Suspicious Ways by Lexxie Couper

surprised at how steady her voice was. “I’ve never forgotten the way you looked at me that night, Jack. With such repulsion, such disgust. And I’ve never forgiven you for the way you made me feel either.”
    “Ali,” Jack began.
    But she cut him off, anger beginning to heat her blood. “I’d wanted you since the day Dad first invited you aboard Wind Seeker . I dreamed of you every night, and cursed myself for being a stupid girl.” A wry laugh slipped past her lips and she shook her head. “You were so horrible to me at first. Do you remember? Mocking me, teasing me. Telling Dad I needed to be taken down a peg or two. But it made little difference. Every time I closed my eyes, there you were, grinning at me in that lazy sarcastic way.”
    “Ali—”
    “When we made love that night, you not only took the pain of losing Dad away, you fulfilled every dream and desire and hope I’d held since meeting you. You made me feel…” Her throat constricted and she stopped, needing to drag in a breath. “You made me feel whole. Complete. I could handle the agony of Dad because you were with me. And then you weren’t. You were meant to stay beside me forever, but you didn’t. You just left.”
    Jack opened his mouth, green eyes stunned, but before he spoke a word their waiter appeared, asking if they wanted to see the dessert menu as he collected their plates.
    Ali shook her head, turning from Jack for the barest second. Her heart pounded in her chest so hard she was surprised the restaurant wasn’t shaking. Surely everyone could hear it? But with the exception of a little girl dressed like a fairy, no one paid her any heed.
    “Ali—” Jack tried again, but she interrupted him.
    “I think it’s time you take me home, Jack.” She managed a wan smile. “We’ve talked enough about mainsails and reef knots.”
    She thought he would argue. Jack McKenzie never let her have the last word. Instead, he signaled for the check, his face as tumultuous as a summer storm.
    The trip back to her unit was silent. Jack drove wordlessly through the busy Sydney streets, never taking his eyes from the road, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. When he pulled into the curb at her home, Ali opened the door before he could cut the engine. She climbed from the car and walked to the door of her apartment, keys in hand. Ready to go.
    The low thrumming of the Ferrari’s motor died behind her and her throat slammed shut. He was coming after her. A bolt of hot anticipation shot straight to the pit of her stomach. God, he was coming after her.
    Fighting to slide her key into the lock, Ali muttered a curse under her breath. She had too much to think about to talk anymore tonight.
    Talk?
    Another squirming bolt hit her. Lower. Wetter. If she didn’t get him to leave talk would be the least of her problems.
    “Ali.” Warm hands curled around her hips. Her name was a murmured whisper in her ear. “Don’t ask me to leave.” He smoothed a slow path along her arms, halting her desperate battle with the door lock. She could feel his heat wrap around her, enveloping her. Caressing her. His warm lips touched the sensitive curve of her neck, soft yet firm. A shot of burning mercury ripped through her veins, pooling between her thighs in a throbbing blossom of heat. She pulled a shaky breath, skin flushed with an elemental need.
    “We’ve wasted four years, Ali.” Jack’s lips brushed her ear. “Yet we’ve lived this moment every night in our dreams.”
    Sure fingers traced a delicate line along her bare arms before slipping to her waist, holding her still. Ribbons of pure pleasure rippled through her and she closed her eyes, wanting nothing more than to lose herself in the moment. In his exquisite heat. When Jack’s teeth nipped lightly on her ear lobe, she pulled in a silent breath. God, did she want to lose herself. Over and over and over again.
    “Don’t tell me to leave,” Jack murmured, sliding his hands over her