Текст книги "Wild Silver "

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 13 страниц)

9

„God, you look tired.“ Khadil’s pink eyes were concerned as

her gaze ran over Silver’s sweat-stained, dusty and torn

shirtwaist and skirt. „And those clothes look as if they’ve been

dragged through bramble bushes.“

„They have.“ Silver sat down on Khadil’s brass-studded

leather trunk, trying to ignore the weariness that plagued every

muscle. „Among other shrubbery. I’ve been traveling for

nearly two weeks, most of it on foot. How is Etaine?“

„Well.“ Khadil’s expression was reproachful. „But she was

worried when you didn’t come. Sebastien even went to your

school but they would tell him nothing except that you had

gone on a short trip.“

So Mrs. Alford had believed the note Nicholas had sent,

Silver thought. Well, it should have come as no surprise. The

woman had always regarded Indian women only one step

above prostitutes. No, it wasn’t surprise she was feeling, but

the same depression that had been nagging at her since the

moment she had been released from the stateroom by

Bassinger. It had followed her like an annoying shadow on the

long, hard trip from Memphis and was still with her now. But

it had nothing to do with her leaving Nicholas, she assured

herself quickly. She had her life to live and she must not be

beguiled by Nicholas Savron. She moved her shoulders,

unconsciously trying to shrug off the thought of him. Why did

memories of Nicholas persist when she would probably never

see him again?

„It was impossible for me to leave a message when I

suddenly had to leave the academy,“ Silver explained. „Where

is Etaine now?“

„Performing. She should be through soon. I will go and tell

her you are here.“ Khadil stood up. „You will need a bath and

a change of clothes. I’ll get Sebastien to bring you some hot

water and you’ll find my hairbrush in that chest. I don’t think

my clothes would fit you, you’re much taller than I am. I’ll see

if Fatima has something that will do.“ She smiled shyly. „It is

good that you have come back to us, Silver. We have missed

you.“

Silver’s throat tightened. „I’ve missed you too.“

The albino’s smile was wide with pleasure as she left the

tent.

Silver gazed at the flame flickering in the lantern on the

crude table a few feet away. They had missed her. They cared

about her. This was where she belonged, not as the woman of a

man who cared nothing for her once she had left his bed. She

had been right to leave Nicholas and come back to the people

who found worth in her.

She rose quickly, luted the lid or Khadil s chest, and located

the hairbrush. She would keep herself busy repairing the

ravages of the trail until Etaine was free to come to her, and

would not give one more thought to Nicholas. She began to

run the bristles of the brush slowly through her long hair, her

gaze once more on the golden flames of the lantern. How

beautifully it shimmered in the darkness of the tent, like a

burst of golden sunlight, like Nicholas’s hair beneath the

chandeliers in the Grand Saloon….

Etaine’s laughter pealed out as soon as she caught sight of

Silver. „You look like one of the caliph’s dancing daughters in

Fatima’s act.“ She clapped her hands in delight. „I like this

costume much better than that ugly uniform. You should wear

it all the time.“

„I’m afraid Fatima wouldn’t appreciate my appropriating

her costume on a permanent basis,“ Silver said dryly, glancing

down at herself. The filmy scarlet skirt and matching short-

sleeve velvet jacket were very comfortable and she was

beginning to think Eastern women must be more sensible than

she had dreamed if they had eliminated the wearing of

undergarments. Still, the extremely low square neck of the

jacket was far from practical and seemed purposely designed

to lift and frame a woman’s breasts for the delectation of the

onlooker. „She made it clear she wanted it back.“

Etaine laughed again and ran across the tent into Silver’s

arms, hugging her with all her strength. „You look better in it

than she does. You look beautiful. Oh, Silver, I’ve missed you

so.“

Silver’s arms tightened around the child’s slight body.

