The Magnificent Rogue (21 page)

But she could neither ignore nor forget what had
happened. Because, God help her, it was still happening. He had only had to look at her and her body had changed, ripened. Even now, her breasts were still aching and swollen beneath the blanket. She did not know that woman who had moaned and moved and arched at his command. What would be her response if he touched her again? Would she change into the panting, lustful animal she had been only a few moments before? The thought filled her with sickening fear, and another emotion even more terrifying.

A dark, dangerous anticipation.

“Wake up, Kate.”

She opened her eyes to see Robert already dressed and pulling on his boots. He smiled. “Get dressed. It’s time to put out the fire.”

The fire was already burning low, and even beneath the blankets she could feel the chill. When it went out entirely, it would be frigid in the cave. Memories of last night abruptly flooded back to her, and she became acutely conscious of her own nakedness and Robert watching her across the fire. She hurriedly reached for her clothing, dragged it to her, and started to struggle into the garments beneath the blanket.

“For God’s sake, what are you doing?” Robert asked impatiently. “You look like a pig rolling in the mud.”

“I’m getting dressed.”

“Modesty? Did it not occur to you I’ve already seen what you’re trying to conceal?” He smiled sardonically. “Or are you just obeying Sebastian’s commands and trying not to arouse my wicked carnal lusts?”

“Modesty is not unknown to me,” she said, stung. “And I do not need either Sebastian or you to lesson me in it.”

“I have no desire to teach you any such foolishness. I infinitely prefer you as you were last night.”

“I do not,” she said crisply. “And I wish you would not speak of it. It makes me uncomfortable.”

“I passed a few uncomfortable hours myself last night,” he murmured. “Would you like for me to tell you in what fashion?”

“No,” she said in exasperation. She was sure she had her blasted gown on backward, and how was she to put on her stockings without disarranging the blanket? “I want you to be silent and let me get on with this.”

His lips were suddenly twitching. “At the speed you’re going, we’ll use our entire supply of wood before you manage to clothe yourself.”

He was right, she thought crossly. Why should she be forced to this foolishness when it only amused him and discomforted herself? She sat up and tossed aside the blanket. She did not have the gown on backward, but the bodice was buttoned wrong. She quickly corrected the matter. “I meant what I said last night, you know.”

“I’m sure you did.” He paused. “So did I.”

“Then you must change your mind.” She started to tug on her woolen stockings. “For I shall not change mine.”

“You seem to be having a great deal of difficulty with those stockings. May I help?”

“No! I have no need—” He was already kneeling in front of her, his hands brushing aside her hands. A jolt of heat went through her when his fingers touched her bare calf as he slowly drew the gray wool up her leg.

“You have fine limbs,” he said softly. “You gave me no opportunity to study you last night.”

She had a sudden memory of herself lying open and defenseless before him. “That’s not true.” The words sounded breathless, and she deliberately steadied her voice. “You must know every inch by now.”

“Not every inch.” He pulled her stocking past her
knee. “I was preoccupied with only one portion of your enchanting person. Lust has a habit of making one single-minded.” He reached for the leather garter on the blanket beside her. “I’m sure you understand that now.” He tied the leather garter, and then his hand moved up to caress her inner thigh. “There’s nothing more sensual or pleasing than the sight of a woman’s limbs bound by stockings and garters and then to find this lovely surprise of soft flesh.”

She stared helplessly at his tan hand against her pale limb. His touch was caressing, its very lightness beguiling, chaining her. She must move away from him.

He touched the leather garter. “This is good leather, butter soft. I enjoy the feel of leather.” His cheeks were flushed, and the mocking note had vanished from his hoarse voice. “I’ll show you later what a pleasure leather can be.” He tore his hand away and reached for the other stocking. “I have a great fondness for most textures, but I have no liking for this rough wool. I’ll find you silk stockings when we get to Craighdhu.” He pulled the stocking up past her knee and tied the garter. “Silk has a pleasing texture too.” His fingers trailed up, and then still farther. “But there are a few textures even more pleasing.”

The muscles of her thigh clenched beneath his touch, sending a chain reaction upward to the place he had stroked last night. Why could she not move? It was as if she were frozen in place by his touch.

“I’ll try to take more time tonight,” he said thickly. “I know I was too quick with you. There are many ways of pleasure, and not all of them so rough.”

He had not been rough. There had been wildness but not brutality. If anything, she had been the one who was brutal. She remembered how her nails had dug deep into his shoulders as she lunged upward. She had been an animal, no better than a whore. The
thought broke the spell he was weaving about her, and she drew away from him. “I will not learn these ways.”

He sat back on his heels and pulled down her skirt. “You’ll have no choice.”

“I’ve learned enough about you to know you won’t force me.”

“I won’t have to. You don’t have a temperate nature.” He met her gaze. “We both know I could have taken you just now, if I’d wished.”

She started to deny it and then remembered that moment of mindless fascination when he had held her in thrall. She would do better to search out his weaknesses than deny her own. “Then why didn’t you?”

“I can wait.” He stood up and drew on his cloak. “You’re a little confused, but you’re generally a sensible woman. You’ll come to see the truth.”

“That it’s right to be a whore?” she asked scornfully.

“No, that it’s right to be a woman,” he said. “Entirely a woman, with a woman’s right to give and take pleasure. You could never be a whore, no matter what Sebastian told you. You’re too strong. A whore is used, and you would not let yourself be used. You’re far more likely to use me than I you.” He added as he reached out and pulled her to her feet, “And it will be my pleasure to let you use me in any manner you find agreeable.”

