She paid no attention to his smug tone. “I’m afraid I will disappoint you then. A good meal was all I needed. Indeed, I’m hardly in any pain at all.”
“Oh, yes. I’m certain the meal is responsible for your lack of pain. Just think: a filling meal, a hot bath, a trip toDark Lady,and a decent burial beside the people you vowed to avenge.”
“Don’t say that. There’s no call to be cruel.” She shoved her plate away. Silverware to clatter to the floor.
“Cruel?” he asked conversationally. “I’m cruel because I don’t want to see you hurt? It’s cruel to point out that perversity will be your undoing? I’m cruel because I remind you of a promise?” He shrugged. “Maybe I don’t love you enough. Right now I’m not sure I even like you. I should probably tie you in bed and leave you there. Then I wouldn’t have to listen to your curses. I heard enough of them while you were ill.”
Alexis’s eyebrows arched dramatically. “What did I say?”
“Nothing you haven’t said to my face on occasion. I deserved it then. It’s just disconcerting to hear it when I haven’t done anything. And now you accuse me of cruelty. Madam, if you want to know the truth, I would like to beat some sense into you since reason doesn’t seem to be working!”
Stunned, hearing words from him she had never expected to hear, Alexis bolted upright in her chair. “You wouldn’t dare!”
“I would dare it, Alex,” he answered. There was a pause between each word for emphasis. “I would dare it, if I thought it would help.” The hard lines of his face softened as he continued to meet her accusing stare.
Alexis wondered at the change in his expression. She felt as if she were going to melt beneath his emerald gaze. She put the back of her hand on her forehead. It felt unnaturally hot. She smiled weakly, forgetting her anger, part of her even recognizing she was being unreasonably obstinate about her present situation. She got to her feet and moved to his side.
She had a fleeting thought that it was odd she felt no pain at all, but the thought was lost as he pulled at her hips and gently sat her on his lap.
“Please don’t be angry with me, Cloud. I know you think I deserve it, but I have to do things my way. I don’t want you to worry so much. I’ll be all right.”
“I know you will,” he said. She missed his smile because he pressed it into her hair.
“Of all the things I said while I had a fever…did I tell you I love you?” She whispered the words against his chest while she dismissed the euphoria taking hold of her as merely an indication of the intense pleasure she felt at being in his arms. She listened to the quickening of his heart, her ear pressed to the smooth material of his shirt.
“No. That was something you didn’t say.”
“Then I’ll tell you now.” She lifted her head, placing her hands on either side of his face, drawing him close. “I do love you. I love you…I adore you…everything about you.”
Cloud smiled. “I have a confession.”
Alexis laughed brightly. “Saying you love me won’t be much of a confession.”
“Don’t anticipate me,” he cautioned, kissing her forehead. He paused, another thought taking precedence before he said, “Tell me again.”
“I love you. Again? I love you. I worship you! I need you. I won’t tire of saying it, Cloud.” She felt pleasantly warm in his embrace. She knew her face was flushed, reflecting her desire and the overwhelming contentment she experienced when she was close to him. “I love you,” she offered once more with no prompting. It sounded as young and earnest as the first time she’d ever said those words.
“Sally put laudanum in your tea.”
“What!” She intended it to be a cry of indignation but it came out as a groan of despair. She pushed away from Cloud and tried to stand. The euphoria was replaced by a heavy drowsiness and she recognized the drug was as much responsible for her flushed face as Cloud. When she realized her legs would not support her she accepted defeat, collapsing onto his lap, rather than fall to the floor. “I think you’re right. How could she do this?”
Cloud suppressed a grin at her plaintive cry. He carried her to bed and after he had covered her with a blanket he asked, “You’re not angry?”
“I’m furious.” The statement sounded inadequate to her own ears as she had to stifle a yawn. “Tell Sally I’m furious with her. She shouldn’t have done it. I don’t like not being in control…not being able to do things.”
“I know, but she warned you that you were forcing her. Don’t fight it now. Just rest.”
“Don’t leave.” She gripped his hand tightly to prevent an escape he never considered making. She struggled to keep her eyes open. “It’s not natural to fall asleep this way.”
Cloud heard the genuine despair in her voice and he placed his free hand over hers. “I’ll stay, Alex. I’ll be here when you wake. Promise you’ll wait until Sally says you are well enough before you try to do things again.”
Her eyes closed. “You ask so much.”
“Promise me,” he insisted gently.
“I promise.” Cloud had to bend close to her mouth to hear the words but upon hearing them he relaxed, certain she would keep her commitment.
In the following days there were many times Alexis regretted her promise. She accused Cloud of extracting the words under duress but he refused to listen to her. The knowledge that she had given her word, no matter the circumstances, and her dislike of the laudanum kept her confined to her room. When Sally pronounced her fit for cautious exercise she made no pretense of hiding her excitement. Similarly, Sally made no attempt to hide her displeasure when she overextended her time at the ship. Both women were irascible and irresistible by turns and Tanner Frederick Cloud opted to stay well out of the way when they disagreed.