Etaine didn’t seem any thinner, and her color was good. „Well,

I’m here now. You haven’t had any more attacks?“

Etaine shook her head. „I’ve been fine. Maybe I’m growing

out of it, as you said I might.“ She sat down on Khadil’s pallet

beside Silver and nestled into the curve of her arm, her short

white-gold curls shimmering against Silver’s flame-colored

bodice. „I was worried about you. I thought perhaps my father

– “ She broke off and was silent a moment before continuing

haltingly. „I wondered if you’d had an accident.“

What the child meant was that she had been afraid that

Monteith had found a way of getting rid of Silver.

„No, I had to go away for a while, but I’m back now and

everything is going to be better.“

„Is it?“ Etaine’s voice was wistful. „I hope so.“ She

brightened. „Anyway, I’m glad you came back before we left

St. Louis.“

Silver stiffened. „You’re leaving?“

„I think so. For the last week my father has been talking

about it. He says the Americans don’t appreciate the circus as

Europeans do and – “

„He’s taking the circus to Europe?“ Silver interrupted,

startled. „When?“

Etaine shrugged. „He didn’t say. I can’t ask; it wouldn’t do

any good.“ She was silent a moment before whispering, „I

don’t want to leave you. Silver. Sometimes I think of being far

away from you and I get so scared. While you’re here I always

believe everything will turn out fine, that I’ll get well.“

„You will get well,“ Silver said fiercely. „And you won’t

leave me. I’ll find a way to keep you here in America.“

Etaine tilted her head and looked at Silver, and for a

moment the child’s eyes had the weary sadness of a woman in

her twilight years. „I don’t believe he’ll let me stay, no matter

what you do. I’ve been thinking a lot lately and I know now

what he wants of me.“

Silver frowned. „What?“

„Death,“ Etaine said simply. „He wants me to die.“

Silver shivered and her arm tightened convulsively around

Etaine’s thin shoulders. „You could be wrong.“

„No.“ Etaine’s clear gaze met her own. „He hates me. I

don’t know why, but he does. Sometimes when he looks at me

I know he’s thinking that he wishes I were already dead.“

Silver did not try to dissuade or convince her that a father

would not harm his child. Monteith was capable of anything in

her opinion, and Etaine’s instincts were probably correct. The

child possessed a wisdom far beyond her years and suffering

had honed that wisdom. If it were true that Monteith’s neglect

and cruelty toward Etaine was more malevolent than merely

callous, then it would be safer for her to be on guard. She

could only offer comfort at this juncture. „I’ve never lied to

you, have I, Etaine?“

„No.“

„Then listen carefully to me. I promise you I’ll take you

away from him to a place where you’ll be safe and well,“

Silver said softly. „I vow it on the grave of Rising Star. Do you

believe me?“

„I believe you will try.“ Etaine smiled gravely. „You

mustn’t feel sad if you can’t help me, Silver. I’ve been very

happy. I have wonderful friends and my life has been good.“

Dear God, the child was speaking as if her death were

inevitable, Silver realized with a thrill of panic. She forced

herself to smile. „It will be better.“ She gave Etaine an

affectionate hug. „Now run along and let me sleep. I’m very

tired. We’ll talk more in the morning.“

„Yes, Etaine, it’s time you went to bed.“ The deep voice

was smooth and mellow as dark honey in spite of its clipped

British accent. „Bid your friend goodnight and go to our tent.“

Monteith. Silver drew a deep breath and braced herself.

Then she turned and gazed at the man standing in the doorway

of the tent.

Monteith was as beautiful in his own way as his daughter.

He possessed the same white-gold hair, fine-boned grace, and

handsome features. Of only medium height, his royal carriage

made every inch impressive. He must have been in his early

forties, but his smooth, fair skin was unlined and he appeared

curiously ageless.

Silver had never seen him wear anything but gray, and

tonight was no exception. His pearl-gray trousers, darker gray

frock coat, and silk waistcoat gave him a curiously

phantomlike elegance in the nimbus of light cast by the

lantern. „Good evening, Monteith.“

„You look charming, my dear,“ Monteith said. „Perhaps I

should offer you a position in my circus. I’m sure the

gentlemen would flock to see you.“ His voice lowered silkily.

