A Secret in Her Kiss

by Anna Randol

  She would have to face Bennett eventually. She walked through the gate to where her coach waited.

  Selim sat stiffly on the box. “You have an angry suitor inside. Should I throw him out?”

  As if Selim could make Bennett move if he did not wish it. “No, he’s no doubt annoyed that I ran out on him. I’ll talk to him.”

  She ducked her head and scrubbed at the tears that insisted on lingering in her eyes. Then she opened the door.

  “Annoyed? That’s a mild word for what I feel.”

  Mari climbed in and shut the door behind her. Bennett loomed in the interior. She perched in the opposite corner of the coach.

  “What the devil were you thinking!” Bennett’s voice cracked like a slave driver’s whip. The soft humor from earlier was gone. Her eyes grew accustomed to the dark, and the angry lines of his face coalesced in the darkness.

  He loathed her.

  Any hope that she’d be able to convince him to understand withered. The tears behind her eyes burned hotter. “The information that your cousin gave the bey was designed to humiliate Esad. I couldn’t let them hurt him.”

  Bennett’s tone and expression did not soften. “I don’t care if it was a plan to overthrow the sultan himself. That information was classified and you knew it. You betrayed England.”

  Her remorse burned into anger. “My loyalty has never been to England. I give my loyalty to people who have earned it. Esad has done so many times over. Unlike some, I value my friends more than empty ideals.”

  Bennett’s lips tightened. “The information was classified.”

  “You say that like it is sacred. Maybe it is to you, but not to me. I took no vow to England. You simply assumed that I shared your priorities.”

  “I assumed you had honor.”

  Her heart contracted at his cold statement. “You assumed many things apparently. Perhaps next time you should find out the truth before making assumptions.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “You would have told me?”

  “Yes.” While there were things about herself she might like to hide away, she would have had no qualms telling him her loyalties.

  “Like you told me you were going to Esad’s?”

  “It isn’t the same.”

  His face disappeared in the shadows. “Why do you help the British then?”

  “I draw to help the Greeks. England can rot for all I care.”

  “Then why did you agree to keep drawing after Chorlu? Did they offer you that much money?”

  Shock momentarily stilled her. She stared at him. “You mean you don’t know?”

  Bennett appeared unconcerned. “Know what?”

  “They forced me to keep drawing.”

  “Was the amount of money they offered you that high?”

  “You think I would risk my life over money?” She shook her head in disbelief. “Yes, that’s exactly what you think, apparently. Contrary to your continued belief, I’m not a fool. You cousin threatened me.”

  Bennett leaned back and crossed his arms. “How did he threaten you?”

  “Your cousin came to me after I told him I was finished. He said that interest in the Greek movement was waning, they were going to remove Nathan.”

  “He’s that important to you?”

  The disinterest in his voice flayed her. “Not to me, to the Greeks. He’s been the one training them. Your cousin said if I drew the last two forts, Nathan would be allowed to stay and finish his mission, and if not, he would be assigned elsewhere.”

  “So noble of you. Why do you want to help the Greeks?”

  She quieted. “Do you know while other girls played with dolls, my mother and I would play rebel and soldier? When I went over to play with another girl, I had to be able to draw a sketch of the room we’d been in, accurate to the inch, when I returned.”

  If anything, Bennett’s face became harder. What was she doing? She didn’t want his sympathy.

  She glared at him instead. “My mother spent every moment in England arranging for the freedom of her people. She was returning from an attempt to raise funds for the rebels when your blasted country killed her.”

  “Your mother died of lung inflammation.”

  Mari didn’t try to explain her anger to him. She couldn’t explain it to herself. She just knew that everything English had failed her. Her father’s English sister who had taken her away. The English doctors who’d failed to save her mother. The damned English soil that covered her casket.

  “So why act now? You’ve been back in this country for ten years.”

  She swallowed. She refused to tell him about the other rebels and how closely she was tied to them. “They executed a Greek rebel four months ago. It was a woman. They left her body there at the city gate for a month as a warning.” Mari rubbed her arms despite the warmth of the coach. “It could have been my mother.” Mari had gone at night to cut down the body. That was when she’d met Nathan. The woman had been his lover and associate.

  The infernal tears returned to her eyes. She exhaled slowly to contain them.

  “So the British are a pawn in your little rebellion? A tool to help weaken the Ottomans?”

  “As I am to the British!”

  She’d known he would offer no sympathy, so why did it feel like he’d spit in her face? She lifted her chin. “Do my intentions matter? The British want the information as much as I do. Twice you have forced me to continue when I would have ceased.”

  The coach halted, then creaked as Selim climbed down from the box outside.

  “I will tell Selim to return you to the soiree.”

  Bennett grabbed the door handle before she could reach it. “I’m not leaving.” He opened the door and offered her a hand. “Let me escort you inside.”

  Mari refused his hand and jumped down. “That is really not necessary.”

  Bennett grabbed her arm with a gentle yet steely grip. “I insist.”

  Selim stood a few feet away, his eyes straight forward, but he could hear every word. She couldn’t deny Bennett again without raising suspicion. “Fine.”

