Текст книги "Wild Silver "

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

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7

The monster rushed toward her, its dark scales shining, its red

eyes staring at her with hungry malevolence. He opened his

giant mouth and she could see his pointed yellow teeth and

smell the foulness of his breath –

„No!“ Silver sat bolt upright, her heart pounding wildly.

Nicholas was beside her, his arms enfolding her. Solid

strength, the scent of tobacco and musk… She clung to him

with desperation. „Nicholas, it was a monster with big yellow

teeth.“

„It was only a nightmare.“ His palm cupped the back of her

head as he rocked her back and forth. „It wasn’t real.“

„I don’t have nightmares,“ she said indignantly.

He laughed but made no rebuttal as he continued to rock

her.

She should move away, she thought, but it was very

pleasant being held like this with her cheek pressed against the

warm bare smoothness of Nicholas’s chest. „Elspeth used to

have terrible dreams when she was ill.“

„Did she? Then you know there’s no shame in having

them.“

„I didn’t say I was ashamed. I just never have them. I sleep

very soundly.“

Like a child, Nicholas thought tenderly, remembering those

moments when he had watched her sleep that first night she

had been brought to him.

But it wasn’t a child he was holding in his arms, and he

wasn’t accustomed to playing nursemaid to young women who

were wrapped only in diaphanous bed curtains covered by

linen shirts. His body was responding with an alacrity that

signaled an achingly uncomfortable night if he didn’t move

away from her.

Her cheek nestled and rubbed against his chest like a cat

against a satin pillow. Heat surged to his groin and he inhaled

sharply. He should move away. He had promised.

„Do you have nightmares?“ she asked.

Her warm breath caressed his flesh with every word, and

the muscles of his stomach began to knot. „Sometimes. Not

lately. I used to have them frequently.“ Her hair was clinging

to his fingers like tousled silk. She smelled of raspberries,

moss, and something more elemental that caused his head to

swim dizzily. One moment more and he’d move away from

her.

„What about? Monsters?“

„No, about being buried alive.“ He was scarcely aware of

what he was saying. She had nestled closer and he could feel

the womanly fullness of her breasts pressing against him.

„Darkness, Not being able to breathe.“

„How terrible,“ she murmured. The thatch of dark golden

hair on his chest looked invitingly springy, and Silver moved

her cheek to rest against it. The texture was gently abrasive

against the smoothness of her cheek. Her throat tightened and

her heart suddenly began to pound. Such a tiny thing to ignite

such excitement. His roughness against her softness, his

maleness against her womanliness. How would her naked

breasts feel pressed against that springy rough hair?

The thought brought a tingling emptiness between her

thighs that shocked her. This was not a yearning for comfort,

this was lust. How had her body’s needs changed so quickly?

She must slip out of his arms now, before he became aware of

her weakness. Her breasts were swelling, the nipples

hardening as they had last night when he had teased her. No,

she mustn’t think of those moments. Her heart was throbbing

so hard, she thought it would leap from her breast.

His hand tangled in her hair. „Silver…“ His voice was

thick, soft, seductive. „I shouldn’t…“

The heat of his body was enfolding her wherever flesh

touched flesh, and she was aware of the changes taking place

in his body. The tautening of the ridge of muscles beneath her

cheek and the leaping drum of his heart that echoed her own.

„What?“

He muttered a curse. For one instant he crushed her to him,

letting her feel the scorching heat of his body and an arousal

that caused her breath to stop in her lungs. Then he was gone,

his hands dropping away from her hair as he edged back away

from her to his former place by the fire. „Go to sleep,“ he said

between his teeth. „For God’s sake, go back to sleep.“

He was hurting, hungry, so aroused that she could feel the

vibrations of his desire like a great bell resonating,

summoning, enticing. It seemed impossible that she had ever

wanted him to hurt like this. Now she understood that pain

because it was throbbing in her own body. Emptiness, heat,

aching, a passionate urge to leave loneliness behind and join

with Nicholas.

