Bobbi Smith - Captive Pride

“Thanks.”

She was as good as her word and he accepted the tankard, tipping her generously as he stood up.

“Should my brother come in in the next hour or so, tell him to come on up to my room, will you, Polly?”

“Yes, Lord Kincade. I’ll tell him,” she promised before she moved away to see to her other customers.

Noah paid little attention to his surroundings as he took up his fresh mug of ale and started upstairs. He did not notice the door to the taproom opening or the youth who slipped undetected inside.

CC’s nerves were stretched taut as she entered the taproom of the Red Lion Inn. Though it was true that she was a bit nervous because this was the first time she’d gone anywhere in her disguise save the meetings and rallies, the real cause of her upset was the prospect of seeing Noah again. She dreaded the moment. Her feelings for him were like a wildfire raging within her soul. She was afraid that if he touched her, all would be lost again, just as it had been in the carriage the other night.

She was surprised when she caught sight of Noah on the staircase. Without drawing attention to herself, she picked up her pace in hopes of catching up with him before he entered his room. Noah was unaware that CC was coming up behind him. When she reached out to grab his arm, he was startled and immediately spun around to see who it was.

“CC!” he croaked in astonishment as he stared down at her in the dim light of the hallway. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Be quiet,” she warned him with a glare as she glanced around to be sure no one else had heard.

Noah realized his mistake in blurting out her name. Shaking off the hold she had on his arm, he snared her wrist and dragged her with him the rest of the way down the hall to his room. As quickly as he could, he unlocked the door and then unceremoniously drew her inside. He released her to close the door behind them and light a lamp.

“You didn’t have to be so rough!” she snapped as she rubbed her wrist.

Noah stood halfway across the room glowering at her as he tried to figure out why she had come. One part of him was ecstatic to see her again, but the other, harder part of him wondered at the reason for her unexpected visit. They had agreed in the carriage to stay away from each other, and yet here she was…

“I thought we’d agreed to avoid each other?” he charged.

“We did, and believe me, this was not my idea,” CC returned, scowling mutinously.

“Then why, my dear Miss Demorest, are you here?” Even while he was taunting her, though, Noah thrilled to her presence. His gaze went over her hungrily, memorizing every detail of her appearance and reviving every memory of her carefully concealed womanly curves.

CC answered in low, nervous tones, “I’m here because Ryan Graves sent me to you.”

Noah’s blood began to race at her words as both passion and fury flamed within him. So Robinson hadn’t been the one directing her at all. It had been Graves all along… Yet, even as he was angry, Noah knew that he wanted her as he’d never wanted another. He stepped closer, looming over CC threateningly.

“Oh, he did, did he?” Noah’s predatory smile revealed his thoughts all too clearly, and CC, feeling nearly overwhelmed by his nearness, took a step back.

“Yes…I have something for you…” she began.

“I’m sure you do.” He reached out for her, but she neatly sidestepped his attempt to touch her.

“Here. Take this so I can go…” Her hands trembled as she held out the parcel.

Noah frowned as he glanced from the package to CC. “What is it?”

“The payment due you from Graves.”

“What? He sent you to me by yourself with all that money?” Noah was enraged that the revolutionary would have sent CC on such a hazardous errand. Didn’t they care that something might have happened to her?

“It was necessary,” she explained.

“Why was it necessary?” he challenged.

“Nothing happened.” CC tried to dismiss his concern.

“You were only lucky,” he scoffed.

“That’s beside the point.”

“Maybe, but you didn’t answer my original question. Why did they feel it was necessary to send you on this trip? Any of the men could have done it.”

“That’s true, but it doesn’t matter. They sent me and I did it. There’s a letter inside the package that explains everything. Here.” CC held out the money again. “Take this so I can leave. It wouldn’t do for anyone to get suspicious of me.”

As Noah accepted the payment, his hand accidentally touched CC’s and the contact was electric. Their gazes met then, and all thoughts of danger and intrigue were swept from their minds as the memory of their passion for each other surged to the forefront. There was no denying it for either of them. Noah silently placed the parcel on the bedside table before drawing her to him.

CC knew she should run.

“Noah…I have to go… Please, let me…we shouldn’t…” Her protests were feeble, and Noah overruled them with but a single kiss.

She knew she should not allow this to happen, but the touch of his hand and the warmth of his closeness drove all thoughts of flight from her. She loved him and soon he would be gone. There could be no tomorrow for them, but at least she could have tonight…

Hungrily she returned his kiss, her lips parting beneath his, her heart pounding erratically in her breast. She had not thought she would have the opportunity to be with Noah ever again, and yet here they were, locked in each other’s arms, lost in the splendor of their mutual need. It was her longed-for paradise.

She wound her arms around his neck, hugging him to her as she molded herself to his hard-muscled strength. Every fiber of her being longed for oneness with him, and she clung to him, weak with desire.

Noah was enthralled as his mouth sought to press kiss after heated kiss upon her waiting lips. No nectar had ever tasted so sweet or filled him with such rapturous joy. Exhilarated, he felt the need to be joined with her, to clasp her to him and merge their bodies into one perfect unity. His hands moved restlessly to the soft curve of her hips and pressed her full against his throbbing desire. Noah and CC were so absorbed in the excitement of the embrace that they did not hear the door open or close.

Matt had entered the taproom shortly after Noah had headed for his room with CC in pursuit, and Polly had intercepted him at once with Noah’s message to come right up. Matt had hoped to have a long talk with Noah this evening about their plans for the future and so he hurried on upstairs to speak with him. Since Noah was expecting him and the door was unlocked, Matt did not bother to knock but simply opened the door, walked in, and pushed the door shut behind him.

The sight that greeted him shocked and disgusted him. There in the middle of the room stood Noah locked in an embrace with what looked to be a young boy. It was something he had never suspected of his brother, not even in his wildest imaginings, and he could only gape in outrage.

“Noah! Dear God!” His voice was a hoarse croak and he backed toward the door in an effort to escape the tawdry scene.

Reality did not intrude upon CC and Noah until the sound of Matt’s voice so very near and so very filled with loathing pierced their Elysian interlude and shattered the moment of bliss. Jolted out of his reverie, Noah suddenly realized that in his overwhelming need to possess CC again, he’d forgotten the message he’d left for Matthew, and more important, he’d forgotten to lock the door.

“Matt…” Noah’s voice was sharp as he tried to stop his brother from leaving. When CC would have turned to face Matt and relieve Noah of the necessity to explain a most embarrassing situation, Noah held her tightly to him and murmured, “Keep your face averted.”