The Spanish Outlaw (12 page)

Trying to focus on the ocean, she shivered from his closeness. His baritone voice mesmerized her, and she couldn’t resist turning to look over her shoulder, lifting her face to his. “Yes.”

“You are an apt student.” He smiled.

“How do you know so much?” she asked.

He chuckled. “While at war, I made friends with some sailors. They shared many adventures with me.”

His body was so close she wanted to learn into him. But propriety stopped her. If she maintained the appearance of his niece, she couldn’t act like a love-struck girl.

While he rambled on about navigation and the sea, she listened, but the words didn’t register in her mind. His hypnotic Spanish accent had her under his spell. Training her eyes on his lips, she fought the feelings her body had experienced
during those times they had kissed.

“The drift of any current is uncertain, at best,” he continued. “A navigator must take special precautions to prevent any accidents. First and foremost, he must protect his passengers.” Anton looked at Captain
Bushwell. “Is that not correct, Captain?”

The portly older fellow chuckled. “You are doing just fine,
Señor
Contreras. I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

She wanted to ignore everyone else and drift into Anton’s arms and let the current of love wash her away. Anton looked into
Vivian’s eyes, and her knees wilted from his intoxicating chocolate gaze. His assured grin even made her heart skip.

After Anton’s speech,
Raúl walked up beside her. “
Senorita?
” He held out his elbow for her to take. “May I escort you back to the main deck?” He glanced at Anton. “As long as your uncle approves.”

Anton didn’t speak, just nodded.

She smiled for Raúl’s benefit, hoping he didn’t notice her distraction with Anton. “That would be wonderful, thank you.” Slipping her gloved hand along the gray material of his suit, she hooked it around his elbow.

Vivian
didn’t need to look over her shoulder to see if Anton followed. She knew he did. Her traitorous body still tingled for his caress whenever he came near. Trying to keep her mind focused on other things, she glanced across the beautiful ocean and caught sight of something in the distance.

“Captain?”
She pointed at the object. “What is that?”

The captain fumbled with his pocket telescope as he peered through the object. “It looks like another ship.”

“A passenger ship?”

“I assume so, since it doesn’t look like a privateer vessel.”

“Pirates?” she gasped, releasing her escort’s arm and walking to the railing.

Moving beside her, Anton rested his hand on the small of her back. “No,
Vivian. Pirates are not the same as a privateer. A privateer ship is a privately owned vessel commissioned in war to capture enemy ships. A pirate captures ships for a greedier and more ruthless purpose.”

She smiled as a warm protective blanket wrapped around her from his nearness. “So, the vessel is neither a privateer nor a pirate ship?”

“No, I do not believe so.”

The captain shifted nervously as he continue
d to peer through the scope. “I shall keep an eye on it though, Miss Wentworth.”

“Well, if you assure me it’s not a threat,
then I’ll certainly sleep more peacefully tonight.”

Captain
Bushwell lowered the telescope. “No, it’s not a threat, I’m certain of it. It’s probably just a private vessel going the same place we’re going.” He cleared his throat and turned. “Shall we proceed on our tour?”

Raúl
quickly stepped beside her, offering his arm again. She nodded, moving away from Anton and toward the other man.

During the remainder of the tour, Anton stayed a short distance behind. Once the tour had concluded, Captain
Bushwell stopped and turned toward the small group. “Miss Wentworth, gentlemen, if you will excuse me, I have duties that need to be finished before this evening.”

She nodded.
“Of course. Thank you for taking the time to give us a tour.”

“
Señor
Contreras?” Raúl asked after the captain had left. “Will you allow Miss Wentworth to have the evening meal with me tonight?”

A nervous twinge caught in her stomach as she studied Anton’s expression. She detected a spark of anger in his eyes. Could it be jealousy? Her heart hammered against her ribs. Would he stay in character in front of
Raúl and continue to act the outlandish lie of being her uncle?

Anton tilted his head, his arms crossed over his muscular chest. “I assume you are not planning on dining with her alone.”

“Of course not. I expect you will join us.”

Anton nodded.

Raúl turned his attention to Vivian. “Will it be permissible to pick you and your uncle up at your cabin at seven o’clock?”

She smiled. “That’s fine.”

“Until then.” He bowed and placed a small kiss on her knuckles before leaving.

As she watched
Raúl depart, a woman caught Vivian’s eye. She recalled seeing the cloaked figure staring at her on a previous occasion, but today the older female wore a shawl gathered around her shoulders. The gown she wore was nicer than the ones some of the other passengers wore. Once again, the woman stood alone, which made Vivian curious to her identity.  Did the stranger have something to do with Anton’s uncle? Yet the woman was fair skinned, like Vivian. So then why did the other lady stare at Vivian so often? And why did the lady find Vivian so interesting?

Vivian
wanted to go to the woman and say something, but once again, the mysterious person turned sharply and hurried away.

Very strange.

“Vivian,” Anton said, disturbing her thoughts. “Have you discovered any more hidden secrets with our new
amigo
?”

She tried forgetting the confusing woman. “No, Anton. I haven’t had the time.”

“I know how intelligent you are, so you must expect he is only after you for one thing.”

She scowled. “Pray, what in heaven’s name are you talking about?”

Anton’s lips tightened, his jaw hardened. “You know what I am referring to,
querida.
Raúl’s only purpose is to bed you.”

Vivian
laughed heartily. “Oh, you’re being humorous again, Anton.”

“It is true.”