„Don’t look at me like that.“ His dark eyes were blazing at

her across the few yards separating them. „I’m trying to

remember you were hurt tonight and have no defenses.“ He

closed his eyes but he could still see her gazing at him, crystal-

gray eyes shining with excitement and curiosity. The eyes of a

firebird. „I’m not used to being self-sacrificing, dammit.“

Even if he was unaccustomed to self-denial, he was still

doing it, Silver thought. Another facet of this complex man

revealed. The soul of a poet, Valentin had said, and she had

seen that tonight herself. But it was not the poet in him that

was flooding her body with heat. How beautiful he was lying

there with his rumpled golden hair and the long clean lines of

his body taut and rigid with desire. Not Apollo now, but a man,

and a man more vulnerable than she had ever seen him. A

strong wave of tenderness shimmered through her, blending

with desire until she did not know where one ended and the

other began.

„You’re still looking at me.“ Nicholas didn’t open his eyes.

„Yes.“ Excitement was building, the decision was forming.

Madness. He would not force her, would not even try to

seduce her. AH she had to do was close her eyes and go to

sleep. Yet, why should she do that? That very knowledge was a

seduction in itself. She wanted this man. It would be she who

took, not he. She could have what her body craved, and then

be the one who walked away. As for the consequences, she

would find a way to protect herself from the consequences of

giving herself to Nicholas.

A sudden thrill of fear rained through her as she realized

that one of those consequences might be that she’d be with

child… as her mother had been. But she was far stronger than

her mother, and coupling did not always result in a child.

Rising Star had been married fourteen years before she had

conceived, and Elspeth was still not with child though four

years had passed since she had wed Dominic. There was a

chance she would be fortunate and still take her pleasure

without suffering for it.

Consequences? When had she ever worried about

consequences? she wondered. She had always acted first and

thought later and she knew suddenly that was exactly what she

was going to do now. Soon she must leave Nicholas and go

back to Etaine and her own life. She could not look forward to

many pleasures in the future, why should she not satisfy this

craving that racked her body with burning need? „I don’t want

to go to sleep.“ She got to her knees and quickly unbuttoned

the shirt she was wearing and slipped it off. „What if I fell

asleep and the monster devoured me?“

„It’s not any monster you have to worry about tonight.“ His

eyes remained tightly closed. „I assure you that I – “ He broke

off and his eyes flew open. Long strands of fragrant satin-dark

hair were trailing across his chest as she leaned over him,

veiled only by the sheer tunic. „My God,“ he whispered.

A faint flush colored her cheeks as she slipped the tunic to

her waist and leaned closer. „I do not fear you.“ Her lips

touched his shoulder. „Do you fear me?“

„God, yes. I’m scared as hell you’re going to tie me in

knots and then leave me. It’s a game you’re quite adept at

playing.“

„I will not leave you.“ Her mouth moved to the golden

thatch of hair on his chest and she opened her lips to tug at a

tuft like a playful puppy. His heart gave a great leap and then

started pounding erratically. „Not until you have what you

want.“ Pressing her breasts to the thatch of hair, she rubbed

back and forth, closing her eyes to enjoy the sensation more

fully. It was even better than she had imagined. Each brush

against her sensitive nipples caused a hot tingle to rush

through her and the aching between her thighs to increase

tenfold.

„You’re hurt.“

„No longer. It was nothing. I’m strong now.“

„You’re sure?“

„I’m sure.“ She took his hand and placed his palm on her

left breast. „Touch me. I think it will give me pleasure.“

His hand slowly closed on her breast, his eyes narrowing

on her face. She was flaming. Glowing. Her excitement so

intense she was trembling as he squeezed the rounded globe.

He felt a sudden surge of power flood him. He could do this to

her. He could make her flame and tremble. He reached out

with the other hand and cupped her right breast and began to

squeeze rhythmically, watching with pleasure the hardening of

her nipples, the swelling of her breasts in the palms of his

hands. „I think it does give you pleasure, love. Come here.“

He moved her up so that her full breasts hung over his mouth

like ripe golden apples. He licked delicately at one rosy nipple.

