Love Me With Fury (5 page)

Spencer curiously observed the ever-changing lights flashing in her eyes, and felt a novel tug of tenderness and passion suffuse his taut body. He instantly quelled such foolish and dangerous feelings.

His manhood throbbed its reminder of need. He
leaned his head forward, assuming she would no longer reject him. He was wrong.

Noting his intention, Alex turned her face away from his approaching lips. Heart-stopping fear gnawed at her senses; she stiffened and trembled. “Please don’t,” she softly pleaded just above a whisper. “If you let me go now, I promise not to tell anyone what you did,” she said demurely.

“Nor what you did, my seductive naiad?” he merrily quipped, a soft chuckle escaping his full mouth. “It’s a bit too late to stop now or to return what I’ve already taken. Show me that fire and eagerness once more,” he huskily entreated.

She made a careless mistake when she jerked her head around to glare up at him and to indignantly shriek, “But I…”

Before she could complete her denial of guilt, his lips possessively and hungrily came down upon her mouth. His lips again burned those sweet, forbidden messages across her unsteady senses and hazy brain. Her pulse raced madly. His kisses and caresses were insistent, demanding, and persuasive. Alarmed by this odd warmth and novel hunger which sent her logic spinning away, she briefly enjoyed his new assault.

His strained voice murmured into her ear as he nibbled at her lobe and sent shivers over her nude frame with his warm breath, “Yield to me, my siren, and ride the waves of ecstasy and magic…”

Panicked by the heat and temptation of his husky words, another struggle ensued, alas, to no avail. But when Spencer began to move gently within her, the
former pain had somehow lessened to a dull soreness. Alex realized he was determined to have her, to complete his enforced seduction, to sate his carnal lust.

In spite of her terror and resistance, Spencer used all of his skills to rekindle her heated response to him which had nearly driven him wild with passion. He could detect her rampant desire for him, her almost urgent need to put out the flames which he had fanned within her luscious body. Yet, he eventually noticed that she retained just enough strength of will to deny him any success this first time. Consumed by a roaring inferno within his own body, he reached the point of unrelenting need which erupted like a potent volcano.

When his spasms of sheer delight had subsided and calmed, he sighed in satisfaction and contentment. He propped upon his left elbow and stared down at her. What was it about this particular female who had given his body an intense hunger and overwhelming ecstasy which far exceeded any other sexual experience of his entire life? She was totally unskilled, unresponsive, hostile, and innocent! Who was she? Why had she been lying here in the sunlight, naked and alone? Why had she shifted from fire to ice?

He lifted a finger to wipe away the teardrops which were slipping from her tightly closed eyes. Where had all that eagerness gone? Why had she suddenly resisted him so fearfully and so fiercely? Had she merely panicked at the last minute?

Virgins were reputed to fear the unknown, that final parting with innocence and purity. Since he had never
taken one before, he could not venture an accurate guess as to her feelings. Perhaps he had hurt her…he had not been particularly gentle, but neither had he been rough. How was he to know this would be her first time! In the beginning, she had been a lusty ball of fire. She had practically demanded that he ravish her!

Twinges of guilt and remorse nibbled annoyingly at him. He tenderly inquired, “Are you all right, love? Did I hurt you?”

At those softly spoken words, more tears eased out from under her lids. She shuddered as she drew in a ragged breath of air, but did not answer him. He began to fret. Had she truly believed him and this situation to be a dream as she had alleged earlier? Could she have been that drowsy, romantic, and innocent? Surely not…

He persistently tried another approach, “What’s your name, love? I can’t keep calling you my little naiad.’ Where do you live?”

Alex tensed, dreading his beguiling manner. In a tremulous voice she asked, “If you’re quite finished with me, may I go now? Release me, please. I want to go home,” she stated wretchedly, her lips quivering. Her attempt to sound forceful and brave failed miserably.

He immediately knew he would never see her again if he complied. For some reason, that mattered greatly to him. “Not until you tell me where home is and who you are,” he replied, concealing his abundant concern and growing affection for her, hoping to stall things
until…Until what? he mused curiously.

She opened her misty eyes and glared up at him. “No,” she declared coldly.

