Dark Rider (22 page)

“Stop it,” she hissed. Even the roots of her hair felt on fire. They were only words, she told herself. Yet the picture he painted was there before her. She could feel his lean hardness beneath her thighs, feel his intent gaze.

“Have I upset you? I only thought you should know what’s in store for you.” He added silkily as they reached the table, “Though I realize you regard my attentions as totally ‘unimportant.’ ”

She should have known he would find a way of getting back at her. No one could sting Jared without
being stung in return. “You’ve not upset me. Imagine what you like. It won’t bother me at all.”

“Oh, I think I may have inserted some small— Ah, here’s the lovely Lani.”

With relief she turned to see Lani glide into the cabin. Bradford was already halfway across the room, his expression lit with eagerness as he hurried toward her. He looked remarkably boyish, she thought absently. Jared was the one who appeared older, more experienced, steeped in cynicism.

“Bradford is quite enthralled with your friend,” he said idly. “One can’t blame the poor man. She’s done her best to dazzle him.”

She said without thinking, “No, she didn’t. It was supposed to be you.”

“What?”

She hadn’t meant to blurt out the truth. Oh, well, it didn’t matter now. “Lani was going to be the one to couple with you.”

He went still. “Indeed?”

“But Papa wouldn’t have liked it.”

He said silkily, “So you decided to sacrifice yourself instead. I can’t tell you how enchanted I am to know that fact. Tell me, did you draw lots to see which one of you would come to my bed?”

Such a little thing to irritate him. “No. I told you, Papa wouldn’t have liked her to do it.”

“I’m getting very tired of hearing about Deville’s opinions.” He strode to the head of the table. “Bradford! We’re waiting.”

“Coming,” Bradford said over his shoulder. “Don’t be impatient. I’m merely telling this lady how lovely I find her.”

“I’m the one who is impatient.” Lani ignored him
and swept toward the table. “I have no time for compliments. I’m hungry.”

“I admire a woman of appetite,” Jared said with a sideways glance at Cassie. “It’s a quality to which I can relate. By the way, I was just telling Cassie how interesting I find her gown.”

Cassie stiffened. He surely would not shame her by discussing the intimacies he had suggested to her. Or perhaps he would. It was clear he was very angry with her.

“Are you mad?” Lani asked as Bradford seated her. “It’s very ugly.”

“How cruel. I find anger has infinite potential.” Jared motioned to the seaman at the door to begin serving. He dropped the subject. “Wine?”

As Cassie breathed a sigh of relief, Jared turned to her and gave a tigerish smile. He might have spared her shame, but she knew he wouldn’t let her escape unscathed.

Yet during the entire dinner it appeared he would do just that. For the first time since she had met him, Jared acted the charming, courteous host, teasing Lani, speaking with dry humor to Bradford. Only with Cassie was he coolly polite.

It was exactly how she wanted him to behave, she assured herself. As long as he was cool to her, that dangerous intimacy would be kept at bay.

When the meal was almost over, Jared turned to Lani and asked casually, “By the way, do you know where Ku’aihelani is located?”

Cassie’s gaze flew to his face. It seemed the truce was at an end, but she had not expected it to be broken in this manner.

Lani frowned in puzzlement. “Ku’aihelani?”

“You’ve never heard of it?”

“Of course I’ve heard of it. The question just surprised me.” Her eyes were suddenly twinkling. “It’s not often one is asked directions to paradise.”

“Paradise?” He didn’t look at Cassie as he picked up his glass of wine. “Is that what it is? I merely picked up the word somewhere.”

From her own idiotic lips, Cassie thought with annoyance. She wished she had torn out her tongue before she’d let that word slip out.

“Ku’aihelani is the place of legend,” Lani said. “And I couldn’t tell you where it is, because, according to ancient mythology, it’s a floating island. It’s always drifting, never in one place long enough to be corrupted or destroyed. Paradise.”

“How interesting,” Jared murmured. He turned to Cassie and asked politely, “Don’t you find it so?”

She wanted to slap him. She said curtly, “Not particularly.” She pushed back her chair and rose to her feet. “I must check on Kapu. Good night.”

