Fire and Desire (Arabesque) (15 page)

The heavyset man took a quick glance out of the window. “Are you sure you weren’t followed?”

“I’m positive,” was the terse response from the man in the dark suit. “Why did you call this meeting? Now isn’t a good time for me—”

“I’ve heard from Araque. The woman got away.”

The man in the dark suit slammed his fist on the table. His anger was apparent. “How did that happen?”

The heavyset man surveyed the man who was apparently upset that things had not gone as planned. “She escaped into the jungle with the other American. Araque has sent some of his men after her.”

The man in the dark suit nodded. He desired her with a passion. She had looked so beautiful that night at the dinner party. She would be another beautiful woman to add to his collection of others. But she would be different. She would be more intellectual and intelligent than the others. He would make her his favorite pet. He planned to take her away to his secluded hideaway where no one would ever be able to find her. “I want her found,” he said. The look on his face was intense.

“We will do our best.”

“I hope your best will be good enough,” was the man in the dark suit’s terse reply.

“Araque wants to know what you want him to do with the other Americans?”

The man in the dark suit rubbed his forehead in frustration. “I want him to do what’s expected and ransom them off so no one will be suspicious of anything. I don’t want anyone to know the woman was our sole target. She’s the only one I’m interested in, so make sure she’s found.”

T
here wasn’t any doubt in Trevor’s mind that Corinthians was teed off with him. Her less-than-subtle hints did more than suggest the possibility. The woman had not opened her mouth for more than an hour. And every time he glanced over his shoulder to make sure she was keeping up with him, the glare she gave him spoke volumes. If given the chance, she would probably smack him right into next week. She was just that mad with him.

It was better this way, he thought. Her anger meant there would be distance between them, and that was the way he wanted it. She would be much easier for him to deal with that way. He had enough to worry about without being concerned with losing control around her.

Trevor stopped walking when they came to a huge waterfall that tumbled over a massive group of boulders and rocks. He looked up at the sky when the sound of thunder rumbled across the land. Blast! A jungle downpour was the last thing they needed.

Turning to Corinthians, he said, “Stay put while I go find some sort of shelter for us. It’s going to start raining at any minute.”

The only acknowledgment she gave indicating she’d heard what he had said was narrowing her gaze at him. He shrugged. The woman definitely knew how to take being mad to a whole new level.

He returned to her in no time with what he thought was good news. However, whether she agreed it was good news was questionable since he didn’t get any type of reaction from her one way or the other. Just for the sake of doing so, he repeated himself.

“I said we’re in luck. There’s some sort of cave behind that waterfall. It’ll provide the shelter we need from the storm, and it’s roomy enough for us to hide out in until Ashton finds us.”

Trevor released an exasperated sigh. If a response was what he had expected from her, then a response wasn’t what he was going to get. Her expression was one of absolute indifference. She actually had the nerve to look uninterested in what he was telling her.

He looked around while he silently counted to ten and tried focusing his thoughts on something else. Because of the route they had taken, he felt comfortable in deciding that this would be the ideal spot for them to stay put and wait for Ashton to come. The peak was high enough for him to see anyone who approached without them seeing him. He had been careful to wipe out every trace of their camp that morning before they had started out. He’d also taken every precaution to cover their tracks. He didn’t intend on taking any chances of someone else surprising them again.

He turned and watched Corinthians intently when he said, “I’m going to clean out the cave. The last thing we want is to share it with lizards, scorpions or snakes.”

He inwardly smiled. Although she remained tight-lipped, he saw her body tense at the mention of the jungle critters. “And don’t go wandering off. I saw jaguar tracks not far away,” he added for good measure.

“What?” she asked him in a jerky voice. “Did you say that you saw jaguar tracks?”

Trevor crossed his arms over his chest. “Oh, so you’ve gotten your voice back, hmm?”

He watched her lift her chin and harden her glare. “There’s nothing wrong with my voice, only with the company I’m forced to keep.” She turned to walk off from him.

His hand closed over her shoulder and pulled her back. “Get used to the company, Miss Avery. Like it or not you’re stuck with me for a while.”

Against his will, Trevor’s body responded to touching her. Swearing under his breath, he released her and walked away.

Corinthians was satisfied that she had found something to keep her busy without having to be near Trevor. He hadn’t asked for her help in cleaning out the cave, and she hadn’t volunteered. The thought that she might encounter a lizard, scorpion or snake was enough to send frightening chills up her spine.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Trevor asked from behind her, startling her.