So much for thinking her charmed and intimidated by him! Who was this girlish woman who could rebuff and withstand him? Had he lost his magic, his devastating prowess, his magnetic allure? According to her expression and behavior, he most assuredly had! Unknowingly she challenged his masculine ego…

“Why not?” he casually questioned.

Her sea-water eyes chilled into pools of stormy green. She couldn’t believe her ears. This ruthless scoundrel had just ravished her, and now he conceitedly wanted to know where to locate her in case he wished to seek her out again! Of all the unmitigated gall! She would never confess her name and residence to this criminal. He would never be granted the chance to pursue her and to soil her name and reputation as he had just done to her body. “Never!” she stormed in outrage, gritting her teeth.

“Never is a mighty long time to lie here making love,” he taunted her, caressing her cheek. “Until you answer me…” He dramatically left that imposing threat hanging in the air.

Her jaw dropped; her eyes widened. “Making love!” she retorted incredulously. “You call that repulsive, bestial attack making love! If such is true, then I shall die an old maid!” she vehemently swore.

He laughed heartily. “It is always uncomfortable, perhaps even painful, for a woman on her first
encounter. Or so I’m told. Having no prior experience with beautiful virgins, I really don’t know for certain,” he felt strangely compelled to impress her. “I promise you’ll experience just as much pleasure as I will the next time,” he boastfully vowed.

“Next time…” she hesitantly repeated. “Surely you don’t intend to repeat that crude act again! You have no right to touch me in any manner! It is not only painful, it is also disgusting and humiliating. If you try to…” She halted when she realized the futility of her threat. “If you release me this instant, I’ll keep this encounter a secret between us,” she promised bitterly, clenching her teeth in resentment and frustration.

He threw back his head and laughed. “Tell anyone you please, love. I fear no man,” he boldly declared with arrogant confidence.

“My father will kill you for this! He will have you arrested and hanged from the nearest tree!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with false bravado.

“First, he will have to find me,” he mocked her. “Second, he must prove you did not willingly submit to me. What will dear father say when I earnestly vow that you not only gave in, but you were lying here waiting for me, naked and hot-blooded? What will you say to your many friends and admirers when they come to court each day to hear the spicy, intimate details of how you wantonly provoked me beyond my resistance? Naturally I shall plead not guilty by reason of powerful temptation and willful provocation upon your part. Far worse, my love, how will you fend off all of those lustful swains whom you’ve obviously denied
until now? Will those ‘rutting beasts’ be content to accept a haughty refusal after I am forced to reveal that fiery and passionate nature of yours? I’ll weave the most sensual, colorful, exciting tale ever told in public. Besides, with the fame of my great prowess, would anyone believe I had to force you to lie with me?” he devilishly quizzed the distraught and shocked girl, her lovely face losing more color with each added threat.

“You couldn’t possibly proclaim such filthy and damaging lies! Why should I permit you to violate my honor and then go free as if nothing happened between us? Damn you! I was asleep. I thought no one knew of this secret place. I’ve never gone swimming like this before. I was upset and I needed to relax. I never imagined anyone would come here. I didn’t lead you on. You cannot destroy my reputation as well as my honor and purity! You cannot be allowed to go around attacking innocent girls!” she heatedly argued. “I was asleep! I didn’t know you were real,” she stressed her point emphatically.

“You could tell the court I was the incarnation of your dreams,” he playfully mocked her denials, baiting her for any additional information which she might spill forth during her rantings.

“You, my dream man? Never! I despise you! You defiler of innocent, defenseless girls!” she screamed at him, pained by his taunting words about her foolish notions of a dream lover. Papa was right, she sadly conceded to herself. I am nothing more than a rosyeyed, naive child.

“Girl? You? If you’re a mere girl, love, then I’m the devil himself,” he merrily parried, eying her with appreciation and admiration.

“That’s the first honest statement you’ve made so far!” she snapped.

He agreed, “You are absolutely accurate, love. As I made my daily rounds of earth, I saw a vulnerable and beautiful angel all alone and waiting patiently for some lucky devil to come along and to claim her body and soul. Can you blame me for being susceptible to your charms?”

