Ransom (4 page)

He untied her bonds, and she was grateful.

She knew his touch hadn’t been removed when he reached to pull her close against him. His smell invaded her senses. He was warm and smelled like the ocean. She tightened her hands into fists, trying to remain rigid.  Perhaps if she didn’t respond, he would leave her alone. 

He ran a thumb over her nipple, eliciting a shocked moan from her. 

“How dare you,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry.” Then he laughed. “No, I’m not.  You’re driving me crazy. You are so enticing, such a tempting picture here, Triana.  So beautiful.  So seductive.”

No one had ever called her seductive.  What did he mean by that?  She was hardly promiscuous.

He squeezed her breast, and that secret place tingled, became wet again. She shifted on her feet, uncomfortable with the sensation. “Are you quite through?”

“I haven’t even begun. Would you like to find out what more can be done? How good I can make you feel?”

She shivered, and refused to give him the satisfaction of a reply. 

Groaning, he grabbed her and lifted her against him.  Then he carried her into an adjacent room, where he slammed the door behind him.  He deposited her naked on the mattress and when she went to cover her breasts with her hands, he pushed her hands aside and put his lips on her nipples.  She shivered again, and her fists clenched, this time on his hair.  It didn’t even cross her mind to yank on it.  She offered herself to him without regard.

And then his lips raced down her belly and fastened on her most intimate place and she gasped. “You can’t,” she whispered.

“And why not? This is the place where I can provide the most pleasure. You won’t regret it, I swear.”  Then he resumed his exploration with tongue and lips, groaning as if her flavor pleased him.

Involuntarily, her hips rocked wildly against his mouth.  The heat was burning, a blinding light behind her eyes, and she was helpless to stop it. It was only a few minutes before she screamed on the most beautiful release she’d ever felt. Her muscles tensed, then relaxed gradually.  She felt like she was drifting on a cloud, and distantly was aware that he still explored her thoroughly with his tongue.  A shockwave shot through her once more, and she squeezed his arm. “Please, I don’t think I can take any more.”

He nodded.  “Of course.”  Then he pulled away.

From a distance, she was aware of footsteps and then the door slammed shut. A lock turned. There was only silence.

She shivered, naked as ever on the mattress.  Wondering what strange thing had just happened to her, her hand crept between her legs and she felt wetness.  Shocked, she pulled her hand back. Was this the passion she had read about? Heard people talk about? Unwilling to analyze it further, she grabbed the sheet and drew it over her body, squeezing her eyes shut.

Chapter 6

Lance shook with barely controlled desire. He couldn’t just attack the girl, however tempting she was.  As an afterthought, he returned to the room with some clothes for her, watched as she huddled beneath the bed covers.  Whether she was cold or she used it as a means of protection, he was not sure. 

If there was anything he knew now, she was definitely a virgin, untouched until now. And he had probably just shocked the hell out of her.

He located a brush and set it with the clothes near the bed.  “Triana, are you all right?”

The sheet moved back a few inches, and the impact of her green eyes slammed into him.  Why did he have the insane urge to draw her close and just hold her?

“Are you sure you care?”

He steeled himself against that comment because he knew he did care. Too much really. He grinned.  “I brought you some clothes,” he said, overlooking her sarcasm.

“Thank you.”

“You know, I’ve never initiated anyone before.”

Her eyes narrowed.  “Bet you’ve never attacked a woman either.”

“No.”

“That’s some comfort.”

“I would never have done that unless I knew you felt something too.”

Her silence was telling, but he thought it best not to push her. Quietly, he bowed out of the room and then took out his phone.  He had to know where Louis was.  Now.  This situation was getting too complicated. 

“Sanson,” he said in a low tone when the man answered.

“Redding, is that you?  Any news on the ransom?”

“Your goon Hank called.  Her father will pay.  You just name the drop-off.”

“Good, good.”

“I did what you asked.  Now, where is Louis?”

“All in good time, my boy.  All in good time.”

“Don’t start that shit with me.  I’m doing your favor.”

