Rebel Heart (43 page)

Now she was his wife, Mrs. Cameron Savage. Tori would do well to remember that. Morray had left no doubt in his mind that he still intended to have and hold Victoria as well as the center. She was at great risk.

Victoria. He would never know what made her mind spin or what made her turn his world into chaos.

No woman needed an instruction guide to come with her more than she did, yet no woman could have worked harder or been more dedicated through the long hours of the mornings, afternoons, and even into the late evenings. An entire week had come and gone before they'd finished. This morning he left her asleep in their bed. But when she woke, she would do it with a vengeance, he determined, battling still. It mattered not that he had touched something vibrant and alive inside her. He knew he had touched the depths of her passion. It mattered not that he wanted her, again and again, just watching as she worked next to him.

He knew it had not been easy for her.

She decoded every pin, offering necessary pieces of information about her research and the operation, telling stories about the first humans to have the transplant, making him believe that it could be done.

Not that he had been difficult to convince. Though truly no man could have come to know a wife more intimately, she still guarded her feelings, keeping a distance between them he did not know how to penetrate. She never let the wall between them crack.

Ah, babe! he thought. You will learn to accept me. It was all for her own good, her safety. He would do it without changing her too much for he did love the wild, unleashed woman she could be.

He remembered her words when he demanded the pins and the codes. She hated him, resented his appearance in her life and her work. In a strange way he understood, even sympathized with her plight. But he would not change his mind. Yet he did want to keep her close if only to see her smile. Oh...and when she did smile, he could feel the explosion and the fever deep inside his body, causing his muscles to contract. He desired her again and again because she was part of him now, one with him, and just the thought of her left him delirious with wanting. Despite his firm resolve to hold himself back, he wanted her--all of her.

He could tell himself, time and again, that this marriage was arranged, that he didn't love her. Perhaps he was becoming fond of her. He had easily confessed that he admired her courage, the strength of her passion. She challenged him--provoked him--battled him.

But she did not love him.

Ah, perhaps, she was right. She had given everything and he had only taken from her. If he had it to do over again, he would change nothing.

Now, though, the course he sought was filled with danger. A hot wind swirled around his feet, lifting the dust from the street and the trash that littered it. It whined around the corners of the huge stone building, ominously predicting foreboding. And pain. Many would die before this was finished. Tori would not be one of them.

She was too confident and far too proud. She did not admit, even to herself, that she was vulnerable. She had professed that unlike other City Dwellers, she had the ability to produce white blood cells. She proclaimed vehemently she could not get sick. But no one could claim that.

When he'd pointed that out to her, she'd denied him fervently. He thought back on his last conversation with her, remembering it so vividly.

"I've never been sick. Not a day in my life."

"Victoria, you've been lucky. Do not dwell on this. Protect yourself."

Her lashes fell as innocently as an angel's, and as sweetly as Eve's must have fallen when presenting Adam with the apple. "I want to help," she murmured.

"You're finished. Promise me. Do not concern yourself any further." She looked at him then, her eyes deep simmering pools of anger. Shivers suddenly wracked his body as he feared for her, and the terrifying ungodly fear caused an ache deep inside him.

"Promise me."

"I--"

"Promise!"

"All right, I promise."

She had not--not really. It was all he could do not to shake some sense into her--the little fool. If he turned his back on her, she'd be in the middle of the fray.

"You will obey me, Victoria." But he knew she would do as she pleased. Cameron had watched his wife carefully, and he was amazed at the strength of the emotions that had swept through him as he studied her face. There had been some light of determination in her eyes then a touch of fear as a small shudder had wracked her body. It lasted only a heartbeat. Then her chin had tilted regally, almost defiantly. She would not be frightened or swayed by his command. She hated the pain and the misery that the virus caused, and she would fight to find the cure.

She would not give in, had never given in, not to her father's edicts, nor to his command. Savage would have to guard her very well.

Nessa was there as was Luke.

Luke's eyes had suddenly touched Cameron's as if he sensed his need, as if he understood his impulsive rebellious wife. Then Luke had nodded.

Nessa had smiled then. "We will all help you. In every way we can."

Her simple words had warmed him, yet he reminded himself that Tori had a way about her, a way to get what she wanted, and a way to wrap even the staunchest of souls around her little finger. Perhaps Nessa knew her too well. Perhaps Nessa was stronger than she seemed.

Cameron didn't allow himself to hope. His eyes had narrowed as he watched Tori. Give over! he longed to warn her.

He spoke quickly. "Then you'll keep her here in the tower while I'm gone, while I'm working."

"Am I a prisoner then?"

Cameron nodded. "If that's what you want to think."

Tori turned, watching him, a curious light in her eyes, a vision of sweetness and grace as her hair cascaded over her shoulders.

"Victoria?" Nessa said cautiously. "You must be careful."

"I'm always careful," Tori said softly.

Hell would freeze over! Cameron thought. He'd chuckled, staring at her, her lashes innocently lowered.

After dressing, he'd gone back to her. When he left her, she was asleep, her face angelic in the morning sunlight, he could almost believe. But he was wise to her ways and he knew she was angelic only in her sleep. She beguiled. She aroused. She was her own person.

She tested him beyond endurance, always walking the border between what he could accept and what he could not.

