Secretly Craving You (12 page)

"You really want to know?"

"Yes."

Emily pulled back a few inches, wanting to gauge his expression when she told him the truth. "You. I always fantasize about you."

His pupils dilated, his lashes lowered and he seemed to take in every detail of her face. "And what are we doing in these fantasies?" he asked, his voice deep and curious.

"Making love. Every kind of sex imaginable. Sometimes it isn't a fantasy at all. It's a memory of you wearing that kilt. You threw off the shirt, lifted the kilt and…that woman went down on you."

"That woman?" He chuckled. "Wasn't she a friend of yours?"

"Years ago, in college. Not so much after that."

"So, what did you see that you liked?"

"Your naked body. Your cock. The way you moved. You took her to the couch and…pounded her hard." Sultry animal sex, like she craved. He'd actually driven his cock into that bitch, making her scream out in pleasure. Sharp jealousy stabbed through Emily.

"Did it turn you on?" he asked.

"At the time. But now, not so much." Emily made sure some of her annoyance came through in her tone. "Clearly, you liked her better than you like me."

"What?" He frowned. "You're out of your mind."

"You gave her what she wanted. But you won't give it to me."

Shaking his head, he chuckled, but there was little humor in it. "You have no idea, Emily."

"About what?"

"How fucking bad I want you." His voice was low and forceful, his face hard with passion.

Arousal and emotion surged through her. "Then why—"

"Oh shit!" Nick leapt from the bed.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

The sound of shattering glass from downstairs riveted her attention.

"That sonofabitch is breaking in," Nick said.

"Oh my god!" Emily jumped off the bed, fear lancing through her.

"Go into the bathroom and lock the door. Hell, I left my gun in my room." Glancing around, he growled a string of four letter words. "Do you have a gun in here?"

Yanking on a pair of panties, she shook her head. "I don't own a gun."

"A knife? Mace? A baseball bat?"

"No." She could hardly think, much less search for a makeshift weapon.

"Then how the hell do you protect yourself? We're going to have a serious talk after this." He grabbed a heavy Victorian fire poker from beside the fireplace. It was an antique and valuable, but she knew some things had to be sacrificed.

"Go into the bathroom and lock the door. Now," he ordered.

She nodded at the same time the bedroom door crashed inward.

Panic exploding inside her, she screamed. Nick swung the sharp iron poker at the black-clothed intruder's head, but struck him on the arm he lifted instead. Wearing a ski mask, the bastard jumped back and pointed his gun at Emily.

Oh my god!

"Hold it right there or I shoot your girlfriend!"

Staring at Emily with a fierce expression, Nick froze and slowly lowered the fire poker. "She's done nothing to you."

"Do you think that matters?" The intruder moved toward her. She shrank backward against the bathroom door. He grabbed her arm, yanked her forward and pressed the gun to her temple.

Oh shit!
Icy fear covered her.

His face blanching, Nick dropped the poker. "Let her go! She's innocent." His voice was low and demanding.

"Ha. She doesn't look innocent. You both know what I want. And I know you have it. I followed you to a museum today. Why would you go there carrying a briefcase unless you have the
Clach Torach
?"

Eying him in that creepy black ski mask, Emily tried to figure out if she'd seen him somewhere before. But based on his medium height, blue eyes, non-descript mouth and bland voice, he didn't seem the least bit familiar.

"We don't have anything," Emily said, hoping the psycho wouldn't see the artifact on the dresser among her other knickknacks. If he got what he wanted, he'd kill them, wouldn't he?

"You're a bad liar, sweetheart." He leaned close to her and breathed into her ear.

Revulsion shuddered through her.

"Get your fucking hands off her!" Nick demanded.

"Give me the
Clach Torach
or I'm putting a bullet in her brain," he ordered.

"All right. But if you hurt her—"

"I won't hurt her unless you're too slow!"

Frozen in place, Emily hardly dared breathe. This disgusting creep had a bruising grip on her arm and the gun muzzle was way too close to her head. Her stomach churned and she hoped she didn't throw up.

Nick picked up the stone penis from the dresser within the bag and held it out to him.

"Yes, yes," the man hissed near her ear, as if in near ecstasy himself. "Now place it on the bed and leave the room."

"Emily's coming with me," Nick said firmly.

"No. Emily's going to help me with something." He rubbed his face against her hair.

Ugh!
She drew away from him, but he held her fast.

"What?" Nick glared.

"I have to test this thing and see if it does what it's supposed to."

"And what is it
supposed
to do?" Nick asked, his gaze arrow sharp.

"Give the man who uses it on a woman untold sexual powers."

Emily's nausea intensified.

"And how do you plan to use it?"

"It's a dildo, Einstein. How do you think?"

"You're fucking insane if you think I'm letting you do that," Nick growled.

"You don't make the decisions around here. I have to find out if it works and I'm not leaving here until I know. Besides, I've grown quite fond of Emily while I've been keeping an eye on her."

Emily's skin crawled when his tone changed. He seemed almost benign, like a nerdy professor. But that made him even more dangerous, like a psycho with several warped personalities.

"I can't think of anything better than seeing her naked and wildly turned on," the weirdo added.

"It can't be used that way now," Nick said, obviously trying to reason with the nutcase despite his anger. "It's far too old and rough. It would hurt her."

"Do you think I care?"

Nick clenched his jaw. "If you hurt her, I'll kill you. That's a promise."

