by Smith, Bobbi
Lianne was terror-stricken as she lay on the bed. She had never felt so completely vulnerable before, and she wondered what her captor was going to do to her. When she heard the door open and close again, she knew her kidnapper had returned. She wished the gag was off so she could talk, but she knew it would be useless to try to persuade her abductor to let her go. She'd already tried that once and failed. Lianne waited nervously for his next move.
Adam stood in the middle of the cabin, a man in conflict. The desire that had flamed to life within him moments before had not abated. If anything, the need to possess Lianne had grown even stronger when he'd come back into the room and seen her there in his bed.
Logically, he told himself that he wanted to dress Lianne in whatever clothes he could find and get her off the ship and away from him. He knew he would stand no chance of winning her love later if he took her against her will this way now. But the passion he felt for her was so obsessive, he could only think of the joy of having her once more.
Where's the harm? The taunting thought echoed through his mind as his body throbbed with hot awareness. Lianne would never know he was Spectre, he reasoned. Like a man driven, he approached the bunk. His dark gaze was burning with an inner, unquenchable fire as he stared down at his wife. She was lovely, so lovely, and Adam knew in that moment that he was a fool if he didn't take her while he had the chance.
Chapter Thirty
Lianne felt the mattress sink as her unseen captor sat down beside her, and she knew true panic as his hand touched her cheek. She jerked away from his caress, but he only gave a soft, chiding laugh.
"There's no point in fighting me," he told her gruffly. "You're mine, all mine." Adam emphasized the point by making a sweeping caress of her body from breast to thigh.
Lianne clamped her legs firmly together and tried to twist away from him, Adam, however, was not about to be denied. He had waited far too long for this opportunity, and he meant to take advantage of it. His touch was gentle as he stroked the side of her neck and then trailed his hand lower to outline the rounded swell of her breast, teasing but never touching the sensitive peak. He heard her gasp at the sensation his caress created within her, so he repeated it again, this time watching her reaction more carefully.
"So you like that, do you?" Adam murmured.
Lianne shook her head in mute denial, but again her captor only gave a low, throaty chuckle.
"Don't be afraid. I have no intention of hurting you," he promised as he continued to caress her.
Lianne didn't believe him. How could he tell her not to be afraid when he was keeping her bound and helpless? If there was nothing to fear and he wasn't going to hurt her, why didn't he let her go? Why was he holding her captive?
When Adam moved to trace the same pattern of fire upon her flesh with his lips, Lianne gave a low moan of terror deep in her throat. She held herself stiffly, trying to concentrate on anything but the feel of his hands and lips upon her. Adam was insistent, though, remembering exactly what had excited her during their pervious times together, and he used that knowledge to his advantage.
Lianne tried to remain rigid in his arms as he continued to press heated kisses to her breasts. Lianne had expected to feel revulsion when he laid his hands upon her, but instead, to her shock and horror, her body was responding to his touch. Forbidden excitement blossomed within her. She was mortified, yet could not deny the need that pulsed through her. How could this be? How could this mysterious stranger's touch wreak such havoc on her senses? Adam was the man she loved! He was the only one who could rouse such feelings in her, yet . . .
Lianne's desperation became a very real thing as she felt her body beginning to betray her. She squirmed away, trying to elude him, but her captor would not to be denied. He clamped a hand firmly at her waist, holding her immobile while he continued his play.
"You can't escape me," he declared in a seductively velvet tone just as his mouth closed hotly over the taut crest of one breast.
The contact was electric, and Lianne arched upward, straining at her bonds as he suckled there. His hands were everywhere upon her then, cupping and molding, caressing and fondling. Lianne felt hot with desire, yet cold with fear at the same time. She didn't understand how she could be responding to him this way, but she was. As his mouth plundered her breasts, he slipped a hand between her thighs with an intimacy that sent shock waves pulsing through her. Lianne was appalled as she found herself being swept away by a stormtide of rapture.
