‘That’s some rock you’re wearing. You must have done something really spectacular to earn it!’
Reba caught her breath at the insult. ‘I could kill you for that, Hunter! You know damn well it’s my engagement-ring!’ she said shortly, and this time managed to pull herself free, mainly because he didn’t try to stop her.
Hunter grinned, but he looked more like a wolf baring its fangs. ‘Don’t put yourself down, tiger-eyes, I know just how…spectacular you can be,’ he rejoined mockingly.
The studied cruelty very nearly shattered her beyond all hope of recovery. It was the knowledge that he wanted to see her fall apart which gave her the necessary grit to stand and fight. It wasn’t easy, but it was absolutely essential.
‘Mmm, I never thought of it quite like that, but you know, you’re right. It’s a beautiful ring,’ she agreed, holding it up to let the facets flash blindingly as she blinked back tears.
Hunter’s eyes narrowed as the grin disappeared, and she had the doubtful satisfaction of knowing she had scored a hit. ‘Big isn’t beautiful; it’s just flashy.’
Not for the world would she tell him she agreed! She clicked her tongue. ‘You’re only saying that because it’s Eliot’s ring and not yours,’ she sniped scornfully.
Crossing his arms, and thereby drawing attention to the magnificent planes of his chest, Hunter shook his head. ‘I’d never give my woman a ring like that. She wouldn’t need it to know she belonged to me.’
‘No, you’d just put a ring through her nose!’ she sneered.
Hunter shook his head again. ‘I’d give her love. That’s more important than a piece of jewellery. All that ring says is, Look how much money I’ve got!’
Reba’s eyes became feline slits as she set down her half-empty cup on the rail beside him. Her anger was pure fabrication. ‘From your point of view, maybe. From mine it tells me Eliot loves me!’
Hunter stood abruptly as rage suddenly glittered from his eyes. ‘Do you measure his love by the gifts he gives you? Just how would you rate these ear-rings?’ he asked, taking her lobe between his fingers to remind her of the diamond studs she wore.
His touch stung, like his scorn, and instinctively she pulled away. ‘Don’t touch me!’
The contempt in his smile hurt her. ‘Hands off unless I pay for it, tiger-eyes? Eliot doesn’t know what a prize he’s getting. Oh, you’ll be a loyal little wife, so long as the gifts keep coming, won’t you?’ Swift as a jungle cat, Hunter pounced, catching her by the shoulders, fingers digging into her skin until she winced. ‘You don’t know what love is. All you know is this…’
Reba tried to fight him, bracing her hands against his chest in a desperate attempt to keep him at bay, but he was far too strong for her. With shaming ease he closed the gap and she just had time to witness the glitter in his eyes before his head swooped, cutting off light and escape. His mouth came down hard on hers, taking possession of her lips with a mastery she had never forgotten. But where there had once been tenderness, now there was only steely purpose. Knowing her pleasure-points, he used her weakness against her, teeth nipping and tongue stroking at the sensitive skin, making her shiver at the exquisite sensation.
Curling her hands into fists at his shoulders, she willed herself not to respond, to resist his attempt to part her lips, because she knew she would surely be lost if he did. But she wasn’t proof against the feel of his hard male body pressed so tightly against her own softness. It started up an ache in the pit of her stomach. An anguished sob caught in her throat. She knew him so well. The feel and taste of him were like a part of her, and she longed to give in to that insistent throbbing.
As if he guessed it, Hunter’s hands left her shoulders, tracing a pathway of heat down the silken skin of her back. Shivering, she barely felt him tug the halter-top free of her shorts until his hand found and claimed her breast. She gasped in delight, and with a growl of triumph he let his tongue find the goal it sought, thrusting into her mouth, beginning a caress so erotic that she was lost. Her tongue flickered to join his, engaging in a duel of mounting passion as she began to move her body against his in a message as old as time.
When he released her mouth, her head fell back helplessly, allowing him to plunder the silken arch of her throat, while his fingers pushed aside the cotton of her top to seek the swell of her breast and tease her nipple into an aching point. Instinctively she arched into that touch, and her fists relaxed, fingers delighting to the feel of his skin, clinging on as his head descended to take the place of his hands.