“The favor isn’t finished. Have a little patience, Lance.”

“My patience is about run out.”

“With me or with the girl? You have her just where you want her, don’t you? Take what you want, Lance.  You’ll feel better.”

He wanted to call the bastard out for that, but held his tongue. “We’re not talking about her. We’re talking about my cousin.” And it made his skin crawl to think anyone had witnessed what he’d shared with Triana.

“Louis is fine. You just keep doing what you’re doing there.  And you let me know if you want a real job, huh?” 

The line went dead, and Lance scowled down at the phone. He didn’t know what he was going to do about Sanson, but the man was getting on his last nerve.  He had no choice but to deal with him though.  If he didn’t, Louis would suffer.  And he couldn’t let that happen. 

So, he had to keep an eye on Triana. Even if it killed him.

****

Triana watched him enter the room with some trepidation. She crossed her arms over her chest. “What do you want?”

“Blowing hot and cold again, I see.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m not the only one.”

He crossed his arms as well, but a smile hovered at his lips. “Perhaps you’re right.  There is a certain push and pull to attraction.  In fact, with your limited experience, you must be begging to be had again.”

              She gasped.  “How dare you!” she cried.

“You shouldn’t be surprised, my love. Besides, I am merely your captor.”

“Son of a bitch,” Triana muttered under her breath.

“It is too bad you have pegged me so quickly, being the offspring of a whoring con artist and all.”

She backed away and her shoulders met the wall.  “I did not mean…”

“Yes, you did. But, you are afraid. I understand that.”

“You think I fear you?”

“If not me, then only what you feel in my presence.”  He approached her then and clasping her palms against his, he bent his head towards her to brush his lips against hers.

She moaned softly, suddenly wanting all of him.  Her breath caught in her throat and she whispered, “Do not make me feel this.”

“It isn’t me, my love.  It is chemistry.”

And she knew what it was, but it didn’t explain the other emotions she was beginning to feel for this man.  It didn’t explain the wrenching grip he had on her heart, especially when he was in danger, especially when Mr. Sanson had pulled that gun on him.

He took the kiss deep and she drowned in the flavor of him.  When he pulled back, she gazed up at him, caught by his dark eyes.  It took a few moments to gather her wits. 

“Who was at my house that night if it wasn’t you?”

He scowled. “There you go, asking questions that could really get you into some trouble. I told you, you won’t get anywhere if you do that.”

“I have to know. I know it wasn’t you. So, who was it?”

“I don’t know, Triana.  I don’t make the rules. I just follow them.”

“And
this
is what you’re supposed to do?”

He shrugged.  “It seems that way…”

She frowned.  “And what if your boss, this Mr. Sanson, tells you that I have to be killed to be kept quiet?  We’re both aware I’m too inquisitive.  Would you do that as well?  Kill me?”

She waited for his answer, but his silence was disturbing.  He wasn’t empty-headed, she could see that clearly.  But, he kept a lot close to the vest.  She just had to hope that he was who she thought he was.

****

              She was good, he had to admit that.  No matter how much he tried to appear apathetic she always presented him with a hypothetical life or death situation, and he found it very hard to lie to her.  The thought of having to take her life brought nausea to the surface and he swallowed the lump in his throat.  “Well, I would obviously do my job, even
if
it came to that.”

              She looked away, blinking back the tears.  “I see,” she whispered.

              He knew he was hurting her.  She’d thought she’d found a confidante in him; she’d probably trusted him enough to help her escape.  But, he couldn’t do that; he couldn’t let her trust him, at least not until he found out if Louis was safe.

Chapter 7

As Triana lay on the cot that night, his words rang through her mind.  He would be willing to kill her if he was ordered to.  It was stupid of her to have thought otherwise, to have imagined he meant her no harm. 

You’re here for a reason.  But, I will not hurt you.

She was naïve to have trusted that line for even a second.  She would not make the same mistake again.  And the fact that she was attracted to her captor meant very little.  There was no future in such thinking, she chastised herself.  It was only her body telling her she was physically compatible with the man and nothing else. 

