Archer, Jane (10 page)

"I do believe it's time for dinner," Caroline said, stopping Sully from answering. "Please follow me into the dining room."

The dining room was lovely in the soft candlelight, masking the encroaching decay of the house. There was a beautiful floral arrangement in the center of the table composed of gorgeous tropical flowers that Alexandra had never seen before. It could have been a perfect evening if she had not felt that she was losing control of her life. Hayward was like a fawning puppy dog; Sully was a vile man who would go to any length to hurt her, she felt sure; Caroline was playing a malicious game of cat-and-mouse for a reason Alexandra could not fathom; and Jake—Jake was awakening in her emotions she did recognize, and could not deal with.

Hayward sat at one end of the long table, while Caroline held court at the other. She had placed Jake at her right and Captain Sully at her left, while Hayward had seated Alexandra at his right and Doctor Elder had sat down at his left. The space that separated the two groups at the same table seemed to be more than just a matter of feet for Caroline was determined to ignore everyone except the two men beside her.

As the dinner progressed, Hayward, Doctor Elder and Alexandra could hardly pretend not to notice the separate party at the other end of their table. For as the wine flowed freely, Caroline had imbibed more and more until now she was in her own curious state of euphoria. She leaned toward each man in turn, displaying her charms until her heavy breasts were almost falling out of her gown. It was as if she wanted to play one man against the other until they erupted in violence with passion for her and jealousy of each other. But this night, her ploy did not seem to be working and it was making her progressively more blatant about her desires. Alexandra had decided that at any moment she might get up, strip, and dance on the table. Caroline would surely gain their full attention that way.

"Caroline," Hayward said finally, "is a woman who needs constant reassurance of her desirability. During the war, she had no end of admirers, but since then—"

"I—" Alexandra began, trying to cover his embarrassment.

"No, I understand her. She needs a husband, a strong man—like Jake. She plans to marry him, but—"

"Of course, she'll marry him, Hayward," Alexandra said quickly.
"You
can see how fascinated he is with her."

Both Hayward and Doctor Elder looked at her questioningly. Fascinated perhaps, they thought, but marriage? They knew the blockade runner better than she did, and they knew he had never yet been faithful to one woman. He would never marry Caroline no matter how much she wanted it.

Hayward, Doctor Elder and Alexandra struggled through the long meal uncomfortably. The food was delicious, but Alexandra could not eat. She felt a deep depression take hold of her as she tried to keep her eyes on her plate, and yet at the same time she felt a rising excitement within. She was beginning to acknowledge the fierce drive of desire as her eyes kept slipping to the others. She felt something responding in herself, something awakening that she had not known existed. And she wished she had not been so well brought up, or that she had so much icy control at all times, or that she had been raped. What would it be like to enjoy feeling a man's hard naked body against your own? What would it be like to forget all else except the moment, the man—Jake.

Alexandra suddenly found her eyes locked with Jake's, and there was an answering fire in his eyes, a yearning for her. She blushed furiously, tearing her gaze from him.

When Alexandra thought she could endure the spectacle at the table no longer, the meal finally ended. She had drunk more of her wine than she had intended and she felt slightly lightheaded when Hayward helped her out of her chair. She found herself leaning heavily against him before she quite knew what was happening, and looked up to see Jake staring at her with barely concealed anger in his face. He grabbed Caroline and pulled her out through the front door. Alexandra could hear her sultry laughter as she let Jake lead her down the verandah steps. Captain Sully raced after them.

"Hey, Jake. Let's share the bounty," he called out.

Hayward led Alexandra down the hall to the parlor, and the doctor joined them.

"I fear the others may not be joining us," Alexandra said, smiling.

"One never really expects Caroline to join the party after dinner," Doctor Elder said. "She usually makes her own. This is not unusual for us, but I do hope it doesn't alter your opinion of Caroline. She is really a lovely girl, but she simply has this need for reassurance."

Hayward nodded agreement.

