Dare to be Mine
Page 7
Tears clouded her vision at Daniel's words. What he said was completely true. Mortified at such intimate details of her marriage being spoken aloud made Elyssa wish she’d never wandered out so late at night. She quickly wiped at her moist eyes, turning to leave. Daniel reached out and spun Elyssa around to face him. His expression one of confusion and anger, he asked something he'd never cared about or concerned himself with over any woman.
"Do you love him?" his anguished voice choked out.
Looking at him in utter surprise, Elyssa was shocked at his heartfelt question, was stunned that he still seemed to want her anywhere near him. Indeed, that he seemed completely agonized at the thought she might actually love her husband.
Nothing but chilled, numbing thoughts of Percy came to mind and Elyssa slowly shook her head as her raspy voice confessed, "No, I do not." Elyssa nearly cried aloud at the soft admission, for although she had fought the realization for what seemed an eternity, she could no longer deny the harsh truth. She felt nothing for Percy but breath drew in sharplythibitterness and cold indifference. And although her husband was mostly to blame for their loveless marriage, Elyssa felt adulterous simply telling another man she did not love Percy.
Sliding his fingers to the back of her neck, Daniel's other hand cradled Elyssa's face in reverence as his mouth covered hers in sweet hunger. His heart beat rampantly as Daniel's tongue scorched the inside of Elyssa's mouth, totally and completely conquering her will. The knowledge that she was a married woman caused a tightness about his heart, for although Daniel had never given a second thought to a woman's marital status, it was a bitter sting to find that the one woman he was becoming more and more obsessed with already belonged to another man.
Marriage, however, was not in Daniel's vocabulary. His present plans did not deal with the holy bonds of matrimony. He knew only that Revee was meant to be his, in whatever way possible. He had known from the first time his lips touched hers that they belonged together. And being the selfish man he admittedly was, Daniel didn't want any other man claiming her from that moment on. No matter that he was not the one who'd first slipped a ring upon Revee's finger.
Elyssa's thoughts were muddled as she allowed Daniel to continue kissing her senseless. Her hands met with his hard chest as she balanced herself against him. Her fingers splayed across his chest and a sweetly desperate moan escaped her lips as she was helpless to reciprocate the kiss.
At the feel of her innocent kiss, a practiced seduction no doubt, and the touch of her slender fingers upon his chest, Daniel nearly pulled her down to the hay strewn floor to complete what they had recklessly started. When he felt the feathery touch of her tongue against his, he nearly lost all control and ravaged her right then and there.
Forcing himself to temporarily stop, Daniel gradually pulled his mouth from hers, gently pulling her fingers from his chest, for the intimate contact was entirely too provocative for his own good. Their breathing harsh, Daniel rested his forehead against Elyssa's, his dark locks coming to rest softly against her face. Elyssa was too stunned by her actions to look him directly in the eyes. She felt alive, but wickedly so, and once more Elyssa inwardly cursed her parents' decision to hastily wed her to Percy. To know that she would be forever robbed of such passion with a man that truly desired her left Elyssa feeling a giant void in her heart.
Daniel was the first to speak, his hands holding her securely about the waist. "I don't care, do you hear me? I do not care that you are married."
CHAPTER ">Elyssa's eyes widened at the unexpected words spoken in a feverish rush. Daniel's eyes became almost wild as he lifted her chin so she looked him in the eyes. His urgent words of enticement continued, "Make love to me, Revee. I must have you."
"I cannot do such a thing. How can you even ask me to abandon my wedding vows?"
"You said it yourself, you do not love him. And he sure as hell doesn’t deserve your loyalty after laying his fucking hands on you.”
"No matter. Marriage vows are binding, and however imprisoning, I cannot break my honor. Please, Daniel, we must not see each other again."
"I would sooner take my own life," he vehemently responded. Grabbing Elyssa against him, their lips scant inches apart, Daniel continued, "Demand anything else of me. But don't ask me to stay away from you."
