Captive Pride (26 page)

“What is it?” Her tone was sharp with irritation.

“It's me, ma'am, Peggy….” Aware that Eve had wanted to be undisturbed, she opened the door only a crack and peeked inside.

“Yes, I gathered that. What do you want?”

“It's Lord Radcliffe, ma'am. He's downstairs, and he wants to see you.”

“Geoffrey…” Eve remarked more to herself than to Peggy. “All right. Tell him I'll be down shortly. Give him a drink or something.”

“Yes, ma'am. I will.”

When Peggy had gone, Eve quickly styled her hair back into a sedate bun and then stood up to straighten her skirts. Originally, after setting her sights on Kincade, Eve had sought to end all intimacies with Geoffrey, but she was now thinking better of the idea. Kincade's refusal to bed her had pleased her emotionally but left her decidedly hungry for a man. While she wanted no future with Geoffrey, she certainly wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to enjoy his sensual company, if he was so disposed. A small, cunning smile curved her perfect lips as she thought of how easy it would be to seduce Geoffrey, and she started downstairs with just that goal in mind.

“Geoffrey, darling…” Eve swept into the parlor with all her usual aplomb, and she was thrilled to see the spark of desire in his eyes as he came to his feet.

“Eve…” Geoffrey's cool tone belied the heat of his gaze as he greeted her.

“I'm so glad you dropped by,” she told him with saccharine sweetness as they both sat down on the sofa.

“Really?” he drawled in mocking disbelief. “Somehow I hadn't thought you would be.”

“Come now, Geoffrey.” Eve tapped his arm in a light, flirtatious manner. “Whatever can you mean?”

Geoffrey knew Eve very well, and he did not appreciate her using her artful, manipulative ways on him. It tested his already sore temper, and he grabbed her hand in a viselike grip.

“I believe you know what I mean, Eve.” His words were a low, threatening growl as his hold on her tightened.

“Geoffrey…what do you want?” Eve's eyes widened slightly as his grip became painful. She struggled to pull free, but her efforts were to no avail.

His gaze raked over her lasciviously before he answered in a deceptively casual tone, “I've merely stopped by for a visit.” He released her abruptly.

Eve eyed him cautiously as she rubbed her wrist. She had never seen this unpredictable side of Geoffrey before, and she was startled by it. Always in the past he'd been malleable and quite easy to influence, but today…today there was something very ominous about him. In a strange way, it excited her even as it frightened her.

“Would you care for another drink?” she offered, seeing his half-filled glass on the table.

“No. I didn't come here to drink, Eve, and you know it. Why do you feel it necessary to play coy with me?”

“I'm hardly playing coy with you, Geoffrey,” Eve answered with as much indignation as she could muster.

“I wish that were true, my sweet, but I've seen and heard enough for myself lately to know exactly where your interests now
lie
….” He stressed the last word with snide meaning.

“I'm sure I don't know what you mean.” She was deliberately evasive.

“Your portrayal of innocence is not amusing, Eve.” His gaze was hooded as he regarded her. “You made every effort to avoid me at the Demorests' ball, and then you left with Noah Kincade. The two of you have also shared a dinner assignation here just the other evening. I may be many things, darling, but I am no fool.”

“I never thought you were.” Eve was finding his manner far too overbearing.

He laughed harshly at her answer. “Come now, my dear, you tried to make a fool of me, and I'm here to let you know that you've failed. If I want you, Eve, I'll take you, and if I decide I don't want you anymore, then I'll be the one to end it. Do you understand me?”

She stared at him in silent wonder. Could this be the same Geoffrey who only several weeks ago had scurried to do whatever she asked? Had her flirtation with Kincade changed him so?

“I take it by your silence that you do understand.” He put an arm about her waist and drew her closer.

Eve was mesmerized by his more forceful personality, and she did not try to resist him.

“I think it's important that you know I don't share what is mine with anyone, and you, my precious Eve, are mine!”