Analyzing and investigating, everything, she kept Luke in awe, proclaiming her just about the most amazing woman he'd ever met, as she showed him the research she'd been doing. Showed him her lab and the plants she had nurtured from seeds.

An obvious game, Cameron had wanted to tell her. Luke was loyal to him and he'd never step between them, never allow her anything he himself did not allow.

Yet when they'd taken a break, she had Luke talking, explaining his own position. There was so very much to talk about.

But watching her, Cameron had realized that she beguiled men to speak, to tell their deepest darkest secrets. Even beyond that nothing seemed to escape her. She noticed everything, all his entries into the computer, all the changes he made in her program.

She was quite determined to know what he was planning. When he'd sent her to their room, she'd found one excuse after another to stay with him until he'd finally found her asleep with her head resting on her arms, deeply asleep. He'd regretted that, because he had to stay and finish. Nessa helped. He'd realized then that Nessa was loyal to him, but beyond all that she did want to protect her twin.

Later, after saying good night to Luke then to Nessa, he'd carried Victoria to their bed. She'd woken up then, disheveled, glorious.

Perhaps she'd seen the look in his eyes, perhaps not. She'd watched him as he undressed. Her eyes had been wide and simmering with heat and, he'd prayed, passion. But he wasn't at all sure what it meant.

Yet when he would have slipped into bed, would have pulled her close and held her through the night, she'd turned from him, once again giving him her back. It was an exquisite back, but then, so was her front.

When he ran his finger down her spine, she'd trembled slightly and a soft sigh came from her lips. He rolled quickly, taking her into his arms. "Ah, my touch makes you moan with desire."

"It does nothing of the sort. I was dreaming," she'd protested. "I'm too tired."

"We will make new dreams--wonderful, beautiful dreams."

Those exquisite gray eyes of hers darkened and seemed to shimmer. "Nightmares, I'm sure."

"Never--never anything that isn't pleasant."

"Conceited--arrogant--"

"Barbarian?" he said softly. "You will keep your promise."

"Which one? I've had to make so many lately I can't remember," she said sweetly.

"If it means you must rack your brain to remember promises made, then you will do it."

She gasped, wide-eyed and breathtakingly innocent.

"I've kept my word. Yet you refuse to see that. Would you ever think to ask, I might be more favorable to the end results." He brushed the fullness of her lower lip with his thumb. And he spoke the truth as he did so. "Ah, babe, if I could only believe that. Instead, I believe you would smile that winsome smile of yours, nod your pretty head in affirmation then do exactly as you please. I know exactly how your mind works. So I warn you. Let's talk no more of this. I'm not one to believe in your innocence nor am I madly in love with you. You cannot seduce and beguile me into letting you have your own way."

She lowered her lashes. "No."

To his surprise, her hands rose to wind through his hair then down until they rested on his shoulders. When she looked at him, her gaze was sultry and so very provocative. He realized then that she had listened to him very well and she knew this game. Oh but she toyed with him. And he loved everything she did.

"What now, my lady? A kiss? Perhaps more? But remember, I am a barbarian."

"A baboon," she whispered softly. Tentatively her lips touched down on his. He was instantly inflamed, and more than willing to let her play this game to its proper conclusion. She had learned well. Her instincts were perfect. The night was long.

When the morning came and he lay awake next to her, he knew he would never forget what she had given him. Indeed, she had given him her heart, her soul and perhaps more. He needed her again, craved her in the most urgent of ways. There was something infinitely mysterious about her, and he was sure he would never discover every secret, even if he searched a lifetime. He intended to do just that.

Although he knew she would always be there for him, something new fascinated him every time they came together. The amber cascade of curls down her long back intrigued him as well as the glimmer in her eyes just before she reached for the stars. The courage she battled him with each time he commanded.

She would not give up or give in.

There were days when she disappeared for hours on end, and no amount of searching would find her. She was still determined to have her way. A simple act of defiance yet it tore at him because he was so very afraid for her. Somehow he knew that if he located her, he would find her behind a computer or spinning test tubes, denying him all the while. Once he had almost torn the center apart looking for her, setting off three alarms in the process. Luke, for a short time, followed him then left after an hour, mumbling something about insanity.

He had found her though, in the visitor's center, innocently dusting the shelves of pamphlets and books. When he'd stepped close to her, she'd lowered her lashes demurely then looked up at him. Innocence poured from her. "I've been looking for you."

"I've not been hard to find."

"You've been damn hard to find."

Those dark rich lashes fell over her eyes. She tapped her chin with her finger. "I've been staying out of your way--as you commanded."

His eyes narrowed. "I want to know what you are up to!"

She was hiding something. Her gaze flitted around the room. Perhaps he had better watch her more carefully, being fully aware she had the capability to find trouble wherever she went.

"Where were you?"

She stepped back. "It is no deep dark secret. As you can see, I am here in the center--dusting."

He could not stop the apprehension. Although Morray had left the area, Sheridan was still in the City. He was ensconced at the Council of Representatives, fighting the new legislation, legislation that Jonathan was proposing. Laws that would make it so much easier to come and go from the cities. It would bring Outsider and City Dweller into closer contact. It would also bring laws into affect that would liberalize medicine, allowing new research and development of drugs, laws that would allow him to perform the genetic surgery.