Burning Wild (53 page)

“I’m hearing a ‘but’ in there, Sheena,” Stavros said.

Elle spread her arms wide, taking in the yacht and the shimmering sea. “All this. This is your world and I can step into it occasionally, but I could never live in it comfortably. I’ve looked at your track record, Stavros, and you don’t believe in permanency. And no, I’m not holding out for marriage with you. I just know myself. I get attached to people, and breaking up is terribly painful.”

“Who says we have to break up?” Stavros said. “Come home with me.” His voice was soft, persuasive, and for a moment she wanted to give in, wanted to take what he was offering. He made her feel like a beautiful, desirable woman when no one else had. But in the end she wasn’t glamorous, sophisticated Sheena; she was really Elle Drake, and she carried her baggage with her everywhere she went.

“I can’t tell you how much I want to go with you, Stavros,” she said sincerely, “but I really can’t.”

Swift impatience crossed his handsome face and he blinked, his dark eyes growing a little frosty. “The boats are beginning to take some of our guests back to shore. I need to speak with a few of them. Stay here and wait for me.”

Elle nodded. Where was the harm in that? After tonight, Sheena MacKenzie was going to disappear and Stavros would never see her again. Maybe he already knew she was saying good-bye. She couldn’t blame him for being upset. She’d tried to stay within boundaries and not lead him on, yet gain his trust enough to get into his inner circles. She’d attended his charities and his parties, and never once had she heard the whisper of illegal activity. If he was the criminal her boss suspected, he was amazingly adept at hiding it, and she no longer believed it was possible.

So why couldn’t she fall in love with him? What was wrong with her? Certainly the worm—he who could not be named ever again—was not worth holding out hope for. Was she stupid enough to do that? Hope that he would come after her? That would never happen. He didn’t want her. He didn’t want her legacy, or her name, or her house—and he certainly didn’t want the seven daughters that would come along with her.

No, she had stopped hoping Jackson Deveau would ever come to love or even want her.

Now she just had to stop hurting.

Elle used to envision a life of laughter and happiness with her soul mate. That was before she’d met him. He was a morose, silent, brooding, very dominant male. She knew he could bring stillness and peace to her, or turn her veins to liquid fire with one smoldering look. But he refused to accept who she was—refused to love her as she was. And if he didn’t, she feared no other man ever would—or could. Not the real Elle Drake, at least.

Movement caught her eye and she shifted her gaze to see the captain approach Stavros and whisper something in his ear. She was adept at reading lips but she couldn’t see his mouth clearly. Stavros frowned and shook his head, glanced at his watch and then over at Elle. She kept her face still and turned her gaze back to the sea. Stavros’s bodyguard, Sid, said something as well. He was facing her and she caught his words distinctly.

“It will be dangerous to have her on the island, sir. Think about this. Take her off the boat now and we’ll give the driver orders to take her to your villa. They can hold her there until the meeting is over.”

Elle’s stomach tightened. The bodyguard was talking about her. Stavros shook his head and said something she couldn’t catch, but the bodyguard and captain both looked toward her again and neither looked happy.

That built-in alarm, which had saved her numerous times on countless assignments, shrieked at her and she didn’t hesitate. She moved quickly through the thinning crowd toward the side of the yacht where the boats were coming in to pick up the guests and return them to shore. Though her purse and overnight bag were still in the cabin down below, Elle was careful never to carry anything in her purse or her belongings that could betray her. She would leave the yacht, and if Dane wanted her to return, she could use the retrieval of her things as an excuse to contact Stavros again.

She made herself small, trying to blend in with the other guests. As Elle she could disappear easily into the shadows, but Sheena stood out. Her heart sped up and a sense of urgency rode her as she wound her way to the departing boats. It wouldn’t do to look back and check to see if she was being hunted; she already knew she was. She had one chance to step onto the departing boat as it was taking off. She had to time it perfectly.

Elle slid through the last of the guests waiting for the next boat and stepped onto the platform, holding out her hand to the young man pushing off the departing boat. He grinned and guided the boat back into position so she could step into it. Just as his fingers slid around her hand, she felt another hand catch her upper arm in a firm grip, pulling her back.