There could be nothing outside of these walls, nothing that might occur to allow her to be with him when it was all over.  What she felt had to mean nothing compared to what was real…her home, her family and the fact that though she was attracted to him, he was still dangerous and hardly an ideal prospect for a potential relationship.  And weren’t they from different worlds as well?  He was no doubt used to having his way with women because of his intimidating stature and she was not used to feeling like a crumb around a man who could flick her away at a moment’s notice.

She wondered how her father was feeling about the kidnapping, if he even cared.  Possibly he did in his vague, professional demeanor.  And she knew he would pay the ransom.  It was the acceptable thing to do.  If he was concerned about her welfare at all, she had no way to tell.  After her mother had left, he had been distant, even cold sometimes.  She just hoped he at least cared if she lived or died, and it didn’t have to do with his expectations for marrying her off to some rich guy. 

Triana wondered if there was something wrong with her.  Everyone she had ever cared about had abandoned her, it seemed.  She supposed she could lump her captor in with that group as well, though she shouldn’t give a crap what he thought.  It bothered her that she did. It really bothered her that he wasn’t who she’d thought he was.  And she didn’t know why.

****

The next morning, she woke groggily.  She jumped when she noticed her captor standing over her.  Warmth spread into her face, and despite her embarrassment, she couldn’t look away from those dark eyes. 

“Good morning, Sweetheart.”

The endearment hurt, especially after what he’d revealed to her yesterday.

“The good part is relative,” she returned.  But, the tray on the floor brought her attention away from him.  A cup of steaming coffee was there as well as accompaniments, and a plate filled with an omelet and toast.  She couldn’t help the smile that came to her face.  “You’re spoiling me.”

He shrugged.  “I figured you needed your strength.”

“Hmm,” she managed through a bite of food.

After she ate, he left the room with the tray.  She went to the lavatory and by the time he returned, she was done.

“I may have been a bit harsh yesterday.”

She looked up at him, surprised.

“I’m only doing my job.  You understand.”

“Some job,” she scoffed, her hopes of an apology from him plummeting.

He only smiled, a smile that made him seem more attractive, which, of course, infuriated her.  Why was he so damn appealing?  And so off-limits, of course.  He would kill her if he had to, she reminded herself. 

The man eased close to her and her eyes widened.  He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her the way she’d always dreamed a man might kiss her.  With lips and tongue, he explored her mouth eagerly and she kissed him back innocently.  He pulled away, looking into her eyes as if searching for something.  “Triana, we can deny ourselves no longer…” His voice was filled with torment of a kind.

“I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“Say you want me.”

How could she say it when she did not yet understand this natural high, the weakness in her limbs nor the cloudiness in her head?  And it was hardly practical to want it.  “I don’t know yet…”

“Perhaps you will let me know.  For now, I have to test your response.”

“My what?”

“Shh.”  With a practiced hand, he teased her through her clothing, focusing on points like her breasts, her derriere, and womanhood. 

“Stop it,” she said breathlessly, then giggled nervously as he began to undo her buttons.  “Stop,” she pleaded, then her plea ended on a groan when his lips covered a nipple, suckling eagerly.  When he eased her jeans down and slipped a finger beneath the waistline of her panties to feel her, she gasped.  She remembered when he had put his mouth on her there.  It had been wonderful.  But, she couldn’t be with him that way again.  “Do not,” she whispered, arching beneath his ministrations.  “Don’t…”

He buttoned her blouse again and fastened her slacks.  “You are young yet filled with passion, my love.  It is all I can do to keep your virginal state intact.”

“You think I’m a virgin?” she asked, still watching his hands and wondering how she could have felt such bliss when he touched her.

“Don’t lie about that.  A man can sense these things.  If you were an experienced woman, you would have known what to expect from me.”

She looked away.  “There is nothing I can do about the way I’m made…”

“That’s true, unless you somehow want to remedy your situation.”

“You are insinuating that I might copulate with you?”