My Angel (55 page)

"I don't understand."

"Stephan would take you, if you'd let him. He'd keep you to get to me, to show me he doesn't need the things I have to gain something I desire. That being a prince means nothing."

She moved over. There was plenty of room on the bed for Alexi, and right now she needed him, his warmth, his touch. She wanted him close to her.

"Hold me," she said. "Please."

She watched a shudder sweep through him as he assimilated her words. His hesitancy alarmed her. His reluctance brought tears to her eyes.

"I won't hurt you?" he asked, and once more his voice was filled with concern.

She shook her head. "No."

In seconds he had joined her on the bed, gathering her in his arms, the heat from him flowing into her, giving her strength and the courage to follow her father. His strong hands tenderly caressed the length of her back, pulling her closer.

She wanted to be part of him. Only him.

"If your father walked in on us now, I might be well and truly killed."

"Tortured."

"Would you save me?"

"He would not dare act the enraged father," she whispered, feeling for the first time in so long the security he represented to her. "And yes, I would brave any elements to save you."

She loved him beyond words.

His chuckle warmed her. "Perhaps not," he said. "Because I will not do anything to compromise you further. You must rest. If holding you is all I can have for now, so be it. Rest, little angel and soon I will take you down the mountain to my home. Then and only then will you have to make decisions. Do not let your father tell you what to do."

With that, she kissed him lovingly and fell asleep in his arms.

It was an unlikely party that made its way up the tree-lined road to Alexi's home the next day. Stephan had accompanied Angela, who rode on a travois fashioned by Sam and Alexi.

Angela had wanted to tell Alexi she wasn't going to be staying with him, but when the moment had arrived she lost her courage. He'd looked so frightened for her, so sincere.

She didn't want to hurt him any more than she already had. By running away she'd broken the promise she'd given him, and even though he didn't bring it up, she knew he remembered. Openly he'd forgiven her because he understood she'd had no choice. Deep in his heart, she knew he'd lost faith in her.

They were still at the same miserable impasse, both immovable in their convictions, both stubborn to a fault. Now that she knew she loved him so desperately, she could never live as his mistress. To Angela it would be better to spend the rest of her life with her few memories than to watch their love die a slow, torturous death at the hands of a cruel society that would never accept her.

High in the
Rocky Mountains
, listening to the wind and the crystal-clear streams, she would find peace. She would go home with her father, a place where she could hold her head high, not having to swallow her pride every time she saw someone she knew.

She would miss Alexi terribly; his devilish smile, the way his eyes smoldered with desire when he looked at her.

Leaving him was a small price to pay for her self-respect.

The travois pulled by Jabbar stopped at the front steps to Alexi's home. He dismounted. Before she could voice a protest, he swept her into his arms, holding her close, cherishing her. His broad shoulders protected her from the piercing gaze of the people who had come out to watch the return of their master. She closed her eyes, turning her head into his chest, relishing the feel of his strength, the scent of the man --at the same time knowing what these people thought of her. She was their master's whore, nothing more.

Shame filled her heart and her soul. It cut deeply. She had wavered too many times in her convictions.

Inwardly, she cried for her lost love, for her broken heart and the child who would never know his father. She had changed, matured in countless ways, and she knew her mind.

They walked up the steps and into the house. She remembered another tune when Misha had escorted her up the same front steps and then up the winding staircase to the upper bedchambers, pointing out the one she was to occupy.

Her world had been different then, her hopes and dreams still innocent and golden, filled with visions of a life with her dark warrior.

She had thought she could change him, change the world.

She couldn't. She accepted that now.

"Grandmother." Alexi's voice penetrated her murky thoughts. Angela opened her eyes, staring thoughtfully at a woman dressed completely in black. Her silver-gray hair was pulled back into a neat bun, her face creased with lines of weariness, her warm smile and outstretched arms beckoning her grandson home.

"Alexi,'' she said. The pride in the woman's voice reverberated clearly. "I'm so glad you received my letter. I prayed every day--every night--for your safe return. Now that you're here, where you belong, my heart can rest. You will settle down, marry, have children."

Natasha directed her gaze toward Stephan, whom she'd always considered family. "It has been so many years since we last saw each other. Will you be staying with us?"

"No, Grandmother. I have come with Alexi and Angela to be sure of their safety. I have a cause to fight for. I will not return for a very long time, if ever."

"You will stay the night."

Stephan nodded, and Natasha turned her attention back to her other grandson.

"I came as soon as I could. I had many lose ends to tie up. Traveling across
America
took more time than I thought it would." Alexi looked pointedly at Angela. "There were complications. I have come to some decisions. We will speak of
this later." With Angela still in his arms, he hugged Natasha then placed a warm kiss on his grandmother's weathered cheek.

"Who is she?" Natasha asked, looking at Angela.

"My--" Alexi stopped suddenly, looking chagrined. "A friend," he finished. "A dear friend."

"Does she have a name?" Natasha queried, her tone stern yet gentle.

"My name is Angela Chamberlain," Angela answered for Alexi. "I met Alexi in the States. In
Denver
. I'll be returning soon with my father. We have a cabin near
Denver
." She was babbling, her nerves frayed. "You don't need to worry that I will marry your grandson and sully the family name."

Alexi's arms around her tightened perceptibly. He said nothing, his eyes once more growing cold and fathomless. The creases around his face deepened.

"I've enjoyed meeting you." Angela's words continued to pour out in a rush. "I'm sure Alexi will find a suitable bride and make you very proud, give you many wonderful greatgrandchildren." She prayed she'd finish before Alexi said what she knew must be on his mind. She expected a vehement, "You're going nowhere," but Alexi said nothing on the subject. His lack of concern hit her hard.

Instead he said, "She needs to rest. I'm sure you heard what happened to her. Stephan found her and took care of her. She has had a rough time the last few days." He paused, and it seemed to Angela he was at a lack for words. "Ivan is still here with Feodora?'' he questioned, and every inch of his body seemed primed and ready to explode.

A sudden rash of jealousy swept through Angela at Feodora's name. "Ivan thought it would be best for them to leave once we received word you and the girl were all right. He feared for Najjar's sanity." Natasha laughed, a tender, knowing look in her deep brown eyes, eyes that matched Alexi's. "Ivan said the poor man has waited too long for a wife, and Feodora needed a man to look after her so she would find no more trouble. He said you'd understand."

Alexi nodded, and a dangerously hard smile formed on his lips then quickly vanished. ''Ivan was wise to leave. He knew
I would have punished Feodora for her actions. We will talk later," he said, continuing up the steps, Angela still held possessively in his arms.

~ * ~

Alexi walked past the door to the room he'd instructed Misha to give Angela and straight to his own room. He kicked the door open and stalked through it before pushing it shut then deposited Angela unceremoniously on his huge bed. "You are not going anywhere until we've had time to discuss this. You are mine."

She tried to move from the bed. His body blocked hers.

"You can't keep me against my will. You cannot force me to stay here. "Angela's lips trembled, her hair in disarray. Alexi did not want to talk. He wanted to make love to his little hellion, to convince her in every way he could find to bind her to him. He sensed that the only way to do that was to make love to her.

Loneliness pervaded his every heartbeat. Suddenly a lifetime without her looked very bleak indeed. He meant to test her, to know the truth. "Can you look at me and say that you are leaving?"

"Yes," she said, her small chin pointed determinedly into the air.

"Prove it." He spoke slowly, every nerve ending on edge, waiting for her to rise to the challenge.

"You can't ..." Her words were vehement.