Your Wish Is My Command

by Donna Kauffman

Jamie blew out a sigh of frustration. “Oh, no, he canyou know just fine. In fact, he's made it clear he'd like toyou know with me.”

  Ree's eyes went wide. “Well, then?”

  “I just told you. I don't want a relationship just now. And one with Sebastien has disaster written all over it. It can't go anywhere, Ree.”

  “Maybe that makes it the perfect relationship, then. Did you think about it that way? You don't want to settle down, and he's a temporary man at best. So why not enjoy yourselves while it lasts?”

  Jamie didn't answer for a moment. Not because she didn't know what the answer was—she did. That was what scared her. Quietly, she said, “Because maybe, just maybe, I've fallen a little bit in love with him after all. And maybe I can't take having my heart broken one more time.”

  “Oh, Jamie, I'm so sorry.” Ree pulled her into her arms.

  Jamie was a good head taller than Ree, but she hunched down and let her head drop down to her friend's soft shoulder anyway. “I think I convincedhim not to match me with anyone else,” she said softly. “So at least I don't have to go through that.”

  Ree smoothed her hair. “Well, that's one good piece of news. Who did you pick as number three, then?”

  Jamie couldn't help the smile that curved her lips. She straightened and stepped away. “Jack.”

  Ree clapped her hand over her mouth, but laughter hooted out anyway. She dropped her hand. “Oh, Jamie, you didn't.”

  She nodded, laughing herself. It felt good, even if it was at her cousin's expense. “He's been looking for Mr. Right forever. This will just expedite things. And it will finish Sebastien's mission.” Her smile faded. “Which means he disappears for good and I can finally get my life back under control.”

  “I'm so sorry it has to be that way, sugar, but you're probably doing the smart thing. Although I still say the two of you should just go ahead and burn each other out of your systems before he goes.” She fanned her face. “I know I would have.”

  “Well, I'm not you. I can't handle that kind of thing. If I could, I wouldn't have been divorced twice.”

  Ree nodded pragmatically. “True, true.”

  “Gee, thanks for agreeing so quickly,” Jamie said dryly, but she knew Ree was telling it like it was.

  Ree patted her arm. “You're doing what's right for you, Jamie. I'm proud of you, even if I am sorry it didn't work out better.”

  “Yeah, me too.” She pasted on a fresh smile and said, “Now, maybe we should get some work done?”

  Now Ree did blush. “Actually, speaking of Jack, he should be here any minute to relieve me. I, um, have a lunch date.”

  “Oh? Well, I can certainly cover for you for an hour or so. No need to drag Jack in here.”

  Ree's lips curved into a rather wicked grin. “Well, sugar, if my plans for lunch work out, I won't be back this afternoon. Or evening.”

  Jamie rolled her eyes. “Why am I beginning to think this relationship is going to be harder on me than it is on you?”

  Ree laughed. “I promise I won't shirk my responsibilities,” she said. “Much.” Jack bustled in just then. Ree gave him an exuberant kiss on both cheeks. “Hi there, sugar. Thanks for covering for me today. I owe you one.” She sent Jamie a conspiratorial wink. “A really big one, if I'm lucky.” Her laughter filled the air as she flitted out of the store.

  Jack didn't bother wiping off the red lip prints adorning his cheeks; he merely waved good-bye and turned to Jamie. “Spill.”

  Jamie cut him off before he could get too excited. “I'm not going to gossip. You'll have to ask her yourself. I'll be in the back if you need me.” There were no books to shelve, but she simply had to have a moment to herself. Several long moments, perhaps.

  She'd meant what she said to Ree about why she turned Sebastien down. But those dreams crept back into her mind, making her all itchy and hot and un-comfortable. Doubt crept in right along with it. No, no, no, Jamie. Don't let your hormones do the talking here. Stay strong.

  Sebastien found her there, staring unseeing at the stock cart. “Jack told me I might find you here.”