The touch of his mouth on her breast made her cry out, a strangled sound which turned to a whimper of pleasure as the rough stroke of his tongue sent a shaft of sensation through her. Shuddering in his arms, she was his to command, so it was all the more shocking to find herself suddenly thrust away. She was left to stand swaying before him, lips bruised from the touch of his, eyes dazed from the emotions which had assailed her.
His breathing scarcely altered, Hunter raked her up and down with his eyes. ‘Whatever you’re getting from my cousin, it doesn’t come close to satisfying that sexy body of yours.’
Shamed colour stormed into her cheeks as she realised how comprehensive his victory had been. ‘Damn you!’ she muttered thickly, pulling the cloth over her breast with fingers that trembled. When she looked up again, her eyes were defiant. ‘You’re wrong. I get all the passion I need from Eliot!’
‘You’re lying, tiger-eyes. You’re forgetting I saw the hunger in you last night. You’re going to find money is a poor substitute for passion, Reba.’
Her heart kicked in her chest as she remembered that Hunter didn’t know she still loved him. And although it hurt her to know that he could see her love as mere lust, it was her salvation. He could think what he liked, so long as he never guessed the truth. For, if he did know, he would have the ultimate weapon.
‘Perhaps, but I’m going to marry him all the same.’
Hunter pushed himself upright and took the one step which brought him before her. ‘If you imagine for one moment that I’m really going to let you marry my cousin, you’re mistaken,’ he pointed out coldly, and at last the gloves came off.
The declaration took the air from her lungs. ‘What do you mean?’
His smile had all the charm of a hungry tiger. ‘What do you think I mean? Whatever our personal feelings, Eliot is my cousin. He’s family. If you think I’ll calmly sit back and watch you destroy him, you don’t know me very well.’
She was beginning to think he was right. He had the means to ruin all her plans, and she didn’t know how to fight him. She swallowed hard. ‘What are you going to do?’
‘Exactly what you think I’m going to do,’ he gibed.
If it were just for herself, she wouldn’t even be bothering, but her mother was involved, and she had to try everything. ‘Isn’t there…? Isn’t there some way we can reach an agreement?’ she asked huskily, licking painfully dry lips.
Disdain etched itself on to his handsome face. ‘Bribery, Reba? Are you offering me sexual favours for my silence? You really must be desperate!’
Reba had never felt so humiliated, and if she weren’t as desperate as he joked, she wouldn’t have put herself in such a hopeless position. ‘Damn you, Hunter!’ she cried in a tight voice, and pushed past him to the steps. As she reached the bottom, his voice halted her for a second. She looked up to find him leaning against the post, watching her through narrowed eyes.
‘Did I tell you what a pleasure it was to see you again, tiger-eyes?’
She wanted to scream. To kick and scratch and bite. ‘No, and I don’t believe you!’
A small smile curved his lips and he leant forward over the bar. ‘You never used to have such a temper, Reba. Could it be frustration?’
She wouldn’t dignify that with an answer. With a smothered cry she turned and fled, tearing up the track as if the devil were after her. Hunter watched her go, a grim smile playing about the corners of his mouth. Then he looked down a
t the object he held in his hand—a tiny diamond stud ear-ring. Tossing and catching it, he whistled a silent tune and wandered back into the house.
CHAPTER SIX
REBA was out of breath and distinctly dishevelled by the time she reached the house, and, with the memory of her encounter with Hunter still ringing in her head, wanted only to escape to her room where she could nurse her wounds. But, like the best-laid plans, hers were dashed when she heard her name being called just as she crossed the hall. Dearly though she would have loved to ignore the summons, she reluctantly altered direction and entered the lounge.
Four heads turned towards her, and each face registered a different reaction to her appearance. Eliot looked shocked, Eleanor startled, and Mrs Thorson merely raised an eyebrow, while the fourth member of the party seemed actually concerned.
‘Good lord, Reba, whatever have you been doing? You look a mess!’ Eliot declared in horror at the sight of her.
