Chapter 19
“AHOY, CAPTAIN. WE HAVE a vessel approaching us at ten knots from the northwest.”
“Aye, aye, Mr. Bleau. Can you see who she sails for?”
“Negative, captain. She’s too far out.”
Furrowing his brow, Talon glanced at Talia as they ate breakfast with the crew in the galley. Her eyes widened, and he swallowed the bite of sweet molasses bread stuck to the back of his throat. Dread took up its stead. “What did they say?”
Talia leaned against him. “We’re being followed. Do you think it’s Perez?”
“No clue.” Scanning the crew gathered around him, he lowered his voice. “Did you inform Rousseau of our assignment?”
Talia cast her gaze to the ground. “Not exactly. He knows Lord Taylor allowed us passage, but that’s the extent of it.”
Gathering his tray, Talon pushed away from the table and stood. “Then perhaps we should warn him of our troubles. How far out is ten knots?”
“Je ne sais pas. I’m not a sailor, either.”
Talia worried the bottom of her lip, lines snaking across her forehead. Balling his fists around his tray, Talon clenched his jaw. “If it’s Perez and Vargas, I will kill them. Mark my word.”
Grabbing her food, Talia cleared her throat and stood. “Let’s speak with Jean-Jacques before we make any rash decisions.”
“I’M WARNING YOU, CAPTAIN, Ramón Perez is dangerous. He took Talia prisoner, for God’s sake.”
Talon’s knuckles whitened against the arms of the chair as he sat across from Rousseau in the officer’s quarters. Huffing, the captain glared at Talia, a stony expression masking his sentiments. They’d been speaking with the man for nigh on an hour, and Talon still couldn’t grasp the myriad of emotions that had flitted across the captain’s face. Anger, dread, fear... which was it?
Talia halted. “C’est vrai, Jean-Jacques. Perez and his partner, Vargas, work for a treacherous man named Colonel DuPont. For some reason, they need me to finish their mission.”
The man harrumphed, and she cast her gaze to the floor. Crossing his arms, Talon drew his lips back in a snarl. “If that isn’t enough for you, Perez also tried to rape her, sir.”
Still nothing.
“Dieu, say something, Jean-Jacques.”
Sucking on the end of his pipe, Rousseau sighed. “I know you’ve worked for Aringosa for several years, Talia, but I never thought you’d defy your father and spy for the French. What would Fernando say?”
Biting her bottom lip, Talia said nothing.
“So, this Colonel DuPont is trying to stir up trouble amongst the people of Nouvelle Orleans? Why?”
Talon grunted. “Something about renewing the French Revolutionary frenzy in the Territories. The man hired me to kidnap Talia.” The captain’s brow lifted, and Talon pressed his lips together. “Although, at the time, I thought Carina Aringosa was my actual target.” He laughed at the irony. “During the interview, my instincts told me those men were crazy.”
“Men?”
Talia took a deep breath. “From the scant information we’ve found, Colonel DuPont and his son, Pierre, are in charge. Ricardo is also involved, but we haven’t figured out how.”
Rousseau stared pensively at the ceiling as smoke rings circled his head. “And how do the Spaniards fit in?”
“Alberto and I were partners. Ricardo hired him as my escort, but it seems he also works for DuPont.” Talia said. “He was Talon’s contact to get aboard the ship, although I didn’t know that at the time. After we sailed, Talon and I discovered DuPont had actually hired all of us.”
Talia’s eyes lowered as Captain Rousseau gave her a hard look. The man crossed his arms. “You were used as pawns by these gamins, and yet you follow them to Guadeloupe? What does this man want with you?”
“If we knew that, we wouldn’t be in this mess, mon ami.”
Talon’s stomach clenched. Slowly, he pushed out of his chair and took up Talia’s pacing. Technically, DuPont hadn’t hired him. Blanchefort’s lover was his true employer. Talon hadn’t thought about the Frenchwoman for a while.
Clearing his throat, he turned to Talia and sighed. “DuPont hired me, but I’ve been getting a second set of instructions.”
Talia’s gaze froze. “From whom?”
“Acquaintances in France. Jacques LeFevre, my old employer, hired me to work undercover for Philippe LaBarre and a woman named Hélène Beau—something.”