She stared at him, startled. He was presenting an entirely different picture of her role in the passionate play of last night.

“Power,” he said softly. “Is it not a seductive thought? All your life you’ve had no power, you’ve been crushed by circumstances and your kind Sebastian into submission. I’m offering you a battleground where you have greater power than any man alive.”

It was seductive, she thought, and he was diabolically
clever to have presented her with the one argument that would appeal to her mind and emotions as well as her body. “I have no desire to be the Lilith Sebastian called me. I will not walk that path.”

“I’m saying you have the strength to be anything you wish, but do you really think I’d let you lure and use me against my will? Your soul is safe with me.” He smiled. “I only want your body.”

She stared at him incredulously and then found herself laughing. “What a great comfort.”

“It would not prove so to most women, but I knew the thought would appeal to you.” He took a step forward, draped her cloak about her, and buttoned it at the throat. “You have all day to think about it.” He suddenly frowned as he glanced at her hands. “I forgot about your gloves.” He took off his own leather gauntlets. “Take these. As soon as I put out the fire, it’s going to be icy in here.”

She shook her head. “You’re no more impervious to cold than I am. You told me you had frostbite once.”

He frowned. “Do as I—” He stopped as he saw her expression. “We’ll share them. You wear them for the first hour.” He met her gaze. “You see how you can impose your will on me? Enough but not too much. It’s all in striking a balance. Give me your hand.”

She held it out, and he slipped the big glove on her hand. The outside of the glove was hard, rough, but the interior hugged her palms in a soft, pliable caress. She could feel the warmth from his body, and the leather’s embrace felt as intimate as his hand on her thigh. He put the other glove on her. “There. It’s not too bad sharing with me, is it?” He smiled down at her. “I promise I’ll make it very easy for you.”

He was not talking about the gloves. She couldn’t seem to tear her gaze from his face. She whispered, “You have not … convinced me.”

“I had no intention of doing so. You’re too intelligent a woman to let Sebastian rob you again. I intend to let you convince yourself.” He turned and put out the fire. “While we try to keep from freezing to death until it’s time to light another fire.”

H
e kept her on
her feet all day, walking, moving her arms, exercising the horses, allowing her no more than ten minutes in every hour’s span to rest. He left the cave only once, with a bucket to gather snow to be melted for drinking water for themselves and the horses. Other than that, he kept to the same regimen he set for her. He was silent, speaking only when necessary. It would have been easier if he had talked to her. It would have allowed her less time to think of his words.

I intend to let you convince yourself
.

You have power
.

She had not felt powerful when she had been caught in the throes of their joining. She had been a mad, driven creature, caught in her own search for pleasure.

But Robert had been caught in the same quest. He had led but not tried to conquer. He had been as helpless before that overwhelming carnal tide as she had been.

You’re too intelligent a woman to let Sebastian rob you again
.

Sebastian had always tried to rob her of all the joys of life. How he would rejoice to know that he could put her back in the cage she had just escaped.

No, she would never let that happen. She would fight it to the last breath and—

“Rest is over. On your feet.” Robert was standing before her, holding out his hand. “You have to get moving again.”

She let him pull her to her feet.

He released her hand immediately and turned and went to the horses. She watched him as he took Caird’s lead and began to walk him in a circle around the cave.

Dear God, he was beautiful. Sinuous and graceful, totally male, with that stormy secret intensity she had found fascinating since the first moment she had met him. She had submerged herself, drowned herself in that intensity last night.

She felt a stirring between her thighs. Lust. Sebastian would have said she was completely lost to carnal sin, but Robert said lust could be clean and beautiful. Whom should she believe?

Not Sebastian. Never Sebastian.

“Why are you just standing there?” Robert asked over his shoulder. “You need to walk. It’s still—” He stopped as he saw her expression. “Yes?” he asked softly.

She couldn’t speak. She could only stare at him and nod.

He became still, and the air between them seemed charged, heavy, hard to breathe. “Then don’t look at me like that—we still have at least two hours to go before dark.”

She was suddenly no longer cold. She wanted to touch him. Surely it would be all right just to go to him and touch his cheek?

“No,” he said harshly, as if he had read her mind. “I’m holding on by a thread. Go get Rachel’s lead and exercise her.”

“Very well.” She went to Rachel and began petting her muzzle. “It’s only because what you said has merit. Sebastian would be robbing me if I denied myself this
enjoyment.” She took Rachel’s lead and began to follow him. “And I found you very … agreeable.”

“I know.”

“I think you must be very skillful at the act.”

“You don’t have the experience to judge.”

“That’s true, but you seem to know …” She felt her muscles tense as she remembered how he had made her body respond to his every touch. “Everything.”

“I had excellent tutors.”

“In Spain, you said?”

“Aye.”

“Where?”

“At the castillo of Don Diego Santanella.”

“It seems an unusual subject to teach someone.”

“He was an unusual man.”

“In what manner?”

“Will your questions never cease?” he asked between his teeth.

“This is all new to me, and I’m unsure. It makes me feel less nervous to talk about it.” With effort she kept her tone even. “I regret if I upset you.”

“It doesn’t upset me.”

“I believe it does. Why else would you be so short with me?”

He whirled to face her, his eyes blazing. “Because I’m hard as a rock and trying to keep from pulling you down on that blanket and coming into you.”

The crude words should have shocked her. They did not. Excitement rippled through her. “I do not think that would be such an unwise idea,” she said breathlessly. “I’ll only get more nervous as I wait, and it would—”

“Christ!” He covered the space between them in two steps and grabbed her shoulders. He jerked her down to the blanket.