By Royal Demand

by Robyn Donald

  Relentlessly he whipped that barbaric need into submission. He bent his head to kiss her breasts to reacquaint himself with the lush provocation of satiny skin and subtle unmistakably female perfume.

  To possess her, he thought bleakly as the sweet sultry taste of her skin filled his mouth with delight. How the hell had such a commonplace act as making love become impossible with anyone else? Sara had not only stolen his happiness she'd gelded him. The knowledge burned into his pride like hot wire against his skin. His plan to seduce the whereabouts of the Queen's Blood from her had turned on him.

  Perhaps he could rid himself of this demeaning obsession if he gave in to it let himself take what she so patently offered until he was sated-until he could look at her with nothing more than a healthy man's desire for a beautiful woman. Once that happened he'd be free once more able to call himself his own man.

  He bent his head again and drew her peaked nipple into his mouth her sudden rigidity summoning an answering surge of heat to his groin. Yes she loved that. And he loved it that her breasts were so acutely sensitive that she was so violently responsive to his every touch.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  SARA'S pulses drummed in her ears as she stared up into eyes that promised sensual pleasure beyond belief burning blue in Gabe's darkly dominant face. She knew that look so well.

  From the first they'd barely been able to control their response to each other. Alarmed by his effect on her Sara had refused to go out with him tried to evade his determined pursuit.

  It hadn't worked and too soon she'd yielded to his careful wooing. Horrified by her swift capitulation to a man she instinctively knew to be dangerous she'd been afraid that once he'd slaked his sexual hunger everything would collapse into ashes.

  She'd been wrong. In spite of everything, he still wanted her.

  ‘Cabe ' she breathed when he shifted slightly, muscles flexing beneath his bronze skin as he kissed a deliberate path to the tiny indentation of her navel.

  If she let this go on she'd be lost. . . .

  Her heart was pounding so hard she could hear nothing else.

  ‘No’ she thought frantically, struggling to whip up her flagging willpower. But although her lips formed the word no sound emerged. She tried to push him away but her disobedient hand curved around one broad shoulder sensuously testing the strength beneath his sleek skin. Everything-common sense self-preservation caution-was engulfed by a feeling of such rightness that she was powerless against it.

  His hand slid into her moist depths probing slowly. Her hips jerked upwards and the last shimmers of the afterglow reignited in a powerful new flame of erotic sensation.

  ‘Cabe. . . ' The word emerged in a strained raw moan.

  For answer he eased his fingers further inside her.

  Her nails raked across his back' past thought she writhed against that sinfully clever hand aware only of its shockingly potent effect on her treacherous body. ooh God gal-el' He moved onto her thrusting into her eager passionately receptive body with such intensity that it tore a cry from her lips.

  He stopped big body barely leashed by his will. 'Did I hurt you'?' His voice was rough and his muscles tightened as he tried to draw back.

  ‘No you couldn't hurt me ' she muttered and pulled herself around him her body taut and demanding beneath him.

  She locked her arms around his shoulders and kissed his throat. His powerful body tensed but he thrust again claiming her with a raw primitive hunger that should have scared the wits out of her.

  Instead she gloried in it.

  This she thought barely able to formulate the words was the real man stripped of sophistication and worldliness driven by a need so intense he couldn't control it.

  For the first time in a year she was alive and happy and so keenly aware of every clamorous cell in her body that she could have wept with eager charged anticipation.

  Boldly she made him hers driving him on as he drove her their desire forcing them beyond the boundaries into a place where they connected with each other at the most basic individual level.

  They took and gave they moved together in gathering ecstasy until the building intensity took over and they reached that intangible peak together hearts thudding slick bodies tightly meshed in a rapturous reunion where

  nothing mattered but the dark potent magic of the moment.

  Later Sara lay listening to the great tearing gasps that dragged air into her lungs. Gabe hadn't moved. Chest heaving his lean body heavy on her his head still thrown back so that through her lashes she looked up into the stark arrogant angled of his face.

  Throbbing to the rapid tattoo of overloaded hearts barely registering the faint scent of sex and sweat and desperation she thought Oh you fools But her body contradicted her brain because in some purely elemental way she had never felt so safe.

  Only for a few precious seconds until Gabe moved to lie on his back. Shivering she made no effort to stop him. Although she wanted more than anything to hide from her stupidity she had to accept that she'd just made the biggest mistake in her life.

  Well no actually. Her biggest mistake had been in not running as far and as fast as she could the first time she'd met his steel-blue eyes. Except that even if she had he'd have followed.

  And that thought still had the power to fill her with a helpless satisfaction.

  Sara didn't have to turn her head to check his emotions' she could feel them uncompromising and ominous and dangerous. It didn't help to understand that he was angry with himself because he resented this overpowering lust just as much as she did.

  ‘Are you using contraceptives'?' he asked grimly.

  Shock silenced her. Oh my Godl The words hammered through her brain charged with such panic she didn't dare speak.