Clasping her hands over her mouth, Talia gasped. “Hélène Beaupraît? She’s my aunt!”
Talon halted. “You can’t be serious.”
“C’est vrai. Tante Hélène, my mother’s sister. Maman was born in Paris. She’s there visiting my aunt who lives somewhere near Rouen, I think.”
Pursing his lips, Talon rubbed his chest as his stomach clenched. His trip to Blanchefort Manor had been brief and his interactions with Hélène and Jacques short lived. They’d warned him he would need to be careful with DuPont, but neither of them had mentioned anything about Talia’s part of the plan.
It can’t be chance. Crossing his arms, he stared at her intently. “If you know Mademoiselle Beaupraît, why did LaBarre hire me?”
She rubbed her temples and frowned. “I don’t know that man. Ricardo arranged this assignment through Aunt Hélène. And he was the one who found Alberto. Ricardo must be working with DuPont.”
Talon scowled. “Vargas knows LaBarre as well. He showed me correspondence from the man before I boarded the Nueva Linda. He said to cut contact with DuPont, that I should only answer to him or Miss Beaupraît.”
Rousseau fingered the tip of his pipe. “This is not coincidence, mes amis. There is something sinister going on here.”
Talon turned to her. “Did your aunt know you planned to switch places with Aringosa’s daughter?”
“Oui,” she said. “But she would never hurt me. She has my mother with her. Why go to all this trouble to help me?”
Captain Rousseau waved his hands in the air. “Perhaps we are looking at this the wrong way. What is it DuPont wants?”
Talon took a deep breath. “He hired me to kidnap Aringosa’s daughter to stop the marriage between her and some Englishman. Apparently, he’s looking to spread French rule through an extremist group of revolutionaries. He mentioned something about rights to trade on some river in New Orleans and those Lafitte blokes.”
Talia’s eyes lit up. “And Ricardo has promised the ruffians trading rights without tariffs... when they find the right land.” Talia’s eyes flitted to Rosseau. She clenched her fists. “Mon dieu! He wants Temptation Hall! Ricardo Aringosa used me.” Tears glistened at her lashes as she hung her head. “Oh, Papa...”
Talon glowered at them. “Care to fill me in?”
Slamming his fists against the table, Rousseau cursed under his breath. “Fernando Montrose and Ricardo Aringosa have been arguing about tariffs in the colonies for years. They both want Temptation Hall, it seems.”
Talia crossed her arms and sighed. “Except Ricardo promised it to the Lafittes.”
Talon scoffed. “That’s ridiculous. Why in the world would they want your home?”
Wiping the tears from her eyes, she said, “I told you... Temptation Hall is the largest plantation on the Mississippi River. It’s positioned at the perfect place—near the mouth of the boundary waters. Papa has made a fortune because he can sail directly to the islands with his cane without having to go through New Orleans and pay the stiff taxes. The Lafitte brothers have been searching for property near the city to operate their slave trade.”
Talon shook his head, attempting to think the motives through. “That doesn’t explain Perez and Vargas.”
She sank into the chair. “Vargas was only in it for the money.” She raised her brow. “Five hundred pounds, to be exact.”
Anger flooded Talon’s soul. Stomping to her, he snarled, “That git was promised the same pay as me?”
“And me,” she said dully. “It seems everyone on this twisted a
ssignment has been promised an exorbitant amount of pounds sterling.”
“Who the blazes is running this mission?” Talon demanded.
Rousseau stood and gazed at the clock on the bureau. “That is what you need to figure out.” He gave them both a hard look and pointed a finger at Talia. “Stay here. We’re watching that ship closely. Under no circumstances do you come to the quarterdeck, comprendez-vous? I will let you know when it is safe. In the meantime, keep this door locked.” Rousseau handed the key to Talon.
“Merci, Jean-Jacques.” Talia softly closed the door behind the captain.
Talon whipped around, his gaze boring into hers as he scanned her face. “You lied to me.”
She blinked at him owlishly. “Not at all. Talon, I had no idea you knew my aunt. We could have figured this out much sooner had we put that information together.” She grabbed his hands. “Besides the scant information from Ricardo, I had no prior knowledge of you.”
