A Reluctant Companion (7 page)

His mouth twisted as he sat beside her sleeping form, drawn to her despite his desire not to be. With an impatient mutter directed solely at himself, he put his hand under her head and tilted it so it rested on his shoulder instead of the hot glass.

Examining the liquor, he had to stay the impulse to throw the crystal glass across the compartment like a crazy man. What was wrong with him? What had she done to him? Taking prisoners wasn’t his style. None of his lovers had ever been reluctant to be with him. The right thing to do was to let her go. As soon as they got to Seattle-Archer, he should send her home again, and never mind the fuel expenditures.

As she sighed in her sleep, her breath caressing his neck, he knew he wasn’t going to do the right thing. He couldn’t let her go. Not yet. Even not knowing why he was compelled to keep her couldn’t make him let her go. Tiernan shied away from probing too deeply into his reasons. There were far more important things to think about than one woman.

Still, his thoughts repeatedly wandered back to her, and the previous night, as they completed the trip back home. The cognac in his glass remained untouched, and he closed his eyes, allowing himself a brief time to savor memories of last night. By the time they arrived home, he would be hard as a steel rod if he didn’t find a way to distract himself. Even knowing he had a long list of tasks awaiting him upon his arrival at the capitol, meaning it would be hours before he could visit her bed again, didn’t provide enough impetus for him to stop torturing himself with remembered passion.

*****

Madison woke with a start as the brakes squealed and the train rocked forward. She would have fallen if not for the solid arm that came around her waist. Eyes wide, and a tad disoriented from her nap, she looked at Tiernan. For a second, she started to smile at him, before everything came rushing back. In an instant, she killed the action, setting her expression to a distant one instead. “Thank you for catching me,” she said with utmost politeness. Earlier in the trip, she had remembered learning about a Cold War and had decided upon that approach with Tiernan. Anger, threats, and fighting would not win her escape, but coldness and distance might be just what she needed to push him away.

“My pleasure,” he said in the same aloof tone, but his eyes sparkled with mocking. He rose to his feet, not offering her further assistance. Tiernan turned away from her to address Cleo. “Get her settled in my suite please.” Without looking back, he walked out of the car and to the platform, where a small group of uniformed officers awaited him.

She tried not to stiffen as Cleo put a hand on her arm. “I guess you have guard duties,” she sniped.

Cleo frowned. “What?”

“Don’t pretend you’re on my side.”

The other woman looked hurt. “I don’t understand.”

With a probing gaze, Madison decided she really didn’t comprehend the situation. Cleo was apparently not privy to the information that Tiernan had snatched her away from her family. Sighing, she relaxed. “Sorry, never mind. I get grouchy after naps.”

Cleo’s warm smile returned. “That’s okay. Come on, let’s see your new home.”

She managed a wan smile. “Great.” Following Cleo from the train, she couldn’t help scanning the area for Tiernan. Just to make sure she was out of his reach for a time, she assured herself. Otherwise, she didn’t care what he was doing or where he had gone.

They left the train platform and walked across the street to an imposing building near the waterfront. It must have once been a museum or something, because it was huge and imposing. The only sign said “Seattle-Archer Capitol Building.” With a sigh of reluctance, she walked beside Cleo up the many marble stairs. Her guide took her on a short tour of the government building before steering Madison toward another flight of stairs.

“The commander’s, guests, and companions’ quarters are on the third floor.” They bypassed the second floor, not stopping until they emerged onto the third floor. With brisk steps that should have been impossible in her incredibly high heels, Cleo led her down a hallway covered with muted gold carpeting that more than adequately cushioned each step.

At the end of the hallway, she opened a set of French doors similar to the ones in Blaney’s household, though larger and more elaborate. Stepping back, Cleo waved to indicate she should go first.

Despite her determination not to be impressed, she gasped with awe. The bed was huge, with a canopy and gauzy drapes. The black shiny-looking bedspread invited touching, and she turned away to avoid temptation. The solid wooden furniture gleamed with patina of age.

“Where’s my room?” she asked, hoping she sounded nonchalant about the sight before her.

Cleo shrugged. “You’re looking at it, as far as I know, honey. Tiernan said to put you in his suite.” She frowned as she said the words.

“Is that strange?” asked Madison.

Once again, Cleo shrugged. “It’s never been done before, but I’m not going to question Tiernan’s orders.” Her tone implied only a fool would do so.

Making a non-committal sound, she walked around the room, examining everything closely. When Cleo said, “I have to take care of some things,” she waved at her as the other woman left Tiernan’s room.

Her room, at least for now. He hadn’t exaggerated when he said it would be a new lifestyle. Everything was immaculate and elegant. She’d bet there was a huge tub with running water in the bathroom she hadn’t found yet. No doubt, she could ask for anything she wanted to eat, and it would appear as if by magic. The tradeoff was her body and her freedom.

She grimaced. That was not a worthy trade. The body part she could handle, as much as it shamed her to admit. It was no hardship to share his bed. In fact, she suspected it would be a lot harder to keep from responding when she launched her first battle in the war. Keeping the thoughts of her family in mind would be enough to get her through the challenge, she hoped. They needed her in a way Tiernan couldn’t understand, since he was practically a prince, born to this lifestyle. She couldn’t imagine he’d ever had to sacrifice for something he needed, or dealt with bitter disappointment when it was unattainable.

