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Lifting her chin with his finger, he dropped his lips on hers. The potent kiss fired their passion, and as their mouths moved in unison, Duncan felt a stirring in his soul, a stirring he'd not experienced in many years, a stirring that told him Brittany would haunt him long after they left the ship and went their separate ways. As her arms clung to him, he sensed she was feeling it too.
The indefinable magic.
One of the most powerful forces on earth.
* * * * * * * * * *
Brittany spent almost an hour writing the letter, delivered it as he'd asked, then returning to her cabin she sank into bed. The nap was just what she needed, and when she stirred she felt surprisingly calm. Stepping into the bathroom she stood with her back to the mirror and stared over her shoulder at her blotchy red cheeks. Wanting a shower, but with her skin still tender, she made sure the shower was tepid, then stepping into the stall she began soaping herself with the pomegranate bath gel supplied by the ship. As she closed her eyes and breathed in the citrus fragrance, an unexpected thought flashed through her mind. Sneaking into Duncan's cabin had fast-paced their relationship. She caught herself.
"What am I saying? There is no relationship! This is a shipboard fling. That's it."
But even as the words left her lips, she knew leaving him would be painful. Very painful.
* * * * * * * * * *
Duncan had a nanny cam.
After being the victim of theft during a previous cruise, he carried the covert camera with him whenever he traveled, zipping through the footage every evening. As he watched her uninvited visit, he had to chuckle when she discovered she couldn't fit behind the armoire and made a panicked dash for the deck. Deciding to save it for posterity and share it with her at some point in the future, he downloaded the film to his computer.
Turning his attention to the evening ahead he moved across to the dining table. White roses sat in the center with two tapered candles either side. Dom Perignon chilled in an ice bucket, and crystal goblets waited to be filled. In his bedroom, a bouquet of white and yellow roses rested in an ornate vase. Duncan spared no expense when defending a client. His fees were high, but those who could afford him received the best representation money could buy. So it was in his personal life. He did not hold back or play games, and he thoroughly enjoyed pampering the women in his life. Brittany's gentle knock announced her arrival for their dinner date, and opening the door he found her dressed in a shimmering green cocktail dress. A string of pearls graced her neck, and she had parted her hair on the side, causing it to fall coquettishly across one eye.
"Exquisite," he smiled, taking her hand and kissing it softly.
"Thank you, and you could be James Bond."
Duncan had opted for a dark suit, a sharp white shirt, and a bow tie with a roguish streak of purple.
"Dom Perignon is chilling, and a very good year I might add."
"You're spoiling me."
"Are you complaining?"
"Not for a minute," she replied, and as he ushered her forward her eyes fell on the beautifully set table. "This is gorgeous. I don't know what to say. No-one has ever gone to so much trouble for me."
"I want you to know how special I think you are."
"I am?"
"Yes, you are. Please sit down and close your eyes. I have something for you."
As she took her seat and felt her tender backside, a soft smile crossed her lips. Not only was her fantasy coming true, it was beyond anything she'd dared to hope. She heard the rustle of his clothes as he walked away, but he quickly returned.
"For you, Brittany. Take a look."
Opening her eyes she discovered a stunning arrangement of roses in a multi-colored art glass vase.
"They're so beautiful, and the vase, it's lovely. What did I do to deserve all this?"
"There is no gift I can give, equal to that which you've given me. Your trust and submission."
"I don't know what to say."
"The white and yellow roses represent purity and friendship," he continued. "What you experienced today was pure. You surrendered, and that is a truly precious thing. We're bound by that and the friendship blossoming between us."
"This is so much. I'm sorry, I can't help thinking…never mind."
"Thinking what? Tell me."