Adam felt her response and suddenly wished he could release her from her bonds. He wanted to feel her arms around him, holding him and touching him, but he knew it was impossible. He didn't like the deception he was carrying out, but the situation made it necessary. Adam realized that the only restraint he could safely remove was the gag, so without further thought, he paused in his lovemaking, untied the offensive cloth, and tossed it aside.
Lianne had a moment of hope as he removed the gag, but before she could speak, his mouth claimed hers in a devouring exchange. She knew she should keep fighting him, but her body was responding to him as wantonly as it had responded to Adam. Lianne didn't understand it, and it frightened her. She didn't want to feel these things. She didn't want to desire this unseen man. She wanted Adam.
Lianne knew she should keep resisting him and the feverish delight that was threatening to overwhelm her. As his lips moved persuasively over hers, not demanding, but gently coercing, her resistance weakened dangerously.
When her unseen captor abruptly broke off the kiss and moved away from her, Lianne lay on the bunk, tormented by what she was feeling. She didn't know what to expect next. Everything was happening too quickly. One moment her captor was beside her torturing her with arousing kisses and caresses, and the next he was gone, leaving her feeling feverish and unsure. A part of her was screaming for release from the sensual bondage he'd created within her with his masterful seduction, and yet, the more sane, more logical side of her was commanding her to fight him to the end, to never surrender to his mastery. All Lianne knew was that she wanted to be free of this nightmare in which she was trapped.
Panting hard, from combined fear and excitement, she whispered, "Who are you? What do you want from me?"
"My name is Spectre," he growled in his hoarse voice, "and you know what I want."
"Please, please, don't do this to me! My name's Lianne Trent. My husband will give you money . . . anything . . . if you'll just let me go!"
Adam had moved away from her to shed his own clothing. At the sound of her plea, he turned back to gaze down at her and felt a renewed rush of desire surge through him. God, she was beautiful, he thought as he let his eyes caress her. From the thickness of her lustrous fiery gold hair to her long, shapely legs, she was every inch woman, and he wanted her as he'd never wanted another.
"The only thing I want is you, Lianne," Adam declared, and as he said it, he suddenly realized it was true. Heady with the realization, he walked back to stand beside the bed. "And I'm going to make you mine."
"No! Please no!" Lianne protested, frightened of him and of herself.
He bent down to untie her ankles, running a hand boldly up the slender length of her leg as he did so. Lianne quickly tried to evade him, twisting to her side and drawing her knees up protectively to her chest in an effort to hide herself. Her efforts were useless, though, for he easily released the rope and then joined her on the bed, pulling her into his arms and bringing her full against him. Lianne felt the shock of the contact with his hard male frame all the way to the heart of her, and she trembled. Whether in fear or desire, she wasn't sure, and that made it even worse.
"You want me, too," Adam declared, holding her close.
"No! Never!" she cried fiercely.
"Shall I convince you?" he taunted, beginning to fondle her again.
Lianne tried to keep her legs together, tried to refuse him access to her body, but there was no denying him. With a grip that was painless, yet unyielding, he rolled her to her
back and then moved over her. Positioning himself between her thighs, he settled himself deep within her.
"No . . . no . . ." Lianne groaned, turning and bucking beneath him in an effort to dislodge him from her body.
"Oh, yes," Adam murmured, savoring the hot grasp of her tight body around him. He kissed her again and began to caress her breasts.
Lianne didn't want to kiss him back, but when his mouth claimed hers in a demanding, passionate exchange at the same time he cupped her breasts and teased the sensitive peaks, all rationality fled. She was lost in a sea of mindless pleasure. Her legs instinctively entwined with his, and her erratic movements of a moment earlier became seductive and enticing. The strength of his hardness buried in the womanly core of her sent her desires soaring. Lianne began to move beneath him in rhythmic invitation, desperately needing that intimate ecstasy that she knew was only a heartbeat away.
Adam felt her responding and started his rhythm, thrusting deeply within her molten, silken depths. Lianne didn't try to analyze the excitement she was experiencing, she only went along with it — feeling, not thinking. They moved in unison, their bodies perfectly mated, spiraling ever upward in their search for the explosion of joy. When it came, they ignited together, their passions cresting in ecstasy's rapture.
