Destiny's Daughter (5 page)

*  *  *

Annalisa was too angry and distressed to sit still. In frustration she tossed her bonnet and shawl on the bunk and paced the small cabin.

Stopping, she pulled the pins from her hair and studied her reflection in the minor. Her eyes looked wide and frightened. A worried frown marred her forehead.

What could she possibly say to the captain tomorrow morning? Her hand flew to her mouth as a new thought intruded. Could she be sent to jail for accusing an innocent man?

In agitation, she began pacing. If she were to tell the truth, who would believe her? How could she explain that she had innocently returned Chase’s wink? And that he had assumed she knew that it was a secret signal? Would she believe such a story if she were the captain?

With quick angry movements, she unbuttoned the ice blue dress and dropped it on the bunk alongside the bonnet and shawl. With a gesture of defiance she kicked her shoes into the corner. In her white chemise and petticoat she began pacing the room in her bare feet.

If she implicated Chase, she would implicate herself as well. There was no getting around the fact that she appeared as guilty as he. No one would ever believe otherwise.

She stopped to stare at the sliver of moon hanging in the night sky. Damn the man. He was so cool, he had even used those moments of her humiliation to cheat. While everyone else was watching her make a fool of herself, he was manipulating the cards, changing his luck.

There was no way she could sleep this night. As she started pacing again, her mind was awhirl with terrifying thoughts. What would she say to the captain? How was she going to get herself out of this mess? She couldn’t bring disgrace on her mother’s good name. After nine years in the convent school, she couldn’t possibly return for the first time wearing a prisoner’s chains.

She buried her face in her hands, forcing herself not to cry. Tears burned her throat and she swallowed them back. What had she done? Hadn’t Reverend Mother often told her this was her greatest shortcoming? She always seemed to jump into situations without thinking them through first. Why hadn’t she stayed with the sisters, where she had been safe from the perils of the world? What was to become of her?

Anguished, she continued to pace. If she had to, she would walk the floor until she dropped from exhaustion. Only then would she allow herself to rest.

*  *  *

The tall, slightly stooped figure paused outside the cabin and listened to the sound of the girl’s angry pacing. His excitement mounted as he thought of the way she would look when he surprised her. She would be startled, then frightened. His smile grew, as he thought of how her heart would pound, her pulse race. Fear. Absolute terror. It gave him a sense of power that was exhilarating. He loved to watch the eyes of those innocent little victims. It gave him a feeling that nothing else could match. It had always been that way. Even in the beginning, when he was young and hungry, and taking less care about his victims. Often they were just strangers who had money or jewelry. But now he could afford to be more particular. They had to be young. They had to be beautiful. They had to radiate a certain—innocence.

Trying the door, he found it locked. He felt a surge of excitement as he put his shoulder against the door. He could hardly wait to see the expression on her lovely face when he held the knife to her throat and began to strip her of her clothes. Her clothes and her dignity. Her dignity and her innocence.

Hearing footsteps, he flattened himself against the door, melting into the shadows. As the figure of a tall man rounded the deck and headed his way, he took a step forward, then began walking briskly in the opposite direction. Without turning around, he continued walking until he heard the other footsteps stop. Turning, he was dismayed to see the man stop at the very door he had just left. With a wave of black rage, he strode to the upper deck and let himself into his own cabin. His fists clenched in impotent fury. He had lost this chance, but the game wasn’t over yet.

*  *  *

Chase paused a moment. He had the feeling that the man who had walked away so quickly had been standing outside this very door. Something about that figure had been unsettling. Chase felt a quiver of unease, then, intent on his mission, he dismissed all thoughts but one.

*  *  *

At a soft tap on her door, Annalisa turned. Her heart leaped to her throat. For some minutes now she had sensed someone listening outside her door. This was the moment of reckoning. They had come for her.

The knock sounded again, this time a little louder. On bare feet she padded to the door, then paused. Her hands shook slightly. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.

"Who is it?" She leaned against the door, feeling the gentle rocking of the boat.

"Chase."

Her eyes widened. Completely unaware of her state of undress, she flung open the door to confront him.

"You. How dare you come to my cabin. How can I make you understand that I want nothing to do with a cheat and a liar?"

