Savage Conquest

by Janelle Taylor

  "What happened to your Yankee accent, Reis?" she blurted out. "It took a while to comprehend the change, but I did. Get out!"

  "That was a naughty trick, but I had my reasons," he began.

  "I'll just bet you did," she injected acidly before he could finish.

  "Since two of my friends are Yankees and the other is what you called a 'sympathizer,' I wanted to know how you felt about Northerners. To pass as one usually extracts such vital information. I should have explained when I realized the test wasn't necessary with you."

  Amanda continued to glare at him. "What other games are you playing with me, Mister Harrison?" she sneered accusingly. "Is romancing your female partner a new approach to crafty business?"

  "I've never mixed business and pleasure before. Do you want the accounts, Amanda?" He evaded an answer which could have been damaging. "Are you in the mood to settle it now, or shall we wait until later?"

  Amanda swallowed the lump in her throat. She knew what had to be done and did it bravely. "Since Weber Richardson handles such matters for me, I suggest you discuss it with him when he returns," she bluntly informed him.

  Reis couldn't help but show disbelief and anger at those words. "I was given the authority to assign them to you, not him. Are you refusing them because I go along with the deal? Or you're afraid to annoy dear Weber? Have you suddenly lost your courage and confidence?"

  Amanda couldn't say anything more without giving away her motives for this behavior. "If you don't mind, Mister Harrison, I would prefer that you forget our previous talk and meeting. Any business you have for Lawrence Shipping must be approved by Web. I'm really tired, so I'm going home. Goodbye."

  Reis was alarmed by the way she spoke her last word. He was confused by this change of heart, this loss of spirit. Richardson hadn't returned, so he couldn't have threatened or misled her. "Would you have dinner with me?" he coaxed, smiling at her.

  "I can't," she declined unhappily. She retrieved the book and completed her task. She knew he was watching her intently, disturbingly.

  "Mandy, what did I do to earn this frosty treatment?" he asked from behind her as he slipped his arms around her waist.

  Amanda stiffened and tried to pull free, but he wouldn't allow it. There was only one way to make Reis leave her alone, to stop tormenting her and tempting her. "I shouldn't be seeing you alone; it's wrong. Web has asked me to marry him, and I've..."

  When she faltered, Reis's heart skipped a beat as he feared the rest of her statement. His embrace tightened, as if he could halt the words from coming forth. He could feel her tremors, sense her turmoil, and detect her withdrawal from him. Despite their closeness, Weber was between them. How? Why? "Don't say it, Mandy, please," he beseeched her. "If you loved him, you wouldn't be suffering. Damnit, you can't marry himl You want met" he stormed at her.

  If only having was as simple as wanting, she thought. "I didn't say I had agreed to his proposal yet. But I can't think seriously about it while I'm seeing another man," she deliberated aloud. "It isn't fair to Weber, or me, or to you. I owe Weber so much," she murmured.

  "No matter what he's done for you, Mandy, you aren't obligated to marry him to repay a debt," he argued frantically. "Hell woman, you can't buy or trade love! "

  Amanda remained silent, praying he would say the words which could change her mind, which could halt her necessary decision. But Reis kept quiet about his personal feelings and wishes. She debated sadly, "Why not? Women have done so for centuries, either by choice or compulsion. There are things about me and Weber which you don't know."

  Reis turned her to face him, but she lowered her head. He gripped her chin and lifted it. "Then explain them to me," he coaxed.

  "I can't. Please don't try to see me again," she told him. She waited to see if he would force answers from her. He didn't.

  Reis's brain was working fast and hard on this mystery. She was frightened by something. She might become defensive if he pressed her. She couldn't love Weber Richardson, but she felt compelled to marry him. What hold did that devil have over her? Whatever it was, she had discovered it this morning. Before he made demands on her, he needed to investigate this problem. He would never allow her to marry Weber. Not when she wanted him instead.

  "Are you afraid of me, Mandy?" he asked softly. At her baffled look, he clarified, "Afraid I'll change your mind about Weber?"

  "What could you possibly say or do to influence my decisions?" she inquired, eager for his explanation.