His breathing ragged, Adam lay heavily upon her, savoring the feeling of her naked in his arms. Having her had been heaven, but knowing that he had to let her go soon was hell. He raised up on his elbows to gaze down at her, and when he moved, she quickly averted her face.
Lianne had been lost in a glorious haze of sensual satisfaction until Adam shifted away from her. When he did, she suddenly remembered where she was. A cry of despair escaped her, and she turned her face away from him, tormented by the shocking discovery of her passionate nature.
Her cry pierced him like a saber thrust to his heart, and he lifted one hand to gently smooth back her hair from her face.
"There's no need for tears," Adam told her huskily.
"There's every need," Lianne responded brittlely.
"But why? Didn't you enjoy our lovemaking?"
"That wasn't lovemaking!"
"Oh? What would you call it, then?" he taunted, refusing to feel guilty for having made love to her.
"Torture!"
"Shall I torture you some more?" Adam asked, a bit angered by her denial of her enjoyment.
Lianne started to answer that she never wanted him to touch her again, but his mouth swooped down to capture hers before she could speak. He kissed her with such savage intensity that she whimpered softly at first, but the fever of his kiss slowly melted away her opposition. She realized dazedly, as she began to kiss him back, that if her arms had been freed, she would have looped them willingly around his neck. When he broke off the kiss, it took her a moment to recover.
"Why are you keeping me this way? Why don't you let me go?" she questioned.
"All in good time," was all Adam could answer as he stared down at her moist, parted lips, mesmerized. His body swelled with desire and it jolted him to realize that he wanted her again so soon.
"If it's money you're after . . ." Lianne began, thinking that he might be after a ransom of some kind.
"I have no need for money. You're all I want," Adam said thickly as he moved suggestively against her to let her know of his renewed passion.
Lianne could not stop the thrill of excitement that coursed through her as he thrust his hips teasingly against hers. When he moved lower to kiss her breasts, she sighed in ecstasy. She knew she was his captive and that he could do with her as he pleased, but at that moment it didn't matter. All that mattered was the raging fire of desire he stoked to life in the heart of her with his kisses and caresses.
"No . . . please . . ."
"Please what?" Adam asked, shifting back up over her to kiss her again.
When the kiss ended, she offered no more opposition, but gave herself over to the breathtaking excitement of his possession.
It was a long time later when Adam left her and tenderly covered her with a blanket. He was pensive as he dressed, and he had just finished buttoning his shirt when the knock came at his door.
"Captain, sir, I have the clothing . . ." the cabin boy called out.
"Leave it," Adam ordered.
"Also, sir, the first officer said I should tell you that it's almost time to sail."
"All right," he answered regretfully. He didn't open the door to retrieve Lianne's things until he heard him walk away.
"You're sailing?" Lianne asked cautiously.
"With the tide," Adam replied.
"You aren't going to take me with you, are you?" Lianne's question voiced all her fears.
"There would be nothing I'd enjoy more," he rasped, "but no, I'm not taking you along this voyage."
A shiver of apprehension shook her. Dear God, she agonized, this is it . . . this is the end of my life . . . She heard him approach the bed and knew stark, raving terror. When he reached down and drew off the cover, she gave a soft cry of fear.
Adam was puzzled by her reaction. A short time before, she'd craved his touch, and yet now she was acting as if he were going to hurt her in some way. He released her hands from where they were tied above her head and helped her to sit up.
Lianne was certain that he was going to drag her from the bed and kill her now that he'd had his pleasure of her. She visibly shrank away from his touch.
"What are you going to do with me?" she asked, her fear evident in her voice.
"Right now —dress you," Adam answered as he untied the final rope on her hands long enough to help her slip on her chemise and dress. He quickly bound them behind her, knowing he couldn't risk the possibility of her getting her hands free and taking off her blindfold right now.
