Do something? He actually thought about it for a moment before realizing it was stupid. He tightened his arms around her before doing the only thing he could think of that might take her mind off the raging elements outside. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he pulled her head back, and slammed his mouth down on hers.
At first, she stiffened, until Brent’s kiss coaxed her into relaxing. As she opened her mouth beneath his, he purposely softened his kiss into a sensual attack, slipping his tongue inside to mate with hers. Over the thunder, he heard her low moan of hunger. She brought her arms up to encircle his neck, straining closer to his body. His hand slowly unclenched from her hair, and glided down her throat to her breast, a growl escaping him when Sophie arched into his caress.
He shuddered with renewed arousal as her breasts swelled within the palms of his hands. In less then a heartbeat, he grew weak, willingly accepting the ruthless passion spiraling through him. Knowing it was wrong but feeling it was so right. Sophie made him want too much, too fast. She made him forget about everything but her. In a mindless moment, Brent pushed her shirt out of the way and put his mouth on her breast, rolling her turgid nipple around the tip of his tongue. Sophie arched wildly and cried out, offering him whatever he wanted. Her hands roamed over him at will.
What the hell was he doing? Brent knew he needed to find the strength to pull away. His fingers curled around the delicate bones of her wrists and he pinned her to the bed, pulling back to look down at her. Eyes clinging, their harsh breathing echoed through the small cabin, heard well above the noise of the rain. She was thrusting against him, her need mirroring his own.
“Tell me again that you love Jonathan Lord,” he demanded softly. “A woman doesn’t kiss like that if she’s in love with another man.”
Her expression showed surprise. “Is that why you kissed me? So I’d let down my guard?” Her soft, slightly disappointed words reminded Brent of how he’d felt earlier, when he thought she’d used her body to do the same thing. “You don’t think a woman can love one man and still want to make love to another?”
Oh, it was more than possible. But he didn’t want to believe it. He narrowed his eyes on her lovely, flushed face, trying to read the truth. “Are you that kind of woman, Sophie?” She glanced away, only he wasn’t about to let her get away with that. Gripping her chin, Brent forced her to look at him. “Are you?” His tone was harsh.
“Yes.”
“You’re lying.” Brent’s instincts told him what she wouldn’t admit to. Acid churned in his gut that a man like Lord had such a strong hold on her that she was willing to sell herself. However, it was the thought that Sophie might be telling him the truth that made a knot twist in his gut. “What has he got on you?” he demanded angrily. Maybe she would tell him what her father couldn’t get out of her.
Her eyes widened with alarm, his words obviously hitting close to home. “What d-do you me-mean?” she asked in a broken whisper. “I lo—”
“There are plenty of signs that indicate to me that you don’t love Lord. A woman in love doesn’t remove the man’s ring and leave it behind. A woman in love wouldn’t think of betraying him by making love with another man.” He had little to base that observation on except for his mother and sister. “And don’t think I didn’t notice you cringe the other night at the museum when Lord kissed your shoulder.”
“I don’t know what you mean!” Her voice was shaking, and she tried to push him away from her. “You were imagining things!”
“Don’t insult me by the innocent act. Why don’t you try telling the truth for a change?” Before he lost control and shook some sense into her, he released her and rolled off the bed.
Once he was on his feet, he swung around. He narrowed his gaze on her pale face with the thought that if he pushed her into spilling the truth, he would be able to contact Senator Adams and put an end to the whole damn mess. It was risky, but Brent decided to take it. Besides, what do I have to lose?
“Just who are you protecting, princess, yourself or your father?”
She caught her breath, her eyes widening into round saucers. All she could do was lay there and roll helplessly with the movements of the boat. “You’re crazy!” she finally replied.
“Am I?” There was no disguising the fear in her eyes, or the desperation in her tone. Brent instinctively knew he was getting close and that she knew it and was terrified of it. What the hell was she hiding? “Why are you so afraid, then?”
