The Gambler (26 page)

"The Chinese woman." Her voice sounded fairly panicked. "She took my clothes."

He almost laughed and would have, but... she was naked beneath that sheet. It was a sobering thought. "Don't worry," he said. "They won't fit her. She'll bring them back."

"She didn't steal them!" Charm sputtered, and Raven wondered for a second if she would add "you idiot" to the end of that sentence, but she didn't. "She took them to the laundry."

"Oh." Raven nodded, still trying to think. "Good idea."

"I have nothing to wear."

"Then why did you tell her to take them?" He raised his brows higher, pausing and realizing the humor of the situation with some difficulty. "Are you trying to seduce me?"

"I didn't tell her to take them," Charm choked. "She said, 'want wash' or something and I... I just... I didn't know she meant my clothes."

For a moment he actually wondered if she was going to cry. He eased back against the door, remembering to give her room to breathe.

"I thought you trusted me."

"I didn't say that," she said, shaking her head.

"Yes, you did."

"No." The sheet made her look like a mermaid with an ungainly tail. "I said, I think I
can
trust you. Not I
do
trust you."

"Ahhh. And there's the difference."

"All the difference in the world."

"She'll bring the dress back, Charm."

"But what will I do until then?"

He could think of about... oh, a thousand different and intriguing ideas. "Stage leaves at eight o'clock. Why don't you get some sleep?"

"But I—"

"Go on. Go lie down."

She took a deep breath, seeming to try to act rationally. "You're not going to..."

"To what?"

"You know."

"Seduce you?"

She nodded stiffly.

"Could it be done?"

No answer. He swallowed hard, holding to his self-control with all his might.

"You know what they do to men who force themselves on women in this part of the world?" he asked quietly.

She bit her inner lip.

"I don't want to think about it," he said, "and you, I hope, don't want to hear about it. But one scream from you and my chances of survival would be severely reduced. Remember New Eden?"

They stared at each other in the waning light.

"Go to sleep, Charm."

"I don't si—"

"Well then, go snatch!" he almost yelled, frustrated to distraction by her nearness, her near nudity, and his own near insanity.

She drew another deep breath. "All right." She shuffled about, dragging her tail with her before turning back to stare at him suspiciously. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to take a bath."

Raven thought Charm's jaw couldn't possibly drop lower. And her eyes could get no wider. "You are not," she said.

"Not what?" He watched her with an innocuous expression.

"Going to take a bath."

"Yes I am."

"I'll scream. I swear I will."

He actually laughed now, but very quietly. "Screaming is only allowed for molestation and lewd advances. Besides, I didn't scream when you bathed."

"You can't bathe in here."

"You're being silly. What are you afraid of?"

"You know what I'm afraid of."

"Why am I more threatening with my clothes off than on?" He waited for an answer which didn't come. "I'm not. Less, in fact. You run out that door, I can't follow you."

"How could I run out the door? I have no clothes."

"Then stay in here. Watch even. I don't care. But I'mtaking a bath for Christ's sake," he said and began to unbutton his shirt, remembering to use only his right hand.

She remained as she was, staring at him as if he'd lost his mind.

Raven cleared his throat and loosed his fourth button. "Are you really going to watch?" Somehow the idea was a little more disconcerting than he'd expected.

"You said you don't mind."

Well, God damn it! He'd lied. Call it a habit of his. Wasn't she supposed to be shy or something? Raven scowled. "You are the most unpredictable woman I have ever met."

"Do you need help with that shirt?"

"Good God, woman, what the devil's come over you?"

Her cheeks were pink. "I'm just trying to be helpful."

They stared at each other, both becoming suddenly quiet and deadly serious.

"Yes." He nodded once, soberly calling her bluff. "I do need help."

Though fear and uncertainty sparked in her eyes, there was something else as well. Spirit. Alive and flaming within the beautiful framework of her body.

"All right." She lifted her white tail and walked toward him. He noticed without really meaning to, that the sheet was wrapped twice around her body, and the corner was tucked snugly into the upper edge. She stood before him, her eyes wide, her hands unmoving.

Raven watched her. "Breathe," he reminded softly.

