“Got it,” he said hoarsely. “Don’t move when I get the rope cut. It’s a long way down.”
She risked a peek. TheJuanalay on her side on jagged rocks. If they fell…
She willed herself to keep still as he sawed at the rope. “Will your crew come to our rescue?” she asked.
He hesitated before replying. “I don’t recognize this stretch of the coast. We may have been blown to another part of the island.”
The pressure eased when he cut through the bindings but she missed his weight when he eased off to perch next to her. The air was cool on her wet nightgown. “I must look ridiculous,” she said.
He chuckled. “On the contrary,querida, you have a very appealing bottom. However, I want you to sit up carefully.”
Her attempts to do as he asked reminded her of the new born calves on her parents’ farm in Denmark, struggling to stand on wobbly legs. Finally, she sat beside him, panting, grateful for the strong arm around her shoulders.
“We must get off the wreck,” he said. “The tide could pull her back out to sea.”
“Where she’d sink.”
“Exactly. Follow me to the base of the mast, then we’ll crawl down the deck to the side of the ship.”
She peered down. “The deck looks more like a steep hill.”
“We’ll slide then,” he quipped.
She shuddered as he inched his way to the bottom of the mast, not looking forward to sliding down a rough wooden deck in a wet nightgown.
* * *
Maximiliano was worried. Not only did he not recognize the shoreline, he knew in his gut it wasn’t any part of Isla Mona he’d ever seen. However, one problem at a time. First, he had to get Heidi safely to shore.
He admired her courage. They were clearly in a precarious situation which was his fault entirely, yet she’d not complained once, even about the embarrassing reaction of his cock pressing against her wet bottom.
Cursing, he gritted his teeth as he set his feet on the steeply inclined deck. Recalling the pleasant erection he’d been determined to will away had instead resurrected the stirrings at the base of his spine. He couldn’t fathom what was wrong with him. He hadn’t lusted after a woman for years, now he could think of nothing but thrusting his cock into Heidi’s wet heat. This was not the time to be preoccupied with such matters. The hurricane had evidently stolen his wits as well as his ship. “Come to me now,” he called to Heidi.
Jaw clenched, she obeyed, edging along the rough wood of the mast. He didn’t envy her. He was wearing sturdy pantaloons. His body heated at the prospect of picking splinters out of her bottom.
Basta!This has to stop.
When she reached him, he took her hand. “You’re right. It’s too steep. Sliding down is a better idea. Hold on to me.”
She swung from her perch and clung on to him like a baby monkey, her legs clamped around his hips.
Madre de Dios.
He let go of the mast and turned so his body bore the brunt of the friction as they slid down to the railing. He made sure his booted feet took the impact, but his spirits fell when they scrambled upright and peered over the side. Her bare feet were going to be a big problem on the jagged rocks.
* * *
Heidi recalled losing the first shoe, but had no inkling what had happened to the second. Clearly, there was no time to search for them. She could stay aboard and drown or follow Maximiliano across the rocks.
The drop wasn’t insignificant but her pirate went over the side and landed gracefully. He held out his arms. “Jump. I’ll catch you.”
There was no choice. Better to risk breaking an ankle. She hoped she didn’t land on him too hard and cause him to lose his balance.
She climbed up on the gunwale, mortified when the stiff breeze lifted her nightgown. For the first time in her life, she wished she’d listened to her mother and slept in her bloomers.
Maximiliano did his best not to smile.
She took the leap of faith, almost swooning with relief when he caught her before her feet touched the rocks. They clung together, breast to chest, belly to belly, thigh to thigh, the surf roiling around them, both breathing heavily. She looked up into his eyes and knew he was going to kiss her. It was dangerous, foolhardy, inappropriate, yet she wanted the kiss more than she’d ever wanted anything. She closed her eyes when his lips parted.