Dare to be Mine (13 page)

"I have no idea what you are
talking about!" Elyssa cried. Covering her face with her hands at the
realization she'd been kissing her husband's son, besides having countless
impure thoughts about him, Elyssa moaned aloud. "Why did you not tell me
Percy is your father?"

"Everyone within the walls of
Greystone knows who I am, Elyssa. And it is obvious why you failed to mention
you are wed to my father, isn’t it?" Elyssa's mind was in turmoil over the
terrible situation. Just as she'd been coming to realize her true feelings
toward Daniel, life dealt her yet another cruel blow. The knowledge that she
would never be free to be with Daniel left Elyssa's heart feeling withered and
cold.

Still she did not understand Daniel's
merciless allegations. What would ever make him think she and Percy were
plotting against him? The look of malice in his eyes made Elyssa ache for the
obvious hurt he was experiencing. How could she help him, though, when all he
had were accusations she had no answers
for.

"Daniel, I had no idea," she
began, only to see the disbelief in his eyes and in his stance. "I don't
know what you think I have done, but I assure you I would never knowingly hurt
you."

"Liar," Daniel softly replied,
grabbing his coat before returning to grip Elyssa's wrist and pull her toward
the door.

"What are you doing?" Elyssa
shrieked, horrified that he meant to drag her out into the cold night in
nothing but her gown and robe, not even a thin pair of slippers to warm her
bare feet.

"I am going to finish what you
started all those nights ago." Elyssa's steps faltered as she saw the look
in Daniel's eyes change from wrath to one even more dangerous.
Lust.
Her skin traitorously singed from the heated look he
gave her, his eyes intentionally dwelling on the hint of cleavage above her
gown before looking back into her eyes. Daniel's determined look gave cause for
utter alarm and before Elyssa could voice her objections aloud, they were
interrupted by her mother.

"I say, sir, where do you think you
are taking my daughter?" Annoyed at the minor intrusion, Daniel looked
coolly up at the lovely woman coming hurriedly toward them. She was simply an
older version of Elyssa and Daniel fleetingly thought that Elyssa had nothing
to fear by getting older, for the woman was still quite beautiful.

Undaunted, Daniel replied in a strong
voice, "I am taking your daughter for a ride."

"A ride at this
hour?
And in her nightclothes?
I
forbid it! And for your information, my daughter is a married woman. You must
leave here at once!"

"I am leaving now, Lady Monroe. And
I am taking my father's wife with me." Daniel ignored the loud gasp at
that revelation and continued, "We have much to talk about and require
more privacy. I shall return your daughter unharmed when we are finished
talking,
and no sooner than that. Good night, madame;
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g">CHAPTER ."

Elyssa's mother helplessly held out her
hand to Elyssa as she watched her daughter pulled through the front door and
out into the cold night. She rushed to look out the window, still alarmed, but
pleased to note that at least the young duke had surrendered his coat to place
about her daughter's shoulders. If only her husband were here instead of out
spending more of their money at the clubs! Not that he could have done anymore
for Elyssa than she had. The infamous duke was known to fear no one. And he had
a reputation of getting what he wanted.
Always.

Whatever business Elyssa had with the
handsome rogue her mother had no idea, but her mind helplessly dwelled on the
fact that he indeed had looks enough to charm a serpent. Elyssa had best beware
such a dominating man. And she had best do nothing to remove herself from her
husband's good graces, for all their sakes.

Elyssa tossed Daniel's coat onto the
seat the moment they were ensconced in his carriage, as if the touch of it
offended her. Her chest heaved in fear and confusion and Elyssa's fingers
trembled as she clutched her robe tighter about her. Daniel's words were
jumbled as Elyssa listened to him yell out to the driver. Her gaze went to the
house and Elyssa saw the outline of her mother still at the window, watching
and no doubt worrying about her daughter's well being.

