Catalina's Caress (28 page)

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Jake leaned both arms against the window sill and stared out into the balmy star-studded night. She wondered where Seth was now and if he was thinking of her.

Then she took up the book she had taken from the shelf in the library that day. Charlotte had insisted that she read as often as possible, and she was allowed to choose books at her own discretion. She sat in a large chair, her feet curled beneath her, and absorbed the story of Juliet and Romeo.

Her mind was fertile ground, and the seeds of beauty and romance sprouted energetically.

She began to dream, to romanticize, and to envision herself as a lovely heroine—as Juliet or Guinevere or Helen. It did not yet occur to her that each heroine was accompanied by a handsome hero—Romeo, Arthur, Paris—strangely enough, all in the image of Seth.

She contemplated the night and the new emotions that were beginning to stir in her. Charlotte had told her it could be months before Seth returned. She wondered if he would be pleased by the changes in her. Then she thought of her grandfather and felt a twinge of self-pity and of loneliness, longing for her familiar, simple life. It had been so much easier, so carefree; and a part of her still longed to return to it.

Seth was the only tie that bound her to her new life, and she wished he would return soon. How would she ever know she had succeeded in being what he wanted her to be if he did not assure her of her success?

Caught up in her dreams she did not hear the knock on her door, nor did she hear it open and close. She remained unaware of Charlotte's presence.

Charlotte stood quietly by, watching Jake, and a smile touched her lips for she remembered well a young girl's dreams.

HJake,M Charlotte said softly.

Jake turned to look at her, and Charlotte was again caught by her delicate beauty that was more evident each day.

"Can't you sleep?" Charlotte inquired.

"I'm restless for some reason," Jake admitted. "I just feel..." She shrugged, unable to put words to emotions she could not understand.

Charlotte sat on a chair near Jake. "There has been a tremendous amount of upheaval and change in your life lately. You cannot expect to be at ease yet. But do not worry about it, Jake. Things will become better as time goes on."

"Aunt Charlotte?"

"Yes?"

"Would it upset you if I went to visit my grandfather tomorrow? I just want to know that he's all right, and that—"

"And that he misses you as much as you miss him. No, I wouldn't mind. In fact, if I would be welcome I'd like to come along. I would like to meet the man who took on the responsibility of raising a little girl, one who turned out to be as sweet as you are."

Jake's eyes lit with pleasure. "I would be pleased if you would come. You will like my grandpa. He's kind and wonderful!"

"I'm sure he is. Shall we plan on going first thing in the morning?"

"Yes ... please."

"Then I would suggest you try to get some sleep." Charlotte chuckled softly. "Sophie still finds it quite earthshaking to waken you when you have not had enough sleep."

Jake flushed, but she laughed. "I think I have made some of Sophie's days miserable. I'm sorry. I shall try to be less—"

"Verbal?" Charlotte asked. "Don't worry so, Jake. Sophie cares for you, as we all do."

"Do you think Seth will be pleased with me? I mean ... I don't want him to be sorry he gave me this chance. I owe him so very much. I don't think I could bear to disappoint him."

"Jake, listen to me. You have done more for Seth than you know. But no matter how much you think you owe anybody, you owe yourself more. If you hadn't had the courage to change your life no one would have done it for you. So stop thinking of what you owe others. Can't you see that just watching you make a new life is reward enough?"

"No, Aunt Charlotte. I do owe Seth my life, and I would do anything in my power to repay him, anything." Jake added solemnly, "I would die for Seth... truly, I would die for him."

Charlotte's brow furrowed and she suddenly wanted to warn Jake not to romanticize her friendship with Seth. She feared that along with her first taste of real happiness Seth might also give Jake her first taste of real pain.

A
t breakfast Catalina had been surprisingly warm with Marc. When she put her mind to it, she could be an entrancing creature and she had thrown herself into the game they were playing. They had met on the battlefield of passion, and had created their own rules for the war that was to be waged, neither knowing the other's ultimate goal.

Now, with breakfast over, Marc and Catalina were on deck. Catalina deliberately tucked her hand under his arm. The breeze carried the scent of her perfume to him, and her intoxicating nearness made him caution himself for he knew he was treading on very dangerous ground. He was in danger of losing sight of his goals due to the captivating charms of this woman beside him.

Catalina Carrington was where he wanted her to be, wasn't she? She would be at his mercy by the end of the journey, and he would then throw her to the scandalmongers and gossip carriers. She had fallen neatly into his trap. Why then did he feel like a tiger in a cage, pacing in confinement?

They stopped by the rail and turned to face each other. Marc braced one elbow on the boat's rail and leisurely admired the remarkable Catalina.

Her hair, loosely tied with a ribbon, was lifted by the breeze and wisps of sable brown were blown across her cheeks. Her eyes sparkled with an alluring glow, and he was intrigued by his own inability to read them. Her skin was clear and healthy in the early morning sunlight, and he could almost taste the lush softness of her mouth as she half smiled at him.

"We will dock in Natchez tomorrow?" she asked.

