“Michael...please. You must do this for me.”
He swallowed against the rage. If he didn’t do this, he would be dead, and Pia would be left at the commandant’s mercy.
But how could he violate her in this way?
She went up on her toes and pressed a trembling kiss on his lips. “Please, Michael. For me...”
“I would do anything for you, Pia.” Michael kissed her softly, tenderly. He deepened the kiss, drawing it out, trying to let her know how much she meant to him. Telling her he would do whatever he had to in order to protect her. When he ended the kiss, the commandant began to smile his wolfish smile again.
“Perhaps some refreshment—a littlechichawould help you relax,” Velasquez said, referring to a drink made with fermented corn and honey. If they were going to do this, the potent concoction made by the locals was exactly what they needed.
“Yes...” Michael said. “A glass ofchichawould be good.”
The commandant poured a tumbler full and set it down on the upended barrel. Pia walked stiffly over to pick up the glass. Her hands trembled as she held it to her lips and took several long swallows. Michael knew how strong the brew was. He had seen its effects on the men and women in the camp.
Pia returned to Michael, pressed the glass into his hand. He took a drink but not too much, afraid he would lose control. He handed back the glass and Pia finished the drink, swallowing all of it. She returned it to the tray and turned back to him.
Taking his hand, she led him over to their sleeping mat. Michael looked across the room at Velasquez. There was no mercy in his black eyes, just pure, unmitigated lust.
Michael pointed to Captain Alvarez. “Not him. Just you.”
Velasquez jerked his head toward the captain, who brought his pistol over and set it down on the barrel close to the commandant’s hand. Silently he left the tent.
Michael looked at Velasquez, knew the commandant wouldn’t hesitate to shoot him and take Pia himself, or have other men do it so he could watch.
A wave of nausea hit him. He felt Pia’s small fingers working the buttons on the front of his shirt, centering him, returning his focus. Her hands were steadier now, after drinking thechicha. Michael leaned down and kissed her softly, trailed kisses along the side of her neck.
“Whatever happens, it’s just you and me in here,” he said. “No one else. Just you and me. Can you remember that?”
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. “Just you and me,” she whispered.
Michael stripped away the rest of his clothes, then turned Pia’s back to the commandant and stripped off her garments. He kissed her as they settled on the sleeping mat, leaning over her, covering her naked body with his as much as he could. He prayed he could manage to get aroused with a man he wanted to kill watching them from the other side of the tent.
His muscles began to relax, the strong drink beginning to do its work on both of them. Pia kissed him and Michael kissed her back.We just have to make it till tomorrow night, he told himself and prayed Pia would hang on to that thought, too.
Michael deepened the kiss, working to close off his mind and think only of the beautiful woman beneath him, the smooth curves of her body, the softness of her breasts.
He touched her, let himself love her, thought only of Pia and did his best to make her think only of him. Taking her with exquisite care, he moved gently inside her, began to hear her soft cries and prayed he was giving her at least some small degree of pleasure.
For an instant, long enough for his body to reach release, he battled down his rage and allowed himself to feel the heat of her beautiful body, the pleasure of having her glove him so sweetly, allowed himself to climax.
Velasquez groaned and Michael’s fury returned, so strong his chest clamped down, locking the air in his lungs. He looked up to see Velasquez disappearing out of the tent, and closed his eyes. The last rays of sunlight burned through the canvas walls.
His throat tightened, and his eyes stung as he eased himself away. “He’s gone.” Emotion tightened his chest. “I’m sorry. So sorry.” Pia sobbed and clung to him as he settled himself beside her, pulled her into his arms.
“It’s over,” he said. “You’re safe. Everything’s going to be okay.”
She curled even closer against him.
“Tomorrow night, no matter what happens, we leave.”
She nodded, and he could feel the wetness of her tears.
I love you, he thought.I’ve fallen so in love with you.But after what had happened, he couldn’t tell her. He didn’t deserve a woman like Pia. He should have done something. Surely there was some way he could have protected her.
He would give his life for Pia. But if he’d been killed, he couldn’t stand to think what Velasquez might have done.
Velasquez.A viper in a man’s body.