The fog misted eerily about the coach as
it departed the premises, and any safety Elyssa might have previously felt
being in Daniel's presence had long since vanished. He was truly enraged,
although there were still too many missing pieces of the puzzle for Elyssa to
figure it out.

In truth, she wasn't certain she wanted
to know. The staggering realization was still cruelly sinking into her mind,
and the effect was numbing. Elyssa sank a bit deeper into the plush seat as she
saw the wrath emanating from Daniel's stormy eyes, dark as the night now.
Staring a hole into her.
Deciding her fate, no doubt, and
Elyssa could take the heated silence no longer.

"Where are you taking me?" her
shaky voice managed.

"To the home I have been staying
at. We need complete privacy, no interruptions. I mean to have my questions
answered. I deserve that much at least." Elyssa's shivering did not go
unnoticed and Daniel gave her a dark, cruel smile.

Panic overtook Elyssa and she moved
toward the carriage door. "I am not going anywhere with you!" Elyssa’s
fingers managed to open the door as Daniel jerk>

"What the hell is the matter with
you? Do you want to kill yourself falling out of a speeding coach?" he
roared.

Elyssa tried moving off Daniel's lap,
her precarious position quite disturbing. She nearly managed, but for Daniel
pulling her up by the arms, once again securing her a position squarely on his
lap, their faces nearly nose to nose.

Daniel's grip was like steel about
Elyssa's arms, and curse her black heart, she was close to bewitching him again
simply by staring at him with those liquid pools of emerald, the mistiness in
them imploring him to soften his grip. The scent of her, for Elyssa smelled of
flowers and vanilla, her cascading hair falling carelessly about her frightened
face. How could he
not
have been taken in by such beauty?

Daniel was helpless to cover her mouth
with his own, his fury notwithstanding. He hated himself in that instant, yet
Elyssa's lips were water to a thirsting man. He could feel her halfhearted
struggle against his onslaught, heard her moan echo in his ears, but Daniel
would not release her. Not yet.

His tongue scorched her lips, invaded
her mouth, but it was a hollow victory, for Elyssa still did not surrender to
him. Feeling he'd been the one conquered, and not wanting Elyssa to see how she
still affected him, Daniel forced himself to stop the kiss, all but tossing her
to the seat across from him.

Elyssa wiped the back of her hand over
her mouth, tears escaping her eyes. Daniel had managed to sully the sacred
memory of the sweet kisses they'd ever shared, and it was breaking her heart.
Her simple action angered Daniel like nothing else could and he continued his
tirade as if the kiss he'd just stolen had never taken place.

"How do you sleep at night,
lady?"

"Please, Daniel," she cried.
"Tell me how I have wronged you, for as I see it, you are the one that has
taken unfair advantage of me.”

"You want me to speak your
blasphemies aloud?" Daniel taunted. Elyssa jerked a nod, her hands rubbing
her arms against the cold, though she knew not if it was the cold of the night
or from Daniel's heart that chilled her more.>

"You used your looks and your charm
to lure my father into marrying you for his money. You managed to steal away my
inheritance, then you set out to subtly seduce me, your victim, as one last
slap in the face."

Elyssa's eyes narrowed as she listened
to Daniel's foreign words. She had no idea what he meant about stealing from
him, though his accusation that she had wed his father for money rang too close
to the truth, thanks to her parents.

"How have I stolen your
birthright?" Elyssa asked, flustered. "My God, however did I set out
to seduce you? It was you who tried to corrupt me every time we met!"

"And how coincidental those
meetings were, Elyssa, weren't they?" Daniel asked sarcastically.
"Although I still cannot fathom how you managed to stumble upon me
practically naked on the first night I arrived, except to assume you were off
to meet another lover in the stables. My father doesn't even realize what an
adulteress you
are,
does he?"

Fairly lunging from her seat, Elyssa
reached across and slapped Daniel across the whole of his cheek before either
of them realized it. If she could have, Elyssa would have clawed his eyes out,
so angry and hurt was she at his false charges.