“Oh, yes, Kapu.” Jared stood and bowed slightly. “We mustn’t forget about your wonderful stallion. But do be careful of that gown. I wouldn’t want it destroyed like the gray one.”

You’ll let me slip it to your waist
.

Her annoyance vanished, submerged in the flood of heat surging through her. She turned her back so he wouldn’t see her face as she hurried toward the door.

“Wait!” Jared was beside her, opening the door. “I’ll escort you to the hold.”

“I need no escort. Go back to Lani and Bradford.”

He lowered his voice. “I’ll be expecting you later.”

She looked straight ahead. “Will you?”

“There’s no reason why not, is there? Since it means so little to you? To refuse me would put too
much weight on the matter.” He added mockingly, “You wouldn’t want me to think you were running away after the first foray.”

She didn’t answer.

“And I’m a man who needs constant attention. If you don’t come, I might have to seek solace with Lani, and that would displease Papa.”

Her gaze flew to his face. “You would do that?”

“You’ll never know unless you fail to provide me with your … company.”

“Damn you.”

His face hardened. “You should not have supplied me with a weapon if you didn’t expect me to use it.” He turned back to the table and gave Lani and Bradford a brilliant smile. “Be there.”

When Cassie opened the door of his cabin, Jared was lolling naked on the bunk. The golden glow of the candlelight gilded his lean, tough body and heightened his aura of lazy sensuality. But all hint of laziness vanished when he saw her.

“Dammit, I told you to cover yourself,” he said roughly. “Do you get pleasure out of flaunting yourself to every man who sees you?”

“I owe you no obedience.” She closed the door. “I don’t flaunt myself, and I’m sure your sailors are used to naked women by now.” She stood looking at him. “If you don’t like me as I am, then send me away.”

“Not bloody likely,” he muttered. “Take off that nothing bit of material and come here.”

Her hands were trembling as she unknotted the cloth. “I didn’t like your asking Lani questions tonight. It was an intrusion.” The sarong dropped to the floor. “Don’t do it again.”

“I’ll do as I please.” He shifted on the bunk as she
came toward him. “You have so few weaknesses, you can’t blame me for probing the ones I find.” He pulled her down beside him and bent over her. “Just as you will do.” His lips hovered over her breast, each word a burst of air that teased the sensitive nipple. He said thickly, “You have exquisite breasts, full … firm. After you left last night, I could still taste them, feel my tongue on you. I was so heavy and aching, I was cursing you. I wanted you back.”

“So you forced me to come.”

“Does this feel like force?”

He knew it didn’t. He was exerting the same overwhelming seduction he had the night before, and she was responding in the same mindless manner. She felt as if she were melting, every muscle of her body helplessly yielding.

His hand was between her thighs, delicately exploring. “This part of you doesn’t think I’m forcing you,” he murmured. “You’re ready for me.”

Yes, she was, she realized in despair. She had been ready for him since the moment she had walked into the cabin.

“And God knows I’m ready for you.” He suddenly rolled over onto his back and lifted her to straddle him.

She looked down at him, startled. “What are you doing?”

“You appeared so sad. I want you to be happy,” he said mockingly. “You see, now you’re the one in control, and I’m only the poor captive beneath you.”

“I don’t want—”

He thrust deep inside her.

She gasped at the sensation of the clublike fullness within. In this position she felt as if he had plunged to the quick. Her head fell backward, and she closed her
eyes at the sheer sensual pleasure. She didn’t feel in control. She felt captive as never before.

His hands reached up to squeeze her breasts. “Ride,” he whispered. “Pretend I’m that precious stallion. You know you want to do it.”

She didn’t think she could move. She felt chained, anchored.

His hands moved down to her hips and held her sealed to him. “Ride me!” he gritted through set teeth.

His hips thrust forcefully upward.

She gasped as ripples of pleasure went through her. She reached out blindly and grasped his shoulders, instinctively tightening her thighs around his. “That’s it.” He lifted her and then pulled her down, slowly, teasingly, letting her feel every inch. “You know the way of it. Ready yourself and then—”

She was moving, rocking, riding, frantically taking him. She had thought their coming together last night savage, but this lust was all consuming.

“More,” he growled. “Give me more.” He jerked her down, his mouth enveloping her breast, sucking voraciously as his hips bucked frantically.

