouldn't you say?"
"A very smart bitch!"
"Well, in any case, taming her became my ardent goal. She continued to snarl and bite at the touch of my hand on her until I finally brought her to my bed. I would talk to her at night, in the dark, much the same as we do every evening. After a week or so, I discovered that she had moved from the foot of the bed to its middle. Not long after that, I found her snuggling against my chest. Then she was licking my face. She loved me to scratch her ears and her tail would wag with pleasure."
"Are you through yet?"
"No. To my boy's delight, she became my devoted pet, following me everywhere, listening to me with profound interest each time I spoke. It was most gratifying."
Lyon paused, waiting for the blast of Diana's cannon.
"Do you not appreciate the parallel?"