"Oh yeah." She did so, failing to notice the strangeness of his statement. "Now what?"

He smiled at her, feeling an unknown emotion flood him in soft waves. "Now go to bed."

"I don't want to." Her words were whispered and now it was Raven's turn to forget to breathe.

"I suppose..." He tried to stop the words before they escaped, but it was no use. "I could try to improve on that last kiss."

Her nod was almost imperceptible and completely unnecessary, for he felt as though he could read her thoughts. The distance between them evaporated. Their lips met, shocking them both with intensity and warmth. He opened his mouth, touching her with his tongue. He felt her shiver against his chest before he pulled back.

"Well?" he asked softly.

"Almost—"

"Bearable," he said and tried to grin, but there was a suspicious ache in his lower body, an ache that boded ill for sleep and continued celibacy. "Go to bed, little Charm."

"I..." She touched her top lip with her tongue. Her teeth were very white, he noticed, and her tongue pink and pointed.

God, he wanted her! The ache turned to a burn!

"I need to help with your shirt."

That was the last place he needed help, Raven thought, but he couldn't afford to admit the extent of his weakness, not after he'd come so far. Her hands shook when she reached for him. Raven watched his buttons fall open, watched the dark ridge of hair become visible against his torso.

Her knuckles brushed that hair. The touch was like velvet, soft as a sigh. Raven closed his eyes, unable to watch any longer without reacting. For just a moment more she touched him, and then she was at the next button. It eased open. He gritted his teeth, feeling her fingers again, feather soft upon his flesh as he pressed his shoulders against the door behind him. She tugged his shirt free of his pants. He felt it scrape against the sensitized skin of his abdomen and drew breath through his teeth in a ragged gasp.

Now would be a damned fine time to leave, he thought, but there was really no hope of it, for every nerve ending was waiting for her next touch. Every breath was pinned on the hope that she wouldn't quit. The last button fell open. There was a moment's hesitation before her hands were pressed lightly against his chest. His muscles tightened in heart-stopping anticipation and then, like the proverbial forbidden fruit, she was kissing him, her lips sweet and soft against his.

Raven moaned, keeping his hands at his sides and his shoulders pressed hard against the door behind. Every living fiber of him ached for her, but he dared not touch, lest he frighten her from her timid exploration.

"Raven..." Her voice was thistledown soft and breathy against his ear. "What now?"

Now he should carry her to bed, his gut said. He should peel her from that silly sheet and kiss every inch of her body. He should cover her with his hands, feel the life and loveliness of every inch of her luscious form, stoke her desire like a small precious flame, and bring her to ecstasy in his arms.

"Now you go to sleep," his lips managed.

She was very close and breathing hard. "What about you?"

"Is the water cold?"

"What?"

Raven closed his eyes and wondered dismally how things had come to this. Surely he didn't deserve such temptation. All he wanted was the reward. He'd never bargained for such a beauty. And yet they'd barely begun their journey together. How would he ever stand the test of hundreds of miles with this woman at his side? But he must, for Chantilly Grady's kin would surely not take her defilement kindly. "I need a bath," he said, but his teeth were clenched, and if she asked if he needed help with his pants, that was it! All bets were off. She was his! In that bed. Right now!

Unfortunately, she didn't ask. Instead, she backed away a cautious step, looking shaky. "Can I really watch?"

Raven tried to ease his fists open but they wouldn't be loosened. If she watched him undress he would burst into spontaneous flame. He was sure of it.

"God, woman!" was all he could manage.

"You said I could." Her voice was small as a child's. "You promised."

No, he hadn't, but he was past the point of making any coherent arguments. He pulled the shirt from his shoulders, easing it down his arms until it fell to the floor in a heap.

Charm swallowed. His chest was very wide. It was sculpted with valleys and hills of muscle and marred by the wound she had given him. His arms were thick with rigid strength, and his ribs were visible in lean rows that ended at the flat expanse of his belly.

His right hand dropped to his buckle and her gaze nervously followed. Turn away! her mind screamed. But she could not and stood transfixed as his belt was eased open and the first button slowly undone. The waistband loosened, exposing more rippled abdomen and a slight increase in the narrow mat of black hair. His fingers moved lower. Another button succumbed. There was a notable bulge to the left of the opening. Had it shifted slightly? If so, it definitely wasn't her Bible.