Lianne had thought to try to escape one last time, but there was no time as he hurried to refasten her bonds. Remaining nervously passive, she sat on the edge of the bed as he helped her finish dressing and then lay back on the bed at his command. She was disheartened when he once again tied her ankles.
"I'll be back." Adam said as he left the cabin. He went straight up on deck and sought out Beau. "I need both Brody and Michaels again."
"All right."
"I want them to take Lianne back to where they captured her, find the skiff they left adrift there, and take them both back to Belle Arbor. Tell them to leave her in her own boat, but to loosen her ropes just enough so that she can work her way free."
"I'll tell them."
"Good. I'll bring her up now."
Lianne lay submissively upon the bunk until she was certain that Adam had gone from the room, and then she forced herself to act. As frightened as she was, believing that her life was about to end, she knew she had to try to flee while there was still time.
It was awkward, but Lianne managed to right herself upon the bunk and then scoot to the edge and get to her feet. Freeing her hands was her first priority, but blind to her surroundings as she was, she knew it wouldn't be easy. Hobbled, Lianne hopped awkwardly away from the bed in hopes of running into a table or desk that might have some kind a sharp object on it. She had not expected to encounter a chair in the middle of the room, and she fell heavily over it, tumbling to the floor.
Adam hurried back to the cabin expecting to find her exactly where he'd left her. When he opened the door, he came to a dead stop as his gaze fell upon the empty bunk. He stood frozen in the doorway, fearful of the possibility that she might have freed herself, removed her blindfold, and could now discover his true identity.
Adam caught sight of her on the floor then, but it took him a moment to recover from the shock of thinking she'd escaped. Finally, when he was in complete control once more, he strode across the room and scooped her up in his arms.
"That was foolish," he scolded as he laid her back on the bunk. "You might have hurt yourself."
Lianne was nearly hysterical by this point, and she wondered wildly why it would matter.
"I hate to
have to do this to you," Adam began as he reached for the cloth that had been her gag and prepared to put it on her again, "but . . ."
"Then don't," Lianne whispered. She was petrified, for she didn't know he was talking about the gag. She thought he was going to kill her right then.
"I have to," Adam said, gagging her once again.
Lianne's heart was pounding in a ragged rhythm as she wondered what was going to happen to her next. She was totally shocked when he picked her up in his arms and carried her from the room in an almost gentle, cradling hold. Still, she refused to go peacefully to what she thought was her death, and she began to struggle against him.
"Stop it!" he commanded harshly, tightening his hold on her, and Lianne was forced to remain still or feel the painful bite of his punishing grip.
Adam strode up on deck with his wife in his arms, ignoring the curious looks of his crew. He personally carried her down to the smaller craft where Brody and Michaels waited for him. As he laid her down in the bottom of the boat, he glanced at his two trustworthy men.
"You've been given your orders?"
"Yes, sir, Captain Spectre. We know."
Lianne was paralyzed with fear as she listened to what they were saying.
"Hurry. There's no time to waste. We've got to make sail. Just make sure no one sees you."
Adam returned to the deck of the Sea Shadow and watched in solemn silence as they rowed back through the bayou toward Belle Arbor.
"Do you think she recognized you?" Beau asked as he came to join him.
"No. Our secret's safe," Adam told him. Later he wondered why it didn't seem to matter that much to him anymore and why he felt guilty over what he'd done. He wondered, too, what Lianne had been doing following him through the bayou.
Brody and Michaels did not speak as they concentrated on the task given to them. Anxious to return to their ship, they moved swiftly through the bayou back to the rendezvous point. They located Lianne's deserted skiff with little trouble and then drew it along with them as they traveled the waterway back to the Belle Arbor dock. Brody was as gentle as he could be when he lifted Lianne and transferred her to the other boat, but she was holding herself in such rigid protest that it made it difficult for him. When he'd finally maneuvered her into the bottom of the skiff, he made short order of loosening the bonds at her feet and hands, leaving her hands just tight enough that she wouldn't be able to free herself before they could get away. They left her then, disappearing silently into the bayou night.
