Paradise Wild (12 page)

“I won’t be long,” she said shyly and walked to the bedroom.

Jared smiled as she closed the doors behind her. How easy to manipulate Corinne was, when he made the effort. He would give her something to remember tonight, something to make her wish she hadn’t demanded separate bedrooms.

Corinne found her traveling case open on the foot of the bed. She withdrew the negligee and robe that she had bought for tonight. The gown was a delicate lime green lace over a dark emerald silk. It wasn’t overtly sexy, but it was provocative nonetheless, with its formfitting lines and deep cleavage. There were long, filmy silk sleeves, and the back dipped as low as the front. Pearl buttons held it from hem to cleavage.

She changed into the gown and then began taking the pearl pins from her hair. She wasn’t quite finished when Jared came into the room with two glasses of champagne deftly balanced in one hand while he opened the door. He had removed his jacket and tie, and his white frilled shirt was opened to the waist, displaying a chest of curly black hair.

“Go on with what you were doing,” he said as he handed her one of the long-stemmed glasses. His eye roamed over her appreciatively before he continued. “I just wanted to start a fire to get this room warmed. Your Boston weather is a bit colder than I’m used to.”

Corinne took a sip of the champagne, then put it
down and started combing out her hair. She watched him covertly as he walked to the fireplace. So he was used to a hot climate. But of course, with that rich tan.

“Just where do you come from, Jared?” She saw his back stiffen as she asked him. “Isn’t it about time you stopped avoiding that question?”

“It’s just not important,” he replied, not facing her.

She smiled beguilingly. “Maybe not, but satisfy my curiosity anyway.”

“I was raised on an island in the Pacific, Corinne.”

She was genuinely surprised. Why had she assumed he was from out West?

“What’s it called?”

“Oahu,” he said truthfully, omitting the name of the island chain.

“I’ve never heard of it.”

“I didn’t think you would have,” he replied as the fire started crackling. He turned to grin at her. “Now no more questions.”

“Just one more?” she asked cajolingly.

He shrugged and started to take his shirt off. “Go ahead.”

Corinne turned around quickly, embarrassed to watch him undress. “What do you do there?”

“I build houses.”

Again she was surprised. She hadn’t pictured him as a builder. A rancher or miner, yes, even a gambler—he did that so well. But certainly not a builder. It seemed so unchallenging, so unlike him.

“You have a business there?”

“Yes.”

“And you plan to return to it?”

“I thought you were going to ask only one more question,” he reminded her.

“Do you, Jared?” she persisted.

He sighed. “Eventually.” She turned away as he shucked off the rest of his clothes.

They really would live separate lives, Corinne thought. Thousands of miles separate, for she wasn’t about to live on some obscure island. But she had no more time to think about it as Jared came up behind her and his lips found the smoothness of her neck.

Corinne molded herself to him, enjoying the exciting feel of him. When his mouth moved to the sensitive area of her ear, she grew hot with pleasure. She didn’t protest as his fingers unfastened the buttons down to her waist and the gown fell to her feet.

The heat from the fire reached them, but Corinne was feeling a different kind of heat as Jared turned her around in his arms and kissed her hungrily. She was startled as his hard manhood pressed against her, but she hesitated only a moment before she turned to face him, raised her arms around his neck, and returned his kiss with abandon.

Corinne had never felt such thrilling sensations as she did now with her body pressed against his. She was actually disappointed when he released her. He took her hand and pressed his lips to it, his blue-gray eyes looking deeply into her dark-green ones. Then he led her to the large bed and gently pushed her down on it. For the first time she saw him completely, and was amazed at the sight. All his power and strength was there for her to see, in the long legs, the hard muscles across his chest and arms, and the animal grace. He was a superb, rugged, hard man, and it thrilled her just to look at him.

When she caught him grinning at her she blushed hotly. Had he seen her admiration?

“I—I didn’t mean to stare,” she stammered and became even more embarrassed.

“Have you never seen a man before?” he asked softly.

“No.”

“But you must have seen me when—”

“No, I didn’t,” she admitted quickly. “I kept my eyes closed.”

Jesus, even though he had taken her once, she was still really a virgin. Jared laughed kindly, and lay down beside her.

“You are so innocent, Kolina, so very innocent,” he said as he placed soft kisses over her face. “And so beautiful, so exquisitely soft and sensual.”