Corinthians dipped her hand in the water as she rinsed out the blanket. She didn’t bother to look around or to stop what she was doing. Trevor had the tendency to catch her unaware. She had not heard him approach.

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m washing this blanket. Then I’m going to put it in the sun to dry so I can use it again tonight.”

“It won’t be dry by then.”

“Sure it will. As hot as it is out here, it will be good and dry by tonight.”

“No, it won’t. It’s going to rain later.”

“It looked that way earlier, but the sky is bright now. It cleared up while you were inside that cave. It won’t rain.”

“Yes, it will. The reason it looks so clear is because you’re up on a high peak. It’s probably raining cats and dogs down below on the lowland. I’d say a thunderstorm will probably hit us hard later today.”

“I doubt it.”

“Suit yourself. Don’t say I didn’t warn you when later tonight you have to sleep without a blanket.”

Corinthians glared at him over her shoulder. “Then I’ll just sleep without one. It was almost too hot for a blanket last night anyway.”

“Up here in the mountains will be different. Be prepared for cooler nights. And after the rain, it just might be downright cold.”

Corinthians gritted her teeth as she stood and turned around to face him. The man thought he knew everything. “Thanks for the warning. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to finish what I’m doing.”

With a sigh of relief, she watched as he walked away and went back into the cave.

It wasn’t just raining cats and dogs—someone had evidently thrown a few cows and horses in the mix, Corinthians thought as she sat huddled in front of the fire. She listened as the hard force of the rain beat down on the top of the cave. That sound, along with the one from the waterfall gushing down at the cave’s opening, was capable of drowning out any other sounds.

She had just placed her blanket neatly across a huge rock to dry in the sun when suddenly the clouds overhead had begun gathering. Before she had a chance to seek shelter, the torrential rain had come pouring down, nearly knocking her to the ground.

Corinthians had been surprised when she entered the cave for the first time. The area was the size of a small room, and with the fire Trevor had started in the center of it, the place looked downright cozy and intimate—too cozy and intimate.

She didn’t have a clue how the cave looked before Trevor had cleaned it out, but now, all she saw was a large, neat space whose rocky floors had been brushed clean.

Because the rain blotted out whatever light would have filtered through a number of cracks in the rock wall, the area was dark. It was so dark that even with the fire, she could barely see Trevor as he stood leaning against a wall, glaring at her.

She glared right back at him. Even sitting in front of the fire she was cold. And she didn’t think it was from the dampness of her clothing that was getting dry from the fire’s heat. Trevor had been right. It would be a cold night. Already she felt the temperature dropping. And she didn’t have a blanket!

Drawing her legs up, she wrapped her arms around them for warmth. Trevor, she noticed, was still standing in the same spot, watching her, but saying nothing. He had not said anything to her since she had entered the cave. She was grateful for that because she could not bear to hear his, “I told you so.” Silence lengthened between them, but she refused to be the one to break it. Evidently, he felt the same way, so they ignored each other.

At least, Corinthians thought, she tried ignoring him, but she had discovered long ago that ignoring Trevor Grant wasn’t easy. With a will of their own, her eyes followed him whenever he moved around the cave.

Chills once again touched her body, making her shiver. She would do anything to have her blanket to wrap around her right now. Glancing across the room, she saw the one Trevor had used last night neatly folded and placed on top of his overnight bag. Tempted as she was, she refused to ask him if she could use it for only a little while.

A little later she knew it had gotten dark outside. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Trevor go to the blanket and spread it on the hard, rocky floor and stretch out on it. She tried to once again ignore him and placed her attention on listening to the sound of the hard rain as it continued to beat against the top of the cave.

Corinthians jumped when she looked up and saw Trevor standing next to her as he leaned down and placed some more wood on the fire.

“Do you plan on sitting here all night?” he asked shortly, glaring down at her.

“What choice do I have? I have to stay warm. It’s cold in here,” she snapped back.

“I’d be willing to share my heat with you.”

Corinthians lifted a dark brow. She wondered what heat he was referring to. She didn’t think he meant the fire since she was hoarding that already. She could only assume he meant he would share his blanket with her.

“You’re willing to give me your blanket?” she asked.

“No, but I’ll let you share my bed. Together our bodies will generate enough heat to keep us warm through the night.”

