Tanya Anne Crosby (12 page)

C
hloe was quite pleased with the way her plan was proceeding.

Obviously she’d been right about Emily. The girl had quickly gotten word to Hawk. The very next day Chloe was to meet him in the grove where he’d robbed her carriage, but she was to come alone, no carriage, no driver.

She knew it wasn’t right to borrow things without asking, but she couldn’t very well tell Lady Fiona what she intended to do. Choosing a mild-mannered mare, one that was older, rarely ridden and wouldn’t likely be missed, she started out of the stables, but not before noting that Lord Lindale’s bay was missing from its stall. But that meant little for a man who was known to carouse the streets at night; he was rarely home at this hour.

Well, it was his life, she told herself. She wasn’t a part of it—nor would she ever be. He’d used her
for a purpose and then had cast her away when she was no longer useful.

He’d kissed her and then had thoroughly dismissed her.

It was a good thing she wasn’t some silly miss who aspired only to become someone’s wife. She was too strong to be ruled by a husband. Not that Lord Lindale had wanted anything more than a dalliance.

Nor did it matter.

She wasn’t in love with him.

In fact, she didn’t even like him…

Much.

The problem was—she frowned—she was no longer certain who he was or what he stood for. He’d managed to thoroughly confuse her.

The only person Chloe had ever truly been close to was her father and he was gone now. She’d loved her mother dearly, but her mother had died when she was only eleven. Chloe had no one left in her life, save acquaintances, and that was perfectly fine with her. If one never allowed oneself to get close to someone, one couldn’t be hurt when they were gone.

Chloe didn’t need anyone to make her happy. Her greatest joy in life was the good she could do for others. And to that end, there was no room in her life for a husband who would enslave her to his every wish. Her father had always allowed her
free reign, had treated her more as a friend than a daughter. He had joyfully shared his vast wealth of knowledge, completely disregarding her gender. He had acknowledged her mind and her abilities. For that, she was fortunate, indeed.

It was a good thing she never allowed her heart to falter.

The night was dark and once again bore a lowering fog, but Chloe was undaunted. She was determined to discover the truth about Hawk, once and for all.

Upon reaching the grove, she tethered the horse and chose a tree limb to hang the kerchief that held the ring. She wasn’t foolish enough to meet
Hawk
with the ring on her person, lest he decide to rob her again and keep the necklace and ring, as well, but she fully intended to return it if he produced the necklace. To that end, she’d come early to prepare. After having secured the ring in a place where it wasn’t visible, she hurried toward the road to wait, carrying a decoy kerchief in her hand.

It wasn’t until she reached the road that Chloe began to feel a sense of unease. The night seemed to grow darker by the instant.

And then he appeared as Emily had said he would, like the wind at her back. Though she hadn’t heard him approach, he tapped her upon the shoulder.

Startled, Chloe spun to face him, her heart leaping into her throat.

He’d come alone, as well. His men were either hiding in the woods nearby, or they hadn’t accompanied him at all. Good. In truth, she could only deal with one thief at a time.

He eyed the kerchief in her hand.

Chloe smirked slightly. She’d tethered the horse in a spot far from the road, where he couldn’t possibly have spied her hiding the ring. “It isn’t polite to spy upon a lady,” she admonished him in an attempt to cover her fear.

“We meet again,” he said, and bowed slightly, ignoring her rebuke.

Chloe didn’t return the courtesy.

She’d come to barter, not to trade pleasantries.

“I expected you to come with the constable,” he confessed, and cast a glance about to make certain they were alone. He added, “My thanks to you for sparing me the task of having to dispose of the gentleman.”

Chloe eyed him dubiously. Surely he didn’t mean that he would murder the constable? Still, she took a step backward. “Enough banter,” she snapped with more mettle than she felt. “This is hardly a tea party.”

“Very well.” He glanced once more at the kerchief. “So I’m told you’ve something you wish to return to me?”

Chloe straightened, summoning her nerve, remembering the tales Emily had told of the men he’d supposedly killed.