  ‘I want the truth ' he said lethally.

  Unable to lie she hesitated before saying on a ragged breath ‘lt's all right.'

  'That's not an answer.'

  Sara stared defiantly at his hard purposeful face and pressed her lips together.

  When Gabe said something under his breath she flared. ‘l'm not the only careless one' Which of course was a tacit admission that she hadn't even thought about contraceptives Frowning he said shortly ‘Iwasn't swearing at you ' then observed with savage self-derision ‘so much for self-control.'

  And so much he thought bleakly, for trying to get her out of his system. One look at her and although he'd fought his surrender with every ounce of willpower he possessed his body had taken over and done what it always wanted to do-made her his.

  Why this woman? He'd had other lovers enjoyed them for their various attributes and then said goodbye to them once the affair had run its natural course. Most were still good friends because he chose wisely avoiding ingenues to seek out sophisticated women who knew how these affairs should be conducted.

  But he'd broken every personal rule when he'd seen Sara and he still couldn't understand the hold she had over him-only that her betrayal and a year apart had done nothing to ease the tormented craving that possessed him night and day.

  Sara closed her eyes unable to endure the cold contempt in his eyes. A deep aching weariness almost pulled her under. She set her jaw and fought it because surrendering only made things worse.

  After swallowing to ease her dry throat she said thinly, ‘so what do we do now'?' Silence stretched between them pulsing with unspoken thoughts.

  Eventually he drawled ‘l'd suggest we get dressed. Not many people come this way but it's a possibility.'

  No easy answers there Sara sat up and stared around bewildered by how much brighter the forest seemed how clear and sweet the air how sharply majestic the mountains on the other side of the valley.

  Her eyes fell on the menhir. A cold whisper of air across her sensitized skin made her shudder and begin to pull on her clothes with clumsy fingers keeping her eyes away from Gabe's lithe form as he did the same.

  ‘1'11 get the horses ' he said and strode off into the trees.

  Had h
e planned this scene? Sara walked across the clearing and stood on the edge of the cliff. The ancient unknown people who'd positioned the menhir had chosen a spot with an unobstructed view over the valley to the highest peak in the range.

  No, she thought gaze drifting across the landscape beneath Gabe hadn't planned the wild moments in each other's arms. He despised that blazing erotic charge as much as she did.

  Her tender mouth twisted. Besides if he'd planned it he'd have used contraceptives. Renewed panic jolted her and she began to count days.

  Ashen-faced she turned back to the menhir trying hard not to believe that it was somehow aware of her presence. She was in the middle of her cycle the most fertile period.

  Her hand stole to her waist while she tried to convince herself that making love didn't lead to pregnancy each time.

  Moving slowly she walked back into the clearing her frown heavy as she stopped by the standing stone and gazed unseeingly at it.

  Gabe's child she thought and her whole heart yearned. Forcing herself to be practical she considered the morning-after pill. Revulsion gripped her. No she thought incoherently. Oh no. And put her hand up to her eyes.

  Her fingers brushed the menhir. Shock lanced through her and she jerked back to stare at the ancient carved stone wondering if she had truly felt a singing urgency a subliminal thrumming at some deep cellular level.

  No, she'd imagined it. But she wasn't going to touch the thing again. Skin prickling, she stepped a safe distance away and thrust the prospect of pregnancy into the too-hard basket in her mind.

  OK so she was jittery. Well she was allowed to be surely? It wasn't every day that she woke up in a castle in the mountains kidnapped by a man who was sure she'd stolen his priceless family heirloom and then made unprotected love with him in a setting that produced wild fantasiesl

  What the hell did Gabe think he was going to do with her? Revenge? She shivered. Now that she'd seen him in the Wolfs Lair she could imagine Gabe seeking revenge' he'd changed from the super-sophisticated man who only lost his cool when they made love. Given his coldly analytical mind and his ruthlessness why else would he go to all the trouble of getting her here? She turned away from the standing stone and walked across to the crumpled rug. Stooping she picked it up.

  Beneath it the grass was flattened and crushed by the force of their lovemaking.

  Heart contracting into a leaden lump in her chest she folded the rug and thrust it into the pack. A faint sound brought her head up. Eyes dilating, she watched Gabe lead the two horses between the trees. She bit on her bottom lip, then winced' their kisses had been fierce and her lip felt tender.

  When the Queen's Blood hadn't turned up on the market he'd have looked at the situation with his usual formidable detachment.

  He knew exactly which weapon to use against her-her own total lack of willpower where he was concerned.

  And she idiot that she was had fallen into his trap. Last night's kisses would have been part of his strategy', he'd tested her to see if time and distance had dulled their mutual hunger or given it a keener edge.

  He must have been delighted when her helpless response had proved just how vulnerable she still was to his intense charisma.