  Since he had no proof that Weber was part of the crimes he was investigating, he would have to keep his opinions secret for now. Also, he wasn't in a position at present to force a battle over Amanda. His only course of action seemed to be in showing Amanda her own feelings.

  "You said it was wrong to see me. But isn't it worse to marry one man when you have such strong feelings of desire for another?" The moment he made his rash statement, he regretted it.

  "And who might I desire more than Weber, my conceited rake?" she questioned.

  He chuckled. "I see you know whom I was referring to, but not from conceit, Mandy." As his thumb gently rubbed over her quivering lips, he vowed tenderly, "No woman has ever kissed me as you did."

  "If I misled you, Reis, I'm sorry. You do have a cunning way of clouding a woman's senses. I've been under a great strain lately, and I wasn't myself. If you'll excuse me, I'll be leaving."

  "You're misleading yourself, Mandy, not me. As to clouding senses, you're the expert there. Before you make your decision, just realize that marriage is forever," he warned gravely.

  "Forever," she echoed the word as if it were a death sentence which she couldn't avoid.

  "Look at me, Mandy, and tell me you love him," he insisted.

  "Why else would I marry a man?" she eluded his trap.

  "I damn well intend to discover that answer," he stated boldly. Reis caught her face between his hands and lowered his head to fuse their lips. When she tried to prevent this stirring assault on her warring senses, he skillfully parted her lips, probing the sweetness of her mouth. His arms entrapped her as he invaded her heart and mind.

  Amanda didn't know how many times Reis kissed her, but she knew she didn't want him to stop. Her arms encircled his body as she feverishly responded to his rapturous invitation. Reis's hands wandered up and down her back, causing tingles to sweep over her entire body. An age-old craving grew at her core, spreading its need over her quivering and fiery flesh.

  Amanda snuggled up to Reis as he nestled his face into her fragrant hair. Such yearning filled her, a yearning to explore this fierce aching which plagued her very soul. A soft groan escaped her parted lips as Reis's hand drifted over a firm breast, his palm stroking the taut point through her dress. When his tongue danced merrily around her ear, she shuddered with intense need. Soon, his mouth fastened onto hers, taking her beyond the limits of reality.

  She swayed in his embrace as his hands and lips worked magical wonders over her face and body. The tension built within her until she ardently meshed her mouth with his and unknowingly dug her nails into his back as she tried to pull him even closer to her. She desperately wanted him; nothing and no one else mattered now. She instinctively knew the only way to appease such an awesome hunger, and she was willing to feed it then and there. Whatever might happen after this blissful moment of wild passion, she knew she must have Reis Harrison this one time.

  Reis was snared by his own trap, too enflamed to think or care about anything but making love to Amanda. He trembled with the urgency which raced through his smoldering frame. He wanted her, needed her completely.

  "Yield to me, love," he urged hoarsely. "You're driving me wild. I hurt all over with wanting you. You can't marry Web, Mandy; he's no good for you. He can't make you feel the way I do. If you loved him, you wouldn't be in my arms. Forget that heartless Reb," he pleaded earnestly, unaware of his rash error which struck Amanda forcefully.

  It took Reis a while to realize Amanda was pushing him away from her, that
she was suddenly resisting him with all her might. "Let go of me, Reis. Stop or I'll scream," she threatened wildly.

  Reis leaned away from her. "Mandy?" he whispered huskily.

  "I'm not some harlot to be rolled on the floor," she panted at him. "Stop doing this to me. You don't want me; you only want to hurt Weber. I don't know why, but I won't let you use me like this! Get out of my life and stay out," she demanded weakly, hardly aware of what she was saying but aware of how she was hurting without really knowing why or how to stop the knifing pains in her heart.

  "Doing this to youl" he thundered in return. "You can't tease a man with surrender, then go cold on him! I need you, Mandy. If you don't need me, then why entice me? You're a witch, Amanda Lawrence. You enchant a fellow then punish him for his weakness. If it's only games with you, then stay clear of me, woman. I don't respect the rules. The next time you get me this hot, you'd best plan to cool me down," he warned, anger flashing in his deep blue eyes. "A man does crazy things when he's pushed beyond control or reason. If you want me to steer clear, I will. But first you'll have to convince me that's what you want."

