Amazon Slave (28 page)

The crux of her dilemma lay with John’s final statement on the subject. ‘If you want the job, Emily, it’s all yours. You’ll be your own boss, in charge of all the arrangements. The only person you’ll have to answer to is Captain Wilde.’

She had told him she needed a moment to think about it. Taking a glass of wine and covering her modesty with a robe, she fled to the sanctuary of solitude on the empty deck. ‘What do I do?’ she whispered into the night. She had believed herself on the verge of being rid of Captain Wilde forever. Now she looked like being tied to him for the next three years. Either that, or throw away the chance of a lifetime.

‘What do you want do?’

She whirled round on hearing the captain’s voice. He stood disturbingly close to her. In one hand he held a bottle of wine.

‘Are you spying on my thoughts now?’ she asked angrily.

‘You said the question aloud. Now, please, can we try not to argue for the next five minutes. You’ve got me trapped. You’re in control now. What do you want to do about it?’

Emily stared at him, not bothering to mask the lack of comprehension from her face. ‘I have you trapped?’ she repeated, puzzled. ‘What do you mean? And what do you mean by saying I’m in control?’

He shook his head dourly. ‘Don’t try playing games of innocence,’ he cautioned. ‘You’re not in a position to carry them off.’

Emily started to say something in her own defence, then stopped as he continued.

‘Unless I have you as my contract manager, I don’t have this contract. It’s as simple as that. Now, I’m supposed to do whatever you want to make you work with me. Like I said,’ he repeated bitterly. ‘You’re in control.’

Emily could not stop herself from grinning as she heard his words. Her fear and anxieties were suddenly forgotten as she realised how strong her position was. Sipping at her wine, she walked past him, trailing a finger over his bare chest as she moved. ‘Follow me,’ she said quietly, employing a cool authority in her tone. She held her glass for him to take and he accepted it with numb fingers.

He glared dully after her, resentment curling his lips. But he followed.

Emily walked to the boat’s mast and pressed her back against the cool length of wood. She placed her hands behind herself and held them tightly together.

‘What do you want me to do now?’ Captain Wilde asked curiously.

Emily smiled confidently into his puzzled frown. ‘After you’ve tied my hands,’ she said carefully, ‘I want you to fetch your cane.’

He did not bother to hide his lack of understanding. ‘My cane?’

‘After you’ve tied my hands,’ she said patiently.

He did as she asked, fastening her wrists tightly and securing her to the boat’s mast. When he returned with the cane, he stood hesitantly in front of her. ‘And what do you want me to do now?’

‘I think you know what I want now,’ she told him firmly.

‘You know what I deserve for trying to steal your contract. You know what you want to do. Just remember, this time, we’re doing it because I want to.’

His puzzled frown was replaced by a broad grin of understanding. With a sharp whistle, his cane sliced through the night air.

Emily groaned happily.