„And I think this gives you pleasure too, doesn’t it?“

Pleasure. It was too tame a word for the emotion tearing

through her. She was burning. She couldn’t breathe. She bent

closer, nudging at his mouth with her breast. „More. Please.“

He opened his lips and enveloped her with his mouth,

sucking strongly. She cried out, throwing back her head as the

wild, unbearably exciting sensations tore through her. Her

hands went to his cheeks, stroking, helping him take….

The tears brimmed and then rolled down her cheeks. She

was panting. „Nicholas, I want – “

He pulled away, his mouth releasing her. „Shhh. I know.“

His hands continued to squeeze her, watching the expressions

on her face. „My God, your breasts are sensitive. I wonder…“

He removed his hands and gently pushed her away. „Let me

up, I have to get out of these clothes before I – “ He was

tearing at his clothes, his gaze still on her face. Her hunger

was naked and so arousing to behold that when his manhood

finally sprang free, it was with a power greater than he had

ever experienced.

She was staring at him, her pink tongue absently

moistening her berry-stained lips. He felt a thrust of heat so

intense, he made a guttural sound deep in his throat.

„I want to touch you.“ Silver’s gaze never left him. She got

to her knees, her fingers running delicately, curiously, over the

thatch of hair surrounding his manhood. „Your hair is golden

all over your body. It’s darker gold here but…“ She forgot

what she was going to say as her hand grasped him. He jerked,

a great shudder racking his body. It was like holding a great

stallion with only a satin hair ribbon, she thought. All that

force and power held helpless by the pleasure of her hand.

She slowly raised herself so that her breasts were touching

him and gently brushed against him, letting him feel her

softness against his manhood. His chest was moving in and out

with the harshness of his breathing as he looked down at her

dark head. „Silver…“ His voice was choked. „I can’t bear

much more. I’m…“ He groaned through his teeth as her

tongue touched him. His nostrils flared. „No! Not now!“

He jerked away from her and sank to his knees. His ebony

eyes were glazed as he pushed her down on the moss and

opened her thighs. He was wild, savage, as he tore the sheer

veiling from her body. „I have to…“ He trailed off, his hands

searching.

She knew what he had to do, what she wanted him to do.

The desire she felt was as wild and primitive as what he was

feeling. Her palms slid up his chest, savoring the heat, the

textures of him. She was making tiny frantic sounds as she felt

his fingers probe and then enter her before beginning a gentle

thrusting motion.

„More!“ she gasped. „Nicholas, more!“

„Shh. Soon.“ He moved between her thighs, his manhood

nudging against her. „It’s just that you’re so tight. I want to

make sure I don’t hurt you.“

Her nails dug into his shoulders. „I don’t care if you hurt

me,“ she said fiercely. „More.“

„Yes, yes!“ A groan came with the same explosive power

as his action as he suddenly plunged deep inside her.

Pain. Silver inhaled sharply as the expected wave of pain

rolled over her. Then it was gone and there was only the hot,

sweet fullness of joining.

„Silver.“ Nicholas was looking down at her, stunned.

„It was nothing,“ she said impatiently. „I expected much

more pain. Go on. Is it always this good?“

„No.“ He was still frozen, gazing at her blankly. She was so

damn hot, tight, enveloping him. He was quivering, flexing,

his manhood fighting to take more. More! My God, hadn’t he

taken enough from her?

It appeared he hadn’t, for she was glaring up at him. „Don’t

you dare stop. I won’t be cheated after I’ve gone this far.“

His laugh was a half sob in his throat. Only Silver would

react to her deflowering in this fashion. Well, he would not

cheat her or himself either. It was too late to stop now anyway.

He plunged again and began a wild rhythm that started the

tension throbbing, rising, within them both.

Silver’s head was thrashing back and forth, her eyes

gleaming like crystals as she gazed up at him. She was

panting, moaning, ablaze. A firebird rising, fiery wings

outstretched, soaring toward the sun. He rode the firebird into

the dazzling radiance waiting for them beyond the horizon.