"If you're going to faint, try to hit the bed."

She was breathing through her mouth, which was, she thought, better than not breathing at all. A decided improvement.

"Charm?"

Had it moved? Did it move on its own? Like an extra arm?

"Charm!"

"What?" she all but shouted, startled from her reverie and snapping her gaze to his face.

"Go away."

She puckered her lips, trying to speak. Nothing came out.

"Did you hear me?"

Her knees were shaking. An interesting side effect. "You said I could—"

He gritted his teeth at her. "I don't care what I said."

Charm scowled, thinking hard. "Are you... shy?"

"No!" he said, sounding immediately offended.

She wondered why he would consider shyness a fault. "Embarrassed?"

He jutted his chin out toward her slightly, looking increasingly offended, plus aggressive now. "No."

"Ashamed?"

"Ashamed!" he nearly shouted, and then his fingers were on his buttons. They fell open in one quick sweep.

Charm dared one rapid-fire glance at the burgeoning life that sprang into view and then dove for the bed. In less than a heartbeat her head was covered.

Where was her derringer? Where was her knife? But Raven made no attempt to ferret her out, and finally she felt silly, smothered under all those blankets. She heard him splash into the bath. Gradually, she relaxed. Her breathing returned to normal, and finally she removed the blankets from her head to stare into the pillow.

Well, she'd certainly handled that cleverly, she thought. Like a mature woman. She almost snorted. Dear God, what was wrong with her?

Minutes ticked away. Half an hour passed, during which time she kept still, refusing to look up, though she had turned over onto her back now. She could hear Raven exit his bath. She felt a blanket being pulled from the bed, but didn't dare move, much less raise her gaze to him.

"Really, really hard on a man's self-esteem," he said quietly.

She remained as she was, thinking. The bed dipped beneath his weight. It was dark now. She screwed up her courage. "What was I supposed to do?" Her voice was very quiet. Still, that was no reason for him to pretend he hadn't heard her, she thought. "Raven?"

Still no answer. Very timidly, she reached out to touch his arm. "What was I supposed to do?"

"You're an heiress!" He sat up very suddenly, startling her with his movement and the intensity of his tone. "You're Chantilly Grady. A lady of wealth. You did exactly what you're supposed to do—finally."

She stared at him in terror, but he didn't move and said no more. "You're making no sense," she whispered.

"I'm
making no sense!" he stormed, suddenly out of bed and pacing, one blanket wrapped loosely about his shoulders. "
I'm
making no sense?
You
make no sense. Good God, woman, first you..." He raised one hand, motioning wildly. "Then you..." He waved again. "And now you..." His gesturing became more frenetic, and finally the blanket abandoned his shoulders to disappear onto the floor. "Now you watch me! Watch me! Well, damn it all," he said, making no move to retrieve his impromptu garment and placing his fists on his hips. "I give up. I can't resist." He strode back toward the bed. "You win. Or lose, or whatever. Get ready for a first-class seduction, woman, because I—"

The door swung open as if blasted with dynamite.

"Lay a hand on her, and I'll blow yer brains from here to hell!"

"Jude!" Charm gasped.

"Jude!" Raven groaned.

"Say the word, gal, I'll kill him right now."

"No need to kill him!" said Clancy, stepping in with a lantern and raising his brows as his gaze swept up and down Raven's naked form. "Joseph, I'm surprised at you."

"Get dressed, goddamn it!" Jude growled. "Or there won't be enough left of you to send home to yer mama."

"Damn, she's pretty," said Clancy. "That really your daughter?"

"Get out, Charm," Jude said. "Unless you want to watch him die."

"Jude," Charm began.

"Get out!" Jude yelled, but in that instant Raven lunged.

His left fist slammed the gun aside while his right smashed into Jude's face. There was a crash as the old man fell backward into unconsciousness, but already Raven was atop Clancy. The lantern fell, bursting into sparks of glass and light as it struck the floor, but the men didn't notice as theystruggled for supremacy. From the bed, Charm watched in horror as Raven sent Clancy into slumber beside Jude's still form.