Surreptitiously glancing around the darkened deck, he stepped past her and closed the door. Casually lounging against it, he watched as she began her attack.

"I have nothing but contempt for you. Because of you an innocent man was caused great embarrassment. Because of you my good name has been sullied. How could you calmly sit there tonight and allow another man to pay for your crime?"

Crossing his arms over his chest, Chase studied the wild-looking creature as she paced in front of him. In the narrow stream of moonlight coming through the porthole, her slender figure was visible beneath the translucent chemise and petticoat. He felt a tightening in his midsection. Reality was even sweeter than his imagination. Her breasts were full and ripe. Her waist was so tiny, his hands could easily span it. Her long hair fell in tangles about her back and shoulders. Her skin was pale, almost iridescent in the eerie silver light. She seemed smaller, younger, as she unleashed all her anger and frustration.

"Are you finished?" His voice was low, devoid of expression.

"I’ve just started." She turned away, paced to the window, then faced him for another volley. "I made it very plain this afternoon that I wanted no part in your little game. When you winked tonight, I looked away. You knew I was ignoring you. Yet you persisted in watching me."

"And how would you know that unless you were watching me as well?"

"Oh." She stormed around the cabin, venting her frustration.

Chase removed a cigar from his breast pocket and bit the end. Holding a match, he puffed until the tip glowed red. Releasing a cloud of smoke, his eyes narrowed, pinning her. His voice when he spoke again was barely a whisper.

"I’m a man of my word, Miss Montgomery."

She gave a strangled sound of derision. "The word of a cheat."

Reaching into his pocket, he held out a handful of money. "This is your half."

"Half of what you stole?" She swung away. "Keep your filthy money, Mr. Masters. I won’t be a party to cheating."

His voice warmed with unspoken laughter. "You’re quite an actress."

"Actress." She stopped in mid sentence to stare.

"You pass yourself off as a nun."

"I never ..."

He held up a hand. "An almost nun then." His gaze raked her. "But I’ve never seen a nun look like this."

For the first time Annalisa realized how she must look to him. Frantically she caught up the crumpled dress from the bunk and held it up to her to cover her near-nakedness.

"Get out of my cabin this minute."

He shot her a dangerous smile and took a step closer. With a flick of the wrist he tossed the cigar out the window. Dropping the money on the bunk, he caught her arm and pulled her against him. Her heart slammed in her chest. Her breathing stilled. Stunned, she felt the dress fall from her hands, dropping to the floor at her feet.

He bent his head, inhaling the delicate floral scent that enveloped her. "And I never knew a nun who smelled like a French whore."

Her heart began beating double time. She couldn’t breathe. "You’re disgusting. Stop this."

His lips brushed the hair at her temple, then dropped lower to graze her cheek. Her skin was the softest he had ever touched.

She stiffened in his arms. Dear God. He was going to kiss her. His mouth hovered just above hers. The fine mustache tickled her skin, teasing, taunting her. Her heart lodged in her throat, threatening to choke her. She felt afraid, yet strangely exhilarated. She was standing on a precipice. One step, one tiny movement, and she would find herself hurtling through space.

Chase brought his hands to her shoulders and drew her closer. Staring down into her tawny eyes, he was surprised to read the fear and innocence there. And something more. Guarded invitation. He could sense an almost simmering sensuality.

He could walk away now, and leave her as he found her. With her last ounce of defiance, she lifted her head to meet his eyes. His gaze fastened on her mouth. It would take only the slightest movement to taste her lips. He hesitated, thought briefly about fighting the desire, then swearing under his breath, bent to her. That haughty lift of her chin, those pouting lips were too great a temptation.

His mouth covered hers, sending tiny shock waves tumbling through her. One moment she was cold, so cold from the night air that streamed through the open window. In the next instant she was on fire.

Chase was a master at seduction. It was a game he enjoyed almost as much as poker. But it had been too many years since he had kissed someone as inexperienced as this. She kept her lips tightly closed. Her hands were two balled fists which she held firmly against her chest. Still, as his mouth found hers, she felt the jolt as fire and ice collided.

