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I’m over it.” She crept her feet up the cool glass of the window. “What about you? You have a brother and a sister. What about your parents?”
    He lifted a nonchalant shoulder. “They’re around, try to be a bit more involved than the three of us would like, I think. Of course, with me, they’re thinking it’s a preventive measure.”
    “You don’t think of rich parents as being involved. You think nannies, boarding schools—”
    “Oh, we had plenty of both. I think when I got kicked out of the third boarding school, they figured they’d better start paying attention. That was when I got into snowboarding. The therapist thought I needed an outlet for my temper.” He rolled his eyes at the phrasing.
    She shifted to look at him, her legs back on the chair, knees against the armrest. “See, that’s what I don’t get. I haven’t seen one sign that you’re short tempered. You were definitely out of your element today, but very patient.”
    He leaned toward her as if imparting a secret. She bent her head and felt the wash of his breath on her cheek as he said, “That’s because I’m trying to seduce you.”
    She laughed despite herself. Amazing that he would open up to her like this, even if he was only trying to lure her back to his bed. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had been honest with her to do so.
    He eased back, giving her a measuring look. “So what’s on the agenda tomorrow?”
    “We may reach the Auckland Islands tomorrow, and they’ll take the zodiacs out. There’s a big sea lion community there. You’d like going on the zodiac, I’d imagine.”
    “Do you go?”
    “I’m working.”
    “You have a crew. Can’t you leave them alone for a couple of hours? Or are you using the kitchen to avoid me?”
    Again she had to resist the urge to fidget. “I’m not.”
    “Then come on the zodiac with me tomorrow.” He stroked a knuckle down her cheek.
    The sensation vibrated from his touch down to her nipples and she used every ounce of will not to let her eyelids flutter shut, to let the moan escape her lips. “I’ve never been on the zodiac.”
    “Never?”
    She shook her head and took a sip of wine, breaking contact with his touch.
    “Then I insist.”
    And just as she envisioned boarding the low-sided rubber boat and skimming across the waves, watching him grin, hear him laugh, he leaned in and kissed her, a long, deep kiss flavored with wine. Her first instinct was to pull away, but instead she curved her hand around the back of his head and she kissed him back.
    “You want to get out of here?” he asked finally.
    She unfolded her legs, under no illusion about what he meant, wondering at her own willingness to go along. At just what point had she known how this day was going to end? When he’d joined her in the kitchen? Or when she’d walked out to see him waiting for her? “Sure.”
    He poured the last of the bottle into each of their glasses, then took her elbow to guide her toward the hallway. “Your cabin’s closer, I think.”
    She understood that he wanted to be able to slip free afterwards, was almost relieved by the knowledge that he would leave, and she could regain her sanity for the rest of the cruise. So she led the way to her room, opening it with her keycard though her hand was shaking with the decision she’d made. He stood close, his hand on the small of her back, his head bent so that his breath rushed over her throat. She wouldn’t blame alcohol or loneliness this time. She’d made the choice because she wanted him. She opened the door and brought him inside.
    He tucked the wine glasses in the cup holders on her private table, then turned to her, curving his hands over her hips. He crowded her against the wall as he brought his mouth down on hers, his lips firm and dry, his breath flavored with the shiraz. She quivered, waiting for the kiss to deepen. Instead, he brushed his mouth back and forth over her parted lips, then dipped his tongue between