His eyes moved slowly from her waves of gold hair, over the entire length of her supple body. His hand followed, then his lips. Corinne began forgetting her embarrassment as she felt every part of her being explored and delighted. Had he done this before? But, no, she wouldn’t think of that other time. This was all different.

When he opened her legs and moved on top of her she was ready for him. His lips sought hers again before entering her, and the kiss left her trembling.

“Do you know how much I want you, Corinne?”

She looked into his blue-gray eyes, hazy and half-closed, and she knew. “Yes.”

“And you want me?”

She felt no shame in answering, “Oh, yes, Jared.”

“Now?”

“Yes, now!”

She hooked her fingers in his thick black hair and pulled his lips to hers, kissing him with a passion she hadn’t known she possessed. At the same time, the top of his organ probed for entrance, found it, and glided smoothly into her, deeper, until she felt all of him pulsating in her. He was exquisitely tender at first, moving
in her slowly, giving her time to savor each new sensation to its fullest. It was she who quickened the tempo when a sweet ecstasy suddenly surged through her whole being. She met his every thrust with a savage fury, feeling this had to be the height of bliss, but there was more, and she held her breath as the feeling intensified. All too soon, those final thrusts sent her soaring into the most glorious throbbing ecstasy imaginable.

Some time later, Corinne floated back to reality. To think she had looked with dread on that magnificent experience. What a fool she had been! But Florence never told her it would be like
that!
And dear Lord, she had made Jared promise it would not happen again!

Corrine opened her eyes to gaze into Jared’s. He actually looked as stunned as she was.

“Is it always like that?” she asked dreamily, her fingers running through his hair. She felt so good she didn’t want to move ever again.

“No, love,” he answered huskily. “It depends on the partners, if their passion is equally matched.”

“Ours was, wasn’t it?” she grinned.

He touched his lips to hers ever so softly. “Perfectly,” he agreed.

Jared wouldn’t admit that it had never been better for him. He couldn’t believe what had happened. He had never had a woman abandon herself so passionately before. Oh, there had been savage meetings of the flesh, but none quite so satisfying. Why did it have to be this woman who set his blood on fire and had the power to make him want her again, even now?

“Oh, Jared.” She snuggled her face against his neck and heard him groan. “I loved it. Did you?”

He cupped her face in his hands and grinned down at her. “Are you fishing for compliments?”

“I suppose so,” she giggled.

“You were magnificent, Kolina, but then you must know that.”

“Kolina? You said that before. What does it mean?”

“Your name in my language.”

“Oh.” she said, disappointed. She had hoped it was an endearment.

Jared started kissing her again. Maybe she wouldn’t have to tell him how foolish she had been to insist on separate bedrooms. Maybe he knew and wouldn’t make her bring it up. And as he started to move in her, she felt sure that he, too, would want this again and again.

“Are you awake, Corinne?”

She rolled over under the sheets, half asleep, and found the space beside her empty. She looked about the room until she saw Jared standing by the fireplace. He had donned a black robe and held a glass of champagne in his hand.

Corinne frowned. “Aren’t you going to sleep tonight?”

“A man doesn’t get married every day,” he replied offhandedly. “I’m too wound up yet to sleep.”

She grinned impishly. “You want to—”

“I can only do so much in so short a time, Corinne.”

“Have I exhausted you?” she teased.

“For the moment, yes.”

“Well, come back to bed and I’ll make you feel different.”

“My God, you’re insatiable!” he exclaimed incredulously, and shook his head. “But I want to talk right now.”

“I don’t,” she pouted and turned over on her stomach.

Jared sauntered over to the bed and sat down beside her. “Appease me,” he said, and rubbed a hand over
her behind. “When is the next board meeting, Corinne?”

“Why on earth would you want to know that now?” she asked into her pillow without looking at him.

“It’s a matter that concerns me.”

“I don’t know, Jared. I’ve never gone to the meetings.”

“Why not?” His hand moved up to her back, and then back down to her thighs. “You’re the largest shareholder. Don’t you have any interest in the firm?”

“Why should I? My father won’t let me vote my shares anyway.”

“But you’re married now,” he reminded her. “He no longer controls your trust.”

“My money, no, but he still has control of my interests in the firm. He will control my shares until he feels I am capable of taking over my interests.”

“But you have a husband now who can look after your interests for you.”

“My father would have to trust you completely, Jared, before he would turn my shares over to you.”

Jared’s hand stopped moving. “You’re my wife. Our votes should be the same.”

She turned around to look at him. “Why are you making so much out of this, Jared? My father knows what is best for the firm. He isn’t going to misuse my vote.”