  Amanda was afraid she couldn't convince him with desperate lies, so she didn't try. Instead, she snatched her cape and raced out before he could stop her panicky flight. The office keys were lying on her desk; the safe was still open. Reis locked up hurriedly, then followed her to make sure she reached home safely.

  He forcefully cooled his anger and his passion. He secretively returned to her office to search for the motive behind her vexing mood. He scanned the contents of her desk and the safe, then went through her files. He put everything back in its place, then locked the safe. He made sure all lights were out and the door was secured. He stuffed her drawstring purse into his pocket and headed for her house.

  He would leave her purse with Miranda, hopefully without an explanation. Then he would head to the privacy of his hotel room. He had some thinking and planning to do. It all made perfect sense to him, even if Amanda was mistaken and impulsive .. .

  A mischievous grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. Devilish lights twinkled in his eyes. If he planned this scheme just right, he could obtain all his wishes. He would take Weber's rope and tie up that menacing Rebel and that fetching tart, one victim on each end with a cunning and victorious Reis in the middle!

  "When I finish with you, you'll never forget the first and last time we clashed, Weber Richardson, you bloody son of a bitch. As for you, my exquisite butterfly, you'll never escape me. You were mine from the moment we met. You just try to fly away. before paying me what you owe me. That Reb's debt is nothing compared to mine!"

  Again, Amanda refused to come downstairs for dinner,. this time pleading a headache which Miranda knew came from some emotional upheaval. Each time she approached Amanda's door, she could hear muffled sobs which rent her tender heart. She and her sister had always been close, sharing even their innermost feelings. What was so terrible that Amanda felt she couldn't share it? Miranda knew her sister would confide in her when she was ready. Until then, Miranda silently suffered with her.

  Since Reis was the only person Amanda had spent time with today, it evidently had something to do with him. What had he said or done to cause Amanda such anguish? It had to be something important because Amanda was always so calm and controlled. It pained Miranda to think she might be to blame for assisting Reis's torment of her sister. Miranda couldn't understand her sister's drastic swings in mood and behavior. But somewhere behind them was a charmingly handsome rogue.

  The night was long for both girls. When Reis had delivered Amanda's purse last night, that told Miranda her sister had raced from Reis's company. This morning, lovely flowers and an invitation to dinner and the theater arrived, but Amanda declined both. She told Miranda and the housekeeper to refuse all gifts and messages from Reis Harrison. She made it bluntly clear she didn't wish to see or hear from him, that he was not to be allowed in her home.

  It was midafternoon before Amanda ventured downstairs to sip hot chocolate and to nibble some cake. She looked so pale and weary, as if she hadn't slept all night. Before the housekeeper left to do shopping, Amanda convinced her she simply wasn't feeling well. She sat on the floral sofa and gazed off into empty space.

  "Randy," she spoke faintly, "I know you're concerned about me, but I'm not ready to discuss this yet. I just need a little time to sort out some feelings and make a decision." Amanda couldn't bring herself to tell Miranda how critical their situation was, not until she decided how to resolve it. Amanda wasn't blind, so she was aware of Miranda's feelings for Weber. She knew Miranda would battle an enforced marriage to Weber as fiercely as the South had battled the North. But would marriage to Weber be so terrible in light of her scant options? Until she fully comprehended this dire episode herself, she could neither defend Weber not praise him. She berated herself for suspecting some ulterior motive in Weber. But her dear sister had suffered enough lately, and she couldn't add this additional burden to Miranda's slender back. Until settled, it would be her problem.

  "Did you and Reis quarrel?" Miranda asked helplessly.

  To prevent any further mention of Reis, Amanda edged into lying when she replied, "I won't be seeing him again, Randy. He's even worse than the others; he's tried to seduce me twice in two days. Every time he's near me, he can't keep his hands off me. I'm not some cheap slut to be pawed or ravished. The accounts he was dangling before me as bait are nothing more than troublemakers. Papa got rid of them months ago; now Reis thinks I'm too stupid to refuse them. He even claimed he goes along with the deal. I don't trust him, Randy. He acts like the only thing he wants is to get into my bloomersl He's a smooth charmer, and I should have known better."