His mouth ground down on hers in a brutal assault that left no doubt in her mind as to his emotions. He was furious with her, and he was here to prove to himself and to her that she was still his.

A short time before Eve would have fought his domination, but she found this new, assertive Geoffrey much more appealing. Since she knew Kincade wouldn't be coming to her bed any time soon, she hungrily accepted his kiss, her arms slipping around his neck to entice him even closer.

Geoffrey was caught totally off guard by her response. He had expected her to fight…to argue…to refuse his advances, but instead she was submitting to him almost eagerly. Having temporarily lost his element of anger and vengeance in the face of her surrender, he softened his kiss to a more coaxing, tantalizing exchange.

“Geoffrey…it's been so long….” Eve invited when they broke apart for a moment. “Let's go up to my room, where we won't run the risk of being interrupted.”

She took his hand, and together they left the room with one thing and one thing only on both of their minds.

It was a long time later that they lay together, limbs intertwined on the wide softness of her bed. Sex between them had always been inventive and satisfying, but today there had been a new element to their coming together…the element of provocation.

Despite his deceptively calm demeanor, once Geoffrey had gotten her into bed, he'd been completely determined to control her. She had taunted him with her interest in Kincade, and Geoffrey was now resolved to prove to her that he was the better man. He knew her body as well as he knew his own, and he'd played upon her senses until she'd been crying out for him to satisfy her needs. Even then he'd refrained from giving her what she had so craved and had teased her with his body until she nearly fainted from the power of her desire. Only when she had completely surrendered to his will did he finally take her to the heights of ecstasy.

The moment of domination had given Geoffrey a supreme sense of power more stimulating than any sexual adventure they had ever shared. He'd held himself in restraint until the last possible second, enjoying the thrill of conquering her body as long as he could before seeking his own release.

Eve lay sated and relaxed beneath Geoffrey. They had always gone on well together, but what had happened between them just now had been different from anything she'd ever experienced, and she wasn't quite sure if she'd truly enjoyed it or not. Geoffrey had mastered her. There was no other way she could describe it, and even as his caress had aroused, it had also degraded. His demanding, insistent touch had left her with no will of her own. She had been mindless in her need, and the discovery that he could reduce her to that left her unsure of herself. She was the one used to being in control.

Geoffrey braced himself above her on his elbows and smiled down at her in triumph as he began to move within her.

“Geoffrey?” Eve was amazed to find that he was ready for her again.

“Ah, yes, my dear. We have a lot of time to make up for and a lot of things to talk about….”

“We do?” The question was a gasp as he rolled, bringing her above him, his hands commandingly on her hips as he guided her movements.

“Most assuredly,” Geoffrey answered, his eyes glittering as he thought of her in this same position with Kincade. “Did you know how dangerous it is for you to be involved with Kincade?”

“I'm not involved with Kincade.” She tried to deny her desire for the other man, but he wasn't believing it.

“Don't lie to me, Eve. I've known you far too long. I'm sure he's been in your bed, sharing your favors….” His hands on her tightened painfully and she cried out.

“You're hurting me….”

“Good,” he snarled, his mouth twisting into a hate-filled smile. “You deserve far worse…. And perhaps I shouldn't tell you what I know, but I am not finished with you yet.”

His hands swept up from her hips to squeeze and knead her breasts. When he could tell that she was beginning to enjoy his caresses, he stopped.

“This time, you please me, Eve….” he ordered, and Eve, eager for more, started to move excitedly.

Her hands were everywhere upon him, fondling, caressing, touching, and Geoffrey responded in kind when his desires grew to a fever pitch. Pivoting again, he brought her beneath him and thrust powerfully into her until together they reached the pinnacle of delight. They drifted slowly back to reality, aware of little save the heat of their bodies and the harsh rasping of their breathing as the excitement waned.

Exhausted and weak, Eve lay quietly against Geoffrey, wondering at the strength of her response to his torrid lovemaking. Never before in all the time they'd been together had he been so overwhelmingly sensual, and she smiled in satisfaction.

“Eve.” He rose above her to stare down at her, his features cold and remote.