Overwhelmed at his fierce sincerity, Elyssa could not believe that this man, this gorgeous alluring man, seemed so completely taken with her. How ironic that her older, staid husband found her utterly unappealing and unlikeable, while this young, vital man made her feel absolutely beautiful and desirable.
Her hand going to his face of its own accord, Elyssa slowly ran her fingers lightly over Daniel's lips. He kissed her fingers, his eyes closing in blissful torment. It was unexplainable, this profound need to be with her, to make her his own. The thought of never seeing her again was completely unacceptable.
His eyes opening as her fingers left his lips, Daniel's gaze searched her eyes for hope. Of a sudden, he suggested, "Leave with me tomorrow."
"What?" Elyssa softly cried.
"Leave this place forever. Come with me to London. I promise you will not regret it."
The idea was extremely tempting, the fleeting thought bringing the hint of a smile to her lips, but Elyssa knew she would never do such a thing. She was bound to Percy and was certainly he loved her.
CHAPTER wise enough to know he would never grant her a divorce. The scandal would be phenomenal, even though they lived far enough from the city to avoid the unpleasantries of everyday life after such a thing. "I am sorry. I cannot. This thing," she struggled, her words sounding false and hollow, "this connection you imagine between you and I, it does not really exist. And it is pointless and cruel of you to mislead me so."
Inside, Elyssa's heart squeezed at the brief pain she saw flash across his features. Her words were exaggerated, yet needfully so. For her own sake as well as his. He would certainly not give her a second thought once he left for his business in London. And she would be an utter fool to imagine that he'd not spoken in like manner to a dozen other women.
It was probably a game to him, to see how quickly he could woo a married woman away from her husband, although that dark thought made Elyssa feel guilty for thinking he might actually be that cold-hearted.
"I would never delude you," Daniel replied. "And this bond between us is as sure as anything ever known. You cannot deny it." Pulling her tightly against his chest, his breath warm and husky in her ear, he continued, "Listen to the beat of my heart, Revee. Do you hear that? It beats for you and only you. I cannot explain it, I only know that it is so."
Elyssa felt his hand brush lightly over her breast, his fingers splaying over her heart. "I feel your heart, Revee, and you may claim otherwise all you want, but I know it beats for me, too. Do you forget so soon that my blood is running through your veins?"
His dark stare held Elyssa mesmerized, her breasts tingling at his intimate contact. She had never been touched so, and wanted it to never end. She was torn. Part of her wanting to flee from his strong arms and never look back, the other part of her craving to meld into his hold and let him make sweet love to her all the night long. The latter began winning the battle, and Elyssa lifted her face to his, silently begging his kiss.
Needing no further encouragement, Daniel plundered her mouth, his hand covering her heart while his other hand held her gently behind the neck. His fingers greedily yanked at her blouse, the dainty buttons coming loose and scattering across the floor. His fingers crept inside her camisole, his skin warm and seductive against the softness of her breasts.
Elyssa could scarce contain the overwhelming sensations Daniel was wreaking. Her entire body was filled with a liquid heat that threatened to consume her. She ached with the need to have ; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-hi dowhim even closer. His fingers moved to her other breast beneath the thin material. Her mouth was being thoroughly ravaged, the rough velvety feel of his tongue against her own seducing her. Begging her to let him have his way. A
nd Elyssa wanted Daniel to have his way with her. She wanted to block everything else out of her mind and focus only on this unexplainable, powerful yearning she felt.
He bent to his knees, gently taking Elyssa with him and laying her beneath him. The clean abundance of hay beneath the soft blanket cushioned the makeshift bed, its primitiveness only adding to the allure. Elyssa stared dreamily up at Daniel, her heart in her eyes, all rational thought completely vanished. The stormy gray eyes that gazed affectionately at her spoke more than words ever could.
Elyssa could almost believe him, could almost trust in the speculation it was fate that had brought them together. That there was no use fighting this uncontrollable attraction for the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on in her life.
It would be so easy to give into the temptation. So very easy to get lost in his eyes and fall beneath his spell. She had never been made love to before, and the thought of Daniel being her one and only filled Elyssa with a heady desire.