  The next step must have been obvious she thought fiercely eyes fixed on his ruthless handsome face as he moved easily towards her with the horses-seduction! Colour burned along her cheekbones then ebbed. Humiliation ate into her but hell she knew how to deal with thatd And this time she was forewarned. There'd be no more trips with him and definitely no more lovemaking.

  He might want her-he d/d want her-but she had to remember that he wanted his family treasure much more.

  And if-if-today had given them a child she'd go back to Fala'isi and rear it herself without telling him.

  AII right'?' he said eyes narrowing as he halted the horses.

  'Yes I'm fine.' Her automatic answer drew his brows together but he said nothing more.

  They rode down the mountainside with the minimum of conversation Gabe acting as tour guide. He did it very well-but then he'd been brought up on the legends and history of his ancestors.

  Outside her bedroom door at the castle she said ‘1'11 need someone to show me the rooms you want redecorated.'

  His brows lifted. 'That won't be necessary' he told her his tone coolly dismissing.

  Sara's chin jutted and she met his eyes with a frosty hauteur. 'You wanted it done' I'm going to do it. Your study and dining room are beautiful but you can't deny that my bedroom at least needs rescuing. It's a travesty.'

  He surveyed her stubborn face with amusement. AII right. ‘1'11 get changed and come back.'

  Safe for a few minutes she showered soaping every inch of skin as though she could wash Gabe's possession away. She tried to push the memory of their passionate encounter into a recess in her mind and lock the door on it although it was difficult when she noticed the occasional slight contusion on her skin. She'd marked him too her nails digging into his back as ecstasy overtook her.

  'Enough of that ' she told her reflection as she towelled herself dry. She needed to think not dwell obsessively on the involuntary response of her body.

  She donned an entirely new outfit from the skin out noting that the clothes in the big armoire had been pressed. Clearly there was a maid here as well as Webster.

  Good, she looked businesslike and neat. When Gabe saw her he'd know immediately that she hadn't dressed to attract-the zip-fronted shirt was loose enough to hide her breasts and her trousers were tailored.

  Beneath them she wore flat tassel-fronted moccasins in basic black.

  Boringl

  A swift rummage in her tote bag produced her notepad and measuring tape. She combed her hair back from her face and sat down at the desk making notes on the room.

  ' The sharp tap at the door brought her head up sharply.

  An uneasy excitement slithered along her nerves' she straightened her shoulders and got up calling slush a moment ' as she gathered up pad and tape and pen.

  Telling herself that to allow her body any power in this situation would be courting disaster with open arms she walked sedately across the room and opened the door.

  Instead of Gabe's dominant presence her eyes met those of a woman she'd never expected to see

  again-Marya. Astonished she opened her mouth but no words came.

  The elderly woman beamed at her and in her thickly accented English said ‘so you come. Is good.'

  Astonished Sara stared at her. This woman had stolen the Queen's Blood and cheerfully let her take the blame. Yet there was no malice in her dark eyes nothing but what seemed to be transparent pleasure.

  'Why is it good'?' Sara managed to say inanely.

  Marya smiled and took the notepad and pen and tape from her hands. 'Because you come back ' she said and stood back to let Sara out before closing the door behind her.

  'Gabe-' 'Talking, talking, talking-to Africa I think.' Marya dismissed Gabe and Africa with a shrug. 'You want to see rooms? AII right? I show you.'

  What followed was bizarre. Marya chatted away as she took her into two other bedrooms held the end of the tape while Sara measured and stayed respectfully silent when Sara wrote down information. It was as though the older woman didn't understand that there should be tension between them.

  In fact she did more than ignore it. She set herself out to entertain-pointing out views from various windows telling Sara stories of people who'd lived in the castle of long-ago events of scenes that resonated with the authentic aura of war and history.

  And she talked about Gabe clearly idolizing him. ‘so good ' she said fervently. 'ls loved in the valley already.

  And so much man! Is master to be proud of man to follow.'

  If Marya's smiles meant anything, she didn't seem to mind that Sara had little to say in return. Did she think Sara didn't know'? In the end she couldn't bear it.

  'Marya, why did you take the Queen's Blood'?' She watched the maid keenly but not a muscle moved in
the lined old face. Baffled Sara went on urgently 'You must realise how much Gabe wants to see it again. If you love him so much why don't you give it back to him'?'

  Shrugging elaborately Marya said 'You are here now.'

  And from the door Gabe said in a voice that chilled the blood in Sara's veins 'That's enough. Thank you, Marya, 1'11 take over now.'

  The maid smiled at him gave Sara an even bigger smile and left the room her back straight and her spine like a steel rod.

  Gabe turned to Sara. ‘leave her alone ' he said each word filled with the cold menace of a whip-crack. 'This is between you and me' I won't have you harassing Marya.'

  'What's she doing here'?' He lifted his brows in cold distaste. 'she works here ' he said icily. ‘1 told the butler to help you, but it seems she thought it more seemly if she did.'

  Sara spared a sympathetic thought for the butler' Gabe's tone indicated that the man had felt the lash of his tongue.