“Right back at you.” His voice is raw, molten promise. Scooping me up, he flips me over so I’m underneath him. The ship rocks us in a gentle embrace, but the heat between us is an inferno. He thumbs the strap of my shoes over my heels and flips them off. One lands with a resounding thunk on the floor. The other clatters onto the desk at the foot of my bed.

I want to feel more of him. Need to. Reaching for his pants, I unbuckle the top button. My knuckles brush his arousal and he rolls his hips with a groan. His lips descend down my rib cage as his fingers edge along the lace trim of my underwear. I shudder when his fingers hook the elastic.

A knock from somewhere over Graeme’s shoulders startles us both to stillness. We look at each other, Graeme peering at me from where he’s hovering over my belly.

Someone knocks on my door again, more insistent this time.

I fling my head back into the pillow. “Are you serious?”

Graeme groans like he’s been punched in the gut.

Scrambling out from under him, I kick my dress under the bed, dive for the robe in the closet, and yank it on. I glance back at Graeme. What if someone sees him? We still need to keep this—us—under wraps.

Holding open the door to the bathroom, I motion toward its crisp, cold interior. “Please?”

With a nod, Graeme lumbers off the bed and in the general direction of the bathroom. “Don’t take too long,” he murmurs as he slides past me.

Before he can turn away, I place both palms on either side of his face and bring my lips to his in a burst of a kiss. My body screams not to stop, but I force myself away.

“Two minutes,” I mouth as I quietly shut the door.

Cursing all the gods in the heavens, I tromp to the main door and open it a crack.

Nikolai Kozlov is standing on the other side.

His smile falters when he catches sight of my expression. I imagine it’s thunderous. My nether-kitty yowls and hisses at this interruption. “Can I help you?” My tone is curt, but I can’t help it.

“Yes.” He nods like a bobblehead. Sweat gathers along his receding hairline. “Since I met you five days ago, I have developed strong feelings for you. You are beautiful and charming and I want to know if maybe you would—”

“Stop. Please, stop.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Look, I’m sorry if I’ve given you the wrong impression. I don’t have those kinds of feelings for you.”