His words were hesitant.“I can’tbelieveit has been so terrible—”
Fallon lifted the sleeve of her shirt to show him the fading marks on her arm, the evidence of a bruising grip.“I suppose this show ofaffectionfrom mysuitoris acceptable tosomeone likeyou?”
Shethought she sawhis eyes flash maliciously beneath his mask.“I would never condone violence toward any woman,” he growled. “But surely if you were toconfide in youraunt, she would not allow—”
“Don’t you think I’ve tried?”Falloncried, and thenshook her head to compose herself, for she could tell her Irish temper was getting the best of her. She exhaled deeply. “Ishould have known it was a mistake to come here,” she whispered, suddenlyratherweary.Sheheaded for the closed bedchamber doorwith every intention of leaving.“Thank you for your time. I’m sorry I wasted it for both of us.”
She didn’t even make it across the room before a strong handwas gently placed onher shoulder.With a slight pressure, his strength and heat radiatedall throughherand caused tears to sting her eyes.It had been so long since someone had comforted her… had listened… hadunderstood.
“I never said I wouldn’t assist you,” he murmuredfrom behind her.“Youare the one whomade thatassumption.”
A spark of hoperose within her as she turned her head slightly to the side. She could feel his breath tickling the fine hairs at the nape of her neck. “Then you will help me get back to Ireland?”she whispered.
He hesitated. “I would prefer to find anothersolution, for to associate with me is dangerous and I don’t wish to put you in that sort of peril. Is there no one else in Southampton that you might prevail uponfor assistance?”
She shook her head. “No.”
His hand fell away and she suddenly felt bereft without his warmth.
There was a pause, and then he said,“In that case,return home and await further instructions.”
Fallon’s knees went weak with relief. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me just yet,” he snorted. “We haven’t left English soil.As it stands, the danger in crossing the channel right now is nearly as perilous as a storm on the ocean.”
This time she turned to face him fully. A tremor passed through her, for standing this close to him, she could smell the scent of soap clinging to his skin and theslight aromaof the sea wafting around him. Both were familiar and comforting to her. She reached out and dared to touch his arm. The sinewy muscles underneath contractedwith the contact, his shoulders rigid and unmoving. “I believe you to be a man of your word—a man of honor—and if you say you’ll help me, thenI trust thatyou will.”
His jaw clenched.“You’re that confident in me?”
She yearned to close her eyes and savor the sound of her native language on his tongue. “I have been from theverybeginning,” she admitted.“I learned about your exploits from the villagers in Carraroe. You were very brave.”
“Foolish, you mean.” He scoffed.
“No.” She dared to reach up and lay her palm against the bristles along his cheek. “Istu`mo laoch.”
Fallonhadn’t been prepared for thesuddenkiss, or the way it rocked her to her very core. But as his lips began to move with a slight pressure, gently coaxing her to yield, sheimmediatelyrespondedto him.As the kiss deepened,a moanescaped from the back of her throat. He urged her lips apart with a sweep of his tongue, and he entered her mouth, as if searching for a way to possess hercompletely.
Fallon eagerly returned the embracein turn, her hands reaching out to clutch at his shoulders. She had felt this all-consuming passion before with one other man—with Atticus Clare. But he wasjust a dream, and out of reach.
But through the Raven’s mask, the imageofAtticushad her clinging to thebanditeven more urgently. She didn’t just want this man to erase the memory of Mr. Clare from her mind, she wantedto wipe himaway forever and she knew that theonlyway to do that was to take what this man was offering. Shewantedto be plundered and pillaged so that it might ease the ache within her soul, knowingthat thesingleman she might have ever had the chance to love waslost to her.
She took the Raven’s hand and placed it over her breast in a silentplea. He groaned, but obediently squeezed, his thumb flicking her hardened nipple.Even through the thick wool of her sweater, she could feelhis touchand it made her knees weaken.But it wasn’t nearly enough.
“More,” she gasped.Make me forget him,she addedwithawordlessentreaty.
Encouraged by her response, he lifted the hem of the coarse wool and when his thumb brushed the underside of her bare breast, her breathing hitched. When he cupped the mound in his palm and began to knead gently, she whimpered.
He started to pull away, but she reached out and grasped his arm. “Please, don’t stop.”
His dark eyes glittered beneath the concealing leather mask. “You don’t have to exchange favors for my cooperation.” His voice was hard.
She shook her head. “That’s not what I’m doing.”
“Isn’t it?” His words were softer now.
“No.”
He regarded her silently for a moment, a strong hand coming up to brush a stray hair out of her face. “ThenI think you need to decide exactly how farit isyou’re wanting totake this charade.”