“Wouldn’t you be? I’ve been kid—”
“Don’t try and change the subject,” he cut in ruthlessly, even while realizing he had to be careful. If Sophie figured out he wasn’t what he appeared to be she’d have the upper hand, and he wasn’t about to let that happen.
“What kind of kidnapper are you?” she asked, her tone changing to suspicion.
Brent had to think fast. “The kind who wants to make sure he’s asking the right man for the ransom money. I don’t want to waste my time with Lord if he doesn’t love you as much as you claim to love him.”
She glanced away, her fingers clenching into the covers beneath her to keep from rolling. “He wants me,” she said softly.
Didn’t she realize what she just revealed? “I want you too, but let’s not confuse lust with love.” Brent looked at her long and hard. Who am I kidding? I’m already half in love with her.
In spite of all his misgivings and sour experiences with the opposite sex, he knew Sophie was different. His gut told him when she loved someone she would do anything for them, including protecting them by sacrificing herself.
The sadness in her gaze tore at his heartstrings. He wanted to take her into his arms and tell her everything would be all right. That he would make it all right. Yet how can I do that if I don’t know what to protect her from? He hoped to hell that the senator was having better luck at his end. Brent wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep up the lie. His cellular began to ring, putting an end to any further discussion. As he reached to retrieve it from his back pocket, Sophie quickly slipped beneath the blanket.
“Yeah?” His stare remained on her, holding her gaze.
“It’s me! We have a problem!” Tom’s excited tone was hushed as if he was afraid someone would overhear him. “Get out of there! Senator Adams’ lines have a tap on them. Our…”
“What?” Brent barked into the receiver with disbelief.
“We don’t know when but a tap was placed on his line to monitor all incoming calls, in case the kidnapper contacted him instead of Lord. I just received a call from the senator’s office. He wasn’t even aware of it.”
Of course he wasn’t aware of it. Why would he knowingly agree to put a tap on his phone when he already knew his daughter was safe with me? It had to be Lord, the bastard! I underestimated the man. All at once, Brent realized Tom was talking a mile a minute and he hadn’t heard a single word.
“…from the boat?”
“Repeat,” Brent said between his teeth, in a tone that left little doubt to anyone who heard it that he was furious. Sophie looked ready to bolt, if the alarm filling her eyes was any indication.
“I asked if you made any calls from the boat.”
He hadn’t but Sophie had. “Damn it!” he stormed, his lips thinning with anger. The force of his seething reply caused Sophie to jump. If Tom asked him that, then he obviously knew the answer, which also meant Lord was on to him.
“What’s the plan now?” Tom questioned. “I say it’s over! We let Miss Adams go and return to the office, and pretend nothing’s happened.”
Tom’s plan of surrender didn’t surprise Brent. He probably thought it would be as easy as that, too. “The plan is we’re getting the hell off this boat,” Brent grated with exasperation. “I’ll contact you later with the details.”
He flipped the phone shut and crammed it in his back pocket. He estimated a good hour had gone by since she’d called her father, and he knew the only thing saving them from being overtaken by the cops was Lord’s
ego. He was the kind of man who would want to handle things his own way, with his own people. Which probably means I’m a dead man. Hell! His mouth thinned with displeasure. What a mess!
“Come on, princess, we have to get the hell off this boat before lover boy shows up with the cavalry.” The last thing he wanted was for her to be caught up in any gunfire.
Her eyes rounded as she took in the news. “The police are on their way?” She had no choice but to let him pull her off the bed. “How…”
“It appears when you phoned daddy, the call was traced.” Brent caught her when the boat suddenly swayed. In the blink of an eye her light fragrance, her soft body and a need so strong it threatened to consume him, engulfed his already weakened senses. That sharp, unwelcome sensation was almost enough to make him into throw caution to the wind and toss her back upon the bed. He took a moment to gain control of his wits, pretending to steady her before setting her away from him.
