Winter Bride: A Loveswept Classic Romance

by Iris Johansen

  “Do Amazons have brothers? I had the idea all male children were strangled at birth or something. I’m sure I—” She broke off and drew a deep breath. She sounded like a nervous idiot-with this mindless chatter. “How did you get in?”

  “Sorry to invade your privacy, but I didn’t want any interruptions in our discussion. I asked the desk clerk for a second key to your room when I checked in.” He took out the key and placed it on the table beside him. “I won’t need it any longer.”

  She crossed the room, sat down on the bed, and folded her hands. “I thought you were going to make some phone calls.”

  “Done. I called the embassy and we don’t appear to have any of Marino’s lads on our tail at the moment. I told them to keep alert and that I’d call back later.”

  She moistened her lips. “I believe I know what you’re going to say. Go ahead. You have a right to be angry with me.”

  His hands closed on the arms of the chair. “For Lord’s sake, stop bracing yourself. Do you expect me to beat you or give you a tongue-lashing?”

  She smiled tremulously. “Whichever you prefer. I deserve it.”

  “I don’t prefer either one. I thought you understood I don’t abuse women and I didn’t come here to do battle with you.”

  “Then why did you come?”

  “To ask if you lied to me when you told me you loved me.”

  She looked down at the floor. “That’s not important. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. You don’t have to worry—”

  “Is it true?”

  “Yes,” she said simply. “It doesn’t make any sense, does it? We started out all wrong and what we have couldn’t possibly work out. I know there are too many things against us.”

  “For instance.”

  “You still associate me with the painting and don’t see me as I really am.”

  He looked at her, waiting.

  “Temperamentally we’re at opposite ends of the spectrum.”

  “Go on.”

  “I’ve already told you how afraid I am of cages.”

  “Is that all?”

  “Isn’t that enough?” She smiled sadly. “One more thing—you don’t love me.”

  “Are you finished now?”

  “Yes.”

  He stood up and strode toward the door.

  She should have expected that action after her words of rejection, but it still startled … and hurt her. “Where are you going?”

  “Back to my room. I have an answer.”

  “I see.”

  “I doubt it.” He opened the door. “You seem to be deliberately blinding yourself where I’m concerned. You’ve built a neat little case on pure assumption because you’re afraid to commit yourself to any man. The only reason you let me make love to you on San Miguel was because you thought it was temporary and therefore safe.” He turned to look at her and she inhaled sharply as she saw his expression. “And I can blow every one of those assumptions out of the water. One, I can’t deny any relationship with me would be confining. I’d be as possessive as hell of you, but I’m not stupid enough not to realize I’d have to make some compromises. Two, if we did have the same temperament, we’d probably be bored with each other in a month. Three, if I do still identify you with the Bride, it’s because you’re gutsy and beautiful and I have as much of an obsession for you as I did for her. Is that so bad?”

  “No. but I—”

  “And the reason I’m leaving now is that I don’t have much control left. If I don’t get out of here, I’d throw you on that bed and make love to you.” His glance moved over her and she felt seared, breathless. “And I’m not going to do that. No more commands. If you want me, you come and get me as you did on San Miguel”

  “Jed, I don’t—”

  “Wait.” He held up his hand to check her out-burst. “And you were wrong about one other thing. You didn’t bother to ask me to confirm or deny that last assumption. I do love you, dammit!”

  The door slammed behind him.

  Ysabel stared dazedly at the door. Joy. She knew the sudden rush of happiness she was experiencing was dangerous, but she couldn’t suppress it. Every one of the obstacles she had laid before Jed was reasonable and logical, but reason and logic had nothing to do with the fever of emotion streaming through her.

  Was he right? Had she deliberately blinded herself to what they could have together because of her fear of what a commitment would mean?

  Lord, she couldn’t be sure of anything. Her emotions were in turmoil and the joy she was experiencing at that last terse sentence was disrupting every effort to maintain control.

