Sea of Desire (25 page)

But not this time.

Folding her arms over breasts tight with
longing for his touch, Merideth marched to the doors leading to the
balcony. She’d barely gripped the brass handle when he grabbed her
from behind, pushing her away from the glass-paned doors and
pressing her against the watered-silk wall.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she
sputtered, shoving at his hard chest to no avail.

All manner of responses came to mind. His
attempt to keep her from opening the balcony door. His fear that
Franklin was right and there might be someone out there right now
waiting to kill her. But he didn’t think she’d believe him.

And then, Jared wasn’t sure that
was
the real reason he was pressed against her. When he’d entered, her
expression had been so full of disdain. He hadn’t expected a
loving, welcome... but disdain? It would be interesting to see how
long her eyes held their frosty edge if he kissed her.

“Don’t! I’ll scream.” Merideth jerked her
head to the side to avoid the descent of his lips. But his attack
was only deterred, not repelled. His mouth wet a spot on the side
of her neck, just below her ear, and Merideth couldn’t suppress the
moan of desire.

Jared smiled against her flesh. His palm slid
between their bodies and found her breast, berry hard and straining
against the clinging silk. His lower body arched forward, showing
her his desire was as hot as hers.

And she seemed to melt around him.

For a moment Jared found his control sifting
away. What had started as an attempt to prove something to her, as
well as to himself, was fast taking over his good sense. He’d
decided, after leaving Franklin, to spirit her away as quickly as
possible. Tonight. Before anyone was the wiser.

If he had to take her back to Land’s End...
and it appeared he did... it was best to accomplish it quickly.

But now his resolve was battling his desire.
Carrying her to the bed and burying himself deep inside her, or
just taking her here, against the wall—such was all he could think
about. And she’d let him. Jared didn’t have to plunge into her
moist heat to know she was ready for him.

He closed his eyes and tasted the sweet honey
of her lips. But with the sensual thrill came the flash of a
memory—the expression on her face when the highwayman had aimed his
pistol at her.

With a final sweep of his tongue, Jared broke
the kiss. His forehead rested momentarily against hers as he fought
for control. Then, before she could protest, he grabbed her arm and
pulled her toward the chifforobe. Still holding onto her, he yanked
open the door and pulled out a gown.

“Get dressed,” he said, holding it out toward
her.

“But I...” Merideth sucked in her breath as
he snatched open the wrapper and drew it off her shoulders. “Stop
that.” Before she was certain what “that” was, he was gathering the
gown and tossing it over her head, not bothering to hide the regret
in his eyes as he covered her nakedness. “What?” Merideth spit hair
from her mouth as he pulled the neckline over her head. “What are
you doing?”

“Remember what I told you about my
great-grandfather?” Jared smoothed the bodice down over her breasts
and waist.

“Your... You mean the pirate?”

“Aye.” Jared glanced up from his search for a
pair of slippers.

“What about him?” Merideth was having a hard
time following what he was doing. What he was saying.

“I told you what he did with beautiful
women.”

Merideth hopped on one foot as the captain
grabbed her ankle and stuck her foot into a shoe. “You mean that he
kidnapped them?”

Jared stood, towering over her. For a moment
he only stared. Then he grinned, the dimple dancing to life in his
cheek. “Consider yourself kidnapped... again.”

“Where in the hell have you been?”

Jared stood hands-on-hips on the
Carolina
’s deck, glaring at his cousin. Daniel Wallis
appeared nonplussed as he crossed the gangplank and ambled toward
the ship’s captain.

“Greetings to you too, Cousin Jared.”

“Don’t give me any of your dubious charm. I
asked you a question.”

“A question I’m not at liberty to answer,
cousin.” Daniel shaded his eyes and stared into the rigging. “My,
the
Carolina
looks in fine form.”

“She is, no thanks to you. She could have
been lost off the coast of England along with all on board. All
because I was off running some wild-goose chase for you.”

The mirth left Daniel’s pale-green eyes.
“This is not something we should discuss here. As a matter of fact,
I’ve come to ask you to join me in town. I’ve let a room and we can
talk there without being disturbed.”

Jared held up his hand. “I don’t wish to hear
any more. We set sail from Morlaix with the evening tide, and I’ve
work to do.”

“Your destination is what I must speak with
you about.”

“My destination is none of your
business.”

“You misunderstand, cousin. I already know
your destination. I also know taking Lady Merideth back to Land’s
End is ill advised.”

Jared tried to hide his surprise that Daniel
knew where he was going and why. He had told no one... not even his
crew. They might have suspected when he brought Merideth Banistar
back on board that they were taking her home, but Jared had tried
to make it appear that she was only staying with him for their
mutual enjoyment. He had kept her in the cabin—not without protest
from her. And he’d stayed close by her side. Even Padriac looked on
him with envy, thinking he was enjoying a passionate affair before
facing the rigors of sea battle again.

But contrary to the impression Jared had
tried to convey, he’d kept his distance from Merideth. And having
her near, not touching her, was taking its toll on his
patience.

It showed in the narrowing of his eyes, and
the set of his jaw. “I won’t listen to any more. You refuse to tell
me where you’ve been. Fine. I’ll accept this misadventure for what
it is. But I am out, repeat,
out
, of the spy business.”