The combination of sensations was too much. She bit her lip to keep back the scream. It was no use. She screamed as release tore through her a moment later.

“Yes!” His arms tightened around her with such force, she could scarcely breathe. She was dimly aware of his release seconds later.

His arms loosened, and he lifted her off him and onto the bed beside him. “Force?” he whispered.

She had no breath to answer as she lay there looking up at him.

He smiled. “Ku’aihelani?”

“No! I didn’t mean … I was half-asleep.” She drew an unsteady breath. “I must go.”

He threw his arm across her stomach. “No, you don’t.”

“I
want
to go.”

He raised himself on his elbow to look down at her. “Then I’ll have to change your mind, won’t I? I have a fancy to wake you tomorrow morning in the most pleasant of ways.”

His eyes were half-closed and shimmering; one tousled curl lay in disarray on his forehead—pagan, wicked, totally sensuous. She could feel that dark tide stir within her just looking at him. “You’ve won tonight. You’re done with me. Why won’t you let me leave?”

The lazy smile left his lips. “I don’t feel as if I’ve won. I feel—” He broke off and removed his arm from her middle. He said roughly, “Go on. But you’ll stay tomorrow night.”

She shook her head as she slipped from the bunk.

“Why not?” he asked sharply. “What difference does it make? By now every man on this ship knows you’re coupling with me. You’ve certainly not been trying to hide it with your parading around with no clothes.”

“I don’t care what they think.” She had a sudden thought. “Does your uncle know?”

“Not from my lips, but I’d wager he does. Bradford has a way of knowing everything going on around him even through a haze of brandy.” He paused. “Why? Do you mind?”

“No … I just … he was kind to me.”

“And he’ll continue to be kind to you. He would never think of intruding on us, and I’m the one who
will get the edge of his tongue.” He shrugged. “So there’s no reason for you not to stay the night.”

“There is reason.” She put on her sarong. “I don’t want you to …” She would not explain her dread of the intimacy that would be engendered by hours spent in his arms. Passion was dangerous enough. “I won’t stay the night with you. I’ll come to your bed, but then I’ll go.”

His gaze narrowed on her face. “Persephone?”

She frowned in puzzlement.

“Persephone was the woman with whom Hades, the God of the Underworld, was so besotted he permitted her to spend half the year on earth in sunlight as long as she came back to his dark world for the rest of the year.” He glanced around the shadowy, candlelit cabin. “There are certain similarities.”

“Nonsense. You’re certainly not besotted, and I will not ask your permission for anything.”

“True.” He slowly nodded his head. “Very well, we’ll indulge in this most delightful of pastimes and then we’ll part. There are certainly advantages to remaining strangers. No boring discussions, no necessity for protestations of affection we don’t feel.” He lay back down and put his arm beneath his head. “Why should I complain as long as you come to me and give me what I want?”

“You should not.”

“Exactly.” He closed his eyes. “One hour after supper tomorrow night I want you walking through that door. And don’t wear that sarong again.”

“I’ll wear what I please.”

“If you come to me with naked breasts, the next night I’ll come to your cabin instead. Your beloved Lani’s in the cabin next door. Do you want her to hear you scream with pleasure?”

Dear God, she didn’t want that to happen. Lani might understand that it was her body and not her mind that was in thrall to Jared, but Cassie would know shame for showing her weakness. “No.”

“Then don’t make me angry. I won’t have you running naked about the ship.”

She slammed the door behind her.

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she stalked down the deck. The arrogance of his last words had been the final straw. She had lost too much tonight. When he had taken her, she had felt completely dominated, totally possessed. She couldn’t let him have total victory.

The next night she paused outside Jared’s door to gather her courage. How foolish to be shaking like this. She had made the decision and she would not back down. She mustn’t think, just do it.

Cassie drew a deep breath and threw open the door. She strode into the cabin and slammed the door behind her.

“One hour after supper, Your Grace. Just as you commanded. I hurried to be sure I wouldn’t anger you.”

He stared at her in astonishment. “My God.”

“Why are you glaring at me? I’ve done everything you told me to do.” She touched the sarong she had wrapped around her upper body and shoulders. “And I’m no longer bare-breasted, you see? Doesn’t that please you?”