His shoulders sagged. “What a bloody mess. How did you come to know of this mission?”
“Apparently, Aunt Hélène’s informants in Paris discovered that DuPont had hired a spy to kidnap Carina. Hélène contacted Ricardo, and we altered our plans accordingly.”
“Well, someone isn’t being truthful, and it seems you’re the target, love.” Stalking to the shelves above the captain’s bed, Talon rifled through the contents. Pulling a bottle of amber brew from behind some dusty books, he cursed. “I’m sick of rum. It this all you people drink?” He poured himself a single swish, offering a cup to Talia. She declined. He threw the liquor back in one gulp.
His nerves calmed with a few more shots. Sitting next to her at the table, he gripped his glass. “If DuPont isn’t in charge, why did he hire me instead of Aringosa?”
“Ricardo didn’t fill me in on the details. The only reason I took this assignment was because he swore to me Carina was in danger. I’ve always believed I was on this mission to save my best friend. He knew I’d never say no.”
Talon chuckled dryly. “It was Hélène that found me. I’d worked for her lover, Edouard Blanchefort, the revolutionary that trained me as a spy. She insisted I serve DuPont’s cause no matter how crazy it seemed.” He lifted his glass. “The five hundred pounds sterling was the kicker.”
Talia’s brow furled. “Did my aunt say anything to you that stood out?”
He rubbed his temples and sighed. “Our conversation was rather cryptic. I was overly tired from traveling. I think she said something about unfolding my destiny. I can’t be sure... it was late.”
Her eyes went wide. “Mayhap Jean-Jacques was right. What if there is a higher purpose to this mission? Ricardo knows more than he lets on. Perhaps DuPont is just a pawn in this as well.”
“Like me,” he scathed.
Grasping his arm, she glided her hand across his back. “Non, Talon. You are the one person whose role in this mission is logical. Aunt Hélène must have hired you because she trusted you to keep me safe.” A small smile formed at the corner of her lips as her voice lowered seductively. “You are not as expendable as it may seem, mon cher.”
Talon inhaled sharply as his body responded to the blind love pouring from her eyes. At that moment, he didn’t care about propriety. He didn’t care that Rousseau was above deck or that Talia wasn’t Romani.
He needed her.
Growling with carnal desire, he crushed his lips against hers. He scooped up her lithe body and carried her to the bunk.
Weaving his hands through her silken curls, he dove into her sweetness as if he were starving. His tongue laved her lips. Her mouth parted. He plunged into the depths of her velvety softness, desperate to embed her in his soul.
Wrapping her legs around his midsection, she returned his longing with equal fervor. She arched her neck as he blazed a path of kisses across her skin. Tugging her gown from her shoulders, she invited him to proceed. Gold-flecks of passion glinted in her emerald eyes.
His breath hitched. He dipped his tongue into the valley of her swollen breasts as his lips rounded the tops. He inhaled her flowery scent and groaned. “You taste amazing, love.”
She moaned. “Oui, Talon. Love me.”
Setting her upon the blankets, he pulled her gown and chemise to her waist. He palmed her voluptuous breasts, his fingers whispering over the rosy tips. The buds pebbled. Capturing one of them in his mouth, he rolled it about with his tongue until she whimpered.
He suckled harder. Twining her fingers through his hair, Talia pressed him closer to her chest and threw her head back with a hiss. With every moan she released, he intensified his caresses, kneading and suckling upon each perfect mound until she begged for more.
“Dieu, Talon, touch me.” She bucked her hips against him.
Taking her earlobe between his lips, he whispered, “Easy, love. I want to taste all of you.”
Her eyes narrowed. Placing a kiss on each nipple, he scooted lower. A curve formed at Talon’s lips as he flicked his tongue from the bottom of her breasts to her belly. As he explored, he shimmied the dress from her waist, desperate to mark her as his.
He stopped to gaze at her angelic face. Her eyes glazed over with desire as her glorious moans hijacked his pounding heart. “You’re exquisite, Talia Montrose.”
His lips traveled across her navel, and her hips shimmied against his hands. As he removed her smallclothes and spread her knees, anticipation swirled through his body like a tsunami.
“Close your eyes, love. Feel me.”