  I do love you.

  Her palms were damp and she wiped them nervously on her cotton skirt before knocking on the door.

  No answer.

  It was almost midnight, and two hours had passed since he had left her room. What if he were asleep? What if he had gone out or—

  The door swung open.

  Jed was dressed in a terry cloth robe, his silver hair water-dampened to steel-gray. Every muscle stiffened when he saw her.

  She moistened her lips. “May I come in?”

  “You’re damned right.” He grasped her wrist and pulled her into the room. “Do you think I’m an idiot?” He slammed the door. “Sit down. I’m talking to Washington. I’ll get rid of them and be with you in a minute.”

  “I could leave and—”

  “Sit down,” He strode to the nightstand and picked up the receiver and spoke tersely. “No more arguments. I need this mess cleared up. Either we go for it together as I’ve outlined or I do it alone.” He hung up the phone and turned to face Ysabel. “Well?”

  She could almost feel the tension vibrating between them. “Why are you talking to Washington?”

  He ignored the question. “Why are you here?”

  “Is Marino—?”

  “I’m not going to talk about Washington. Marino, or your brother. I want to know why you’re here.”

  She swallowed hard, then said in a rush, “You said you wouldn’t command me. You said I had to come to you.”

  He went still. “Let’s be clear. You want me?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Oh, yes.”

  “Thank God.” He moved swiftly and picked her up in his arms.

  A sudden rush of panic surged through her. She had been unable to struggle against the power that had drawn her here, but now she felt as if she were being swept away from her last mooring. “There’s something I have to tell you. I still don’t know—There are so many problems that—”

  “I don’t care about the problems,” he said thickly. “This is what’s important now. This is one problem I know we can find an answer for.” He set her on her knees on the bed. “And you must think so, too, or you wouldn’t be here.”

  He quickly unbuttoned her blouse, slid it off her shoulders, and stood there looking at her. “I used to lie on that bunk on the cruiser and think about this.” He slowly lowered his head until his mouth hovered over the right nipple.

  Searing heat moved through her as his warm breath touched her.

  “I remembered how you looked in the window seat with the sunlight on you.” His hand reached between her thighs and began rubbing slowly back and forth.

  Her stomach clenched as she felt the heat from his palm through her thin skirt.

  “I’m not going to be able to hold on for very long.” Jed pushed her back on the bed and untied his robe. “It’s going to be hard and fast the first time, love.”

  The endearment came honey-sweet through the haze of desire surrounding her.

  “I don’t care.” She watched him shrug out of his robe and drop it on the floor. Muscular power and bold arousal. She felt suddenly small, helpless, totally female.

  He noticed her reaction and went still. “If it’s not what you want, tell me now. I’m not going to be able to stop if you—”

  “I do want you. It’s just hard—”

  “It certainly is.” His eyes were suddenly glinting
with humor. “And getting harder all the time.”

  The easing of his tension had a soothing effect on her own. “You know what I mean. I felt …” She trailed off.

  “Subjugated?” All trace of humor vanished from his expression. “Lord, are we back to that?” He suddenly flipped up her skirt and parted her thighs. “Since I can’t leave you now, I suppose I’m going to have to lay to rest that bogey.”

  “How are you—?” She arched up off the bed as she felt his thumb press on the sensitive nub of her womanhood. “Jed!”

  “Like this.”

  He began a circular motion that made her bite her lip to keep from crying out.

  “I’m not forcing you, am I?” The demand came fierce and intense.

  “No …”

  His other hand moved down and two fingers sank deep while his thumb continued the circular motion. “This is what you want. Right?”

  She barely heard the question. The sensations he was arousing were indescribably erotic and her breath was coming in little pants.

  “Right?” he asked again.

  “Yes.”

  “Progress.” His voice was guttural and she was vaguely aware of his face above her, flushed, heavy with sensuality as he mounted her. “Think. Am I giving you what you want?”