“Hurry up and get dressed.”
He didn’t bother looking around for anything that might give his identity away. He figured it was too late for that. By now, Lord knew who he was, and where to find them. A sense of urgency made the adrenaline rush through his blood like a torrid river. While Sophie dressed, he went topside to see what, if anything, was going on. Mostly anglers used the dock on weekends and in this kind of weather, it was deserted. However, that didn’t mean that someone would not be returning from a fishing trip cut short.
As soon as he stepped on deck, he was drenched in the downpour. It looked like early evening, although it was the afternoon. The skyline was dark, and the clouds overhead resembled dirty snow banks. As Brent’s gaze took in the area, he whistled a sound of relief that no one was around.
Hoping his luck continued, he turned to go back below, surprised to find Sophie patiently waiting for him at the bottom of the steps. For as long as he lived, he would never forget the look of regret in those sapphire eyes.
She was wringing her hands. “I can’t…” He could barely make out her softly spoken words. She seemed frozen in place, and Brent doubted there was anything he could do about it.
He knew her fear was going to cost them valuable time. “Sure you can, princess, just put one foot before the other and climb,” he coaxed gently. He could see she was already shaking her head no. “Trust me, sweetheart,” he added softly.
Chapter 16
Sophie hesitated; mesmerized by the patient sound of Brent’s voice in spite of the fact rain was beating down on him. Why should I trust him? The answer was as clear as the unexpected tenderness she saw in his eagle sharp eyes. He was protecting her from something. Why didn’t I see him for what he was from the start? Intuition warned her she had nothing to fear from Brent and never had.
“I trust you,” she breathed softly, still not taking the first step that would bring her topside.
Featherlike laugh lines crinkled around his eyes, and his face broke into an encouraging grin as he held his hand down to her, blinking back the rain. “Keep looking at me and take it one step at a time.”
Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she took the first step, doing as he instructed and keeping her stare glued to his. With each step she took closer to the top, she could feel the spray of rain and smell the ocean air. By the time she placed her hand in his, she half expected him to haul her the rest of the way out. Surprised when he didn’t. He let her make the journey at her own speed. Within seconds she became as drenched as he was.
“Ready?”
No! Still, she nodded anyway. Before she knew it she was standing on deck and in his arms. She buried her face against him, refusing to look at her surroundings, trembling uncontrollably.
“I’ve got you. I won’t let you go, I promise.” His arms closed tightly around her, crushing her against the length of him.
She released a weak, nervous laugh. “You’ve got me this far but how are you going to get me off this pier and to the truck?”
“Got it covered,” he said confidently, scanning the area. Other than an old man standing in the threshold of the bait shop watching them, all was quiet.
Before she realized what he was thinking, she was caught up in his strong arms, and he was striding down the unsteady wharf as if she weighed no more than a child. Keeping her eyes tightly shut, she turned her face against his chest, holding her breath until she heard the sound of gravel crunching beneath his feet. She peered up at him with gratitude, glancing at his strong jawbone, mesmerized by his strength, and caring.
He glanced down, catching her looking at him. “You can put me down now.”
Without comment he released her, allowing her to glide down the front of him, the tips of her breasts grazing his hard chest until her feet were planted firmly on the ground. She gasped when his hands settled on her hips, holding her against him. What did he think he was doing? She raised her face to his, blinking back the falling rain; her tongue darted out to catch the warm moisture. The way he was watching her caused her breath to catch. She was woman enough to recognize the brief flare of desire in his eyes before he banked the fire.
“Thank you,” she murmured, feeling unaccustomedly shy.
“Any time, princess. Now we need to get out of here.” Just as he opened the truck door, his cell phone began to ring. “What the hell is it now?” He mumbled beneath his breath. He snatched it from his pocket and flipped it open.
“Yeah?” His expression tightened and a hand fell upon Sophie’s shoulder, keeping her close to him. “Hello, Lord.”