„And you appear to be so comfortable among us. May I ask if

you intend to be here long this time?“

„Only a few days.“ Silver glanced down at Etaine. „Khadil

said it would be all right if I shared her tent and there are a few

arrangements I wish to make before I leave.“

„Nonsense. When I heard you were here, I told Khadil to

move in with one of the other freaks for the night and let you

have exclusive use of her tent. A young lady must have her

privacy.“ His gaze flicked to Etaine and his smile glittered in

the lantern light. „I believe I told you to go to bed,“ he said

softly. „You’re not usually so stupid, Etaine. I don’t wish to

tell you again.“ He snapped his fingers.

Two bright spots of color appeared in the child’s ivory

cheeks and she scrambled quickly to her feet. „I’m going.

Good night, Silver.“ She ran toward the door, carefully

avoiding brushing her father. „I’ll see you in the morning.“

Monteith turned to watch her leave and then his gaze

returned to Silver. „Children can be terribly disobedient, can’t

they, Silver? I must remember to do something about that in

the near future.“

Silver felt a ripple of fear. Monteith’s physical presence

seemed to encompass and smother her. He was being far too

polite and charming to her. Mon-teith maintained a pleasant

facade only for his audiences and had never been hesitant

about displaying his displeasure for both her presence at his

circus and her association with Etaine. „You don’t seem

unhap–py to see me here. If I remember correctly, you weren’t

this cordial the last time I saw you.“

„I can afford to be generous. We won’t be here much

longer, so your interference with Etaine will cease to be a

problem.“

„I help Etaine. Surely no one could call that a problem.“

„No?“ His brow rose. „But then, we all have our own

viewpoints.“ He turned to leave. „And our individual purposes

in life.“

„The reason I came back was to talk to you about Etaine.“

„Really? How interesting. Tomorrow we must make time

for that conversation.“ He glanced back over his shoulder, his

dark blue eyes glittering coldly. „Sleep well, Silver.“

Silver gazed after him. Monteith’s presence always held a

strange fascination for her. She supposed it was his

resemblance to Etaine that bothered her so greatly. Being with

him was like peering into a broken looking glass and seeing a

beloved friend’s reflection twisted and fragmented. Etaine s

zest and warmth, her loving nature and joy in life were the

precise opposites of her father’s traits. His cold beauty and

mocking cruelty were repulsive, and the aura of power he

emanated disturbed Silver even more.

She got up and blew out the lantern, then settled down on

Khadil’s pallet and closed her eyes. She was so tired, and

seeing Monteith had made her realize how many problems

confronted her; Etaine, Monteith, her own plans for the future.

And the other possibility that she had been afraid even to

think about.

She swallowed, fighting down the panic that persisted in

rising within her. It was foolish to worry, when she would

probably have her monthly flux any day. If not, then it meant

she would have to see Nicholas only one last time. She would

certainly not lie here sleepless, thinking about possibilities that

might never come to pass. She would need all her strength and

control tomorrow, when she would try to persuade Monteith to

give up Etaine.

„Don’t move!“ A hand clamped down over Silvers mouth,

smothering her outcry as she was jarred out of a sound sleep

into half waking. „And if you sink your teeth into me, by God,

I’ll gag you. I’m not at all pleased with you, Silver.“

Nicholas!

Even in the darkness she could never fail to recognize him.

That musky scent, the deep vibrance of his voice… Joy

cascaded through her in a blinding tide. Something lost was

found. A bond that had been broken was now newly forged.

He was astride her, she could feel the iron-hard strength of

his thighs through the layers of clothes that separated them.

That was wrong, she thought hazily. There should be nothing

separating them. Not time, nor distance, not even the flimsy

barriers of fabrics.

„Silver?“ There was a sudden note of concern in Nicholas’s

voice. „Are you all right? Dammit, Mon-teith said you were

only tired. I should have – “

„Monteith?“ She was abruptly wide awake and began to

struggle beneath Nicholas’s weight.