  Hard warmth nudging at the apex of her womanhood. She clenched, trying to close around him. “Jed, this is—” She made a sound low in her throat as he entered her and then stopped just within. “No!”

  “You want me gone?”

  “You know that’s not what I mean.”

  He moved a fraction farther. “Then tell me what to do. You’re not subjugated. You’re the one in control. I’m not moving until you tell me. Until you command me.”

  Heavy fullness, but not enough. She was burning, throbbing. “Jed, for heaven’s sake, move.”

  “Not yet.” He laughed desperately. “Lord, did I say that?”

  She bucked, trying to take more of him, but he held himself immobile. “Command.”

  “All right!” Her hands clutched his shoulders. “Dammit, Jed, I’m commanding you. Move!”

  He moved, exploded, cupped her buttocks, and drove deep.

  She cried out and her legs closed fiercely around him.

  It was the same as before yet different, passionate yet sweeter. It went on forever, but when the climax came it was still too soon.

  The languor was deeper, more complete, and even when he left her, she still felt joined to him.

  It was several moments before she could speak. “It’s very difficult, isn’t it?”

  He chuckled. “I disagree. There’s nothing simpler.” He nuzzled her ear. “Or more pleasant.”

  “No, I didn’t mean …” She raised herself on her elbow to look at him. “Sex makes things more … it’s too strong … it gets in the way of judgment.”

  He stiffened. “We made love, not sex. I thought we had gone beyond that point.”

  “We have. I mean I think—” She stopped. “I guess I’m still confused.”

  “About what? I thought I’d made my position quite clear.”

  She was silent.

  “Talk to me.”

  “I suppose I’m afraid,” she whispered. “You’re much stronger than Arnold and … oh, I know you’re nothing alike but—”

  “The cage,” Jed finished. “Like father, like son.” His fingertips gently brushed the plane of her cheek. “I’ve tried to be as honest as I can with you. It’s going to have to be your decision whether you trust me or not, but don’t expect me not to stay close and try to influence you to my way of thinking even if it takes the next fifty years.” He rolled over and mounted her again, plunging smoothly into the heart of her. “In the meantime, I believe I’ll reinforce my position.”

  The phone was ringing.

  Why didn’t Jed answer it? Ysabel wondered drowsily.

  The ring sounded again, igniting a frisson of uneasiness within her.

  She opened her eyes and immediately stiffened.

  No Jed. The early morning sunlight revealed that the pillow beside her was indented, still bearing the impression of his head. But he was no longer there.

  The phone rang again and she rolled over and reached for the receiver, conscious that the cool sheets held no lingering warmth.

  “Hello.”

  “How long ago did he leave?” Ronnie demanded.

  “What?” The uneasiness came into sharp focus. She slowly sat up and brushed the hair from her eyes.

  “He left without me, dammit,” Ronnie fumed. “Well, he’s not going to get away with it. How much headstart does he have?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. What’s happened?”

  “You don’t know?” Ronnie muttered something beneath her breath. “Jed’s gone after Marino.”

  The blood turned to ice in Ysabel’s veins. “How do you know?”

  “I have Brooking from the CIA standing in front of me. Jed’s been pulling strings in Washington and got them to send Brooking to pick us up.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Jed wanted us protected from Marino and arranged with Brooking to place us in protective custody while he went off and played games with the General.”

  “What … games?”

  “Cat-and-mouse, with Jed being the bait. He thought with Marino so hopping mad, it would be a perfect time to lure him into a trap.”

  Ysabel closed her eyes. “Dear Lord.”

  “Well, he can’t get away with it. He needs me. I’m not going to hole up in some crummy hotel in West Virginia while he—”

  A man’s voice came suddenly on the line. “Mrs. Corbin, this is Paul Brooking. I’ve dispatched a man to your room to pack your bags and escort you to the lobby at your earliest convenience. Miss Dalton, your brother, and I will meet you in forty-five minutes, if that will be okay.” In spite of the courteous phrasing, there was a note of crisp resolution in the man’s tone.