Jonathan! Sophie’s heart sank when she realized he was on the phone. Her gaze searched the area with worry, expecting to see him materialize from a location nearby.
“How did you track us down? I’m usually pretty good about covering my trail.”
Sophie was close enough to hear Jonathan’s end of the conversation.
“That’s not important. It’s just a matter of time before we catch up with you. I suggest you release my fiancée and disappear, because your life’s over.”
Sophie’s gaze met Brent’s. The threat in Jonathan’s tone caused a ripple of fear to travel down her spine. He winked at her, but it did nothing to dissolve the alarm churning in her belly.
“What, no trial by my peers?”
Jonathan snorted disdainfully. “You won’t live long enough for the cops, or anyone else to bring you in,” he threatened in a deadly tone. “I’ll become a hero overnight, killing you and rescuing Sophie. I imagine after that the senator will grant me whatever I want.”
“I’ve noticed you haven’t asked how Sophie is holding up. You certainly have your priorities straight.”
“Don’t let my lack of concern disturb you, Howard. If you’ve touched her, I’ll take great pleasure in seeing you suffer before my men finish with you.”
“Really? I’m surprised you’re threatening me while I still have Sophie as my guest.”
Sophie wondered if Brent realized his hand had smoothed down her back, as though to comfort her. It came to rest on the curve of her bottom, caressing her lightly. She couldn’t help it. His touch made her yearn for more.
“You’re not going to kill her,” Jonathan said confidently.
“You’re right, killing women is for cowards.” Sophie stepped closer to Brent’s hard length, seeking the protection she sensed she’d find in his arms. “Your beautiful lady is worth the forfeit of ten million dollars,” he continued, surprising Sophie. Her gaze sought his, only he was scanning the area again. Didn’t he realize he was taunting Jonathan? “Of course, she might be a little used up by the time I get around to releasing her.” He seemed to take perverse pleasure in baiting Jonathan.
Her mind drifted back to the bed. It wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why it was rumpled and torn apart.
“You’re a dead man,” Sophie heard Jonathan grate in a low, savage tone. She shivered wildly at his tone, fully believing he meant what he said.
Brent snorted, obviously not worried. “So you’v
e said.” He snapped the phone shut without another word.
“Jonathan knows who you are, now. You can expect your picture and name to be plastered on the evening news,” Sophie commented, blinking against the rain, which had turned into a light drizzle.
“You don’t know your fiancé, if you think he’s interested in letting the police do their job. A man like him takes it very personal when someone kidnaps his woman. Sleeping with you signed my death warrant.”
“You don’t look very concerned, and why did you insinuate something like that?”
His sharp laughter caught her by surprise. “You don’t understand how a man’s mind works. Once he’s on the boat, lover boy will know soon enough that I’ve had you. A blind man would be able to pick up the scent of the sexual encounter we shared on that bed.”
Sophie knew the heat crawling up her neck was a sign of embarrassment. She started to pull away to slide into the truck. “I’m glad you’re not worried about it, but have you thought what it could mean for me?”
“What do you mean?” Brent’s hand prevented her from getting into the truck. “Lord won’t hurt you.” His eyes bore deeply into hers, as though searching for reassurance.
“Jonathan doesn’t have to touch me to hurt me,” she confessed softly, before realizing her mistake. She lowered her gaze.
I can’t hide the truth from Brent much longer. He’s too smart for that. Sooner or later he’s going to figure out how much I hate Jonathan.
And how much I love him.
Chapter 17
Brent was gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white. For the hundredth time he glanced at Sophie, as she sat staring out the window. She looked soft, defenseless, and he wanted to pull over to the side of the road and take her into his arms.
How am I going to find the strength to let her go when the time comes? I want her and not just her body. Only thirty-one isn’t a time to start thinking about changing my life. I like my freedom. Without responsibilities I can pick up and go when I want, and not worry about messy things like a wife and kids. Besides, we’re worlds apart.
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