Your Wish Is My Command (33 page)

He slid her panties down her legs and she wrestled to take off her bra. Not nearly as seductive a maneuver as his disrobing, but it accomplished her goal. Which was to feel as much of her bare skin pressed against as much of his as soon as possible. “I can't wait any longer. I'm dying.”

He smiled and moved his body over hers, sliding
her farther up the bed as he did so their feet didn't dangle over the edge. His body teased hers unmercifully, every contact point screaming with almost painful arousal. He brushed against her but didn't enter her.

“Sebastien,” she groaned, shamelessly lifting her hips.

He kissed her deeply, thrusting his tongue into her mouth and himself into her at the same time. She arched violently against him, taking all of him, wishing only that they could be even more closely joined.

He took her hard, and she pushed him even harder. She rode the wave fierce and fast, wanting to climax right then and simultaneously wanting to stay right on that blissful crest forever.

His mouth was on her neck, his hands full of her hair. “Now it is time for my last wish,” he ground out. “Hold on tight.” He rolled to his back, taking her with him, until she was straddling his hips.

He was still hot and deep inside her, even more deeply now. She gasped at the sensation of it, her hands braced on his chest while she adapted to all the new sensations rocketing through her.

“Look at me, Jamie.”

She raised her eyes to his, her body already moving on him, unable to remain still.

His hands were on her hips, then he slid one hand along the inside of her thigh until he was touching her just above where they were joined.

“My wish is for you to come to me, Jamie. Come to me now.” He moved his fingers and thrust inside her at the same time.

The pleasure was blinding, the release explosive. It crested and crashed down all over and through her. She bucked helplessly on top of him and rode it for all it was worth. Only when she collapsed onto him, still
shuddering and quivering, did he carefully roll her back beneath him. He kissed her as he began to move inside her again. Amazingly, the wave began anew.

“Come with me this time,” he demanded, his body establishing their rhythm this time.

She complied. Fervently.

He took her deeply and she rose to every thrust. His body tensed and he reared up above her, groaning loud and long as he climaxed. The pleasure of watching him, hearing him, knowing she had given him such satisfaction, drove her over again seconds later.

She pushed her fingers through his damp hair and kissed him on his temple. He responded by kissing her beneath her ear, then in the crook of her neck. It seemed impossible, but those gentle kisses stole more of her heart than the pulse-pounding moments just before. She felt cared for, cherished.

He rolled to his side and took her with him. Their arms and legs locked effortlessly, and she tucked her head against his shoulder. They fit so perfectly, she thought, her mind still recovering from the spin it had just taken. It was as if their bodies had been dancing like this for eternity.

She wanted to tell him how he made her feel and why she loved him. She was still trying to find the words when sleep claimed her.

S
ebastien knew the instant she left the haven of sleep. He'd been watching her for the past hour or so and had been perfectly content to continue forever. Now that she was awakening, he felt his pulse begin to speed up, his nerves tightening along with it. He was determined to have this morning proceed far differently from their last one.

He also knew today would be a day of reckoning unlike the other. Their true battle had only just begun. However, this time their adversary was his past, not each other. She would have to be strong and willing to trust him. He thought of the night they had just spent together and knew she had that inside her. Today they would face adversity. But he was determined that they would face it together.

She awoke slowly, sweetly. She turned her eyes to him and there was no surprise in them, no sudden shock of awareness. This time her entire consciousness had known he was there beside her. He took a measure of strength in that knowledge.

“Good morning,” she said, sleep making her voice husky.

He bent down and kissed her forehead, then her eyelids, her cheeks, and finally her mouth. When he lifted his head so he could look into her eyes, he was
immensely gratified at the emotion he saw shining in them. “Good morning,
monamour
.”

She shifted and snuggled against him. He thought he felt his heart actually stop for a beat before resuming, so right did she feel nestled there. Her hands slid around his waist, and he pulled her more tightly against him and stroked her hair.

“I must say I recommend this as a way to start a morning,” she mumbled against his chest. “In fact, I think it would be a fascinating way to spend the afternoon and perhaps the evening as well.”

He continued to thread his fingers through her hair, smiling at her drowsy words even as his heart turned to more-serious revelations. She was precious to him. How had he ever thought to live without her? He knew he would do anything to protect her and keep her safe. He had to smile at that. If he were to reveal that last thought, he was certain she would make it understood that she could take care of herself. And that also gave him a sense of peace. She was a strong, smart, resourceful woman. He liked knowing that she wasn't helpless or frail. Yet he wanted to protect and coddle her nonetheless. Should make for an interesting partnership, he mused with a welcome sense of delight.

Partnership
. How was it he'd never seen a woman in that light before? He settled her more closely against him. Because, he thought, he'd never met his soul-mate before.

And that revelation shocked another thought, an alarming one, into his suddenly clear mind. If he were to tell her this, tell her of his love for her, that would fulfill his obligation to the Sword of Hearts. Would he disappear?

Just then she kissed the skin that pulsed over his heart, making him wonder how on earth he could last
even the next five minutes without saying those words to her, so urgent was his need. But it was a risk he could not take. Not yet. He had forged a plan in the predawn hours. He must adhere to it.

“I want to show you something,” he said quietly.

She smiled sleepily up at him. “I believe I've seen everything at this point.”

He smiled, his heart full of emotion. How was it he'd survived never truly feeling this? How did he have the audacity to match the hearts of others without knowing the true power the heart wielded? Would this revelation make him a better matcher of souls?