"Thinking of going ashore?" he replied.

"Are you telling me I can't?"

"No. I am merely reminding you of our bargain. It does not include disappearing in Natchez."

"I do not make bargains I have no intention of keeping." She smiled, but the light in her eyes could have been lit by anger. "I had thought maybe you would escort me ashore, to see the city."

"Escort you ashore?" He grinned. "And what about your dear family friend, Travis Sherman?"

"The bargain was struck between you and me. It does not include Travis."

"That is the last straw. He will not be pleased with the arrangement"

"Why do you keep dwelling on Travis?" she demanded teasingly.

Marc shrugged. "I would hate to have to force the gentleman to understand our... situation."

"I doubt that you would hate it. I think it would give you a great deal of pleasure to tell Travis something like that. You are no gentleman, Marc Copeland, and I'm not so stupid as to believe you are going to act like one. You will most likely savor telling Travis, much as you would savor a gourmet meal."

Marc was forced to laugh, for the look in her eyes told him that she had read the meaning between his words.

"You are quite a challenge, Cat," he said softly as he reached out to catch one wayward curl and feel its texture.

"But you have defeated the challenge, have you not? I am your mistress, I have agreed to your bargain. What more do you ask of me?" The question was asked so gently that he remained silent, still holding the soft strand of her hair between his fingers. He wondered why he again felt that she was as easy to hold as mercury and that he had done no more than scratch the surface of the elusive Catalina. She intrigued him. He could have almost any woman he chose, yet he hadn't been able to think of another one since he had tasted her.

He had to get a grip on himself before he fell into her silken trap and lost sight of his ultimate goal.

"I've only seen part of your bargain," he reminded her coolly. "The real challenge comes later, doesn't it? After all"—he grinned—"you still have to prove you're worth a boat like the
Belle
. Who knows"—he shrugged—"we might both find our contract unsatisfactory."

He watched anger leap into her golden brown eyes, saw her struggle to retain her composure, knew that she wanted to strike him. He smiled in satisfaction.

"My dear Marc," she said in a soft and very seductive voice, "we shall see who is unsatisfactory. Perhaps the one who will be unsatisfied will be me."

She turned to walk away while he digested the insult.

He walked up behind her and took hold of her shoulders, abruptly drawing her back against him, and he heard her gasp in surprise. He inhaled the delicate scent she wore, felt the silk of her hair against his cheek.

"Don't push me, Cat, or I'll begin to feel safer in our bargain if we go below and fulfill it now. You force me to believe I might be lacking, and I'd hate to feel so ... insecure."

Catalina inhaled deeply, forcing control on her body. She could feel the strength of his hands as he held her immobile with little effort. The length of his body pressed to hers stirred her memory and her senses.

For a moment she was stirred to find pleasure in his arms in the seclusion of his cabin. But she controlled that urge by reminding herself that he was an unscrupulous scoundrel who would use her and discard her. She wanted more from Marc Copeland than that.

She felt his arm slip around her waist, and he drew her against his side as he moved to her side.

The last thing Marc could tell Cat was that Natchez was where he made his home. Yet he wanted to take her to his house. The reason for this was something he forced from his thoughts.

She turned her head and found his intense, though somewhat brooding, gaze upon her. But as soon as their eyes met, he chuckled.

"I think I would like to taste those soft and very inviting lips," he murmured.

Apprehension traced its icy fingers along her spine, and she wondered if she really had the courage to win this battle. He was taunting her and she knew it, but she had only two choices. She could meet and defeat his challenge or run from him.

He grinned like a sadistic devil, and she forced her sweetest smile. His eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed as they raked over her and finally looked again into hers. The cold steel of his gaze burned into her until she could feel the heat of it stirring within her.

Her breath caught in her throat as he raised a hand, allowing his long fingers to slowly trace her collarbone, the line of her chin, and the curve of her neck.

"I said, my very willing mistress, that your lovely mouth looks much too inviting to resist. Do you hesitate, my sweet? Is the bargain done then? Is the
Belle
still mine?"

His nearness stirred some strange, pleasurable spark that flickered along the ends of her nerves. But in her eyes he saw no fear, only calm deliberation, before she bent toward him. And the kiss she bestowed upon him, had he not exerted all of his control, would have burnt to ashes his well-conceived plans.

He masked his surprise and the desire that nestled like a white hot ball, in the pit of his loins.

"Not bad," he murmured. "Not bad at all."

She ignored his teasing and placed both of her elbows on the rail.

"Tell me of Natchez."

"Natchez. The lady whose father owns half of the boats on the river has never been to Natchez?"

She turned again to look at him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes at this mention of her father and his wealth. Was this why he was trying to break her will, to defeat her?

"My father," she said questioningly, "do you know him?"

Marc was instantly alert. He knew he had nearly made a costly mistake. "I know of him, as every river man does."

Her gaze returned to the river. "I have gone to Memphis with Father and we've passed Natchez often, but I've never stopped there."