“Yes, I’m certain it is, but isn’t that the same reason you haven’t given up on me? Don’t you want to bed me, as well?”

His dark brows pulled together. “Our situation is different.”

“No, it’s not. The only difference is that you’ve known me longer than he has, but your goal is the same as Raúl’s. In fact, I think if I would have given myself to you that first night, you wouldn’t have me coming with you halfway across the world right now.”

“
Vivian.” His voice lowered as he grasped her elbow. “That is not true, and you know it. I have told you the reasons for bringing you with me, and having my way with you has nothing to do with it.”

She laughed out loud. “Then why wouldn’t you make that promise to me the other night? Why did you refuse?”

“Because I am attracted to you.”

“Yes, because you want to
have your
wicked
way with me. Admit it.”

His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. She
held her breath for his reply.

* * * *

Anton growled under his breath as his gaze darted around the crowded deck. A few people stopped meandering, throwing glares his way. He inwardly groaned, knowing they had overheard the conversation.

“
Vivian, please lower your voice. Either that, or let us return to our cabin to finish our debate.”

“No, Anton. I’d rather stay out here. Then I’m assured you won’t force your lusty attention on me.”

“Force?” His voice rose when he looked at her. “I did not force you. In fact, I have never forced you. If you recall, your body responds willingly to my touch.”

“Don’t remind me.” She scowled and folded her arms. “I hate that you have that kind of control over me.”

“The fact still remains our relationship is not based entirely on satisfying our desires.”

She threw him a glare. “That’s because we haven’t satisfied them at all.”

His heartbeat thudded in his chest. What made her speak of this? She knew how he felt. It sounded as if she
wanted
him to satisfy her. Well, there was only one way to find out.

“Then let us end the argument right now.” He took hold of her arm again, turning them toward the stairs as he led her below deck.

Her body stiffened, but she didn’t struggle. He assumed it was to keep the other passengers from watching them too closely.

“What are you doing?”
she snapped.

“I am proving to you that
having my
wicked
way with you is not the only reason I like you.”

“And how are you going to do that?”

“I am going to make love to you.”

“What? You contradict yourself,
Señor
Contreras.”

“No, because after I make love to you, you will see that I will remain by your side, protecting you until we prove my true identity. I will show you I do not just want you for your sweet, luscious body, whereas if
Raúl would bed you, he would ignore you for the rest of the voyage.”

“Anton, please.” She squirmed, trying to release herself from his grip. But he wouldn’t let her go. He hurried below deck and to their room, closing the door behind them.

“Stop this insanity at once,” she hissed. “I will not let you do this.”

Anton stalked toward her, and she retreated. He must be insane, because all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and drug her with passion.
But he also knew that if she told him no, he’d stop. He had never forced a woman to love him.

“
Querida
,” he whispered. “Do not think of it merely as a physical encounter, but as making love instead. We will be sharing not only our bodies, but our souls.”

The wall stopped her from retreating further, and she gasped. Her wide eyes searched for escape, but he closed in on her. He pinned her against the wall and
stared into her wide eyes.

First, he stroked her cheek,
then brushed his fingers over her hair, pulling out the blue ribbon holding the bulk of her blondish-brown mass together. Waves cascaded over her shoulder, and he threaded his fingers through her glorious tresses.

“
Querida
,” he repeated, huskier this time. A craving took over his body, and he gave it free reign. “You are so beautiful, so desirable.”

She pressed her hands against his chest. “Anton, please.” Her breaths came quickly, just as his. The fast rise and fall of her chest showed her excitement. He took one of her hands and brought it to his mouth.

“I think of nothing else during the day but taking you in my arms and loving you.”

“Anton.” Her voice softened.

She was on the verge of giving in, he could tell.

A
nton turned her hand over and kissed her palm. When he looked into her eyes, those grayish-blue flecks blazed with passion’s fire. He took her hands and placed them back on his chest.

“T
ell me, Vivian.” Over the erratic beat of his heart, he flattened her hand. “Do you feel that? Can you tell what your nearness does to me?”

“Antonio—” she mouthed, her lids lowered half-mast, focusing on his lips.

This woman excited him more than any other, and once again, he couldn’t resist her. He placed his mouth over hers, and kissed her long and hard. A sigh released from her throat before she relaxed against him.

Just as his heart sang with victory, she broke the kiss.
Her brows drew together in seriousness as she stroked his goatee. “You’ve been very gentle and attentive since we have first met, making me feel things I’ve never experienced before. But—” She looked away.

“What is it,
querida
?” He cupped her face and brought her beautiful eyes back to him.

“I’m still afraid.”

“Of what?”

“That I’ll...fall in love with you.”

He chuckled. “What is wrong with that?”

She licked her lips. “After this is all over, you’ll leave me. You will stay in Spain, and I’ll
return to New York. We’ll never see one another again.” She wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his neck. “And I don’t think I can do that.”

His heart wrenched, and he squeezed his eyes closed. “What do you want,
Vivian? What are you trying to say?”

She lifted her head, and he looked into her eyes. “If I can’t have all of you, I don’t want any part of you. It’s all or nothing.”

With a groan of confused frustration, he pulled away from her, raking his fingers through his hair. He stared at the ceiling, silently cursing that she’d voiced her thoughts—those he didn’t want to know. He wasn’t ready to settle down. At least she had been honest with him. When she told him she had never been with a man, she’d said she wouldn’t be with them
that
way unless it was with her husband.