  She didn't jump this time when he spoke. She groaned. She'd spent too much time thinking about Sebastien's flesh to be seeing him in it again this soon. “Why are you here?”

  “Good day to you as well, mademoiselle.”

  She rubbed the bridge of her nose, then took a deep breath before facing him. “I thought we agreed last night to not see each other.”

  “I don't believe that was the agreement we reached at all. I was under the assumption your fondest wish was for me to return to my sword as soon as possible. For that to occur, I must find Jack's soulmate. I thought, as his cousin, you would be the best one to give me guidance. Otherwise, my research could take me much longer.” He stepped away and bowed. “But I will bid good day and go to his other place of employment.” He turned with a graceful flourish that had her eyes attached to his—

  “Okay, okay, don't get all dramatic.”

  He turned back to her, a smile curving his beautiful lips. Lips she'd spent most of last night dreaming about, lips that had—

  She shifted her weight back and forth, suddenly irritable. “What exactly do you need to know?”

  “Can we take a walk? I thought it would be best to have this discussion out of earshot.” He nodded his head toward the front, where Jack was helping a customer.

  “I can't. Ree is gone for the day and Marta won't be in till this afternoon. I have to help hold down the fort.”

  “Fine, then. Would this evening be more suitable?”

  There was no suitable time if it meant time spent alone with him, Jamie thought. Her heart was beating faster and her palms were all damp—and he wasn't even doing anything but standing in the same room as she was. Seeing him alone, after hours—in the dark? No, not a good idea at all. “I'm … I'm busy tonight.”

  He cocked his eyebrows. “Oh?”

  “This is so hard to believe? That I might have plans? I do have a life, you know.”

  “I do not question your desirability, mademoiselle.”

  The way he was looking at her—there ought to besome sort of law. There wasn't a nerve ending in her body that wasn't on full alert. She turned her back to him and pretended to sort books on the nearest stock shelf. “Maybe some other time.” She'd tried for nonchalant. She hadn't come close.

  He said nothing for the longest time, and she won-dered if perhaps he'd left. Then his voice came from a point far too close to her left shoulder. She stilled, unable to even pretend she was working.

  “Is my presence so abhorrent to you, Jamie?”

  Did he have to use her name? All dark and dreamy like that? “I …I said I have plans.” She didn't dare turn around. “It's impolite to question a lady's word.”

  Again a pause, then, “Perhaps you've mistaken me for a gentleman.”

  “You said last night I'd turned you into an honorable man.”

  “I also warned you not to test my honor.”

  “I didn't come to you.”

  A long moment passed. “I know. It would have been easier on my conscience if you had. I told myself I came here merely to expedite the matter of my return to the sword. Now that I am here, I realize that for the lie it was.”

  Well, there went what was left of her oxygen. She swallowed hard against a parched throat. “Maybe … you should leave, then. Now.”

  He put his hand on her shoulder and turned her slowly to face him. Jamie knew she was a goner when she looked into his eyes. The desire she found there was hot enough to melt the polish off her nails. If she'd been wearing any.

  “Maybe I'm not so honorable after all.” He leaned closer. “Because leaving now is the very last thing I plan to do.”

  And he tilted his head down—and kissed her. It wasno tame meeting of the lips either. True to his background, he plundered her mouth. He took with abandon and reveled in the treasures he sought out and found.

  For her part, Jamie surrendered without a whi
mper. A moan or two, and a definite shudder of desire, but once his mouth was on hers, she did nothing to fight off his invasion. In truth, she'd never wanted anything so badly in her entire life. And the reality was proving to be so superior to her limited imagination, she wouldn't have stopped him now for any amount of wishes granted.

  She gripped his shoulders, which prompted him to slide his arms around her waist and—dear God, he felt good—pull her tightly against his body. This had to be wrong, wrong, wrong. In her experience, anything that felt even a fraction this good could only be really, really bad for her in the long run.

  It didn't say much for her emotional growth that she cared not one whit about her dismal learning curve. He'd pressed his tongue inside her mouth and pulled her hips tight against his. Learning curves be damned!

