Under Pressure (14 page)

A month ago Kennedy was certain of the answer. At the moment, not so much.

Today, the production team was filming the preservation crew working in the background as Asher described the painstaking process of retrieving artifacts and discussed the pieces already found—especially the captain’s medal Avery had used to authenticate the wreckage. If they had enough good light later in the morning, they were hoping to get some shots with the dive team bringing up new pieces.

That had been on the agenda three days ago, but John’s medical emergency had derailed them, something she’d heard Daniel grumbling about this morning. If she didn’t know that John had been stabilized and was resting comfortably at the hospital in Nassau, she might think the man a major asshole. Okay, there was part of her that still thought it.

She understood that being down a cameraman made his job more difficult, but it wasn’t like the man purposely had a heart attack. Apparently, they were going to keep him several days before allowing him to travel home with his wife and family. But John had many weeks of recovery ahead of him and a lifetime of bad habits to change.

Kennedy was just glad that his medical emergency wouldn’t delay production, because even if she was feeling a bit nostalgic, she still needed the shoot to finish on time so she could pack her apartment and coordinate her move to Seattle.

Daniel wandered over to Asher and began explaining something to him. Kennedy should probably have been by Asher’s side listening, as well. But she’d been avoiding him all morning.

The way he’d walked away from her after they’d made love had felt abrupt. He’d rocked her world, given her the most intense orgasm of her life and then just...disappeared.

She should have been ready for it. But the reality had stung more than she’d expected. And she really didn’t want to investigate her reaction too deeply.

Kennedy was not used to men setting her off-kilter, which was something Asher had been doing from the first moment they’d met. That uneasiness had been part of the fireworks that sparked whenever they were close.

Now the heat they generated was just overwhelming, and she didn’t trust herself near him until she had her own reactions firmly in hand. Honestly, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to smack him or kiss him—not that she’d risk doing that where everyone could see.

But just the fact that her emotions were haywire told her she was in trouble. She could want him, but that was all.

So breathing room was a good idea.

But as she watched the team work, irritation settled deep inside her chest, building and building until she felt on the verge of exploding.

Although she wanted to avoid Asher, he was clearly avoiding her, too, which pissed her off. Maybe irrationally, but the burn was still there, licking through her chest.

Perhaps he’d gotten what he wanted and was now done with her.

It shouldn’t surprise her. She’d seen him do the same thing to countless women over the time she’d known him. What had possessed her to think for one second that she was different?

Because she knew him? Because they worked together? Because he was her brother’s friend?

Asher had been pretty specific about what she should expect. And she’d told him she wanted the same damn thing. Because she did!

She didn’t want anything more than a repeat performance. But Asher...he didn’t even seem as if he wanted that.

She’d barely had a chance to catch her breath before he was throwing clothes at her and walking out. Bar none, best sex of her life. And she wanted more. They were stuck on this boat together for several more days and she wasn’t about to let him get away with this shit.

Throwing her hands on her hips, Kennedy stalked across the deck and pushed right between Asher and Daniel.

“Can I speak to you for a second?” she ground out.

Daniel threw her a startled expression, but she didn’t have time to care about his reaction. Her gaze was trained solely on Asher.

“We’re in the middle of something. Can it wait?”

“No, no it can’t.”

The more she looked at Asher, the more she remembered last night and thought about how he’d studiously ignored her this morning, the angrier she got. Now her emotions were bubbling way too close to the surface.

Kennedy realized her reaction wasn’t entirely rational, but in the moment she couldn’t do anything to regain a grasp on her temper. She didn’t lose it often, but when she did...

What was it about this man that got under her skin? Everything with him was larger-than-life. He made her feel things...things she didn’t want to deal with. Things that were perfectly inconvenient.

He made her feel more alive than she had in a very long time.

From the moment she’d met him, Asher had made her blood sing—with desire, annoyance...it didn’t seem to matter.

“All right.” Asher tossed Daniel an apologetic glance and then snagged her arm.

She’d started the confrontation—and there was no doubt this was going to be a confrontation—but the moment Asher’s hand wrapped around her biceps it was evident he was the one in control.

Which should have pissed her off more, but just managed to add another explosive layer to the already combustible mix.

10

A
SHER
PROPELLED
K
ENNEDY
across the deck and into the quiet, dark hallway leading to the cabins.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Wrong with
me
? Nothing, but you sure as hell are being an asshole and I’m not going to let it continue. We had sex, Asher. Damn good sex. So get over yourself and stop avoiding me. We have to work together, at least through the end of this project.”

Irritation shot through Asher’s system, burning and dangerous. He could feel it building inside, just looking for a target. Kennedy’s eyes flashed, a wary glint that was a little too late. She took an instinctive step back.

Nope, that wasn’t going to work. He’d tried to keep his distance, do the right thing, but she wasn’t going to let him. Asher’s hold on her arm tightened, preventing her from moving away.

“If I’ve been avoiding you it’s for your own good.”

“And was the way you ran away last night like your ass was on fire for my own good, as well? You’re a whole host of things, Asher Reynolds, but one thing I never took you for was a coward.”

A cold wave of dread and guilt swept through him. Part of him wanted to walk away again right now and save himself the complications that came with wanting Kennedy.

But he couldn’t. Not when she was so close he could feel the heat of her seeping through to his skin. Not when her lush lips, thinned with anger, were just begging for him to take and taste. He wanted to give her another outlet for all that pent-up passion.

God, he just wanted her.

Tangling his fingers in Kennedy’s hair, he angled her head and urged her up onto her toes so he could claim her mouth. The kiss was full of every speck of frustration, desire, heat and guilt he’d been fighting since walking away from her.

She groaned, the single sound like a cannonball, effective in demolishing every wall he’d tried to build back up between them.