Burning away the wind, the earth, the stars. Then in a wild and

shimmering burst of flame, they burned away the sun itself.

And were left only with the velvet darkness of eternity…

and each other.

Silver lay in hazy contentment, lost in a dreamy lethargy of

sensual pleasure she had never known before. Where was

Nicholas? She had been vaguely conscious of him leaving her,

but she had been too breathless and happy to protest.

Then he was beside her, kneeling and parting her thighs.

„What are you doing?“ A cool dampness soothed her flesh.

„Where did you get the cloth?“ she asked lazily.

„That bed curtain is quite versatile in its uses.“ He didn’t

look at her as he threw the cloth aside. „It would have been of

no use to you as a gown after I ripped it off you.“ He reached

for his white shirt. „Sit up.“

She obediently sat up and put her arms in the sleeves as he

held his shirt for her. „Why do I have to put on clothes when

you don’t?“

„Because I don’t pose the same temptation.“ He rapidly

buttoned the shirt. „I haven’t the slightest doubt I’ll be taking

this off you very soon, but there are a few questions I want to

put to you first.“

He was wrong, she thought dreamily, he posed a temptation

that was almost irresistible now that she knew what pleasure

he could give her. „I’ve made a decision.“

„Indeed?“

„I’ve decided I like doing what we just did better than

smelling woodsmoke or eating raspberries or tasting

honeysuckle.“ She smiled. „Better than anything.“

His lips tightened. „You seem to have no apprehensions

about yielding your virginity.“

„I didn’t yield it. I gave it. I chose to do so, and you gave

me much pleasure.“ She smiled. „Thank you.“

He stared at her incredulously. „You’re speaking as if I’d

just given you a handful of those raspberries. I deflowered you,

dammit!“

„I told you I liked it far better than raspberries,“ she said,

her eyes twinkling. „I regret I’m not duly dismayed.“

„Why should I expect anything else?“ he asked caustically.

„Perhaps Apaches are as casual about discarding their virginity

as they are their clothing.“

„No, virginity is just as revered among the Apaches as it is

among the whites. Why do you think my mother was forced to

leave her tribe when she lay with Boyd Delaney? There was

shame upon her head.“ She gazed at him curiously. „Why are

you so angry? You told me this was what you wanted from me

from the very first moment we met. Now you have what you

want and you’re still not content.“

„Because you were a virgin, dammit.“ He grated the words

out through set teeth. „You weren’t supposed to be a virgin.

The reports I received said you were lying with one of those

damn circus performers. The knife thrower, I think.“

„Sebastien? He is my friend; all the people of the circus are

my friends. Except Monteith, the man who owns the circus. I

would not have him for a friend.“

„I don’t give a damn about your friends at the moment. I

want to know about your lovers. The Randall Investigative

Agency told me – “

„They are obviously fools.“ She shrugged. „You should

have hired Pinkerton.“

„I agree. For some reason they wouldn’t accept my

retainer.“

„If you told them you wanted to find Dominic, it’s not

surprising. Dominic pays them very well to protect Elspeth.

They would not have wanted to lose his business.“

„Protect Elspeth?“ He sat back on his heels. „Why – “ He

stopped and drew a deep breath. „Later. I’m not interested in

anything right now but why the Delaneys allow you to

frequent brothels and run around unprotected when you are – “

he stopped to change the word – „ were as untouched as any of

those schoolgirls at Mrs. Alford’s nunnery. They should have

guarded you from – “

„Men like you?“ she finished calmly.