“But that gives him complete control of the firm.”

“He should have that control. After all, his family founded the shipyard. What are you worried about? You will make a handsome profit from your investment. The firm isn’t about to go bankrupt.”

“What if you told your father you were ready to take responsibility for your shares?”

Corinne laughed. “He wouldn’t believe me. He knows I don’t want to be bothered.”

“But if you tried.”

“Jared, he would know it was your idea,” she said seriously. “He would revert to his absurd assumption that you wanted control of the firm. But you don’t, do you?”

He stood up stiffly. “Of course not,” he said in a barely controlled voice and started to walk from the room.

“Where are you going?”

“I have a letter to write. Go to sleep, Corinne.”

It took every effort for Jared to close the bedroom door quietly. He stood there, so filled with blind rage that the stem of his champagne glass broke in two. Blood flowed unchecked from his palm. He started to throw the glass across the room, but caught himself in time and let it drop soundlessly to the carpeted floor.

Damn Barrows to hell and back again! The sly, suspicious bastard! Why had he kept those facts a secret? Jared had married Corinne for
nothing!
He had had doubts before the wedding—he should have acted on his instincts. Now…

He sat down at the writing table and began a letter. Nothing had gone right on this trip, but he would not go home without letting Barrows know why he had come. The man would not feel his wrath fully, but he would never forget the encounter.

Two hours had passed before he finished the letter to Samuel Barrows and also wrote out a notice for the newspapers. His anger had not cooled. He looked toward the bedroom and did not feel the slightest twinge of pity for the woman there. She would suffer the most for what he was going to do, but Barrows would also
feel her shame. She was her father’s one weakness. What hurt her hurt him.

Jared entered the bedroom and crossed quietly to the bed. The fire had not quite died out, and he could see Corinne’s sleeping figure clearly. His face softened as he looked down at her delicate beauty, the soft waves of gold hair. He started to reach out and touch her, but stopped himself.

He became furious all over again. He would not have regrets, damn it! She would recover eventually, he told himself. She was resilient.

Forcing himself not to look at Corinne again, Jared dressed and packed his things quickly, then left his hotel. He stopped off at the newspaper office and arranged for his notice to be posted the following morning and printed daily for one month. Then he went directly to Beacon Street, his last stop before he caught the first train West.

It was three o’clock in the morning when the butler answered Barrows’ door and said dryly, “Another matter of urgency, sir?”

Jared would not be put off. “I wouldn’t be here on my wedding night if it weren’t.”

Brock straightened his back. “Yes, sir. I will wake Mr. Barrows at once.”

“I will wait in his study,” Jared said and crossed the dark hall.

In less than ten minutes Samuel Barrows burst into the room wearing robe and slippers, his blonde hair touseled from sleep. But he was wide awake, and upset.

Jared saw his fearful reluctance to ask what had happened. “Before you waste time with questions, there is nothing wrong with Corinne. She is sleeping peacefully and doesn’t know I am here.”

“Then why—”

“Sit down, Barrows,” Jared interrupted him coldly. “I will ask the questions this time, and one in particular. Why the hell didn’t you tell me you controlled Corinne’s shares in the shipyard and would still have that control even after she married?”

Samuel was not only surprised by the question, but a bit shaken by Jared’s icy tone. “It was not pertinent to our dealings.”

“In your opinion! And you still felt those facts weren’t pertinent even after I offered to marry your daughter?”

“
Is
that why you married her, Burk?” Samuel began to despair. Why hadn’t he realized there was something strange about the marriage? “To get control of the firm?”

“Yes! And my name is not Burk, it’s Burkett.”

“Burkett? Why would you use a false name? I don’t understand any of this. You have married an extremely wealthy woman. You could buy a half dozen shipyards.”

“I don’t want her or her money—I never did,” Jared said venomously. “And you could have spared her a lot of pain and humiliation if you hadn’t seen fit to hide those facts from me when I made my investment.”

“Why are you so obsessed with this shipyard? Why do you want it so badly?”

“I don’t want it, Barrows! I wanted to
destroy
it, to bankrupt it and you!”

“Damn it, you’re not making any sense!”

Jared threw the letter on Samuel’s desk. “Read it. If I have to say any of it aloud I am going to lose what little control I have left and kill you!” Jared said in a deadly calm voice. “Now read it!”

Samuel stared at Jared in amazement. He had never been threatened before. And there was such underlying
rage in this young man that was demanding release. There was a great deal he didn’t understand.