The warmth she had been feeling died as she met his gaze. “Yes?” Her tone was soft and unsure, and it pleased Geoffrey to know that she was disquieted.

“You will not see Kincade anymore,” he ordered.

It was a command that angered her. Who did he think he was? True, he might share her bed, but he was not her husband and had no claim on her.

She responded stiffly as she tried to move away from him. “You don't own me, Geoffrey, and I can see whomever I want!”

“I had never thought you to be stupid, Eve,” he remarked derogatorily as he watched her climb from the bed to stand glaring at him, her hands on her hips. He studied her with an almost clinical detachment, his eyes visually caressing the pale beauty of her breasts and thighs. Eve was a vitally beautiful woman, and he knew he had to have her for his very own.

“You dare to call me stupid?” she gasped, and he gave a careless lift of his shoulders.

“It would seem so, if you insist on continuing to see Kincade. You see, I have some very private information about him that, once revealed, might ruin him forever.” He watched Eve's expression as he spoke. “I'm certain that you wouldn't want to be caught up in all the ugliness once it comes out.”

“What kind of information?” she asked skeptically.

Geoffrey chuckled evilly. “Do you think that I would reveal all to you? Surely you give me credit for more intelligence than that! Why, if I told you now, I have no doubt that you would run to your other lover with the news just as soon as I leave you.”

That had been Eve's original intention, but now she hesitated. Supposing Geoffrey was right…. What if Noah was involved in something terrible? Did she dare risk everything to continue to pursue him, or did she give him up now, while she was still safe? Her dilemma was very real, for she wanted Noah very badly, but she knew she could not let Geoffrey know the truth of her feelings. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she considered all the angles.

“Despite what you may think, Geoffrey, I have never made love to Noah Kincade.” Though it was not from a lack of trying on her part, she felt positive that she could use that bit of information now to her advantage. Slowly she moved sinuously back toward the bed, aware that his eyes were upon her.

“Really?” He wasn't quite sure whether to believe her or not.

“Since you're so well informed about my activities, I'm sure your informants must have told you that he never spent the night. They did report that to you, didn't they?” She sat on the edge of the bed and rested a teasing hand upon his chest.

“Yes, but…”

“There are no ‘buts' to the situation, Geoffrey,” she told him huskily. “Kincade has never spent the night with me. No one has since my husband died except you, Geoffrey. You're the only one….” she purred as she traced her hand lower, nearer to his manhood.

Geoffrey found her touch disorienting, and he had to force himself to concentrate on what she was saying. “You want me to believe that you haven't slept with Kincade?”

“It's the truth and I wanted you to know it.” Her hand caressed him boldly. Knowing that his power to resist her was weakening as she deliberately sought to arouse him and then seduce him, she smiled seductively. “You're so wonderful, Geoffrey….” She let her gaze drift over his body before returning to meet his passion-darkened eyes. “So strong and virile. I can't tell you how grateful I am that you care enough about me to warn me about Kincade.”

“I care about you, all right.” His voice was husky as his desires flamed.

Geoffrey's earlier anger and jealousy had slowly dissolved upon her confession of never having bedded Kincade. Now, caught up in the web of her skillful charms, he was once again totally enamored with her. She had struck any doubts he'd had about her from his mind, and he knew now that she would be his, and his alone. Pulling her into his arms, he pressed fervent kisses upon her waiting lips.

“You're mine, Eve, only mine,” he growled between kisses.

“Yes, Geoffrey…” She managed to make her words sound like a sigh, but in reality she was celebrating her victory.

While she was giving him the outward appearance of being his, and his alone, Eve had already decided that she could not give up her dream of becoming Lady Kincade. She was firmly convinced that Noah was her destiny, and she knew what she had to do to fulfill that future. She would play Geoffrey along and encourage his complete trust and devotion until she could maneuver him into revealing to her the damning evidence he had against Noah. Once she was in possession of that information, she would go to Noah with it and thus win not only his unending appreciation, but also his love.