The very idea of returning to that existence brought a stab of pain. He resolutely turned his thoughts back to her.

“Can you take the day off work?” he asked.

Now she looked intrigued. “You're so serious all of a sudden. What exactly do you have in mind?”

“A short trip. We will need your car. There is a place I want to take you.”

“Can you tell me?”

He shook his head. “I will need your trust, Jamie.”

She studied him for a long moment, then scooted up and kissed him deeply. “You have it. You have it all, Sebastien.”

He could sense the words of love he so wanted to say himself forming in her mind before her lips began to move. He kissed her to keep them where they were—felt but unspoken. He refused to risk it until they were there.

“Get dressed,” he urged when he finally lifted his head. “Or I will detain you here for hours.”

“And I'm supposed to be motivated to leave by that?”

He smiled then. “We will have more time, Jamie. That is what today is all about.”

Now she turned more serious. “Sebastien, what is it you're planning to do? Maybe we should discuss this first.”

He slid from the bed and gathered his clothing. “I am asking for your trust. Please.” He came around to her side of the bed and pulled her up and close. “I let you down once before, but that is a mistake I will never make again.”

She nodded. “I know you would never purposely hurt me. It's not in your soul.”

He grinned at her, his heart lighter, more certain than ever that there was solution out there for them. There had to be. “I believe there is time in our agenda for a shower. Although I suggest we conserve time and share it.”

“Did I mention I adore your overdeveloped sense of logic? You're like Mr. Spock. Only sexier.”

“Who is Mr. Spock?”

Jamie laughed and pulled him toward her tiny bathroom. “I'm not so sure I can explain that one. Come on, I'll tell you after I get you all wet and soapy.”

Sebastien laughed and allowed her to pull him along. “Your wish is most assuredly my command, mademoiselle.”

Jamie followed Sebastien's directions out of the Quarter and away from New Orleans. They were heading south.

“Exit here,” he said.

She did, but glanced over at him. “Barataria?”

He nodded but said nothing else.

Jamie didn't push it. He'd been incredibly attentive and playful in the shower. He'd spent more time staring at her over breakfast than eating.

Ree had been disgustingly giddy on the phone
when Jamie told her why she needed to take the day off. She'd tried to apologize for the last-minute notice, but Ree wouldn't hear it. Of course, she'd want to hear everything later. Right now, even the prospect of one of Ree's interrogations didn't bother Jamie.

Her thoughts were focused on Sebastien and this mission they were on. He'd been quiet since they left the Quarter. His eyes had stayed on the road ahead, but his hand was on her thigh, or her shoulder, or mindlessly twiddling strands of the hair she'd left down this morning. His touch was a constant reassurance when her mind wanted to race off in all sorts of terrifying directions. Somehow this was all going to end up okay. Whatever he had in store, she wouldn't disappoint him. Or herself.

It was a revelation, this partnership they'd forged. Unlike any she'd ever entered into. Her smile faded as her thoughts turned helplessly to their future. What lay in store for them?

“Turn here,” he directed.

“This leads back to national park land.”

“I know.”

Jamie didn't know much about Barataria, other than it was threaded with swamps and bayous and home to a still-thriving fishing community. It was also originally famous—or infamous—as the place where the Laffite brothers had created their pirate den. She swallowed hard and her hands tightened on the steering wheel. No way was this a coincidence.

The entrance to the park loomed ahead. “Do I go in?”

“
Oui
.” He pointed. “Follow the signs that way.”

She wove the car around and through the park until they were in the farthest corner.

Sebastien directed her to the side of the road. “Park there.”

Jamie cut the engine before turning to look at him,
but he was already getting out of the car. “Can you tell me now?”

“
Non
. We are not there yet. Follow me. Be careful.”

Jamie didn't argue. Panic was gaining an edge, and she focused on his path to keep her thoughts from pushing her over the edge. She quickly realized why he'd insisted that she wear her rubber boots. He entered the woods and brush, walking confidently along an unseen path. The ground was alternately boggy and muddy. He held out his hand occasionally to help her over the worst of it. They ended up at the end of a bayou in an area of the park that looked as if no one had ever visited it before.

He took her hand and led her to a particularly huge cypress tree. “This is what I wanted to show you.”

She stared at him. “A tree?”

He shook his head, then smiled. She wasn't as reassured as she'd like to be. There was still worry in his eyes, and a trace of fear.

He pulled her to him for a kiss. It deepened quickly and almost went beyond control before he finally managed to disengage. They were both breathing heavily. He leaned his forehead on hers, clutching her shoulders tightly. “I've never brought anyone here. Well, not since … not for many years,” he said.

“Since when?” Jamie hadn't missed his pause. “Who did you bring here last?” She felt a shiver race over her skin despite the thick humidity.

“I will explain, but first I want to show you this.” He turned to the tree, and moments later a large piece of the trunk was removed. Sebastien reached inside the dark, musty interior and drew out a cloth-covered box about the size of a large shoe box. Jamie couldn't help but gasp when he tossed the oiled flaps of the cloth back to reveal a jewel-encrusted box.

“My God,” she whispered. The metal was tarnished and black, but the jewels shone brightly even in the
dappled sunlight that filtered through the trees. “Where did you get that?”

“My last run with Dominique. To what is now Haiti. We encountered a brigantine on our return. We were victorious and brought back its spoils.” He looked at her. “Guns, gems, foodstuffs. And men and women bound for slavery.”

“What?” She lifted her gaze from the box to him. “Slavery? What did you do with them?”