“I understand your reluctance—”

“You misunderstand, Daniel.” Jared turned his
face into the brisk breeze blowing up the river and strove to
control his anger. “It isn’t a matter of my being reluctant. A man
was killed—Lord Alfred was killed over this scrap of information
that the Americans don’t even desire.” Jared clenched his hands
behind his back. “
I
was to be hanged for his murder.”
Jared’s brow arched. “You don’t appear surprised.”

“Because I’m not. Listen, cousin, this is far
more complex than you can imagine.”

“Not according to Dr. Franklin.”

Daniel made a noise with his mouth that
bordered on disdain. “I admire Ben,” he said, belying his obvious
attitude. “But he doesn’t always know what’s best as far as
negotiations with the French are concerned.”

“He isn’t interested in the name of any
traitors.”

“Which in itself should have given you a
sense of his incompetence. How couldn’t he be interested to know
the name of a Judas in his midst?”

Jared shrugged, unable to argue the point,
unwilling to even try. “It matters naught. I had no name to give
him. Lord Alfred died before he could do anything but tell me his
daughter was involved. And she refuses to say... or mayhap she
doesn’t know,” Jared added. As time went by he was more and more
inclined to believe the latter.

“So that’s it then?” Daniel followed Jared up
the ladder to the quarterdeck.

“As far as I’m concerned, aye.” Unrolling a
chart, Jared began to examine it, hoping the discussion closed. But
in the end he relented and accompanied his cousin into town.

The chance to learn more about his brother’s
death was something Jared could not resist. Daniel knew it. Jared
knew he did. So when Daniel intimated a link existed between Lord
Alfred’s death and John’s, Jared couldn’t resist trying to find out
more.

“How long do you plan to keep me a prisoner
down here?” It was the question she had asked near every day since
she and the captain had arrived in Morlaix. And in truth she asked
it now more out of habit than with any thought that she’d discover
the answer.

“Until I deposit you safely on British soil,”
her captor answered offhandedly.

Merideth leaned back against the window seat,
where she was reading a book about the growing seasons of
Carolina—one of several the captain had on the subject. Cocking her
head to the side, she watched Jared Blackstone as he settled into
the chair beside his desk. He usually bristled at her inquiries
about her captivity. Actually, that was the main reason she
continued to ask. But today he barely seemed to notice her or her
question.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen the sun.”
Merideth closed the book and set it upon the cushion beside
her.

“May I suggest you but turn your head,” Jared
said without looking up.

Merideth glanced out the transom window and
scowled. “I meant to say, ‘tis been so long since I’ve been
out
in the sunshine.”

“Think of all the sunspots you’ve avoided
getting on your nose.”

“I do
not
get sunspots.”

He glanced up at her and Merideth felt heat
seep up her neck into her cheeks. She hadn’t been able to meet his
eyes without blushing since the night he’d kidnapped her for the
second time... the night they’d made love. Merideth raised her
chin, daring him to say anything about her high color, but he only
looked back down at the chart on his desk.

He basically ignored her.

He’d basically ignored her since they’d
stolen away from Passy.

And it was irritating beyond belief.

Not that Merideth wanted a repeat of the
night in his arms. After considerable reflection she decided that
that had been caused by a temporary— hopefully— lapse in her
ability to reason.

But she didn’t like being ignored.

“Is that a map of the waters around Land’s
End?” Merideth kept her gaze carefully fixed on the desk top so she
wouldn’t meet his green eyes when he looked up.

“Nay. ‘Tis of the route to the
Carolinas.”

“In the New World?” Merideth forgot to keep
her lashes lowered.

“Aye.” Jared forgot to ignore his
captive.

For long moments their gazes locked.

Merideth’s knees felt weak, and she could
hear her heart pounding in her chest. His gaze warmed her. The
green eyes, so like the color of the sea on a clear day, drew her
with a force she couldn’t resist.

Pressing palms to desk top, Jared stood. He
was around the side of the chair before he realized he’d moved.
Going to her seemed the most natural thing in the world.

The knock on the cabin door jolted them both.
Merideth flopped back onto the window seat, wondering when she’d
stood. She grabbed up the book on agriculture. Jared turned,
scooping up the chart and rolling it into a cylinder, which he
passed from one hand to the other. “Enter,” he said, not surprised
at the gruffness in his voice.

“Ah, Cousin Jared, there you are.”

Jared’s eyes widened in surprise, then
narrowed as he stared at Daniel. After listening to Daniel this
morning, Jared had agreed to take him, and his cargo, to Charles
Town. But Jared had also insisted upon one stipulation—and Daniel
was breaking it by coming to the cabin.

But Daniel, as he strolled into the captain’s
cabin, acted as if he’d never promised to avoid any contact with
Merideth Banistar. “Oh, do present me to this lovely lady or I
shall perish.” He moved steadily toward Merideth, and Jared had no
alternative but to make the introductions. He saw a spark of
recognition light up Merideth’s eyes when he said his cousin’s
name. She glanced at Jared; then her attention returned to
Daniel.

“Daniel Wallis,” she repeated the name.
“Captain Blackstone’s cousin.” Her voice was tight. “I see the
family resemblance.” In actuality, Daniel was almost like a pale,
miniature copy of the captain. The features were similar, regular
and aristocratic. But what on Jared appeared undeniably strong and
handsome, was on the cousin feminine... almost pretty.