Daniel easily caught Elyssa's hand
before she was able to make good another blow to his face, shoving her back
into her seat, and pinning her captive beneath the weight of his body. His
breathing was harsh, his fingers trembling in rage. Her robe had become untied
during the struggle and Daniel found himself having a hard time resisting the
soft swell of her breasts above the neckline of her gown. What was it about the
temptress that waged such an inner battle within Daniel? Was he truly so weak a
man he could not withstand the mere sight of her? Hell, he'd been the ultimate
pillar of rogues everywhere for years! What was it about this girl that
obsessed him so?

Daniel was spared further thought as he
heard the knock at the carriage door. They had arrived. Daniel yanked Elyssa's
robe about her gown, his swift angry
movements
indication that things were not likely to get any better simply because they'd
arrived at their destination. Daniel stepped down and turned to help Elyssa
out, though it was more of a rude yank on her hand. Forcing his coat about her
shoulders, Elyssa did not refuse the warm garment this time, for she didn't
wish anyone to see her in such a state.

The home was imposing and to all
appearances;
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g">CHAPTER it was dark and silent for the night. Before she could ask where
they were, Daniel informed Elyssa they were at his friend, Blake's, home, a
close friend that had insisted Daniel stay there during his trip.

The staid butler allowed their entrance
and to his credit, showed no surprise at the master's friend bringing in a young
woman with bare feet and only a nightgown on beneath Lord Fredrickson's coat.
Elyssa would have cried out for help, but she assumed correctly that she would
have received none, for how could the elderly butler hope to overtake Daniel?

She was in his lair now, and was wise
enough to know that she'd best comply with his coming interrogation and get it
over with. And although Daniel was not himself, Elyssa still believed he would
return her home unharmed as he had assured her mother.

They went upstairs, then down an
unending hall, passing several bedroom doors along the way. A chill of unease
went up Elyssa's spine at the realization he meant to take her to his chambers
rather than the study or the parlor, or anywhere else that was safe. Finally
they reached Daniel's room and he unceremoniously kicked the door shut behind
him, all but tossing Elyssa away from his clutches now that she was within his
prison. She watched as he turned the key in the lock and carelessly tossed it
across the room onto the dresser.

Her eyes followed the path of the key as
it landed among Daniel's things, the clutter preventing her from seeing exactly
where it was. Her thoughts transparent, Daniel said, "I would advise
against it, Elyssa. You are not going anywhere, so don't make it worse by
trying to escape before I am done with you."

The detachment in his voice formed a
crack inside her heart. For all that they could never be
together,
Elyssa truly cared about Daniel in the forbidden recesses of her heart. That he
was now disgusted and irate with her made Elyssa ache with the realization her
memories would now be tainted and best forgotten. For now though, she must do
her best not to let Daniel see how his hurtful behavior was affecting her.

Forcing a facade of tolerant boredom,
Elyssa did her best to keep her voice from shaking. "Then get on with it,
Daniel. Your antics are beginning to bore me." Bravo, she silently
applauded herself, for Elyssa found hope in Daniel's eyes that perhaps she was
not the scared little mouse he was set on belittling.

"Fine."
Daniel began slowly stalking toward Elyssa. It was all she could do to keep
from running across the huge bedroom. Finally he reached her, his fingers
reaching out to caress her smooth>

Daniel noted the confused look on
Elyssa's face as he continued, his leisure steps circling Elyssa as if she were
his prey about to be devoured. "Did you believe all those nasty little
rumors you heard about me? Surely you thought I would remain much too busy in
Paris carousing and gambling, yes?"

Elyssa remained perfectly still, while
inside her heart was beating furiously. For even in the midst of such cynicism
and distrust, Elyssa could not deny the carnal attraction for Daniel that she
was still prisoner to. How she had dared dream of this so many lonely nights.
The two of them alone together, away from everyone and everything.
But her dreams had not involved Daniel's complete dislike and mistrust of her.