FOUR
AFTER A DAYspent under the implacable Portuguese sun and walking up and down hills, I was almost glad to crawl back to the dark and coolSS Florentia. I wasn’t glad to face three more days at sea before we stopped in Tunis. I was much less glad to face Rennie, who’d been following me everywhere like a hunter, since my failed escape.
I dragged myself towards my cabin, looking forward to washing away the dust of the day and changing into something lighter. The disappointment at not having seen Sandro was like a thorn in my chest. No Sandro, no answers. Rennie tailed me along the cool passageway, radiating annoyance and clenching his fists.
A scoff left me when I put my hand on the doorknob. “Are you going to follow me everywhere now?”
He folded his muscular arms over his chest. “You’ve proven to be untrustworthy even though you agreed to let me do my job and protect you.”
“I’m not a child.”
“Then don’t behave like one.”
“Confound it.” I pushed the door open and slammed it shut behind him. Not very mature. I was only confirming his words. But his constant presence was itching along my skin, and today’s fisco didn’t help my mood.
I washed and changed, taking my time brushing my hair and choosing a dress for dinner. Unfortunately, every evening dress in my trunk had buttons on the back. When I’d packed my clothes, I’d been in a hurry, thanks to my parents. But I’d rather show my naked back to every passenger than ask Rennie for help. Bother. The dress was a tad large for my straight body. If I breathed too hard, it might slip down. Never mind. I’d be careful.
So I wrapped myself in my shawl, leaving my back half-naked underneath. When I opened the door, I wasn’t surprised to find Rennie in the corridor.
His jacket hung from the rail. His shirtsleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing his corded muscles, and the waistcoat stretched over his chest. The yellow glow from the gas lamps enhanced the scar on his neck and the harsh set of his jaw. He looked every inch the pugilist, which I was sure he was.
“Are you ready to go to dinner?” he asked between clenched teeth.
“Yes.” I straightened and turned towards the other side of the passageway.
There was a low rumble, coming from somewhere, as if the engine were hiccupping. The floor shook. I gasped and grabbed the rail, my stomach lurching. Rennie’s hand took my elbow.
“Stormy weather,” he said, steadying me.
“Indeed.” I snatched my arm free and started walking again.
The muscles in his naked arms, contracting and tensing, were quite distracting. Not that I was staring. Why would I care? But I hadn’t seen many half-naked men in my life, and he was displaying lots of muscles. Gentlemen didn’t show their arms, especially at dinner.
“Shouldn’t you wear your jacket for dinner?” I asked, eyeing him again.
“Shouldn’t you have your dress fully buttoned for dinner?”
Annoyance tickled me as my mouth hung open. “Listen—” My little speech was cut off by another jolt from the ship. I lost my balance and fell back. Rennie caught me and pulled me closer to his hard body.
As he went to withdraw his arm, my dress caught in the newel cap with a yank. The noise of ripped fabric boomed in the silent passageway. Pearly buttons rained to the floor and ended up under my slippers, causing me to lose my balance again. It was like ice skating. Not that I’d done that often. Safety and all that. Too dangerous for me, according to my parents.
“Confound it.” I had to grip Rennie’s shoulders not to fall over.
The back of my dress unfastened completely, and the low neckline dropped a few inches, revealing the top of my breasts and the lacy hem of my chemise. If I tilted my head to the right angle, I could see my nipples, taut and pressed against the flimsy fabric, which meant that Rennie could see them too.
His lips parted in mute shock as his gaze dipped low, down to my neckline, and stayed there. He was so focused on the show I was accidentally offering that he didn’t even blink. My cheeks flamed. And not only them. The heat moved lower, much lower. A combination of shame and something else I didn’t want to acknowledge caused me to freeze in his arms.
Then theSS Florentiajolted again, shoving me into Rennie’s arms. My half-naked breasts rubbed against his chest. The dress dipped another inch, revealing my nipples. He kept staring with undisguised interest. Another shock of stillness went through me as the contact with his broad body started an illicit pulse between my thighs.
Holy. Smoke.
Unless I untangled myself from his embrace, we would stay here and... and... I didn’t want to think aboutthat. With the speed of a startled mouse, I scurried away from him and covered my chest with my shawl.
“I need to change,” I stuttered the most obvious words I’d ever spoken.
Without waiting for him to say anything, I ran towards my cabin. Of course, he hounded me. His footfalls echoed in the passageway. When I tried to open the door, the key to my cabin slid out of my fingers and clattered to the floor, thanks to my trembling fingers. Before I could pick it up, Rennie took it for me and unlocked the door.
“Monia, I should apologise,” he said in a low, intense voice that started a stirring in my belly, but I didn’t want to hear anything.
