Bobbi Smith - Captive Pride

There was no doubt in her mind that she hated him and never wanted to see him again; yet from the moment he’d entered the parlor, she’d been flooded with memories of the heat of his mouth on hers and the rapture that had come when he’d taken her to the peak of pleasure. The realization of the power of her response to him only served to make her more desperate.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Noah remarked, and his words halted her flight toward the door.

“And just why is that?” she demanded.

“Because it just might prove embarrassing for you.” Noah casually adjusted his cuff as he covertly watched the betraying play of emotions that crossed her face.

“I don’t see how my asking Gilbert to escort you from the house would embarrass me.”

“Personally, it doesn’t matter to me what you do.” Noah’s smile was feral. “Go ahead and have me thrown out if you wish, but since your father invited me here today-”

“My father did what?” She couldn’t believe it.

“Your father invited me for luncheon today, and I’m sure he would find it most strange if I were to depart so unexpectedly. Certainly he would want to know my reason, wouldn’t he?”

CC gritted her teeth in frustration as she glowered at him, her expression stormy. “If my father knew what kind of traitor you were…”

“And just who is going to tell him? You?” he challenged, leaving her momentarily at the disadvantage. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as free with condemning labels as you are, my dear,” Noah said harshly as he came to his feet and walked toward her. “You brand me ten times the lowlife, and yet you are no better. Isn’t it rather like the pot calling the kettle black? I find it highly hypocritical of you to call me a traitor for dealing with the rebels while you continue your secret support to the very same group. How can there be any difference?”

“The difference is motive, Kincade!” she seethed. “I support them because of the injustices I’ve seen and lived with, while you’re dealing with them purely out of greed. You don’t care about the very real problems here in the colonies. All you care about is making money.”

“You’re right.” His gaze was glittering as he stood before her. “That is all I care about-making money, and making it as quickly as I can.”

“You’re despicable,” she whispered, and there was a tremor in her voice as she gazed up at him. She suddenly felt as if she was seeing the real Noah Kincade for the first time.

“I don’t care what you think of me, CC, and what difference does it make as long as we can use each other to achieve our mutual ends?” Noah asked, reaching out to touch her cheek.

CC slapped his hand away, “I hate you, Kincade!”

“You didn’t hate me last night,” he taunted.

“Last night was a horrible mistake!”

“I didn’t notice that you thought it was so horrible at the time.” Noah found himself suddenly compelled to force her to admit that she’d enjoyed their encounter.

“You bastard! You’re cold and unfeeling. Nothing like your brother. Matthew would never have forced me the way that you did.”

The urge to throttle her was great, but Noah curbed it. His laugh was a sharp, derisive bark. “Force you? My dear, I’ve never had to force a woman in my life, least of all you. You wanted me, and you can’t deny it!”

“I couldn’t stand your touch!” she lied.

Her words provoked him, and Noah suddenly needed to prove her wrong.

Before she could react, he reached out and grasped her arm, dragging her forcefully against him. Excitement, hard and powerful, surged through him.

“Tell me how you can’t stand my caresses, CC,” he snarled as his mouth moved to claim hers.

Noah seemed so angry that CC had expected him to be rough, but the play of his lips across hers was soft and subtly seductive. CC was torn. She wanted to get away from him, but her body was responding to his kiss despite all her logic. Like a flower blossoming before the warmth of the sun, her senses craved more of this man. When he wanted to deepen the exchange, she could not deny him. A low moan escaped her as her will was vanquished.

Noah smiled to himself as he felt her resistance weaken. She wanted him. In spite of all her previous denials, there was no way she could disguise the depth of her attraction for him. He knew a moment of triumph as he realized that he could take her, right then and there, and she would not fight him. The fire of his passion flamed anew, and he brought her full-length against him as the wildfire of his desire threatened to burn out of control.

Only the sound of Edward’s carriage drawing up in front of the house stopped Noah. His body was demanding more, yet reality dictated that he release her, and quickly. With an abruptness that shocked CC, Noah dropped his arms and stepped away, turning his back on her as he struggled to bring his surging needs under control.

For a moment CC felt cold, almost lost, and in her heart she cried out for him to take her back into his embrace. It was only when she heard Gilbert in the hall greeting her father that she understood his action. She wanted to speak but could think of nothing to say. CC was embarrassed. Noah had known all along that her denials were ridiculous, and he had just proven it. She could not deny it.

His runaway passion at last manageable, Noah turned back to face her. He immediately read the distress in her expression. “For a woman who deals so much in intrigue, it amazes me that you haven’t yet learned to disguise your emotions.”

His caustic words sliced through her, and her embarrassment turned to anger. “My emotions are none of your business!”

“Ordinarily I would agree with you completely. However, in this case, your father is about to join us, and you’re still looking at me with eyes that are begging me to-”

“Shut up!” In a flurry of skirts, she marched away from him and threw the door open wide to go forth and meet her father.

Noah found himself smiling as he watched her go, and it took him a moment to realize the reason for it… CC had not denied his claim. Feeling strangely elated, he started out to greet his host.

Geoffrey Radcliffe sat in his study, sipping a glass of wine. “Bartley, I have a job for you.”

“A job, m’lord?” his servant looked puzzled.

“Yes. It’s rather out of the ordinary…something that only you and I should know about.”

“Of course, Lord Radcliffe, you know I am the soul of discretion.” Bartley’s reply was stiff. He resented his employer’s unspoken suggestion that he might have discussed his affairs with others.

“Yes, yes…” Geoffrey waved away his mood. “What I need is confidential information about someone else.”

“Oh, I see. Please tell me how I can be of service to you,” he asked earnestly, always eager to do his bidding.

“I need to know everything there is to know about Lord Noah Kincade,” he explained in deadly tones.

“Lord Kincade, sir?” Bartley raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Lord Kincade,” he answered grimly. “I don’t care what it costs. Just do it.”

“Shall I undertake the endeavor myself or hire others to do the footwork?”

“Do as you wish. Just remember that I want no one, absolutely no one, to know that I am connected with this. Do you understand?” There was an underlying menace to his words.

“Of course, m’lord.” Bartley nodded firmly as a shiver of fright skittered up his spine. “Will there be anything else?”

“No. Just be sure that you get this for me as quickly as possible. I have plans to make.”

“I shall do my best.” The servant left the room, wondering at Radcliffe’s interest in the other nobleman.