His dark eyes flashed. „I’m no thief. I don’t rob virtuous

women of their purity. How was I to know you were

untouched? You talk of whorehouses and bare your body with

a boldness I’ve seldom seen from any woman.“

„You did not rob me. Why are you so upset?“

He stared at her in frustration. „Damnation, because you’re

not!“

She threw back her head and laughed. „You wish me to

weep and wail? Why should I? I enjoyed what you did to me.“

„I know you did,“ he muttered. „I’ve never known a

woman so responsive. You were…“ A firebird soaring,

passionate, beautiful. „Why didn’t you fight me? A woman’s

life can be ruined by letting herself be seduced.“

„You didn’t seduce me.“ She gazed at him with a touch of

impatience. „Why do you keep saying that? It was my choice

to lie with you tonight, and I will be the one who walks away.“

„Walk away?“ His eyes widened in shock. „What in hell

are you talking about?“

„Men fornicate with women and leave them with no more

thought than if they were flowers they had picked by the

roadside. Why should women not do the same?“

„Because that’s not the way of the world. Because women

don’t – “ he broke off. Womenkind in general might not, but

Silver was capable of anything. A sudden searing jealousy tore

through him. „I find I don’t like the idea of being discarded so

summarily, and I most certainly won’t permit you to go about

picking other ‘flowers’ by the wayside.“

„I didn’t say I wished to fornicate with other men,“ Silver

said. „You’re the first man I’ve desired in that way. Perhaps I

will not find another who pleases me.“

„I don’t believe I’ll risk the chance of your discovering

one.“ My God, the woman was talking about leaving him!

Possessiveness, jealousy, outrage, and an odd hurt invaded

him. „Now that I’ve shown you how much you enjoy it. I’m

sure you’ll want to indulge your appetite to the fullest. You’re

the most passionate woman I’ve ever had, and I have no

intention of letting you permit any other man to satisfy you.“

„Permit?“ Silver asked with dangerous softness.

„You’ll return with me to St. Petersburg. I’ll take very good

care of you. I’ll buy you a fine house and jewels fit for an

empress.“ He paused. „But you’ll belong to no man but me.“

„Or?“ she asked curiously. „What if I took a lover?“

He smiled. „I would take great pleasure in emasculating

him and then quite probably I would kill him.“

He meant it, Silver realized, gazing at him in bewilderment.

There was no question that he would eliminate any man she

permitted in her bed. Yes, Nicholas would be as possessive of

his mistress as he would his wife. Fierce pain, as intense as it

was unexpected, seared her. Why should she feel like this,

when she had known there was no question of Nicholas

offering her more than this arrangement? Men did not offer

half-breeds marriage. „I don’t want your fine house or your

jewels. I won’t be your mistress, Nicholas.“

„Oh, but you will.“ His smile deepened. „You may not

want a house and jewels, but I can give you something you do

want very much.“ He began to unbutton the shirt he had so

recently fastened. „Something you like better than woodsmoke

or honeysuckle.“ He pushed aside the edges of the shirt to

gaze at her. „Or even raspberries.“

Silver felt a flood of heat wash over her, igniting a tingling

between her thighs. His eyes were caressing her, moving over

her with possessiveness and desire, lingering on her breasts

and then moving down to the soft hair guarding her

womanhood. The muscles of her stomach clenched and she

suddenly couldn’t breathe.

His gaze didn’t lift as he continued softly, „You have a

splendid appetite, Silver, and I’ll keep you well fed and

purring. You want me right now, don’t you?“

Silver moistened her lips with her tongue. „Yes.“

„Then come here and let me pleasure you.“

She moved the few inches to where he sat, her gaze on the

magnificent rigidity of his manhood. Beautiful. Everything

about him was beautiful, his face, his body, and most of all the

radiantly sensual expression lighting his face.

His hand slowly began petting her. A shiver of excitement

went through her as she felt the warm hardness of his palm.

„There are many ways I can please your body. Do you like

this?“

She nodded jerkily.

His fingers moved down and found what he sought. His

thumb began a circular, pressing movement.

Her eyes widened. „Nicholas!“ She arched toward him, her

muscles contracting in agonizing pleasure. „It’s – “

„You like it?“

Hot shudders were shaking her body and she gazed up at

him almost blindly. „Yes. Oh, yes. So much.“

„I can see you do.“ His gaze was narrowed on her flushed

face. „It’s such a little thing and so easy to do. I could do it in

the carriage on the way to a ball or behind the bushes in a

garden. All you would have to do is lift your skirts and part

your legs and say ‘Nicholas, pleasure me.’ “

She was panting, her head thrown back, her throat arched

as waves of pleasure cascaded over her.