How could she disarm this nutcase? If only she could turn around, she'd smash her knee up into his groin.

The guy switched the gun from her head and pointed it at Nick two yards away. "Not if I kill you first."

No!
Emily almost screamed the word, but controlled herself and remained silent. How could she help Nick gain the upper hand? She could hit the psycho's arm or the gun, but it might go off and shoot Nick. If the bastard had a crush on her, she might use that to distract him.

"I can kill you right now and get you out of the way," he told Nick. "Then I can do whatever I want to her. Jared took my wife, so now I'm taking his."

"Jared took your wife?" Nick frowned.

"Shut up!"

So, another woman Jared had screwed? Didn't surprise Emily. Nor did she care at the moment. She simply wanted Nick out of danger…and herself, of course.

"What's your name?" Emily asked, attempting to make her voice seductive, instead of terrified, as she was.

He glanced at her and she forced a sexy gaze and pouting mouth.

"Um…Ge—George. You can call me George."

"Okay, George," she breathed, knowing that probably wasn't his real name. But he appeared distracted simply from the words she'd spoken to him.

"The artifact does have paranormal powers, but it doesn't need to be used as a dildo for it to work," Nick said.

"What are you talking about?" George swung the gun back and forth between them.

"All a woman has to do is hold it in her hands, and she gets aroused. It could be worth millions. You can have it if you just leave Emily alone, take the damned piece of marble and walk away."

George shook his head quickly. "I have to see if it works first."

Nick's gaze darted back and forth between her and the creep. "Emily and I will show you it works."

"How?"

"She'll hold the artifact in her hands, and when she gets aroused from it, I'll pleasure her and you can watch. You like watching, don't you, George?"

She glared at Nick. Was he out of his freaking mind? She didn't want this psycho watching her while Nick
pleasured
her. What was he planning to do?

"All right." Still wearing the ski mask, George waved the gun, then took the handcuffs and keys from the dresser. "Handcuff one of your hands to the footboard," he told Nick.

"Nick?" Emily tried to keep the fear out of her voice. Was he insane? How could he suggest this?

"It'll be okay, sweetheart. I won't hurt you." Nick cuffed himself to the bed.

"Yeah, sweetheart," the intruder breathed in her ear.

She recoiled. "Stop! You bastard!"

"Get on the bed." George shoved her forward, making her stumble and fall half on the mattress. He caught her ass and squeezed it.

"Get your filthy hands off me!" She kicked at him, wishing she could smash his nose.

"Get up there!" the idiot ordered.

"Nick, what the hell were you thinking?" Emily whispered, crawling to the opposite side of the mattress.

Damned if this wasn't killing Nick. He'd do anything for Emily, especially when she had such desperation in her eyes. But right now, he didn't have much choice. "I have a plan," he mouthed so the bastard couldn't hear him. "Trust me, Emily. You know I'd never hurt you, right?" he said aloud.

She nodded. The tears sparkling in her eyes made him feel as if someone had punched him in the stomach.

"Trust me," he urged. His plan would work only if she went along with it. "Please."

"Okay." At that moment, he sensed her profound trust as she locked her gaze onto his. And it meant more to him than he could ever express. He couldn't let her down. He had to keep her safe no matter what he had to do to accomplish that.

"Good." He helped her lie down, then leaned in for a kiss. Her lips were soft and sweet and so responsive to his. Her breathing changed, grew faster and shallower. She seemed eager for his mouth and tongue.

"Get going. Haven't got all night!" George ordered and held the stone phallus out to him. "Make her hold it. I want to see if it has any effect."

"Fine." He handed the object to Emily then glared at the psychotic bastard. "Give Emily some space. You've scared her. A woman can't get turned on if she's terrified, no matter what kind of paranormal powers this thing may have."

George backed up a few steps, the look in his eyes behind the mask shifting to contrite and his grip on the pistol less rigid. If Nick was guessing, he'd say this bastard was a porn addict.

"Is there some kind of legend that goes along with this object?" Nick asked, trying to buy some time.

"It belonged to some ancient Celtic tribe and was used in their fertility rituals. It is said to make a woman so horny she'll beg for it from any man." George's eyes gleamed with keen lust. And at the moment, that lust was directed at Emily.

Nick wanted to knock him on his ass now, but he had to be patient. "Why do you care so much about it?" If he knew that, maybe he'd know this guy's motive for killing Jared.

"That's none of your business. Now, get on with it!" The way George was staring at Emily's bare thighs, he was practically enthralled. That could only work to Nick and Emily's advantage.

Maybe George had committed murder because Jared had a fling with his wife. Didn't take much jealousy to inspire murder.

Nick turned back to Emily. Her eyes, wide with fear, urged him to do something. "Close your eyes and trust me, Em," Nick whispered. "I won't let him touch you. Pretend it's just you and me."

She nodded and did as he said.

"Do you feel the warmth?" Nick asked, observing the artifact in her hands.

"Yes."

"What are you talking about?" George asked.

"Emily says, when she holds the object, tingling warmth spreads from her hands and throughout her body."

"How are you feeling?" Nick asked her.

"Good," she breathed, her eyes growing darker. Her lips parted and her nipples hardened beneath her robe.

"You see? She's already showing signs of arousal," Nick said, hoping George would get so turned on by observing Emily, he would get careless. Then Nick could disarm him.