The coolness of a breeze on her partially bared breasts pricked a tiny hole in Elyssa's conscience. Cruelly made her realize how extremely close she really was to passing the point of no return, no matter how tempting the thought was.
She grabbed Daniel's hand as he started to peel back the silky thin camisole, having already untied the dainty bow that held it together. Daniel stilled, his gaze questioning. Elyssa's breath coming short and fast, her emerald eyes plead the words that stuck in her throat.
"No, please don't deny me now," he whispered harshly. He was lying halfway across Elyssa, her softness beckoning him. Her sweet lips were kiss swollen, and Daniel thought he'd never seen a more beautiful sight.
"I am sorry," she softly cried, the intimate feel of his hand near her breast nearly causing Elyssa to desert her will. “I cannot lie," she continued, "I do harbor a deep attraction for you, Daniel, but I could not live with myself if I did this. Please understand."
Not waiting for his reply, Elyssa hurriedly moved from beneath Daniel. Pulling her blouse together, she started to speak again, but no more words would come. Daniel heard a soft cry escape he loved her.
CHAPTER her lips as Elyssa's steps quickened in departure.
With each step she took, Daniel's heart clenched a bit more. His every instinct bade him run after her and seduce her completely. And Daniel knew he could, given a few moments more. But he didn't want her that way. Daniel wanted her willingness. Her forwardness even. He wanted that lovely mouth curved upward in a satisfied smile of contentment rather than frowning in distress.
Still, the fact that she refused him so adamantly each and every time they were together left Daniel feeling more than a little confused. Why was it she had a husband she pretended to be so dedicated to, when it was clearly not a marriage of love? Too, the night he'd arrived at the estate, Revee had been on her way to meet a lover in the stables.
Perhaps then it was that lover, and not her husband, that Revee was so intent upon remaining true to. What was it about himself that she found so unappealing, so unworthy? He would find out the answer. He would wrap up his business in London earlier than planned and come back to her. Next time, however, he would allow no thoughts of denial to enter into her lovely head. He would woo her and win her so quickly and thoroughly she would never want to deny him again.
"I am coming back, Revee," he softly spoke aloud, "so guard your heart well, for I aim to conquer it completely."
CHAPTER 5
Percy tried forcing a halfhearted smile, though it looked more like he was suffering from indigestion. He knew Daniel was leaving for London on business, and with any luck his son would stay gone for good. Hence the mild attempt at a smile. Certainly London would entice his rakish son to remain within its sinful clutches so Percy wouldn't have to worry about his irritating presence again.
"Father," Daniel muttered as he entered the study where Percy was already poring over ledgers. Daniel was dressed in a white shirt and dark pants and jacket, his hair pulled back neatly in a queue.
"I see you are all set to leave," Percy said as he stood and came around his desk. Daniel knew he was not seeing him off in fondness, but rather his father wanted to witness him leave the estate with his own two eyes.
"In a moment," Daniel replied dryly. "First I wanted to ask once more about my dear stepmother." Percy's eyes narrowed as his son continued. "I don't suppose she has returned from her trip, has she?"
"I told you before that my wife is in the city with her family. I will tell her you asked about her when she returns. Of course, I shall leave out the part in which you insinuated she is a callous, money grubbing bitch."
"An exaggeration of my description, but fitting nonetheless."
A vein began throbbing in Percy's forehead as he barely refrained from a heated rebuttal. If there was one thing he'd learned in business over the years, it was that you could better rile an enemy with softly spoken clever words rather than angry retorts.
"Your long ago temper tantrums and abrupt departure left me no option but in the processg">CHAPTER to change my will after I married my lovely wife. She stands to inherit everything, the mansion included. She is aware of your exclusion from my will, though she did not induce me to do so. Still, she does agree it was the only thing I could do with such a wayward son." Percy saw a flash of anger pass across Daniel's face at that lie, relishing the inner torment he knew his son was suppressing.