Without further hesitation, Samuel picked up the bulky letter and read it quickly. When he finished, the letter dropped to his desk and he sat for a few moments, staring straight ahead. Then his eyes met Jared’s. “Is it really true? Ranelle is dead? And all this time?” When Jared didn’t answer, he said, “All these years I thought of her as living. I have been waiting for the day Corinne married and left home, before I…I meant to try again, Jared, to persuade your mother to come away with me.”

“You meant to destroy her life
again?
” Jared said in that deadly quiet voice. “You did a thorough job the first time!”

“I loved your mother.”

“You couldn’t have,” Jared replied with bitter contempt. “If you had, nothing would have stopped you from marrying her!”

“You don’t under—”

“I said
nothing!
I know of your family obligations, your so-called duty to save the family business. Well you saved it, didn’t you—at my mother’s expense!”

“I’m sorry, son.”

“I’m not your son! I might have been, and I almost wish I were, then my mother might still be alive. She loved you so much that she couldn’t bear life without you. She became a drunk. You did read that in the letter, didn’t you? A drunk! It was the only way she could forget that you still wanted her!”

“I didn’t know.”

“Of course you didn’t,” Jared sneered. “After tearing my mother’s world apart, you simply went back to your wife and daughter. It didn’t matter to you what happened after you left Hawaii, what affect your visit
had on my mother. She no longer cared about me or my father. We didn’t exist for her anymore. And my father was nearly destroyed by it. He loved her, you see. She had been his for eight years, until you took it upon yourself to ruin our lives.”

“I never meant to.”

“I didn’t tell you yet how she died, Barrows. You haven’t asked. Don’t you want to know?” Jared asked cruelly, beginning to relive the nightmare. When Samuel said nothing, he went on. “She walked into the ocean one night and took her own life. I saw her disappear under the waves, but I couldn’t reach her in time. I couldn’t find her at all until morning, when I finally saw where her swollen body had washed up on the beach.”

“Surely it was an accident, Jared!”

“You would like to think that, wouldn’t you? But you see, my mother couldn’t swim, she had never learned. She never went near the water, not even to wade in it.”

After a long silence, Samuel whispered, “And you blame me for all of this.”

“I wanted you to know why I came here. I wanted to ruin you, Barrows, but I failed. I would kill you now, but I think I’ve already suffered enough because of you.”

“So you used my daughter to get at me. What about her? She is your wife, and need I remind you there was a matter of honor involved?”

Jared laughed bitterly. “There isn’t a shred of honor in me. Haven’t you realized that by now? And your daughter got what she asked for.”

“Have you no conscience?”

“Have you?” Jared demanded. “Where was your conscience when you wrote my mother telling her about
your baby daughter and that it was just as well she had decided not to go with you?”

“She did make that decision, Jared.”

“Yes, she did, and she regretted it. She blamed me and my father because she felt obligated to stay with us. But none of it would have happened, Barrows, if you had stayed out of her life. What right did you have to seek her out after so many years? Did you really expect her to throw away the life she had made for herself and run away with you?”

“But I expected to find her free.”

“But you didn’t, and yet you still asked her to leave with you. You killed my mother. Indirectly, but the fact remains that she would be alive if it weren’t for you. I hope that weighs on you forever. At least then my coming here won’t be a total loss.”

“Jared, please,” Samuel began. “You have got to believe I—”

“No!” Jared cut him off sharply. “Nothing you could say would ease the hatred I have for you.”

“And now?”

“I’m going home. Your shipyard is safe again. But at least I’m not leaving your family unscathed,” Jared said with a vicious grin. “Your daughter isn’t going to let you forget our meeting.”

“What do you mean?”

“Corinne won’t be too happy in the morning, nor will you be. And if you think you can retaliate by trying to cancel our business deal, don’t. It would give me great pleasure to take you to court. So I will expect my profits on a regular basis, and I will retain my lawyer here to look after my interests. I couldn’t ruin you, Barrows, but I’m going to make money from you.”

“I don’t wish you ill, Jared.”

“You will in the morning. It really is too bad Corinne
has to suffer for what you did before she was even born. You can tell her I’m sorry for that. But it probably won’t make a difference.” With that, Jared stalked from the room without another word or a backward glance. He saw himself out.

Samuel heard the carriage drive away. Many emotions clouded his mind as he slouched back in his chair, but foremost was grief. His first and only love was dead. God help him, how could he live with that and the fact that he was responsible?