Alexandra could only wonder if they really believed what they said. She was the closest thing to a whore that Alexandra had ever seen for she sold herself to any man for compliments and reassurance. But, remembering her companions, Alexandra would not let these two men see her true opinion of Caroline.

After several weak attempts at conversation, the doctor excused himself. When he had gone, Hayward got up and came to sit close to Alexandra. With her new heightened sense of femininity and her slightly dizzy feeling from too much wine, she was very much aware of his presence as a man, a handsome young man who desired her. She knew she should move, or make him go away, but a kind of lethargy seemed to steal over her and she remained immobile, awaiting his next move.

"Alexandra," Hayward said passionately, "I, I want you to marry me. I love you. Could, could you ever, could I hope that you might some day marry me, love me, Alexandra?"

He held both her hands in his, leaning toward her, his breath warm against her face, his brown eyes puppy soft. She felt paralyzed, helpless, trapped. She couldn't marry this man. She felt nothing for him. Her senses, her emotions no longer seemed hers to control: they were to be caught up with another man.

"Tell me, Alexandra. I must know."

"It's too soon, Hayward. Please," she cried, pushing him away from her and jumping up.

He stayed where he was, looking completely dejected.

"It's not that I don't like you, Hayward," she said, trying desperately not to hurt him. "It, it's too soon. I hardly know you."

He watched her closely, a strange gleam beginning to glow in his eyes. "You know, my dear, I have Caroline's dislike of being rejected. Neither of us would care to be thrown over for someone else."

"There is no one else."

"But you have no memory, or do you? Is this all some kind of game to you? Do you play at collecting men's hearts? Do you, Alexandra?"

He had risen, and stood over her now. She could not fail to mistake the savage gleam of passion in his eyes, or the jealous leer on his handsome face.

"Am I so repugnant that you would not even give me a kiss this evening, after all I've done for you?" he asked, putting his hands on her shoulders and drawing her slowly to him as his eyes tried to mesmerize her to his will.

"I will not play the whore for my room and board," Alexandra said angrily, having done with being nice. "Let me go. I'm going to my room."

But his hands only gripped her harder, pulling her to him, his mouth groping for hers, finding it, closing on it in possession. She struggled against him, but he ignored her efforts as he forced her mouth open to receive his thrusting tongue. Savagely he kissed her, trying to force a response from Alexandra, as he loosened his grip so that his hands could play over her body, finding her soft, yielding curves. Cupping her breasts, barely covered with sheer silk, he could feel her hard nipples beckoning him. With one hand around her waist to support her, he boldly thrust the other inside her gown, finding her warm, quivering flesh and her hard, ripe nipples. Groaning, his wet lips left her mouth to travel down her neck to the deep valley between her breasts where he paused, his lips burning, his need real and potent.

At last Alexandra saw her chance to escape, and jerked back, surprising Hayward, then slapped him hard across the face. "You insult me, sir, and you are obviously no gentleman," Alexandra said hotly before turning and stalking from the room. As she hurriedly walked away, willing herself not to run, she condemned all men for their brutality.

Hayward put his hand to his cheek, silently cursing his stupidity for rushing Alexandra, but at the same time the throbbing in his groin demanded release. He watched her body move gracefully, seductively from the room. He had to control himself not to rush after her, pull her into his arms and carry her to his room where he could lose himself deep within her. But he wanted her more than once, he wanted her permanently. He had never wanted any woman as much as he wanted this fiery eyed vixen. He had to have her.

Alexandra rushed up the stairs, determined to make the security of her room before he could follow her. Was everyone in this house mad with lust? She slammed the door to her room, then locked it. There would not be any intruders into her room this night, she decided. She had to get off this island, away from these men.

Chapter 8

As Caroline slowly undressed before him, Jake tried to keep his mind from wandering to Alexandra. What was the matter with him? Caroline was one of the best women he had ever had, and here she was, eager for him. Forget the Yankee bitch, or think of her as Caroline. One woman was the same as another, once in bed, he told himself sternly, trying to enjoy Caroline's sensual beauty. Anyway, if Alex was going to play with that poor excuse of a man, Hayward, he was going to push her from his mind with Caroline.