Surprised, he held her a little away, staring down into her eyes. She had them squeezed tightly shut.

His voice was gruff. "Annalisa."

She blinked, then closed her eyes again.

"Open your eyes."

Her lashes fluttered. She stared up into those midnight eyes that seemed even darker than the night sky.

"You act like you’ve never kissed a man before."

She swallowed, too ashamed to speak.

With his thumb and finger he caught her trembling chin and tilted her face for his inspection. Her eyes were troubled. A tiny frown marred her forehead.

His tone deepened. "I want to see your eyes. And I want you to see yourself in mine while I kiss you."

He bent forward. His warm breath feathered her face. She stared, mesmerized, as his lips lowered.

When his mouth found hers, Annalisa savored the strange sensations. She had always wondered what it would be like to kiss a man. Would his lips be open or closed? Would their teeth bump? Would she forget to breathe? Could a man and woman suffocate while they were locked in a kiss?

His lips now were gentle, brushing hers with feather-light kisses. She relaxed slightly and sighed, though she wasn’t even aware she’d made a sound. As he took the kiss deeper, all thought vanished. She no longer had to wonder what it would be like. His mustache was a soft whisper on her skin. His lips were warm, firm. She was amazed at the heat that seemed to spread from his hands at her shoulders, from his mouth on hers, to her blood, which coursed like liquid fire through her.

Annalisa breathed in the strange, musky scent of him, the warmth of his breath as it mingled with hers. He changed the angle of the kiss. Their heads were turned slightly, just enough so that their noses didn’t touch. She was surprised, and pleased, at the way the angles and planes of his body accentuated the softness of hers. Tentatively she brought her arms around his waist beneath his jacket, allowing her hands to play along the corded muscles of his back and shoulders.

His hands on her shoulders tightened, pulling her firmly against him. She gave a little gasp of surprise and felt his tongue trace the outline of her lips. Her hands clutched at his back, feeling the heat of his skin through the fine fabric.

Lifting his head, Chase stared down at the woman in his arms. She tasted sweet, alluring. Her eyes were wide, luminous, looking too big for her face. He could read the confusion in those eyes, and something more; the first flush of desire. Was she really an innocent? he wondered.

His arms came around her, drawing her tightly against him until he felt the softness of her melting into him. His lips covered hers in a searing kiss, leaving her dazed and breathless.

Her breath caught in her throat. The heat became a furnace, leaving her weak and clinging. Fear became excitement. Pleasure became need, a need she had never before experienced.

He felt her resistance fade into acquiescence. With her breasts flattened against his chest, he could feel her, warm and pliant in his arms.

Something deep inside him tightened, and he felt the rush of desire, swift, pulsing, before he banked the need. With one sweeping motion, he pushed her from him and took a step back.

Her mouth opened in surprise. Her lips were still moist and swollen from his kiss. Dark curls danced on her shoulders and kissed her cheeks. He caught a strand of her hair and watched through narrowed eyes as it sifted through his fingers.

"You don’t kiss like a nun, Annalisa Montgomery."

Desire vanished. Her eyes blazed. "How could you know? Have you ever kissed one?" The words nearly caught in her throat. She was surprised at how difficult it was to speak.

"No. But I’ve kissed enough women." His lips split into a grin. "You kiss like a woman, Annalisa. A warm, willing woman."

"Get out of here. Get out before I scream loud enough to wake the whole boat."

He threw back his head and roared. "Did I say a woman? I meant to say a wildcat." Catching her chin he brushed his lips over hers, then turned away and opened the door. "We’re going to have to do something about that temper of yours," he said.

"You haven’t even tasted my temper yet," she snarled.

"No, but I’ve tasted you, little nun. You have the sweetest lips I’ve ever known. And I intend to do more than taste. If you’re not careful, I’ll devour you."

Still chuckling, he closed the door a second before she picked up a shoe and sent it flying. The sound reverberated along the darkened deck as Chase made his way to his own cabin.

Inside her cabin, Annalisa scooped up the hated money he had left on her bunk and tossed it out the window. It gave her a perverse sense of satisfaction to think that some unsuspecting fisherman on the Mississippi would benefit from Chase’s vile deeds.