This moment was all about her. And he swore he’d give her more pleasure than he’d ever given any other woman if it were the last thing he did.
A GASP LEFT TALIA’S throat, her mind spinning in circles as Talon licked delicately along her folds. Swallowing hard, she moaned. His tongue was magic.
“Look at me.”
Her eyelids fluttered open. Staring into her eyes, he took her sensitive rosebud between his lips and sucked it into his mouth. Her breath caught. As he laved her thoroughly, sipping on her like a fine wine, her whimpers of desire echoed off the wooden beams. She arched her back. “More...”
He grasped her thighs, his movements intensifying. He lapped at her like an animal dying of thirst. Tingles erupted at her core, spreading through her body like wildfire. She rocked her hips against his mouth, burning for more.
Her pulse slammed against her throat. Grasping his hair in her fingers, she rubbed against his mouth. The throbbing at her maidenhood was threatening to unravel her. “Talon...”
“That’s it, love. Enjoy it.” He replaced his tongue with the warmth of his long fingers dallying at the cusp of her folds. Inserting a digit fully, he slid against her tight, velvet sheath, back and forth, faster, until her mind whirled. Her cleft wept for him, for this.
As he slammed his hand against her body, she met his every thrust. When he finally added his tongue, rapture exploded through her. Crying out, she clutched his head and hauled him to her, flying beyond the clouds.
A GRIN CURVED AT TALON’S lips as he laid his head on Talia’s naked belly. Her heartbeat pounded ferociously against his ear. It was the most beautiful melody he’d ever heard.
She forked her hands through his hair. “Mon dieu, what did you do to me?”
Fondling the taut peaks of her breasts, he husked, “That, Mademoiselle, is your punishment for lying to me.”
With a drunken smile, she sat up on her elbows. “Mayhap I’ll deceive you more often.” Biting her lip, Talia caressed his cheek. “I’ve never felt this way about any man, Talon. I—”
He gathered her up, capturing her mouth with his. He knew what she was going to say, but he wasn’t ready to hear it. “Sweet Talia,” he murmured in her ear.
She whimpered once more as he deepened his kiss. The taste of her lingered on his lips. Crushing her flush against his waist, he guided her hand to his breeches where his cock was dying to escape its confines.
“Touch me, love.”
Leaning her head against his shoulder, s
he gently caressed his hard length. He groaned into her hair. Facing him, she untied his breeches. Her warm fingers delved past his smallclothes, freeing him from the confines.
As she wrapped her hands around his length, he closed his eyes and breathed in her maddening touch. She grasped him tighter, stroking his pulsing member and stoking the fire until he could hardly stand it.
She pulled his breeches from his backside. Running her hands around his derriere, she shimmied the garment past his knees and ankles, tossing it to the floor. His cock throbbed against her belly. Stroking him from base to tip, she caressed his stones.
His pulse quickened. “Dear God,” he whispered.
She squeezed him firmly, sliding him from one hand to the other. Holding his swollen member upright, she bent her head and licked the tip. As her magnificent breasts drifted against his thighs, her wet tongue swirled a path around the tip before she took the head in her mouth.
“Jesus, Talia...” A wave of pleasure shot through his body. He was near to bursting.
Crouched between his legs, she sucked his hard shaft, alternating the pressure while her warm fingers curved around his length. Moans hummed from her throat, vibrating through his veins as his cock bobbed in her mouth.
As she took his stones in hand, Talon pushed out of her grasp. “That’s quite enough,” he growled. Flipping her around, he placed her back on the bed. He covered her naked form with his, desperate to bury himself in her warmth. “I need you, Talia. Let me love you.”
A whimper slid from her lips. Pressing his forehead to hers, he drove into her body with sweet abandon. She arched her back, her hips hitting his, dancing with him and matching his rhythm beat for beat. All that was good in the world warmed him with the strength of a thousand suns and a thousand stars blinded his sights. In that instant, he realized this woman was made for him, body and soul.
Her fingernails raked across his shoulders. “Oui, Talon, I’m—” She screamed his name.
With a loud groan, he thrust harder. His stones drew up, and he pumped into her one last time. Shuddering against her shoulder, he unleashed his pent-up desire into her hot center and collapsed against her, finally satiated.
Pure Temptation Page 21