  His hand slid up her waist and cupped beneath her breast. Jamie instinctively started to pull away, not wanting to spoil the moment by having him realize just how little that particular foray was going to reward him with. But his fingers were strong, his mouth even stronger. He took her mouth more deeply, demanding she rejoin the attack. Her hand fell limply to her side as his thumb slipped up over her nipple and wrenched a low moan of total acceptance from somewhere very deep in her throat.

  “I don't suppose someone would like to assist me in running this business.” Jack's voice entered her brain about one second before the man himself entered the back room. She broke away from Sebastien's kiss intime to see her cousin's surprised expression turn to one of approval.

  “Well, now, we are woman, hear us roar.” He gave a little golf clap of approval. “It's about damn time. Don't you worry, I'll handle things out front. You handle … well, everything you can, sister.” With a little wink at Sebastien, he sashayed dramatically back out front.

  Turning more shades of red than she knew were humanly possible, Jamie disentangled herself from Sebastien's arms and stepped away, clearing her throat in a desperate attempt at reclaiming a shred of her dignity.

  “Jamie—”

  She put up her hand to stop Sebastien's advance. “Really, you have to go. Now.” She stared at him. “Please.”

  Sebastien swore under his breath. It was mostly in French, but Jamie didn't think she needed a translation book to get the gist.

  “I will return here tonight. We will talk. And not about your cousin.” He muttered something about “if I let him continue to draw breath,” then walked to her and lifted the heavy braid from her shoulder before she could back away. “I want to see this hair unplaited and spread across my pillow. Perhaps across my bare chest.”

  She trembled as the air left her lungs completely.

  “This cannot end here,” he said quietly. “We will finish what we've begun.” He dropped her braid and ran the backs of his knuckles along her breast, making her shudder despite herself. “And I believe you understand how successful I am when I put my mind to something.”

  Jamie found her voice, shaky though it was. “I am not a victory to be claimed.”

  He smiled then, and it was so wickedly carnal thatJamie just might have stripped naked and offered herself to him right there on the shelving cart. Had he asked.

  “This victory will be shared by us both. That I promise you.”

  When he was gone, Jamie leaned weakly against the closest shelf and fanned herself. Dear God. She should be really sorry she'd let that happen. Really, truly regretful. After all her carefully built-up resistance, she'd crumbled under the first real assault on her defenses.

  This could only lead her down the path of destruction. Again. She absolutely knew that to be true.

  Which did nothing to explain the shiver of anticipation that raced over her—much less the smile that curved her own lips as she slowly began unwinding her braid.

  The battle might have been lost, but the casualties hadn't been counted. Not yet. The line had been crossed and she'd let it happen. However, if she was going to suffer anyway, she was damn well going to make it worth the pain.

  Chapter 17

  Sebastien paced his rooms like a caged animal. One hour left, then he would claim her as his own. Mon Dieu, what a spell she had cast upon him. He had never been like this, the anticipation alone all but destroying his control. He had enjoyed the affections of many women, yes, but always he was the one in control, he the one seducing, the one dictating the course of pleasure.

  Until tonight.

  Yes, he had directed what had happened at the store. Lord knows she'd been a more than willing receptor to his advances, so much so he'd almost lost himself right then and there. But since leaving her, the waiting—and truth be told, the worrying—was killing him. Would she come with him? Would she run once again? Did he dare attempt to find her again if she did?

  Never before had these kinds of concerns plagued him. His women had always been willing. His biggest concern was getting them to leave when he was through with them, not worrying if they would show in the first place.

  He flung himself down on his bed with a growl of frustration, then jumped right back up again and resumed pacing. Even if Jamie refused him, there would be no other companion joining him in her place.

  He sat abruptly on the end of the bed, feeling as if the wind had suddenly left his sails. Here he'd been the one mounting the campaign, and yet she was the one with the victory. She'd managed to capture all of his attention. And there was no one else he'd care to share it with, were he to reclaim it.

