His eyes widened, then quickly narrowed. “A new twist,” he murmured, inclining his head with real respect. “As I said, forever unpredictable. I think not.”
“No! You must hear me out!” She finally walked over to him and took his hand.
He stared first at her face and then at her pale hand, and he made an incredulous sound. “Virginia,” he warned, and it was clear that the seductive dance between them was now over.
Bravely she stood her ground. “I want your friendship, freely given, until the ransom is paid and I am free to go.”
He stared at her. “I have no friends.”
“That’s ridiculous!” His brows lifted. “Sean is your friend.”
He pulled slowly away from her and folded his arms across his broad chest. “Forever interesting,” he mused softly. And his tone hardened. “I sense a negotiation. Negotiate.”
She wet her lips. His gaze lingered on her mouth. She noticed, but only vaguely, as her heart slammed with undue force. “In return, I will play the part of your mistress so well that even you will believe me your shameless lover,” she said.
He looked at her in absolute surprise.
She smiled, savoring a moment of triumph. “Well? This game will end much sooner if I cooperate. I am offering you more than cooperation—I am offering you full participation.”
He slowly smiled at her, but it did not reach his eyes, which remained dark and thoughtful. “I know how clever you are,” he said. “And I know you have some scheme upon which this bargain rests. Whatever it is, whatever you think to truly accomplish, you will fail—if it is not what I want.”
She shrugged, weak with the desire to win. “Just make the bargain.”
“Patience,darling,is what you must learn if you are to be a real player in the game of life.”
She sighed with real exasperation, while inside she was very close to elation. “Do we have a bargain or not?” she cried.
“We have a bargain,” he agreed softly, with a slight smile. “Let me guess. We seal it with a handshake?” His tone remained soft, but it was mocking.
“I don’t think so,” Virginia said boldly, barely able to believe her courage, and she moved into his arms. “We seal it with a kiss.”
His smile told her he had thought so. And he waited.
Her heart raced with such strength that she felt faint. Virginia stood on tiptoes, clutching his shoulders, too exhilarated to be annoyed that he made no effort to bend down to her. She turned up her face and closed her eyes, the last thing she saw being his silver gaze, suddenly hot, suddenly bright. He wanted this, too. And then she moved her mouth firmly over his.
He remained utterly still.
She pushed at the seam made by his lips, using her tongue, and when he gave, she felt real triumph and she invaded, her small tongue against his much larger one.
His hand closed on her nape, hard, and instantly he bent her over backward and his tongue swept deep into her mouth. In that one instant he took over the kiss, branding her and letting her know it. Virginia didn’t care. She held on tightly, pressing against him, allowing him every possible liberty, should he wish to take any. And when the hot, hard kiss was over, he lifted his head and stared.
“Whatever your game, darling, it’s a dangerous one.”
She smiled, but fiercely, while trembling in his arms. “I merely want your friendship, Devlin,” she lied.
He made a mocking sound.
THE MOMENT THE DOOR OPENED,Virginia pretended to be asleep.
She lay absolutely still, on her back, listening intently. As no footsteps sounded, she thought he stood in the doorway, staring at her.
He sighed and walked in, closing the door. “I know you are awake, Virginia, your cheeks are turning pink,” he said, holding a candle aloft.
She sat up. It was midnight. She had tried to go to sleep two hours ago, but her mind had refused to cooperate. No longer confused, she remained scared, the feeling distinct, as if she were standing on a cliff high above a lake, preparing to dive into icy, unknown depths far below. All she could think of was what she was doing. Did she really think to beat him at his game? Did she really think to win his friendship? Did she have a chance of making him fall in love with her? And how in God’s name were they going to share a room? She could think of little else than a far better way of spending the night in the same bedroom together—even though her resolve not to leap into his bed remained.
“I see you made my bed for me,” he said, glancing at the pile of sheets and pillows on the floor. “How thoughtful.”
She hugged her knees to her chest, watching him yank a sheet free and then lay it flat. When his makeshift bed was made, he sat down in the room’s single chair and tugged off his boots. When the second one hit the floor with a thump, he looked up, his eyes hard and narrowed. “Do not make this difficult, Virginia.”