  Bennett led her straight to the women’s quarters. Achilla gasped at their entrance.

  Mari smiled at her through stiff lips. “That will be all, Achilla.”

  “But I prepared the bath and your dress—”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Mari said.

  Achilla cast a worried glance between them. “I won’t be far away if you need anything.”

  Mari forced her smile to remain on her lips. “I will be quite all right.”

  Achilla sketched a brief curtsy and left.

  Bennett released her arm. “Does that door lock?”

  “Why?”

  “We need to finish our discussion and I want no interruptions from your servants.”

  “Then you shouldn’t have given them cause to fear for my safety.”

  He straightened at her words but held out his hand. “The key.”

  “Here.” As angry as he still was, she didn’t fear for her well-being, at least not her physical well-being. Her emotions she could not guarantee. It would be better to end this now than draw it out. She retrieved the key from its place in the clay jar by the door and locked it. “There. Say what you need to say, then leave.”

  “I’m not leaving.”

  She glared. “Of course you are. You can’t stay here.”

  “I can. By walking out of the soiree this evening, you proved you aren’t capable of keeping yourself out of harm’s way. Despite your treason, you’re too valuable an asset to risk.”

  Astonishment edged out her hurt. “You cannot be serious.”

  He folded his arms, doing a fairly accurate representation of a wall. “I cannot risk a repeat of tonight’s actions. Not only did you leave the ball without informing me, you walked—walked—to your home. In the dark. Knowing that your life is in danger. ”

  “I could hardly have told you. You would never have let me go.”

  He didn’t reply.
r />   “I did what I had to do. You have to understand that even if you don’t agree with me.”

  His level gaze cut through her. “Unlike you, I am bound by my duty and obligation.”

  Enough. She was through trying to justify herself to someone who didn’t care. She picked up a pillow from a couch near her and heaved it at him. “Sleep outside the door. I hope you enjoy yourself.”

  “I don’t sleep until you do.”

  “Look around. There is no way out of here except for the door you had me lock.” In order to protect the safety of the women, there was only one way in or out. The window openings were covered by a latticework of stone that allowed in air, but provided no possibility for escape. She was his prisoner, whether he guarded her from inside the room or not. “I plan to prepare for bed now. It isn’t something that involves you.”

  “I will not leave your side.”

  If he had said those words a few hours earlier, they would have thrilled her. Now they increased her desperation.

  He’d been right in his warning earlier. Memories of what they’d shared in the study burned in her mind despite his obvious disdain. She’d traced each line of the face that now sneered at her in contempt. Those arms that now locked across his chest had enfolded and caressed her.

  Heavens, what if things had progressed further?

  Her chest ached when she inhaled. She wanted nothing more than to curl up and cry. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She inhaled three more times, latching on to the small spark of indignation that flickered at his callous behavior. Simply because her priorities were different from his, that did not make his right and hers wrong. It wasn’t her fault he’d made false assumptions. If she had to decide whether to help Esad again, she’d make the same decision. She drew her shoulders back.

  If Bennett expected her to be a docile, penitent prisoner, then he was a fool.

  The duty of every prisoner was to try to be free, was it not?

  “I am going take a bath,” Mari said.

  “You won’t be rid of me that easy.”

  His words sounded remarkably like a dare. His disbelief fueled her recklessness.

  She spun and walked toward the bath. His footsteps rang out behind her.

  Mari could have grinned as she entered the bathing room. Achilla had prepared the chamber as she promised. Candlelight flickered off the creamy marble pillars and arches. A cool breeze filtered in through the ornamental openings in the ceiling, causing shadows to skip over the walls and the steam above the sunken pool to swirl in a kaleidoscope of patterns.

  Towels had been balanced in a neat stack and her red velvet banyan hung over the bench. The smell of the orange oil Achilla used to scent the water drifted wantonly on the air.

  Mari slipped off her shoes. The marble tile was cool under her toes. She couldn’t have asked for a more decadent and scandalous setting.

  She ducked her head to hide the satisfied smile on her face. Not the prim hip bath you expected, Bennett?

  She reached under her dress, untied her garters, and smoothed her stockings down her legs. She carefully exposed a brief flash of ankle.

  But the cad appeared more interested in the room than her performance. She turned her back to him and caught up her hair with one hand. “Would you mind getting my buttons, seeing as how you banished my maid?”

  His hands undid the fastenings without faltering or lingering.

  Curse him.

  Her hands, on the contrary, shook like leaves as she lifted them to remove the dress.

  But then she glanced back and spied the smug tilt to his lips. He thought he’d called her bluff, did he?

  With one solid tug, the gown pooled at her feet.

  She reached behind her for the ties holding her stays. The knot in the string hung just out of reach. She flipped up her hair again and turned to Bennett. “If you please.”

  This time a second passed before his hands untied the string. Good. Perhaps he was beginning to rethink his arbitrary decision to invade her privacy.

  That thought gave her the courage to let her stays fall to the floor next to her dress.

  Only her shift separated her naked body from his view.

  Her indignation now felt like a weakening shell. She kept her back to Bennett. Surely, he’d retreat at any moment.