“Mr. Gratsos would like the pleasure of Ms. MacKenzie’s company a while longer,” Sid said smoothly, drawing her much smaller frame against him.

Elle inhaled sharply, feeling the burst of emotion spilling from Stavros’s bodyguard. He almost wished he hadn’t caught her—in fact he’d considered just missing her, but knew Stavros would have stopped the other boat. She allowed herself to be pulled back without a struggle. The bodyguard was bigger and much stronger than she was, and even if she could have caught him by surprise, what would be the point? None of Stavros’s men were going to let her leave the yacht against his orders. She smiled graciously at the driver and looked up at the bodyguard. He wasn’t Greek; she wasn’t certain exactly where he was from. He spoke with a Greek accent, but there was something off about him.

“You’re hurting me.” She kept her tone low, very low, her gaze on his face.

He let her go immediately, so fast as if her skin burned him. “I’m sorry, Ms. MacKenzie. Mr. Gratsos asked me to bring you back to him and I was afraid you’d fall into the sea if I didn’t keep hold of you. I didn’t realize how hard I was gripping you.”

He’s been afraid she’d make a scene, but strangely, that was all she could get from him. Why was that? How was the bodyguard protected from her psychic abilities in the same way Stavros was? It couldn’t be coincidence that two people who worked together had strong natural barriers, and yet Sid’s barrier was as strong as or stronger than Stavros’s, although it felt different.

Elle flashed him a quick, forgiving smile, very much in keeping with Sheena’s sweet personality. “I certainly wouldn’t want to fall into the sea with this dress on.”

He stepped back and indicated for her to make her way through the small knot of guests. Elle hesitated. “Sid, this is the last boat for shore and they’re already boarding. I have to get off.” Deliberately she glanced at her slim, diamond watch. “I have an appointment this afternoon.”

“Mr. Gratsos will get you to your appointment in time,” Sid assured.

That was a lie. He didn’t like lying to her. Whatever protection he had built on or had been provided with, his more intense emotions slipped through—unless he’d allowed it, which was possible. She could do that. Sid was worried about her, and if he was worried, she needed to be worried too. She stayed very still, measuring the distance to the boat. She was fast, but she doubted the boat would take her against Stavros’s orders.

Sid shook his head. “Don’t try it, Ms. MacKenzie. If Mr. Gratsos wants you here, you’ll stay.”

It was a warning. A clear warning. And had he read her mind? She didn’t think she’d given away her thoughts on her face. He looked at her directly, his dark eyes meeting hers. Her heart jumped at the caution, her mouth going dry. “Let me go now.”

For a moment regret showed in his eyes, but she knew he wasn’t going to cross his boss. “You’ll have to take that up with him.”

Elle nodded and made her way back toward the shipping magnate, very aware of Sid following directly behind her.

Stavros held out his hand to her, closing his fingers around hers to draw her to his side. “I thought you were trying to leave me.”

“I told you I couldn’t stay,” Elle reminded him. “I want to, Stavros, but I’ve already been gone long enough.” She was careful to keep her tone light and regretful even as she deliberately opened her senses and tried to psychically read him.

Stavros was very used to getting his way, and trying to force her to comply with his will would be something he might do without thinking it was wrong. It was her first real reprimand, gentle as she could make it when she really wanted to spit fire at him. He seemed to have a natural barrier in place that prevented her from sliding into his mind the way she did everyone else.

His eyes darkened to a stormy color. “I asked you to stay with me. To go to my home with me. I told you, Sheena, I’ve never brought a woman there.”

She took a deep breath. He was taking her to his island and she would be cut off from all aid. Did he suspect her? And if he did, did that mean he had something to hide? Already the engines were starting to rumble and she could feel the deck vibrating beneath her feet. “Stavros, maybe I should meet you there later, tomorrow or the day after.”

Stavros patted her hand and led her across the deck to seat her in a plush chair. “We need time together, Sheena. I want to spend a week together, just the two of us, and perhaps you’ll change your mind about me.”

“I don’t have enough clothes for a week,” Elle said, trying to be practical.

“I’ll send for them.”

“I’m not sleeping with you, Stavros. I told you I can’t be in a relationship right now, I’m not ready.”