  Ah, foxed and be damned. He dragged himself upright and went downstairs to the courtyard. The night air was thick and redolent with the scents of the nocturnal flowers that were opening beneath the full moon. The rich earthiness of it all did little to settle his nerves.

  He tortured himself with thoughts of what she would smell like when he took her in his arms, what her lips would taste like when he tipped her chin up and kissed her once again.

  With a groan, he sank into one of the chairs and contemplated the pale moon above. He had boldly decided to disregard his personal rule by being with her. He wondered if there really was some cosmic penalty for what he was about to do. It would not stop him. Or he would have not taken her into his arms in the first place.

  He rubbed his hands over his face. He wanted to possess her so badly—what was becoming of him? Even in his days of plundering with Dominique, he'd never needed the victory or required the spoils. It was the chase that roused him.

  Was that her allure? That she had not fallen victim to his charms so easily? That she resisted them even when he knew he was weakening her will?

  Non, that was not it at all. Yet it was damn hard to admit it. The image of her face swam into his mind. He saw the sparkle of wit, the flash of temper in her eyes; he heard her voice in his ears, bold and direct. He pictured her movement—strong and certain, always so unaware of her femininity. This went farbeyond physical attraction. Before, were he to contemplate the essence of a woman, his mind would have instantly strayed to her plentiful, womanly bounty, to her full, succulent lips, the sway of her well-rounded hips and bosom, the knowing looks of desire she'd have sent his way.

  None of those things had come to his mind when he thought of Jamie. And yet his attraction to her was all the stronger for it. She hadn't captivated only his body, she'd captivated his spirit, engaged his mind, his—

  He veered away from that course of thought; it was a far too dangerous path to traverse this night.

  It was time to go to her. Had he found any humor in it, he would have laughed at the magnitude of his own insecurities as he left the courtyard and made his way to the bookstore.

  As he drew closer, his worries only increased. Perhaps he should have come well before closing time, to ensure she did not run off. Bah, he thought immediately. He was being a fool now. She would be there.

  If she was not, he realized he'd spend the rest of the night hunting her down. If she was going to refuse him, then she would refuse him to his face.

  That thought brought him to a full stop just
half a block away. He could see the store up the street on the corner. The lights were still on inside. He looked to the upper floors and found her apartment dark. He knew her bedroom was the corner room. He'd sat in it, watching her sleep, that long first night after they'd met.

  He'd spent too many nights dreaming about the soft pile of pillows and the thick duvet that tumbled across her bed. More specifically, he'd dreamed about tumbling her into that soft pile.

  He shifted his weight but didn't resume walking. He stopped thinking about his needs for a momentand thought about Jamie's. Another path he'd never taken before. Had he taken advantage of her? Unjustly swayed her to accept his advances? She'd made it clear she was attracted to him, but she'd made it equally clear that she was not ready for involvement with anyone. He had spoken truthfully that he thought she was, but had that been his own desires speaking for him? Blast and damn again! This was too bloody complicated, and he was damned if he needed the aggravation. It would be easier all around if they both did as she initially bade them—which was to steer clear of each other.

  After all, he could hardly promise her anything, certainly not a future together. That thought alone sent another series of shocks through him. Had he planned on promising such a thing? Even in his mortal life he'd never been compelled to do more than promise another evening of delight. Beyond that, he remained eminently unpromised to anyone. In any way. So why in hell had he thought it?

  He knew why, though it brought him no comfort. Because she was not like any other woman. She had a strong heart and a generous soul, both of which spoke to his in a way no other woman ever had. He was compelled to talk to her, explain himself. He found himself wanting—nay, needing—her approval, her understanding. It should have been mortifying to admit, but it wasn't. It actually felt … good. This need to be needed. By her.

  Yet she had been hurt, and badly, by cads who had taken her heart then tossed it aside like refuse when they were through with it.

  Was he such a cad as well? Would he unknowingly take her heart with his actions tonight? And could he live with damaging that heart further when it was his time to go?