“You’re making fun of me. Stop it this minute! Please let your jokes and punishment be over,” she entreated him with a wounded glance. “Let me go home now. Please…” she added softly, hoping to touch any faint chord of conscience within him.

“But I wasn’t making fun of you, love. You are in truth the most beautiful and desirable woman I have ever seen. Have you never looked closely in the mirror? Doesn’t your father have to continuously beat the eager swains from your doorway? Alas, what was I to think and feel when I saw you lying upon the grass so…”

She hastily placed her small hand over his grinning mouth to prevent any more intimate words from coming forth. She blushed and flustered, “You shouldn’t say such risque things, sir!” For an instant, she forgot their intimate contact and her precarious situation.

He roguishly delivered an enticing kiss onto her palm, allowing his warm tongue to sensually moisten
its smooth surface. She quickly jerked her hand away. Confused, she gaped at him, wondering at the tremors such a silly kiss had sent charging through her body. “Why did you do that?” she naively snapped, vexed by her physical response.

Seeing her instinctive reaction, he laughed, nettling her further. “You, my little angel, are too rare and exquisite to be real,” he murmured tenderly, allowing his gaze to charm her. He beseeched her, “You must confess; are you a goddess or a real naiad? Perhaps some bewitching mermaid who has magically lost her tail? Will you vanish from my arms and life before I can learn your name and fate?” Their faces and bodies were much too close to think clearly.

Snatched off guard by his disarming tone and mellow mood, she smiled shyly. The pleasant expression upon his strikingly handsome face compelled her into spontaneously replying, “Neither, sir; I fear I am only a mortal woman. Can you vow the same?”

“May I see you again if I promise to behave the perfect gentleman?” he asked, carelessly bringing her back to full alert.

“Certainly not! You, Sir Demon, are a cad and a despicable rake! We shall never meet again,” she retorted.

Their gazes fused and clashed. “Then I shall never let you leave my side. It would be an unforgivable crime to lose such a valuable treasure,” he stated.

“You cannot keep me here forever!” she protested.

“I could surely try,” he replied. “If not, I might
take you with me and hold you captive until you relent.”

Apprehension set in anew. She had to get away from this disturbing and mysterious stranger. But how? she speculated. He was too strong to physically overcome. If he carried out his threat to take her with him, the truth would be out like wildfire. If anyone saw her dressed in her peasant garb or if she were forced to seek help from some passerby, she would be humiliated and disgraced, stained for life! If he dared to imprison her secretly within his home, she would find escape impossible. Distressed, she decided, if he conceitedly thinks for one instant that I will succumb to his charms, he is vastly mistaken and exceedingly vain! No man treats Lady Alexandria Hampton in such a manner!

Succumb…Her cunning mind was quickly at work upon this problem. If she could trick this egotistical man into thinking she might willingly accept him and his touch, perhaps she could escape him. A weapon was what she needed to even the odds between them. A desperate plan came to mind. Without meeting his steady gaze, she meekly asked, “May I wash off in the pond? I feel soiled.”

Why not? he generously deliberated. Perhaps a short swim would release some of her tension. It might be wise to relent slightly where this fragile girl was concerned. She was as skittish as a newborn mare. After all, she couldn’t escape him, he smugly concluded.

“First, a few kisses to earn my patience and kindness. Then, I will free you to bathe,” he promised, an engaging grin curling up the corners of his sensual mouth.

She stared at him, weighing, those strange and powerful emotions which he had borne within her, deciding she must bravely comply with his demand if she hoped to flee him and this place. At her look of uncertainty and anxiety, he murmured, “You are not sullied, my radiant sun goddess; you have simply become a woman. Your downfall was inevitable; you are far too beautiful and tempting to ignore. It would be a grave sin to be so lovely and to remain so incomplete. I cannot return what I have taken from you; it is mine to treasure and remember forever.” He kissed the tip of her. nose and smiled into her wary eyes.

Such unknown and stirring excuses…Such crazy thoughts and frustrating feelings…Perhaps he was in truth some resistless demigod from another time and place. Why did he make her feel and think such strange things? Still…“You had no right to forcefully take what was mine alone to give to the man I love and choose,” she scolded him.