"When we stop tomorrow I'll take you ashore for a few hours if you'd like. Natchez-under-the-hill is a rowdy and wild place, but I have friends who have a house on the hill. I'll show you the city; then we'll visit them. There's a beautiful view from the garden. You can see for miles and miles up and down the river."

"I'd like that."

He watched her like a hawk watching a choice prey, annoyed by the knowledge that he might enjoy their time ashore.

His sister still cared for the magnificent mansion on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi, but a carefully worded note to her would take care of the problem. Now that the thought had entered his mind he couldn't rid himself of it. It would add some spice to the game.

His sister had been adamantly against what he was doing, but his anger had silenced anything she could say about it. And since she didn't know the full intent of his involvement, he was sure she would go along with the charade without too much trouble.

Marc was about to draw Catalina into his arms to indulge in the sweet torment of her lips when a frigid voice spoke from behind them.

"So, this is where you are, Cat. I have scoured the entire boat looking for you."

Travis's words were for Catalina, but his cold eyes were directed at Marc who smiled pleasantly but refused to remove his arms from about Catalina's waist.

Marc's eyes glittered with malicious pleasure at the thought that Travis might push him far enough to give him reason to taunt him with the truth. Whereas Catalina had no doubt that Marc saw the interruption as an opportunity to make their situation clear to Travis. She was certain he would take delight in pushing her to see how far her new sweetness and her pride would go before they broke.

"Good morning, Travis." Catalina did not look in Marc's direction in the hope that he would let the opportunity pass. "I had an early breakfast and decided to walk on deck, it's such a beautiful day."

"I'd like to talk to you ... alone," Travis said, looking pointedly at Marc, whose smile remained as did the dangerous glow in his eyes.

Marc's hand tightened on Catalina's waist, and she could feel his body tense. She bit her lips in desperation, seeking some way out of this dilemma, some way to avoid an open battle between Marc and Travis.

She was rescued by China's velvet voice, and could nearly have wept in relief.

"Marc?"

Travis turned to look at China, his annoyance clear. But before he could speak and make a bad situation worse, Catalina smiled. "China, join us. It's such a lovely day."

China could read distress in her eyes, and she could easily read the intent in Marc's.

"I would love to, but I am afraid I must speak to Marc alone, on an urgent business matter." She saw the relief on Catalina's face and the amusement on Marc's. He knew exactly what she was doing.

Marc left Catalina with Travis, and walked a short distance away with China. "All right, what do you have up your sleeve? Or am I right in believing you are so misguided as to believe you were coming to Cat's rescue?"

"Your performance for Travis Sherman's benefit was outrageous," China said with a smile.

"But effective." Marc chuckled.

"At least," China said wryly as she cast a quick look at Catalina and Travis who seemed to be having a disagreement. "Marc, your situation with Catalina is one thing, but I feel this man, this Travis Sherman, is not one to take blows in a very forgiving way. Marc, he's dangerous."

"And you're being the keeper of my health ... and my conscience again, China my love." He grinned. "You don't need to worry about either of them."

"One of us should."

"I can't think of one good reason why."

"Marc—"

"China, I'll play this game out my way."

"I just don't believe she should be punished for something beyond her control. She is not the young woman I thought her to be. Shawna ..."

Marc kept Catalina in view while China talked, and he realized that she had not been quite what he had expected either. She was ... He shook the thoughts away as he watched Travis reach out and grasp Catalina's wrist, and his face grew fierce.

Catalina's eyes widened, more in anger than in fear, but Marc clenched his teeth, then started for them.

When Marc had stepped away with China, Travis had turned his attention to Catalina. He had attempted a pleasant smile, but had been thwarted by the look in Catalina's eyes. Did she know that her face had softened, that her eyes had taken on a sheen that had nothing to do with the bright sunlight, that her lips had parted slightly as if she were suddenly breathless?

"Cat," Travis said, attempting to keep his self-control.

"Yes, Travis," she replied, reluctantly drawing her eyes from Marc's broad-shouldered form.

"I asked how you felt this morning... since you retired so early last night."

"I'm fine, Travis, fine."

"Good. Then you won't forget we're having dinner together?"

Now her attention was fully on him, and she remembered promising to dine with him.

"Travis ... I... if you would excuse me, just for tonight. I must see Marc. Travis, I'm sure he'll return the
Belle
to us. All I need do is—"

"Is tumble into his bed and sell yourself for this boat," he snapped.

"Travis!"

"Don't tell me he doesnt find you attractive, Cat I can see the way he looks at you, like a ravenous wolf."

"I'm hardly a child, Travis, I can handle Marc Copeland."

"No, you're not a child, but you can't see how clever he is. He holds the
Belle
before you as a reward while he entices you into his bed."

The truth stung Cat, but it did not deter her. Awakening in her was the vibrant emotion of love, and she sensed that Marc was near to feeling it, too.

She wanted him to remember the exotic emotions they had shared, wanted him to discard his reasons for doing what he had done. She wanted him to see her as the woman he desired above all others. She needed to be with him.