„I would never say no,“ he whispered. „Because I love to

see your face like this. Do you know how beautiful you are?“

She didn’t answer; she couldn’t answer.

„Of course, it might be dangerous to do it in too public a

place because I’m quite sure this would follow.“ He suddenly

lifted her onto his lap, sheathing his manhood within her in

one swift plunge. Arranging her legs around his hips, he gazed

into her face. „And you would let me. You couldn’t help

yourself.“ He flexed slowly, pressing her so close she could

feel the gentle prickle of his hair against her womanhood.

„Any more than I could stop myself from doing it.“ His hands

cupped her buttocks and squeezed gently. His head bent and

she felt his tongue on her nipples.

„Move, please!“

„Soon.“ He held her firmly against him, nibbling at her

engorged breasts. „I’m trying to make you understand

something, Silver.“ He bit gently. One hand reached between

them and his thumb touched, pressed, rotated while his fingers

teased her like hot fluttering butterflies.

She cried out. „It’s… too… much.“

He froze, his fingers stilling their excitation. „Yes, it is,“ he

said thickly. With one quick movement he fell backward and

then rolled over until he was astride her. He plunged wildly,

almost brutally, in a fever of passion. The pace was

unbearable. Silver was lost in heat and desire. Then it was

over, exploding with the same fiery force as before.

His breath was coming in gasps as he looked down at her.

„You see,“ he said, meeting her eyes. „This is what we’ll have

together, and you cannot deny you want it.“ He bent down and

gently kissed her lips. „Can you, Silver? And this is only the

beginning; it gets better and better until it’s a fever in your

blood. I intend to make sure you never recover from that

fever.“

But what of him? Silver thought with sudden jolt of pain.

She had no doubt that he could enslave her senses with this

physical pleasure, but would she have the same power over

him? What if he tired of her? Men tired easily of women’s

bodies, but she had never known lust before meeting Nicholas.

What if she were one of those foolish women who could not

know lust without love? And if she became his mistress, she

would almost certainly bear his illegitimate children. She

would bring the same shame and hurt to her child as her

mother had brought to her. The thought sent a wild thrill of

panic through her.

He moved off her and then lay down beside her, pulling her

into his arms. „You’ll come with me to Russia.“ His voice was

soft, coaxing. „Say it, Silver.“

Perhaps she was already starting to love him, she thought

frantically. The signs had been there, but she had refused to

read them. No, she must not love him.

„Say it. Silver.“ His long, graceful hand gently stroked her

hair.

She reached desperately for something, anything to break

the spell. „Will you stop looking for Dominic if I go with

you?“

He stiffened against her. „You’re bargaining? No, Silver,

that’s not negotiable.“

„Then there’s no reason for me to go to Russia.“ She tried

to keep her voice careless and unconcerned. „My life is here

and I have things to do with it.“

He was silent for a long moment. „It appears I must

increase my efforts at persuading you.“ His lips brushed her

temple. „It’s fortunate that I have time and intimacy on my

side, isn’t it? And when at last we get back to St. Louis to see

if Dominic has taken the bait, I think you may change your

mind.“

„You’re still not going to let me go?“

His arms tightened around her. „No, did you expect me

to?“

„No, I didn’t expect this to make any difference. I know

you regard the taking of a woman as unimportant.“

Then why did he feel as if he had been lifted and torn from

everything he had ever known? he wondered. Why was he

experiencing anger, tenderness, and bewilderment now, when

he had never felt these emotions toward any other woman?

„Very wise,“ he said. „Then you won’t be disappointed to

know you’re still a prisoner.“

„And you won’t be disappointed to know that I have no

intention of staying a prisoner.“ She nestled nearer, her eyes

closing. „Nothing has really changed.“

His hand stroked her hair with exquisite gentleness. „No,

nothing has really changed.“

She was nearly asleep when she remembered something.