“You told me this man broke your heart, Sheena. Who is he?”

She shrugged, suddenly concerned by the steel in his eyes. She had the uneasy feeling that if she named anyone, he might turn up dead. Which was silly, since up until now she’d been very certain that Stavros was no criminal. But then why were all her internal radars screaming at her?

“He’s of no consequence.”

“He must be, if you won’t consider another relationship.” Stavros drummed his fingers on the table. She’d seen him do that when he was deep in thought or very agitated. “Did you live with him? How long were you with him?”

“That isn’t your business,” Elle said firmly.

His eyes narrowed. “I can hire someone to find out these answers for me.”

Her heart jumped. He’d had her investigated. Dane had told her to be prepared for that. They had meticulously built her life and provided everything down to college pictures and records as well as a detailed past, but would it stand up to the kind of investigation a man like Stavros Gratsos would demand? Was this the reason he was taking her to his island? Because he’d discovered that she was undercover?

“Why are you pushing me?”

Stavros leaned toward her, his gaze locking with hers. “I want you. I have never wanted a woman the way I want you.”

Was that the simple truth? She doubted it. Sheena was beautiful and a woman of mystery and intelligence, the type that would attract and intrigue Stavros. But he wasn’t known for falling for women. He escorted them, spent time with them, but he inevitably walked away. Why was he so determined to claim Sheena for his own?

Elle sighed. “You’re going to have to get over it, Stavros. I’ll be as honest as possible with you. Birth control won’t work on me. I have this anomaly that runs in my family. No form of birth control works. Even if you used a condom, chances are still very high that I can get pregnant. I’m not doing that to you. Or to me, for that matter.”

His eyes darkened even more as he searched her face for the truth. She actually felt his mind reach out to hers and she pulled back, afraid for the first time that he might be able to read her as she did others. She allowed only the truth of her statement in her mind where he might catch her thoughts. Not only did he look intrigued, he looked pleased.

“You speak the truth.”

She nodded. “I have no reason to lie. I really can’t take the chance, and since I want children someday, I can’t take care of the problem permanently.”

“So you didn’t sleep with the man who broke your heart?”

She shook her head and looked out toward sea. The shore was fading as the yacht picked up speed, heading toward his private island.

Stavros let out his breath, drawing her attention back to him. “Then I will be your first. Your only.” There was deep satisfaction in his purring voice.

“I told you I can get pregnant. No, not can, Stavros. I
will
get pregnant.”

“I want children,” he said. “I have no problem with you getting pregnant.”

Her heart jumped. There it was. Stavros was handsome, charming, wealthy, and he wanted children. She was certain he was psychic. Why couldn’t the Drake house choose him? Maybe there was more than one man who would fit with her, and fate had intervened to give her another choice. Stavros Gratsos who was forcing her to accompany him home.

“Stavros,” she said gently, “you are the sweetest man, but you’re way out of my league. Half your guests wonder what you’re doing with me.”

“Let them wonder.”

Sid approached in his silent way and leaned down to whisper in Stavros’s ear. Stavros immediately patted her hand. “We’ll be home soon. I have to take this call.” He dropped a kiss on top of her head as if they had already settled everything and walked away.

Elle stayed by herself as they moved across the water, but either Sid or one of the other bodyguards hovered close to her, as if Stavros was afraid she might fling herself overboard. She fought with herself, trying to figure out whether she should try to reach out to Jackson. She knew it would take a trauma to reach her sisters across the distance, but Jackson—the worm—could find her just about anywhere. And why was that? Why did it have to be him when he didn’t want her? They weren’t that far from their destination—Stavros’s island was only a few miles off the mainland—and they were rapidly getting closer.

Elle took a breath and let it out. As the yacht approached the island, she could feel a faint buzzing in her head. At first it was annoying, but it began to swell in volume almost to the point of pain. Pressing her fingers to her temples in an effort to relieve the ache, she caught Stavros watching her. There was a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes, as if he knew of the pressure in her head. She glanced at Sid. Whatever she was feeling, so was he, but he hid it better. He kept walking with Stavros, his face turned away from his boss, but she knew that same pressure was in his head as well.