„That’s better,“ Nicholas said dryly. „It’s not like you to be

so meek. For a minute I was afraid you were ill. I was sure –

Ouch!“ He jerked his hand away from her teeth. „Get your

fangs out of me. I told you I’d – “

„Let me go!“ Silver said fiercely. „Not again, Nicholas!“

„Oh, yes,“ Nicholas said softly. „Again and again and

again. It may never stop. If you run away, I’ll only follow.

Haven’t you realized that yet, Silver?“

The darkness of the tent was soft as ebony velvet and

vibrant with the essence of Nicholas, reaching out, enfolding

her. She could feel his heat, and her heart began to pound

harder. „There is nothing to realize.“

„You think not?“ Grimness threaded Nicholas’s voice.

„Well then, I’ll have to convince you. But not here, you’re

coming back to the Rose with me.“

„I’m not leaving here.“

„You will. I told Monteith I wanted no one sharing your

tent because these people are your friends and I didn’t want to

chance harming them.“ His voice hardened. „But I have no

intention of leaving without you, Silver. If you fight me,

someone will no doubt hear and try to help you. Do you want

to risk their being hurt?“

She stopped struggling. Nicholas’s tone was unrelenting,

and she knew he meant every word he said. She drew a deep

breath. „Monteith sent a message to you telling you I was

here?“

„He was very well paid to do so. You’ll be happy to know

you cost me a great deal of money. Monteith is an

exceptionally greedy man.“

„He’s a complete bastard.“

„I surmised as much, but it made no difference as long as I

could buy what I wanted from him.“ The muscles of his thighs

were hardening and his voice was thick. „And I want you. I

believe it will be better if we leave here immediately. Mikhail

is waiting outside the circus grounds with a hired carriage.“ He

moved off her, one hand encircling her wrist, and he pulled her

to her feet. „Are you going to fight me?“

„No,“ she said curtly. „Not here. There will be time enough

to get away from you without involving my friends.“

„Excellent reasoning.“ He pulled her toward the entrance of

the tent. „And extremely convenient for me.“

„When did you arrive in St. Louis? I thought perhaps you

would give up.“

He laughed softly. „No, you didn’t.“

He Was right. She had known he yvould never give up

something he wanted any more than she would have.

„I arrived here nearly a week ago.“ He was leading her past

the silent darkness of the tents. In the distance she could see

the glow of a carriage lantern and Mikhail’s huge form on the

coachman’s seat. „I remembered you said Monteith was no

friend of yours, so I went directly to him and struck a bargain.