„Your scars… I dug my fingernails in your back. I didn’t hurt

you?“

„The scars are old. They no longer bring me pain.“

No, she thought drowsily, it wasn’t the scars on the outside

that brought the lasting pain….

„Wake up, Silver.“ Nicholas was kneeling beside her,

pulling her into a sitting position. He slipped her arms into the

sleeves of his shirt and rapidly buttoned it. „Lord, you spoke

truth when you said you slept soundly.“

„Why do I have to wake up?“ she asked, yawning.

„It’s dawn and a boat has been launched from the Rose. I

believe we’re about to be rescued.“ He stood up and began

dressing quickly. „I realize you probably have no objections to

being found nude, but I find I have a distinct aversion to the

thought of any man except me seeing you unclothed.“ He

frowned. „Though that shirt is scarcely modest. It doesn’t even

cover your knees.“

She blinked sleepily. „Sorry.“

He suddenly chuckled as he finished fastening his trousers.

„I believe I may enjoy waking you from a sound sleep under

other circumstances. You’re amazingly docile on awakening.“

She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand and looked

out at the river. A rowboat was drawing near to the shore and

she was able to identify Valentin and Mikhail manning the

oars of the craft.

She stood up and walked down to the bank. She waved and

called cheerfully, „Good morning. Do you have a bucket in the

boat?“

The prow of the boat bumped against the shore and

Valentin jumped out on the moss-covered bank. „Just a bailing

bucket.“

„That will do.“ She turned to Nicholas. „Will you…“

He sighed. „I should have known you’d wake up hungry.

Can’t you wait until we get back to the Rose?“

„Of course, but this is for later.“

Mikhail and Valentin gazed at Nicholas blankly as he

crossed to the boat to fetch the bucket.

„What are you going to do?“ Valentin asked.

„Raspberries,“ Nicholas answered succinctly. „Stay with

her.“ He disappeared into the shrubbery.

„Raspberries?“ Valentin repeated.

Silver nodded. „Huge, wonderful raspberries. We’ll have

them for lunch or dinner with cream. They should be even

better that way.“

Mikhail and Valentin exchanged glances and then suddenly

broke into laughter.

„Why do you laugh?“ Silver asked in puzzlement. „Truly,

they’re very, very good.“

„I’m sure they are.“ Valentin said, trying to subdue his

laughter. „Let’s just say it wasn’t what we were anticipating.

When you jumped overboard last night and forced Nicholas to

pursue you, we didn’t think we’d find him meekly picking

raspberries at your command.“

„What did you expect?“

Valentin sobered. „To find Nicholas ready to strangle you.“

Mikhail spoke gently, his gaze searching her face. „You are

well?“

Sudden color rose to her cheeks. „Of course I’m well,“ she

answered, not looking at him. „Nicholas was very kind.“ She

turned away abruptly. „And he’s not as meek at this moment

as you may believe.“ She smiled over her shoulder. „He likes

raspberries too.“

Lee Bassinger moved back into the shadows of the boiler

deck and watched with no expression as Mikhail Kuzdief leapt

onto the deck from the rowboat and then leaned down to lift

Silver Delaney up beside him. So Savron had caught his little

captive, he thought as he observed Nicholas Savron and

Marinov climb onto the deck. Perhaps she had spoken the truth

and she wasn’t a whore after all. Whatever she was, she was

important to Nicholas Savron. No man jumped into a river to

pursue a female unless she held value for him.

He felt a surge of savage satisfaction. The key. She was

going to be the key just as he had thought when he had first

seen her. His hands tightened on the rail until his knuckles

turned white as he remembered his humiliation at that bitch’s

hands. Yes, he would use her to punish Savron and then he

would break her and throw her away.

He could make no move while on the Rose, but in another

day they should reach Memphis. They would have to stop to

take on coal and it should be no problem to arrange to have