Her flight, and there could be no other word for it, had not been without mishap. She had even fallen once. A glance downwards showed that there was still dust on her clothes and, she suspected, on her face too. She certainly didn’t look as if she had been having an idle stroll about the island, but before she could form any sort of explanation, she was forestalled.
‘Oh, don’t be so ridiculous, Eliot!’ the newcomer reproved him in a voice at once soft and steely. ‘It’s obvious she’s had a fall. Did you hurt yourself?’
Reba studied the beautiful young woman, who had to be the expected guest. She hadn’t known what to expect, but one thing was certain: the concern was absolutely genuine. So, whatever the problem between this woman and Eliot, it wasn’t caused by herself. Relieved, she pulled a wry face, patting at her shorts and releasing a tiny cloud of dust. ‘Not really. I went for a walk, and I’m afraid I did trip over, but the only thing I hurt was my pride,’ she explained, inviting the young woman to laugh with her, which she did with a light, tinkling sound.
‘Oh, pride! I’ve had my share of bumps too. It’s funny the way some people react to them, isn’t it, Eliot?’ she challenged him with a slyly mocking glance.
Over by the window, Eliot stiffened. ‘Meaning what, precisely?’ he demanded, his neck going pink, much to Reba’s surprise.
His tormentor shrugged. ‘Nothing, unless you can think of something.’
Seeing battle-lines about to be drawn up, Eleanor interposed herself hastily. ‘You’ve been gone hours, Reba. We expected you back at lunchtime,’ she remarked over-brightly.
Reba frowned, her own worries temporarily forgotten. Clearly something had happened in the past, and this was not the first exchange today. Considering that Eleanor, knowing that, had been the one to invite this other woman, it was strange that she should now be trying to defuse the situation.
‘I’m sorry. I was under the impression that Eliot would be gone most of the day,’ she apologised at once, wondering if she had misunderstood, and not liking to think the deception had been intentional. From Mrs Thorson she received an apologetic smile which she would have sworn was sincere.
‘They returned much sooner than I expected, my dear. Usually Eliot would have remained for lunch before returning.’
‘He was in a hurry to return to your side. Isn’t that so, Eliot?’ the newcomer added sweetly.
Eliot’s jaw worked furiously. ‘I’m warning you, Sib, shut up!’
The recipient of his threat merely laughed, although Reba noted there was something at the back of her eyes which she couldn’t quite interpret. However, she said nothing more, and Reba was left wondering yet again what it was that this woman had done to antagonise the usually easygoing Eliot.
Mrs Thorson looked relieved. ‘Do come and meet Sibyl, now that you’re here.’
Sibyl Haggerty rose to greet Reba with a friendly smile. She was young, barely into her twenties, but she had that kind of loveliness which would blossom into real beauty as she matured. There was no mistaking the gentle kindness in her eyes, but she was no push-over, as her taunting of Eliot had shown. Reba was left with the distinct impression that there was more to the young woman than met the eye.
‘Eliot was right, you are beautiful,’ Sibyl declared with a friendly smile. At the same time she cast a sideways glance at him. ‘I’m glad you held out for marriage.’
It was instinctive to look for Eliot’s reaction, and Reba found she wasn’t surprised to see that tide of red creeping further up his neck. What was going on?
‘You’ve grown into a very lovely young woman, too, Sibyl,’ Mrs Thorson declared fondly. ‘Don’t you think so, Eliot?’
‘I didn’t know she had it in her,’ he responded crushingly, and Reba saw Sibyl’s teeth snap together before she managed to laugh.
‘The trouble with Eliot is that he will always see me as the silly schoolgirl who had a terrific crush on him!’ Sibyl teased, glancing back at Reba. ‘He didn’t like it when I grew up and stopped hero-worshipping him.’
So that was it? thought Reba. Sibyl had grown up and discovered other men, and Eliot had been piqued? It was a little childish, but many men hated to be reminded of their age. She hadn’t expected that of Eliot, but then she really didn’t know him all that well yet. However, she usually trusted her first instincts, and returned the young woman’s smile, knowing it was impossible not to like her. ‘I hear you’ve been in Europe,’ she said politely.
Sibyl grinned. ‘My mother thought it would be good for me, because the French have such style.’