Then all I had to do was wait.“ His grip suddenly tightened

with bruising force on her hand. „God, I could have strangled

you for making me sit there and wonder what had happened to

you. You could have been raped and thrown into the river and

no one would have ever known.“

„I know you’d prefer to do any raping yourself.“

„I’ve never raped you,“ Nicholas said tersely. „And we

both know it. You wanted – my God, what are you wearing?“

They had come into the pool of light formed by the lantern

on the carriage and Silver glanced down at the flame-colored

costume. „It belongs to Fatima, who performs as one of the

Caliph’s Dancing Daughters.“ Silver forwned as she

remembered something else. „I’m barefoot and now my feet

are dusty. You could have given me time to put on my shoes.“

„Your feet aren’t the only thing that’s bare.“ Nicholas’s

gaze was on the silken flesh overflowing the low square

neckline. „You don’t have much more on than you did when

you wore that damn bed curtain. For God’s sake, what do I

have to do to keep you decently covered?“ He strode toward

the carriage, dragging her along behind him. „This blasted

heathen shame-lessness has got to – “

„Hello, Silver.“ Mikhail smiled down at her from the

coachman’s seat of the carriage. „That is a pretty costume. We

have been very worried about you. I told Nicholas you would

not let anything happen to yourself, but he would not listen.“

Silver felt a sudden glowing warmth spread through her as

she gazed up at his rough-hewn face. She had not realized

until this moment how much she had missed the gentle

Cossack. „There was nothing to worry about. It was a hard trip

but – “

„Later,“ Nicholas interrupted as he opened the door of the

carriage. He lifted her and almost threw her on to the cushions

of the seat. „Let’s get back to the Rose.“ He climbed into the

coach, slammed the door closed, and dropped into the seat

opposite her. „You’re evidently glad to see Mikhail, at least.“

„I like him,“ Silver said calmly. „And I don’t like you.“

He flinched. „No, liking has nothing to do with what we

feel for each other. I have no use for so tame an emotion

anyway.“

The moon emerged from behind the clouds and the

darkness of the coach was flooded with a pale, pearly half-

light. She wished fervently that it had remained dark. She did

not want to see how the rays shimmered and frosted

Nicholas’s golden hair to silver and played upon the supple

muscles of his body. How they brought a soft luminence to his

white linen shirt and outlined the brawny muscles of his thighs

in dark tight-fitted trousers. She had a fleeting memory of how

those thighs had felt holding her effortlessly in place while he

moved wildly in and out until – No, she mustn’t remember. It

was over.

She desperately pulled her glance away from him and

looked out at the moonlit darkness beyond the window. „How

is Valentin?“

„Almost as worried about you as I was.“ Nicholas leaned

back on the seat, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity she

could feel even though she was no longer looking at him.

„And much more inclined to be charitable. Do you know what

I wanted to do with you after I found you?“

„You’ve already told me. You wanted to strangle me.“

„That was the last item on my list. The others were far

more lewd in nature. I lay in that bed on the Rose and

remembered what I’d done with you, and thought about what I

still wanted to do.“ He paused. „A hundred times I wanted to

send for a woman but I never did. You seem to have worked

some kind of spell over me. It’s not a confession that I make

with pleasure.“ His tone hardened. „I will be no woman’s

puppet ever again.“

Again? It seemed impossible that Nicholas had ever

yielded to any woman’s power, Silver thought with a strange

wrenching pang. Who had – No, she would not wonder. „You

should have sent for your whore, I wouldn’t have cared what

you did.“

She felt the savage anger vibrate from him in the close

confines of the carriage and experienced a sudden tingle of

excitement. She heard him draw a deep breath as if struggling

for control.

A few minutes passed and she could feel her nerves tighten

and the tentative excitement grow. Why didn’t he speak?

„Perhaps you weren’t so selective,“ he finally said sjlkily.

„It was an impossibly hard trip for a woman. I’m sure there

were men eager to help you for a… for compensation.“

For a moment she was tempted to lie to him, to tell him he

was not the only man who could please her. It would anger

him, it would cause that tension she felt in him to explode. The

thought excited her. Then she realized what she was doing and

was disgusted with herself. She would not lie. „I needed no

help and took none.“

She could feel a little of the tension flow out of him as he

relaxed. „That was very wise. I would have been quite

incensed with you if you’d given your favors to any other

man. So incensed I would probably have put you over my

knee and spanked your bottom until you couldn’t sit down for

a month.“ He paused. „Afterward.“

Her gaze flew back to his face. „Afterward?“ Her voice

sounded strange, breathless. The excitement was blossoming,

growing. Her breasts were lifting and falling with the

shallowness of her breathing, her sensitive nipples rubbing

against the soft velvet of her bodice.

„I’m not such a fool that I don’t realize what’s of first

importance to both of us.“ His voice was thick. „Just as you

do. Do you think I don’t know what you’re trying to do to me?

You wanted me angry enough to take you without your

consent so that you could have your pleasure and still nurture

your resentment.“ He slowly shook his head. „No, Silver,

you’re going to have to admit that you want me as much as I

want you, that you can’t even wait until we get back to the

Rose for me to take you, that you want me here and now.“

„Here?“ She could feel her eyes widen and the color rise to

her cheeks.

„Why not? We have a good forty-minute ride until we get

to the levee, and I’ve done without you for almost two weeks.