Corinthians gave Trevor a sidelong glance in utter disbelief.
He would let her share his bed?
He made it sound as if he’d be doing her a favor. Did he for one minute actually think she was that gullible? He had already said he was more than certain that one day they would make love. Did he think he would get her over to his bed with the pretense of keeping her warm?

Fat chance! She knew exactly what kind of heat their bodies might end up sharing. She glared up at him. “Trevor Grant, you are the last man I’d willingly sleep with. The only way you’ll get me in bed with you is to hog-tie me and force me.”

Corinthians heard him mutter a few not so nice words before she suddenly felt herself being lifted in his strong arms.

“Suit yourself, woman, it was your call,” he grumbled in her ear.

“Put me down this minute! I mean it!” She struggled to get out of his arms, but he was holding on to her tight.

“Be still before I drop you on the floor. It would be a pity if you broke any bones on this rocky surface,” he said as he carried her over to his blanket. “I refuse to watch you sit your butt over there and freeze to death.”

He leaned down and placed her on the blanket. Without giving her a chance to scoot away, his strong arms clamped around her as he wrapped their bodies in the blanket.

The floor was hard, but that wasn’t the only hardness Corinthians felt. Her backside was spooned against Trevor’s front. Even through their clothing, she could feel his body. It was hard and solid all over. Her breath caught when she felt his hand on her arm, urging her closer.

“Stay still and go to sleep,” he ordered.

Corinthians didn’t think that she would be able to sleep, given her position in his arms. She doubted if her eyes would be willing to close. Her heart rate had accelerated and blood was gushing fast and furious through her veins. She lay there waiting, dreading the moment when he would try to make a move on her. She had already plotted out in her mind what she would do when he did. She would turn around and knee him real good in the area of his body that men cherished the most. After tonight, he would think twice about ever trying to take advantage of her again.

She waited for him to come on to her, but he never did. Seconds turned into minutes, and those minutes became a full hour and still he just held her in his arms without trying anything. His strong arms were wrapped tight around her and his hard body was pressed close to her, keeping her warm. His heat seemed to penetrate through his clothing and come straight through to hers. She felt warm, cozy and secure.

Corinthians tried to fight the sleep she felt descending upon her, but couldn’t. When she felt herself drifting off repeatedly, she knew she had to say something before sleep claimed her.

“Go ahead and say it,” she said quietly, sleepily. “I know you’re just dying to say it.”

“Say what?” Trevor’s voice was like a husky whisper against her ear. His breath fanned her skin, making it tingle.

“Go ahead and say that I was wrong and that you tried to warn me but I was too stubborn to listen. Go ahead and say I brought this all on myself, and that if I had listened to you, I wouldn’t be in this predicament.”

His body shifted and Corinthians didn’t have to turn around to know he was leaning over, dangerously close to her face. Almost too close. Even his body had shifted and he was nearly on top of her. She couldn’t stop looking up at him, gazing up into the darkness of his eyes.

“You just said everything for me. I couldn’t have said it better myself. Now please be quiet and go to sleep.”

Corinthians frowned. The last thing she thought when sleep finally claimed her was that Trevor Grant was an infuriating man.

So much for putting distance between us. I want her now more so than ever before.

That was the only thing Trevor could think of with Corinthians sleeping with her body so close to his. Even with their clothing still intact, he felt their bodies generating heat. Heaven help it if they had their clothes off. They would probably burn into cinders. He was pretty close to scorching right now. Each and every time she shifted her body, her backside fitted more snug against his lower part, and he would have to inhale a deep breath. His body reacted each time she moved. He wondered what he had done to deserve this torture.

The sound of rain continued to beat down upon the cave, and thunder rumbled across the mountains. But the woman in his arms was sleeping like a baby. And for a brief moment, knowing she had drifted off to sleep with his protective arms around her, a strange feeling of deep contentment flowed through him.

He inwardly groaned when Corinthians again shifted in her sleep, wiggling her backside against him. His heart pounded and blood rushed through his veins. He had an impulse to flip her on her back and take off her clothes and have his way with her.

“Cool it, Grant,” he muttered to himself. “That’s not your style. Besides, you’ll only be asking for trouble.”

But then, he thought as he lifted his hand from around her waist and let it close warmly over her breasts through the material of her shirt, torture was fair play. And if he was going to be tortured, he may as well gain some benefit from it. He rubbed his hand over the firmness of her breasts.