She shuddered and said a silent prayer that it was, in fact, Lord Lindale standing before her. If not, what might he do if he thought she’d crossed him? Her heart thumped like a hammer against her ribs. She longed to rip off his mask and to expose him at last. She took a fortifying breath and lifted her chin defiantly, gathering her courage. “I would like to propose a trade,” she said.

“A trade, madame?”

Chloe studied him. He was the same height as Lord Lindale and his voice seemed similar, as well—perhaps a wee bit deeper. She wished she could better see his eyes…and his mouth… “Indeed,” she said, wavering in her convictions. “A trade.”

“Let me guess,” he said somewhat sardonically. “The ring for the necklace?”

Chloe nodded. “And something more.”

“Something more?” he echoed, his tone sounding amused. He took a small step toward her.

She nodded a little uncertainly.

Beautiful little vixen.

Merrick knew she was wary of him; he could see it in her eyes. And yet she stood there before him, making demands that most men wouldn’t dare impose.

She was brave coming here…alone.

“And what trade might that be?” he asked, sounding casual. He felt anything but. His body was taut and his loins were afire merely at the sight of her.

She held out the bundle in her hand, teasing him with its presence. He hated to have to tell her that he already had the deuced ring. He’d followed her and watched as she’d hidden it, knowing she was no imbecile. She wouldn’t have stood before him with the ring in hand so that he could simply take it from her.

“The ring,” she suggested coyly, “for the necklace…
and
your mask.”

The little shrew.

Merrick laughed softly. “And what is it you wish with my mask? Do you intend to join my merry band?”

“Of course not!” she exclaimed, sounding utterly appalled by the notion. But then, she seemed to reconsider it. She was clearly deluded if she thought he would allow it.

He asked her soberly, “What’s to prevent me from simply taking the ring?”

“Go on, then,” she taunted with a slight curve to her lips and a sparkle in her eyes. “Take it.” She held out her hand a little farther, tempting him. “Do you think I’m such a dolt I would simply
hand a thief a ring?” She shook her head. “No, sir, I’m afraid the ring is hidden elsewhere.”

“I see,” Merrick said.

And he did; he saw far more than he dared.

Her breasts rose and fell with her breath and her nipples were taut against the bodice of her gown, taunting him with every breath she took.

Merrick eyed her pointedly. “I can’t say I would bargain at that price. After all, I gave you the ring to begin with. What makes you think I wish it returned?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “You’re here, are you not?” And she gave him a coy little glance.

He wanted in that moment nothing more than to toss her over his shoulder like some barbarian and to carry her away to the cottage.

“What if I should propose my own little trade?” he suggested, and for emphasis, pulled the ring from his coat and showed it to her.

She gasped softly. “You followed me!”

“Of course I followed you,” Merrick admitted without the least remorse. “What sort of thief would I be if I did not improvise?”

She scowled at him, clearly annoyed. “Well, you have the ring, so what is it you wish from me? Why are you still here?”

Merrick smiled softly.

Chloe grit her teeth, angered that he had out-
witted her. She should have known he would not deal fairly. He was a thief, after all!

“The necklace…”

Chloe blinked, disbelieving her ears. Surely he wouldn’t simply return it to her.

“For a kiss.”

Chloe’s brows lifted. “That’s all you wish from me? A simple kiss?”

“No,” he replied. “But a kiss will do for now.”

Chloe’s heart skipped a beat at his response.

She dared to barter with him. “And what of the mask?”

“The mask remains upon my person,” he declared, his tone unwavering.

It didn’t matter.

With a kiss she would know all she needed to know. “And how can I be certain you will stop with merely a kiss? You’re a thief, after all,” she told him. “Who is to say you’ll not…”

“Ravage you?” he supplied with a sudden grin.

Chloe nodded, her cheeks warming under his scrutiny.

“Because you have my word,” he said simply.

Chloe arched a brow. “And what worth is there in the word of a thief?”

“If you do not trust me…you may walk away,” he suggested, but he withdrew the necklace from his pocket and dangled it before her, tempting her.

She considered his proposal, completely dis
armed by the fact that he would give up so rich a prize for just a simple kiss.

“Have you never heard of honor among thieves, flower?” he asked her.

Chloe started at his endearment.

Flower.

He’d called her flower.

Lord Lindale had once called her the same.