  “Where is Jed?”

  “We’re not at liberty to divulge his exact whereabouts. He did give me a message for you. He said if you follow him to San Miguel, it will make his position only more hazardous since your presence may keep him from obtaining help from the rebels. He’ll contact you as soon as possible. Forty-five minutes, please.” The connection was broken.

  She replaced the receiver with a trembling hand. Why hadn’t she anticipated Jed’s move when it was so in character? Lancelot to the rescue. The cold seemed to be surrounding her, filling her. Not, it wasn’t cold that was icing through her; it was fear. She got out of bed and stumbled toward the bathroom. Forty-five minutes …

  Suddenly fear was replaced by anger. How dare Jed do this to her? He had been so blasted angry and indignant about her trying to protect him and yet he was doing the same thing, risking his life and—

  His life. The anger disappeared as quickly as it had come. Dear Lord, Jed could die. Marino could kill him as he had killed so many others and there wasn’t one thing she could do about it. She had never felt so helpless in her life. The reservations and bewilderment that had plagued her the previous night seemed minuscule in the glaring light of the knowledge that she could lose him.

  Jed could die.

  No, she wouldn’t accept that possibility. She would just have to wait and have faith that he would come back to her. Sweet Heaven, that waiting wouldn’t be easy.

  In the meantime, she would have to fight down her fear and take charge of the aspects of the situation that were still open to her. She couldn’t help Jed, but she would keep Steven and Ronnie safe.

  Ysabel moved quickly across the lobby toward Ronnie and Steven. Standing beside them wearing a rumpled khaki suit was a tall young man with reddish-brown hair and freckles.

  She stopped before him. “Mr. Brooking? I’m Ysabel Corbin. Your agreement with Jed calls for certain protective measures for us?”

  Ronnie muttered, “It calls for us to be stashed in no-man’s-land.”

  Steven
sympathetically touched her arm. “I’ve been there before. No-man’s-land isn’t amusing, but we’ll make the best of it.”

  “How long will we be under guard?” Ysabel asked Brooking.

  “Hopefully not more than a few weeks. My superior has made assurances to Jed that you be kept absolutely secure, but that doesn’t mean we have to keep you in a cell. I’ve located quite a nice small motel in West Virginia that even has a swimming pool. I assure you we’ll make your stay as comfortable as possible.”

  Ronnie snorted.

  Ysabel nodded. “I believe my friend’s reaction is similar to my own. I’ve just freed my brother from one prison and I have no intention of placing him in another.”

  “I’ve told you that—”

  “I’ve heard what you told me. Now I think you’d better listen to me.” Her tone reflected her inflexibility. “I have no objection to accepting your help in keeping us safe. However, it will be my choice where that guardianship will take place.”

  Brooking frowned. “You’re being very foolish. We have a breadth of experience you don’t possess.” He tried to temper the sharpness of his voice. “Look, trust me. Let us do our job.”

  “I’m not stupid, Mr. Brooking, and I’m not going to make the mistake of endangering our lives. I want very much to live.”

  Ronnie’s gaze was narrowed on Ysabel’s face. “What do you have in mind?”

  “I know a place that’s isolated, that will allow us a maximum amount of freedom and can be defended with little effort.”

  “What place?”

  Ysabel smiled. “Why, we’re going back to Winter Island.”

  Ronnie gave a low whistle as they moved up the path toward the front door of the castle. “I’m impressed. Jed never talked about his home, but I didn’t expect Windsor Castle.”

  “Jed has a few problems with Winter Island.” Ysabel glanced at Steven. “You’ve been very quiet since we left the boat. Is something wrong?”

  He forced a smile. “What could be wrong?”

  “That’s what I’m asking.”

  His gaze went back to the stone turrets. “I’ll get used to it.”