She wandered to the closet, opening it to snoop shamelessly through his clothes. There were more of the white cotton shirts, neatly pressed trousers, and several uniform jackets. He had six pairs of shoes, and she wondered why he needed all those. As she opened a drawer in dresser against the walk-in’s wall, she closed it quickly upon realizing it was his underwear.

Speaking of, where was her underwear? She hadn’t been allowed to pack any, or other clothes. All of her possessions remained behind, including the wooden brush her father had carved for her and filled with horsehair bristles as a gift for her fourteenth birthday. Surely, he didn’t expect her to stay naked all the time?

Deciding to discover the answer, she walked to the door, intent on finding Cleo. Madison drew to a halt at the sight of a solider standing in the hallway outside the French doors. “Um, hello.”

He inclined his head. “Good afternoon, Miss Cole.”

She started to step out of the room, but his posture shifted slightly to block her. “Excuse me,” she said, trying to check her impatience.

The soldier’s bland expression revealed nothing. “I apologize, but my orders are to ensure you stay in your room, miss.”

Anger surged through her, but she kept her tone cool when she said, “I see. Could you get Cleo Black for me then?”

“I’m not allowed to leave my post.”

She rolled her eyes. “Okay, then maybe you can help me.”

He looked doubtful, but nodded. “I’ll try.”

“Where do I get clothes? I mean, I have exactly one pair of underwear that I’m wearing, and they won’t be fresh in another day or so. I don’t have a bra, and the clothes I’m wearing don’t quite fit.”

He looked a little pale. “I’m sorry, but I don’t—”

Embracing her mean streak, though she knew it was really Tiernan she wanted to be laying into, rather than this poor young man, she persisted. “Another thing. What do I do about feminine hygiene?” At his blank look, she said, “I’m supposed to start bleeding in a few days. Where do I get supplies for that? Can you tell me those things?”

There was a green tinge to his skin. “No, but let me get someone to escort Miss Black here.”

“Thanks.” She flashed a sunny smile, though she didn’t feel at all cheerful, even after torturing the poor kid. The slam of the door behind her probably betrayed her true irritation. As she waited for Cleo, she paced, anger powering each step. How dare he confine her to this room? So much for her option of choosing to be a willing companion instead of a prisoner.

Of course, she wasn’t actually planning to be all that willing, was she? And she would escape if the opportunity presented itself. Assuming she could get out of Seattle-Archer, she should be safe to return home. For whatever reason Tiernan wanted her, surely it wasn’t enough to compel him to search for her or follow her back to Yakima-Grace.

This turn of events redoubled her determination to resist Tiernan and thwart him at every opportunity. It was about time he found out he couldn’t always have what he wanted, at least not easily.

Chapter Five

Tiernan could barely keep his pace casual instead of breaking into a jog as he neared the door to his room. Knowing Madison was on the other side put a bounce in his step. He wasn’t looking forward to the initial pouting in which she was likely to engage, but once that was over, a night of pleasure loomed.

He opened one of the doors slowly, as if he had all the time in the world, strolling through in the same manner. He stumbled for just a moment at the sight of Madison sitting at the table, dinner already laid out. It was so domestic, and so alien, that it took his breath away. His personal companions rarely joined him before bedtime and were always gone by morning. Only the companions he selected on his travels had dinner with him or stayed in his bed, and that was usually a strategy he employed to put them at ease and get somewhat acquainted before sex.

She looked right in his room, a black nightgown with a plunging V-neck skimming her curves. One of the straps had slipped off her shoulder in an enticing fashion, but he didn’t think it was a deliberate attempt to induce desire. Judging by her cool look, she was going to make him work for it.

He stripped off his uniform jacket, hanging it on a hook by the door before walking over to join her. “Good evening, Madison.”

“Hello.”

A man could catch a cold from that tone. He had to bite back a grin. “You look lovely.”

She granted him a patently false smile. “Thank you. It was the least revealing of the completely unsuitable clothes Cleo brought me.”

Tiernan allowed a small smile. “Don’t blame her. She was simply doing as I directed.”

“Commanded, don’t you mean?” she asked in a saccharine tone.

Lifting a shoulder, he said, “Same difference.” After pulling out a chair, he sat down to join her. “Thank you for having dinner waiting.”

“Again, that was Cleo.” Her expression let him know she’d rather starve alongside him than go out of her way to ensure he ate. It made him want to chuckle, which surprised him. He hadn’t expected to enjoy the sulking.

He lifted his fork, and she did the same after a moment. After a couple of bites, he asked, “Did you settle in nicely?”

“Uh huh.”

Another bite, another question, to which she replied, “Fine.” The pattern continued until Tiernan found his enjoyment of their clash fading, quickly replaced by irritation. They were barely halfway through their plates when he’d had enough.

Putting down his fork, he pushed back his chair and stood up. “Since you clearly have no interest in polite conversation over dinner, let’s dispense with this.”

Eyes wide, she put down the fork she’d been holding. “What?”

His harsh laugh made her jump. “Another monosyllable. I’d ask if you’re doing it deliberately to piss me off, but I already know the answer.”

A hint of defiance sparkled in her eyes, and she tilted up her chin. “Fine.” She rose and started to turn from him, but stopped when he put his hands on her arms.

“Let’s go straight to dessert.” He hesitated, waiting for her refusal, but she stayed still. Slowly, he brushed the hair away from her delectable neck so he could kiss the smooth expanse of skin. She remained immobile in his arms, but he felt her shudder a bit when he nipped her. “You taste better than anything sweet.”