  The shift tickled her calves as she walked to the edge of the pool. She eased a foot onto the first step in the warm water. A sigh escaped. She hurried down the next step, then two more before she lost courage.

  Bennett remained silent. She couldn’t even hear him breathe.

  After a deep breath, Mari dove under the surface and glided the few strokes to the opposite wall of the pool. She emerged with a gasp and flung the wet curls plastering her face over her shoulder.

  She’d done it.

  Pride kept any shock at her scandalous behavior from encroaching on her satisfaction. She dared a look at her nemesis.

  Bennett’s hands were clasped in front of him and his gaze fixed on the opposite wall again. Tension stiffened his back.

  “The door is right behind you if I am making you uncomfortable.” She knew as the words left her mouth, they’d been the wrong thing to say. They sounded too much like a crow of victory. Or another dare.

  He rounded on her, eyes furious. “Not at all. I was lamenting your foolishness had deprived me of my evening bath as well.”

  Oh, he wouldn’t.

  But he reached up and unfastened the buttons on his jacket. His waistcoat followed it to the damp marble floor.

  She swallowed and pressed her back against the wall of the pool. “Erm . . .”

  “Pardon?” He unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it over his head. “Surely, you were going to invite me in next.”

  “Actually—”

  “Surely, this wasn’t another poorly thought-out plan designed to make me regret my decision.” His belt clattered to the floor and then his boots.

  Odious man. She glared at him. This was her ploy, not his. She wouldn’t let him turn the tables on her. She kept her gaze pinned on him. She’d drown herself before she let him see how his broad expanse of skin unnerved her.

  He kicked off his trousers and, clad only in his drawers, advanced down the pool steps toward her. “Because if you choose to make this into a battle, Mari, I will win.” He stopped a few inches from her, the water lapping above his waist.

  “You sound so sure.” She dove to the right and darted past him under the water. His hand locked around her ankle before she got clear.

  She came up sputtering.

  Bennett pulled her tightly against him. Her nose was inches from his chest. “There is nothing you can do that I won’t anticipate.”

  Oh, of all the overbearing, officious— Nothing would catch him by surprise?

  She wrapped her legs around his waist and laced her hands around his neck.

  Anticipate this.

  She planted her lips on his.

  “Damn you, Mari.” He muttered against her lips.

  “I thought you knew this was going to happen.” She shifted experimentally against the bulge pressing between her legs.

  He groaned. “You know full well I didn’t mean—”

  “No, you were being too pompous and condescending to consider your words.”

  His hands slid down her back and cupped her backside, anchoring her more fully against him.

  She shifted again. This time she bit back a moan of her own as the increased pressure sent sharp ribbons of pleasure deep within her.

  Bennett’s hands tangled in her hair and his mouth devoured hers. His tongue thrust into her mouth and explored mercilessly as if he wanted to punish her for her actions. Gone was the heady playfulness from earlier. She had tossed it away, given him no chance but to become the hardened soldier again. The stab of grief staggered her. But her body reacted as sharply to his frustrated assault as it did to his earlier gentleness. She pressed against him again, caught up in the dark, mysterious sensati
ons building in her body at the motion.

  Bennett grasped her around the waist but she refused to let him pull her away. “Damn it, Mari, what are you doing to me?”

  “I believe the Kama Sutra called it the twining creeper.”

  The water lapped around them as he pressed her against the smooth wall of the pool. “Don’t you ever stop to consider the danger in your actions?”

  She gasped as his hand slid between them, stroking the junction between her legs, circling and rubbing. “Most of the time. When I’m not being goaded into things by pompous, overbearing—”

  His fingers increased their tempo.

  “Bennett!”

  His lips were on her ear. “Why can’t I resist you?”

  Pressure throbbed between her legs, terrifying and thrilling her at the same moment. “What are you doing to me?”

  “What you wanted all along.” Ruthlessly, he continued to drive her to the edge of her sanity. “Or did you want me to stop?” His hand stilled.

  She pressed herself against him and raked her hands down the slick skin of his back, trying to keep the sensation from abating. “Don’t you dare!”

  He again began the delicious, torturous rhythm. “I said I wouldn’t leave you, remember?” His lips crushed on hers, but this time the anger had been replaced with desperation.

  Or maybe it was her desperation she felt. She no longer knew.

  She bucked against him, digging her nails into his back as ecstasy burst through her. Waves lapped around her as the undulating pleasure swept through her veins. She could no longer tell where her body ended and the water began. Her breath emerged in short gasps.

  If Bennett hadn’t still held her, she would’ve sunk into the pool and drowned. No wonder the Kama Sutra had been so difficult to obtain.

  Her head dropped onto his shoulder, and she closed her eyes, clinging to the brief moment of peace. She didn’t want to open her eyes. She wanted to stay here wrapped in his arms until her world righted itself. But she refused to tell him that. He would only treat her weakness with contempt now. She couldn’t give him that power over her. Trying to reclaim her strength, she spoke lightly. “If you were trying to convince me of the foolishness of acting impulsively, you’ve failed.” She unwrapped her legs from his waist, shuddering as residual waves of pleasure fluttered through her.