  Miranda gaped at her, eyes and mouth wide open with shock. "But he seemed so nice, Mandy. I don't understand." Had she misjudged Reis? Or was her beloved sister fibbing to her for the first time? Miranda knew that change was often for the better, but Amanda was being forced to change too much too rapidly. Miranda was alarmed by the pain in her sister's ice-blue eyes. Perhaps the key word in Amanda's tale was "seduce," not ravish.

  "You have a lot to learn about wily males, dear Randy. All men are nice while they're trying to get you under the sheets with them. I've never been fooled like this before, and it angers me. And yes, it hurts, too. I thought Reis was so special, so different. You asked if we quarreled. I suppose we did have a one-sided dispute. When he kept pressing me, I thought the best way to cool his passion was to tell him Weber had proposed, which he has many times. Instead of cooling his ardor, I inflamed his temper. He was furious; can you imagine that? Then he proceeded to prove I don't love or want to marry Weber by assailing me with embraces and kisses! And he excused his lewd actions by claiming that I am besotted by him!"

  Miranda had a gut feeling that Amanda was defensively exaggerating. Reis didn't seem like a man who would force his attentions on a woman. Surely Amanda hadn't tried to play coy games with the masterful Mister Harrison. Didn't Amanda realize that her looks and actions toward Reis were sensually provocative? Besides, if. Reis was enchanted by Amanda, that would explain why he was so bold and persistent. Perhaps he was trying to prove something to Amanda. "Is that why you ran out on him so quickly that you forgot your purse?"

  "Please, drop it for now. I'm too upset to discuss it further."

  "Did you tell him just that Weber had asked, or did you also tell him you had accepted?" Miranda boldly continued the conversation with a point which worried her. To Miranda, it seemed the quarrel had been over Reis's passion and jealousy-twoemotions which hinted at affection.

  "I told him the truth, that I was seriously considering Web's proposal," Amanda announced incredibly. Before her sister could speak, Amanda added, "I know you don't like Web, Randy, but you won't be the one marrying him; I will. There's a lot you don't know about Weber, but I'll tell you everything one day soon. I must decide how important Reis is to me before I mess it up between us. Please, Randy, trust me to make the r
ight decision."

  "By 'mess it up,' you mean with Reis?" Miranda inquired softly, fearing to silence Amanda if she wasn't careful with her words and mood. Miranda's heart thudded heavily, for it sounded as if Amanda had already made her decision in favor of Weber. Had she been this assured with Reis? It didn't make any sense; why was Amanda viewing Web in a new light? There had to be much more to this turn of events!

  "I'll admit I was infatuated by Reis's good looks and charm." She inhaled loudly, then used her previous thought as her last argument. "Reis is a playful dream, but Weber is reality. A fantasy fades with time, Randy; reality is always there."

  That comparison revealed much about Amanda's feelings and fears. Miranda entreated, "Just make certain Reis is only a dream before you say yes to Weber."

  "I did, Randy, last night," Amanda confessed sadly.

  When Miranda held out a note for her sister the next morning, Amanda sullenly reminded her, "I told you, no more messages."

  "It's from Weber," Miranda stated crisply.

  "From Weber?" she inquired suspiciously. "He's back?"

  "Evidently," came the reluctant response as she handed the missive to her wary sister.

  Amanda read it and frowned. "He wants me to come down to the office to meet him for lunch," she stated in visible dread.

  "Are you going to yield to this summons, this command performance?" Miranda inquired almost belligerently.

  "Please don't treat me this way, Randy," her sister pleaded.

  "What way?" Miranda innocently asked. "You're going to marry him, aren't you? Out of spite to Reis over a disagreement?"

  "Don't be silly. I haven't decided yet, but I am leaning toward yes. Randy ... Never mind," Amanda responded, dropping the topic.