I have no intention of waiting any longer. Merde, I almost took

you on the pallet in that damn circus tent.“

„I have no intention of giving you anything you want.“

„Because you’re angry with me for taking you away from

your friends? But you won’t be giving me what I want, you’ll

be taking what you want. Do you think I don’t know you by

now?“ He suddenly leaned forward and he began swiftly

undoing the tiny covered buttons that closed the flame-colored

velvet bodice.

„No, I…“ But he had been too quick and the bodice was

pushed aside to reveal the swollen fullness of her breasts. Then

he was leaning back in his seat again, his gaze hot and intent

upon her. „There. I’ve been watching those pretty breasts

shake and quiver ever since Mikhail started the carriage

moving. I thought at times you’d fall out of that little jacket,

but unfortunately you never did.“ Then, as she made a motion

to close the jacket, he said sharply, „No, I’m not touching you,

I’m only looking at you. We both know how much you like me

to look at you.“ He leaned forward and took her hands in both

of his. „I like that costume, it appears to be a singularly

convenient garment for our purpose. Tell me, do you have

anything on underneath it?“

She didn’t answer him.

„No?“ He smiled. „How delightful. I’ll have a dressmaker

fashion several for you and you can wear them for me when I

visit you at your house in St. Petersburg.“

„I’m not going to St. Petersburg.“

„Scarlet is a wonderful color for you,“ he said, ignoring her

reply. „Your nipples are just that color after I’ve sucked at

them for a long time. Do you remember how long I did that

the night before you ran away from me? I love your breasts. I

love to look at them. I love to touch them. I love to watch

them swell and ripen as you become excited.“ His gaze never

left her breasts. „As they’re doing now.“

She had no need for him to tell her this. She could feel

herself blossom, tauten under his gaze. The slight jouncing of

the carriage on the cobblestones sent a quiver through every

muscle of her body and pulled at her heavy, sensitive breasts

like a toying hand. Nicholas’s hand.

„Give me your foot.“

A ripple of surprise went through her. „Why?“

He reached into his pocket and drew out a pristine white

handkerchief. „You accused me of getting your feet dusty. I

thought I’d try to make amends.“ His smile held an entrancing

sweetness. „I thought it would please you to see me do so

menial a task.“

She slowly lifted her leg and stretched out her left foot to

rest on his knees. He enfolded it in the handkerchief and ran

the soft fine linen over her sole. A little shiver went through

her. He looked up. „Did I tickle you?“

„No, I’m not ticklish.“

„The other foot.“ He began running the white cloth over

her right foot. „You exaggerated. You’re not very dusty at all.“

His gaze rose to her face as he ran the handkerchief over her

sole with deliberate slowness. „And you may not be ticklish,

but you’re extremely sensitive here. Many women are, you

know.“ He tossed the handkerchief carelessly on the seat

beside him and, holding her ankle in one hand, he ran the tips

of his fingers lightly from her heel to her instep. She

experienced a tingling in her foot that spread up her leg. The

muscles of her calf bunched and then hardened. „You see?“

She attempted to draw her foot away from him, but he

would not release it. His grip tightened on her inkle. „You

have lovely feet. Strong and well shaped.“ His finger rubbed

gently at the curve of her instep. nother shiver ran through her

and she felt the muscles of her entire leg tauten. A familiar hot

tingle gnited between her thighs.

She suddenly became aware how open and vulner-ible was

her position. The moonlit intimacy of the:arriage, the

nakedness of her breasts, Nicholas’s ;trong hand holding her

ankle captive, and his fingers moving with teasing delicacy , , ,

He would stop and wait until the anticipation built and then

would start again. His whisper-soft touch came gently,

intimately, on her instep.

This time a shudder ran through every muscle of her body.