“You have no idea how much I want to pull you into the nearest room, lock the door and taste every inch of you,” he growled against her mouth. “But that’s not a good idea, Kennedy. For either of us. I’m already in deep shit with your brother if he ever learns of this.”

“I don’t care what Jackson thinks.”

“You might not, but I do. He’s my best friend, Kennedy. My family. And I don’t want to hurt or disappoint him.”

“But you’re perfectly willing to hurt and disappoint me?”

God, she knew just the words to say to send pain lancing through him.

“Of course not.”

“Not since the night you bailed me out of jail has anyone made me feel cheap, used and cast-off...until last night.”

Her accusation cut deep, because he knew what it felt like to be discarded. But until that moment it had never occurred to him Kennedy might view his leaving in that same light.

His voice dipped down, going rough with regret. “That’s the last thing I’d ever want to do, Kennedy. And I’m sorry if my actions made you feel less than treasured. What happened between us was amazing. Too amazing. I needed to get away from you. Find solid ground again.”

A soft puff of laughter erupted through her kiss-swollen lips. “If you find it, please let me know, because I’m still floundering. Ash, I can’t explain it. And I’d like to ignore it. But I can’t. I’m not willing to walk away from this. At least not yet.”

Those final words had uneasiness slithering through his belly, but not even that could banish his need for her. There was no way he’d be able to hold out, not when they were forced together on this ship for the next several days.

He was weak, and he’d had a taste. And not even worry over Jackson’s reaction or concern that she was leaving in less than two weeks seemed to matter anymore.

At least he wasn’t alone in the swirling maelstrom. It was obvious she was just as affected by what was happening between them as he was.

Giving in, Asher took several steps, crowding her against the wall of the walkway. His hands skimmed her sides, grasping her hips and pulling her tight against the ridge of his raging erection.

Kennedy sighed, the sound of surrender shooting straight through him as her body melted. He bit at her bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, pulling him closer. She chased after him, twining their tongues together and pulling his deep into her own mouth.

Asher had no idea how long they stayed that way, pressed against the wall and kissing like teenagers. That was the way she made him feel, invincible and exuberant...and too stupid for his own good. Eventually, he was going to pay for this, but at the moment he didn’t care.

After several minutes, Kennedy finally pulled away. Her voice was breathless when she said, “We need to stop. Anyone could walk in here and see us. The last thing we need is a rumor that we’re together getting back to Jackson.”

Her words made Asher feel as if he’d jumped from a helo straight into the coldest sea.

She wanted him, but didn’t want anyone to know. And even if she was being logical, that still hurt. Her desire to hide what was happening between them poked at a place he’d thought long past healed, wounds his mother had inflicted and his ex-wife had cut deeper.

He wasn’t good enough for anyone, maybe especially not Kennedy.

He’d walked away from her the night before, because he was afraid she was getting under his skin. Right now, he realized there was no avoiding the truth—she’d been there since the day they met.

And that scared him spitless, but there was nothing he could do about it. He had two choices—enjoy the time they had together or push her away and never look back.

He wasn’t stupid. Leaning down, Asher found her mouth. He’d never been great with words, but with his body...

Electricity shot through him, sparking beneath his skin the moment their tongues met again. God, he needed to feel her beneath him. Needed an outlet for the energy and mixed up emotions threatening to overwhelm him. She met him stroke for stroke, as hungry for it as he was.

There was something gratifying and reassuring about realizing he wasn’t alone in that need. Wrapping an arm around her back, Asher urged her close. “God, you’re so damn soft,” he groaned into her mouth.

She moaned, wrapped a leg around his waist for leverage and nipped at his bottom lip.

He cupped the back of her head with his palm, fingers caressing up and down the warm slope of her neck. Breaking free of her mouth, Asher set his lips there, trailing his tongue across her skin.

“Salty sweet,” he murmured, greedy to take every bit of her while he could get it.

His hands swept down her body, searching for a way in through her clothes. He needed more of her. Right now.

But before he could even think about moving somewhere more private, Kennedy was pushing away from him.

Her eyes were bright, on fire, as she stared up at him, panting. Her skin was flushed pink. And her lips were swollen and wet.

His hands trembled. Actually trembled. He could feel every molecule of his body straining toward her, searching, needing. He wasn’t thinking about seduction but the demand to see, taste and touch everything about her.

Not just her body, skin, sex. Everything. He wanted her laughter, her sighs and her cries of pleasure. He wanted to know he could bring her those unbelievable moments. Wanted to make her orgasm over and over so that whenever another man touched her she would automatically think of him and how unbelievably he’d satisfied her.

What was it about Kennedy that had him losing every speck of finesse he’d ever possessed? Hell, he hadn’t even been this way with Krista. Only Kennedy.

His arms were braced against the wall, caging her in. They both labored, trying to catch their breath. And he couldn’t look away from her. Couldn’t stop wanting her.

Finally, Kennedy stepped sideways, ducking beneath his arm. Asher started to follow, to pull her back into his arms, but she held out a single finger, shaking it back and forth.

“Nope. No more of that, sailor.”

Asher growled.

“Daniel will be looking for us any moment. I’m surprised he isn’t already bellowing.”

So was he. As if on cue, a shadow fell between them, filling the doorway.

One of the production assistants stared at them, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “Everyone’s waiting on deck,”

Closing the gap between himself and Kennedy, Asher slid his lips along the shell of her ear, issuing a promise and a warning. “This isn’t finished.”

* * *

S
EVERAL
HOURS
LATER
, exhaustion pulled at Kennedy’s muscles. The day had been long, despite the fact that she’d done very little except watch the film crew work.

Daniel had decided it was time to head back into the office and rescheduled the question-and-answer session that had gone so terribly wrong the first night for tomorrow.