Daniel inwardly cursed the woman his father was wed to, for it was more than obvious she'd only married Percy for his money. And for that fact alone, she deserved whatever misery his father would undoubtedly put her through. But when it affected his own future, and the future of his children, should he ever decide to settle down and start a family of his own, Daniel grew more than a little angry.
"You can of course try to fight it through litigation," Percy continued, "but knowing my lawyers as I do, I believe it accurate to say you would be in for a court battle lasting several years."
"You would do that to me, your only son and heir, out of spite?" Daniel asked incredulously.
"I do it for much more than just spite, dear son," Percy replied.
Shaking his head in disgust, Daniel calmly asked, "How did we ever get to this point, Father?"
"I don't know what you mean, really, for you are the one who abandoned home and family. And in doing so, you have become what you hate the most." At Daniel's dubious look, Percy said, "When I look at you, I see myself."
"I am nothing like you," Daniel bit out.
Percy forced a laugh as he headed out of the study. Daniel's bags were packed and sitting at the front door. In a hurry to see Daniel leave before Elyssa had a chance to come downstairs, Percy held open the front door and extended his arm toward the waiting carriage. "Hurry off to London now and make lots of money. You will need it."
"I shall see you within two weeks, Father," Daniel said as he ignored Percy's sarcasm. "After I return, I fully expect to resolve some of our differences concerning the future––you, me, and dear stepmother."
Percy's hands balled into fists as he watched Daniel stiffly walk away in tightly reined anger. The boy had indeed become harsh over the years. Percy's snide remarks no longer seemed to wound to the quick as they once had. Shoving away the disturbing thought that Daniel might actually return in two weeks, Percy headed toward the stairs to see how his wife's plans for departure were progressing.
Elyssa glanced at her reflection in the mirror once more, finally satisfied with her appearance. She was about to leave for London thanks to her husband's orders. One final tuck of an errant lock of hair left Elyssa's appearance flawless. Her mother would certainly be proud when she saw her. Until she realized that Elyssa was there only because her husband had kicked her out of their home.
That was certain to cause a ruckus. Her parents would probably have a conniption in the fear she was cutting off their new source of income. Shoving the upsetting thoughts aside, Elyssa decided not to think further about it. The dreaded encounter
would come soon enough.
Crossing the room to retrieve a dainty hat to match her ice blue gown, a movement below caught Elyssa's eye. Her attention was drawn to a waiting carriage, presumably her own. That assumption was short-lived, however, when Elyssa saw Daniel leaving the mansion. She unwittingly held her breath as she stared at the handsome visage he presented. Daniel was apparently leaving for the business he'd spoken of.
In London.
Her own destination.
Elyssa's heart raced at the forbidden thoughts that fleetingly passed through her mind. She was certain they would be at none of the same engagements though, so there was no reason to worry they might run into each other. Elyssa meant only to have a nice, quiet visit with her parents and siblings. And those plans did not include attending any soirees with acquaintances of her husband.
She continued watching as Daniel got into the carriage, his long legs disappearing just before the door shut. The thought that this might truly be the last time she ever saw him again left Elyssa feeling an unwelcome heaviness in her heart. And that she was experiencing such traitorous emotions caused her no small amount of guilt. In truth, she should be overjoyed to see the last of the one rogue in the world that had threatened to make Elyssa break her wedding vows.
Her eyes closed at the stark remembrance of Daniel's lips escaped her lips and h smile touching hers, her fingers coming up to her mouth. She released a shuddering breath at the forbidden memory just as her bedroom door was flung open. How like Percy to burst into her room without so much as a polite knock, Elyssa mused inwardly, all thoughts of Daniel vanishing instantly.
"Are your bags all packed?" Percy asked, a little too cheerful to Elyssa's liking.
"I suppose," she replied, "but is it really necessary to force me to leave?"
"I strongly suggest it," Percy bit out. Elyssa knew it would be fruitless to argue the point any further. Percy advised that he would send a carriage to her parents' residence one week later for her return back home.