‘They’re supposed to be perfect lovers, too, or aren’t you going to kiss and tell, Sib?’ Eliot exclaimed rather nastily, and all four women stared at him.
It was Sibyl who found her tongue first. ‘I never kiss and tell, Eliot. If I started, I might not stop,’ she said very softly, and Eliot took a swift breath.
‘Reba, my dear, shall I order you a light lunch? You must be quite famished,’ Mrs Thorson intervened hurriedly.
Reba shook her head, as much in confusion as negation. She really didn’t understand what had brought on that unpleasant scene, and she hadn’t expected Eliot to be so unchivalrous. ‘Please don’t bother. I’d rather just go and clean myself up. Eliot was right—I am a sight.’
‘As you wish, dear, but I’ll have coffee and sandwiches sent up all the same,’ Mrs Thorson decided, and Reba didn’t gainsay her, although her appetite had vanished a long time ago.
‘I’ll keep you company, Reba,’ Sibyl proposed instantly. ‘I have to collect something from my room.’
Although she recognised an excuse when she heard one, Reba didn’t put her off. It might prove interesting to hear what she had to say. They crossed the hall in companionable silence, and it was only as they began mounting the stairs that Sibyl finally cleared her throat.
‘I like your name. It’s rather exotic, like you,’ she declared a little nervously, as if that wasn’t what she had intended to say at all, and Reba laughed, wondering where this was heading.
‘Well, maybe I’m not as exotic as I seem. I can’t help the way I look, you know. It’s just genes.’
Now Sibyl placed a hand on her arm and brought them both to a halt. Her pretty face was serious. ‘Have you known Eliot long?’
Reba frowned slightly. ‘Several months. Why?’
The other woman seemed to be debating with herself what to say, then pressed on. ‘This is more difficult than I thought. Oh, hell…I wanted to know if you love Eliot.’
Reba knew she could never have anticipated this, and hesitated a moment before she answered. ‘I must do, if I’m going to marry him,’ she proffered uneasily.
Sibyl uttered a faint, diffident laugh. ‘I know, you think I’m either crazy or jealous, but…I like you, Reba. I just wanted to say, don’t let Eliot’s charm fool you. If you’re sure you want to marry him, don’t wear blinkers. I hope you’ll be happy, I really do.’ With that she turned and ran up the last remaining steps and disappeared down a corridor.
Reba frowned after her. This was
all she needed! First Hunter had told her she would never marry Eliot, and now here was this young woman issuing a warning so veiled that she didn’t know what it was. She carried on up to her room slowly. With her bedroom door safely shut behind her, Reba leant back against it and closed her eyes wearily. Everything was going wrong, just when it should have been going right. How foolish she had been to think Hunter would accept her presence even though he hated her. It hadn’t occurred to her that he would try to stop the marriage. She didn’t know exactly what he would do, but she couldn’t allow it to happen. Her mother’s operation had been given the go-ahead. It would only be a matter of weeks now. What on earth would she do if…?
Her eyes came open and she straightened abruptly. She didn’t want to think about that now. Walking across to the dressing-table, she removed her ring and reached up for her ear-rings. She would shower and change, and
when——Her thoughts stopped there as she discovered the missing diamond stud.
She plopped down on the stool, her mind shooting back to that moment on the veranda when Hunter had clasped her ear-lobe. The stud must have come loose then, only she hadn’t noticed it. She laughed, a raw sound. Was it any wonder, with everything else that was going on? Her neck ached as she rolled it to ease the tension.
Damn him for looking so good. Her physical attraction to him had been as instant and strong as on their first meeting. Everything within her responded to him—he was her mate. The other half of her which made her whole. No other man could do to her what he did. No other man had the power to turn her world upside-down.
Then she laughed again, with even less humour. Hunter might have a body which turned her mouth dry at the thought of touching it, but he despised her. Thank God he didn’t believe she still loved him. At least one of the gods must have been on her side, because heaven knew, in those first moments she had done nothing to protect herself. It wasn’t pleasant to know he thought of her as merely lusting after him, but after acting so foolishly she had to be grateful for small mercies.
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