Caroline, now naked, walked slowly, tantaliz-ingly toward Jake who sat on her bed, fully clothed. He looked at her closely. Her long, black hair hung down around her shoulders, making a frame for her smooth olive skin. Her breasts were large, rounded, the nipples dark against her pale skin. Her wide rounded hips demanded attention, promising hidden delights to any man. Jake felt his blood stirring as she came to him. He pushed her back onto the bed, burying his face in her voluptuous breasts as he brought his knee up between her thighs. She groaned at his touch, pulling him closer.

"Oh, I've missed you, Jake. I've needed you. Don't ever leave me again," she murmured in his hair.

"From the way you played with Sully, I'd not have known it," he said dryly as he sought her pink nipples with his experienced tongue.

"It was only to make you jealous. I got rid of him when it was time, didn't I?"

"Did I need to become jealous to want you?"

"I should hope not, my love."

"And how do I know that he won't come to you later?"

"Because you'll be here with me all night," she said. Pulling at his jacket, she whispered, "Take these off, Jake. I want to feel you against me."

He quickly got undressed and turned back to her. The pale light fell on her soft, feminine body and his manhood stirred, but it was not Caroline he thought of as he covered her with his body for he saw golden-red hair and fiery green eyes. He covered her mouth with his hungrily, trying to quench the fire that burned in him, branding his need for Alexandra. Caroline returned his kiss with a passion that equaled his own, until suddenly he stopped, his body completely still.

She groaned, trying to pull him to her. "What is it?"

"Shhhh. I heard something. There—be quiet."

"So—I thought you'd come to me, my lovely lady," Captain Sully said lazily, his voice coming from the garden.

"Of course, even though you were brazen in calling up to my bedroom window. I must have my trunks back. I need them," Alexandra said sharply.

"I know you need them and I know why you need them," he said, as if he knew all about Alexandra.

"What do you mean you know why?" Alexandra asked, fear in her voice.

"You had to get out of New York City fast, without anyone knowing, but yet you insisted on bringing all those trunks full of clothing. Now, the answer is obvious."

"Is it?" Alexandra didn't see how that could have led him to the truth of her identity.

"Don't try to play the innocent with me. I doubt if you've been innocent for a long time."

"I really don't know what you're talking about," Alexandra said, trying to sound calm.

"Now look, all I ever wanted was a little of what you've been spreading around, but you've played so hard to get—"

"What!"

"Lord, you're a cool one. I know they ran you out of New York for being a high class whore, but whore you are in my books no matter what kind you are."

"A whore!" Alexandra said, laughing harshly. "You fool! I want my trunks. That's all I want from you, and I've already paid you well. I—"

But she never finished, for his heavy hand came crashing down across her face, knocking her to the soft, damp ground.

"You dare call me a fool, you little slut. I'll just show you what kind of man I am," Sully growled as he began to unbuckle his pants.

"Leave me be," Alexandra moaned, unable to move.

Cursing, Jake leapt from Caroline's bed. He quickly donned his pants, and as he rushed from the room, Caroline called after him, "You heard. She's a whore. There's no need to protect her. It's what she wants."

But Jake was already halfway down the stairs when she finished her words. Caroline began hurriedly dressing. Jake was hers and she intended to fight for him.

Jake took the stairs two at a time, fury driving him in coldblooded determination. Sully was just pulling Alexandra's gown up, exposing her long lovely legs, while she whimpered, hitting out at him helplessly, as Jake rushed up to them.

"What the hell are you doing, Sully," he demanded, his voice deadly as it broke the still, island night.

Sully jerked around and was on his feet in an instant, ready for Jake. He knew this was an opponent to reckon with for he had seen him fight during the war. But Sully wanted the girl and he intended to have her.

"I'm taking what's mine, Jake. It's none of your affair. Go back to Caroline. You're the one she wants tonight. I've got a right to take my pleasure where I can."

"You've got no rights where Alex is concerned, Sully."

"Listen, big man, you don't carry no weight around here. This girl's mine. She's a whore. You don't want her."