It
was
him.

Emboldened by the knowledge, she told him, her heart beating faster, “But I am no thief, my lord.”

He smiled behind his mask. And he didn’t correct her when she used his title. “Ah, but you are. This we both know.” He lifted up the ring and showed it to her, reminding her of her recent act of thievery.

Chloe chewed upon her lower lip as she eyed both the ring and the necklace. Her belly fluttered wildly as she tried to determine what to do.

A simple kiss, she reasoned…for it he would return Lady Fiona’s necklace.

What harm could come of it?

With her decision made, her heart flipped against her ribs. “And you’ll give me the necklace?” she asked, looking for reassurances.

He nodded once, positively. “After…that is—” he dangled the necklace before her “—if you can
live with the knowledge that this necklace might have fed an entire village.”

Chloe’s brows drew together.

It wasn’t fair that he should throw that at her. “It’s a matter of honor,” she told him, and couldn’t believe the words had passed her own two lips.

For the longest instant their gazes locked.

Merrick couldn’t believe what he was about to say.

Merely a week ago he wouldn’t have considered this perspective, but a vision of Rusty’s children came to mind, their gentle, dirty little faces appealing to his sense of compassion. “And is your honor worth the life of a child?” Even as he asked, he decided, once and for all, that while honor was worth quite a lot, the price of any life was far too high.

Chloe opened her mouth to reply, then closed it, clearly at a loss for words.

It seemed to Merrick that they had both shared a revelation of sorts this week. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she no longer was entirely clear upon the answer. In that moment of epiphany there was a communion between them unlike that he’d ever experienced. His heartbeat quickened painfully.

“No,” she answered at last, her voice soft, her
eyes still locked with his own, and then she added, “Perhaps you should keep the necklace, after all.”

“And the kiss?” he dared to ask, dropping the jewels into his coat pocket. His casual tone revealed not a trace of the dread he felt. “Shall I keep that, as well?”

For a moment she didn’t respond and then she slowly shook her head.

Merrick’s breath caught as she took a step forward, offering herself into his embrace. “This kiss is yours, if you desire it. A bargain is a bargain. It is my choice, after all, to let you keep the necklace.”

Merrick needn’t any more encouragement. He closed the distance between them and swept her into his arms.

Chloe moaned softly as he embraced her.

Unable to resist, she melted into his arms. Dear God, she knew it was wrong to want him, but she did.

She had been so very wrong…this kiss would, indeed, lead her heart astray.

It had already gone astray.

His lips touched upon hers and she whimpered softly, eager for the taste and warmth of his mouth. His tongue swept over her trembling lips, tracing the part, coaxing.

“Open for me, flower,” he demanded, his voice
hoarse. Chloe complied at once, parting her lips with a soft, desperate gasp for air.

The sensation of his tongue entering her dazed her. The warmth of his body lit hers afire against the cool night air. She clung to him desperately, never wanting to let go.

He must have sensed the weakening of her limbs, because his arm tightened about her waist, drawing her full against him so that she felt the hard lines of his male form.

His tongue swept through her mouth, loving her with every stroke, tasting her, consuming her very soul. Chloe moaned softly and her body convulsed in secret places. Like a wanton, her breasts longed for the touch of his hand. Her body betrayed her, warring with her head.

She needed to see his face.

Her hand curled over his shoulder, reveling in the width and breadth of him. Her heart racing, she gripped at his mask in an attempt to draw it up to expose his beautiful face.

He caught her wrist, preventing her. “Not yet,” he whispered against her mouth. “Not yet, Chloe.”

Chloe shuddered softly at the intimate sound of her name upon his lips.

It didn’t matter; she knew him by his taste.

Desperate for this union with him, she dared to
return his hungry kiss, pushing her tongue timidly into his mouth, giving as he gave.

He groaned in response and she felt his body harden against her.

Merrick’s body ignited with desire.

She was kissing him back with such abandon that it fueled his lust beyond reason. His blood burned through his veins like molten silver. Caught in a fierce storm of desire, he lifted her against him and carried her away from the road, deeper into the field, away from prying eyes. This instant, his brain fogged with desire, he was no longer in command of his will.