Where had he learned this skillful, subtle manipulation of a

woman’s body? A flash of resentment came and then was gone

as his fingertips once more moved over her instep and the

muscles of her stomach contracted as if on command. She

moistened her lips with her tongue. „Stop, Nicholas.“

He ceased immediately and set her foot on the seat beside

him. „Certainly.“ Then before she could draw her leg away, he

was kneeling on the floor of the carriage before her between

her thighs, pushing up the filmy scarlet skirt with one hand

and gently shifting her other leg to the side with the other. „I

think it’s time we went on to other pleasures anyway.“ His

head slowly lowered, his gaze on the soft darkness awaiting

him. „And this is very pleasurable for you, remember? That

night you screamed…“

She wanted to scream again as his tongue touched and then

began to stroke her with painstaking slowness. She arched

helplessly toward him, her fingers reaching out blindly to bury

themselves in his golden hair. Searing hunger tore through her

as her head fell back against the cushions of the seat. She

couldn’t get her breath. Heat. Tingling. Clenching.

He lifted his head. „You’re so pretty here.“ He blew gently.

She inhaled sharply as she felt his warm breath exploding

against her pulsating heart. His hands were lifting, his palms

cupping her round buttocks as he slowly lowered his head

again. „It’s not enough. I’m hungry for you. I want to taste

you.“ His mouth opened, enveloped, sucked.

Her lips opened, the tendons of her throat strained, but she

could make no sound. She felt as though she were bathed in

fire. The dizzying tempo of the blood running through her

veins was almost as painful as the intensity of pleasure she

was experiencing.

Nicholas head rose and his hands left her. He fumbled

quickly at the front of his trousers and his manhood burst free

of restriction. He laid his head on her stomach, his breath

coming in harsh rasps. He rubbed his hard cheek against her

flesh, luxuriating in the softness of her. „Silver…“

Then he was suddenly gone, once again sitting across from

her. His fair hair was tousled and his ebony eyes blazed as he

reached out and lifted her onto his lap. „Come to me.“ His

voice was soft, urgent, as irresistible as the haunting melody of

Pan’s flute.

His hands cupped her hips as he slid her slowly down the

rigid stalk of his manhood. Her knees braced on the cushions

of the seat on either side of him. His hands left her and gently

began to rub at her insteps as he let her feel every bold inch of

his dimension within her.

She bit her lower lip to keep her delirious jolt of pleasure

unknown to him. But it was to no avail; he did know, Nicholas

always knew.

Her hands clutched his shoulders as he began a fiery

rhythm that turned her mindless with a fever of ecstasy. She

couldn’t repress the low moan that trembled deep in her throat.

„Let go.“ Nicholas’s voice was a silkening crooning in her

ear. „This is where you belong. This is what you want. Say it,

Silver.“

„No!“ Her fingers went up to tangle in his hair. „No.“

„Say it!“

„Yes!“ Her fingers clenched again in his hair. She was

panting, her breath coming in little sobs. „But it doesn’t

matter, it means nothing. Do you hear me? It doesn’t mean

anything!“

He went still. Then, slowly, his hands cupped her cheeks in

his two hands and tilted her head back to look into her eyes.

She had expected to see lust, perhaps triumph, but there was

something else in his glittering eyes that bewildered her.

Sadness. „I know,“ he said softly. „But that’s all you’ll give

me.“ His lips brushed her own with exquisite tenderness.

„Firebird.“ He closed his eyes and for a moment she thought

she saw a flicker of pain on his face. Then his eyes opened and

he smiled crookedly. „So I’ll take what gifts I’m allowed as

I’ve always done before. Perhaps you’ll find it to be a fair

exchange.“

Then he was clearly done with conversation as he began to

thrust with a force and power that held an odd element of

desperation.

She was still lost in a haze of delight and lethargy when he

moved her to the seat opposite him again. He swiftly put his

clothes in order and then leaned forward to carefully fasten the

buttons on her velvet bodice and arrange her filmy skirts

around her. His features were set and curiously grave in the

moonlight streaming through the window into the carriage. „I

have some questions to ask you about Dominic Delaney.“

She gazed at him in disbelief. „Why do you think I would

tell you anything now when I wouldn’t before?“

„Because they aren’t the same questions. Valentin thinks