The Tiger Lily (15 page)

Turning
away sharply, he started to enter the hacienda when he noticed a light in one
of the rooms downstairs. The entire house was in darkness except for that one
light. Knowing that Alejandro had already retired and curious about why someone
was up at this time of night, he walked in that direction.

Silently
he stepped under the extended eaves, and quietly he pulled open one of the
double doors that faced the courtyard. Hearing no sound from within the
lamp-lit room, he glanced in.

At
first examination the room appeared to be deserted, Brett's gaze traveling
slowly over the contents: the wall of leather-bound books directly across from
him, the velvet-covered chairs, the small marquetry tables, and the fine
Brussels carpet on the floor. It was a wealthy family's library, and
remembering the simple furnishings of the de la Vega library, he was again
struck by the differences in wealth. A long, elegant couch of dark green velvet
faced the wall of books, the high back of it being all that Brett saw, and the
light that had first caught his attention came from a tall, ornate candelabrum
that sat upon a small table at one end of the couch.

Assuming
a careless servant had left the candles burning, he walked across the room
intending to snuff out the flickering yellow flames. Reaching the couch, he
happened to glance down, and his breath caught sharply in his throat as he
spied the figure sprawled on the velvet cushions.

Sabrina
lay sound asleep on her side, her head resting on one out-flung arm, the
red-gold hair tumbling across her face and spilling like living fire onto the
green velvet couch. She was wearing a simple gown of soft yellow silk, and it
had rucked up around her knees, her bare feet and slim legs gleaming palely
against the rich green velvet. The book she had been reading lay open on the
floor nearby.

For
a long moment Brett stared down, mesmerized by her sleep-softened features. She
was so lovely, he mused painfully, his eyes moving almost tenderly over her
thick, dark lashes, the slightly tilted nose, and the generous mouth. And she
looked so damned young! he thought with vexation. Had he ever been that young?
Ever been so innocent and vulnerable? For a moment his mouth tightened as he
remembered the pain of his mother's rejection. Surprised by the bitterness and
hurt that memory aroused, he was aware that at one time, long, long ago, he had
been as innocent and vulnerable as Sabrina was now. She appeared untouched by
the world's cold indifference, he reflected bleakly, and looked in need of
protection against those who would corrupt that innocence. Ruefully he added,
so very much in need of protection against cynical bastards like myself! Again
his gaze slid slowly over her slim body, lingering on the rise and fall of her
full bosom and the length of the long, slender legs.

Unwillingly
he felt desire stir, and, aware of the potential danger of the situation, he
bent down and lightly shook Sabrina. Beyond a muffled rejection of his touch,
she continued to sleep, and Brett smiled faintly. God! He'd forgotten how
deeply the young slept. The smile still curving his mouth, he knelt down beside
the couch and softly touched the bright hair where it grew near her temple. "Wake
up, sleeping beauty," he murmured huskily.

Oblivious
to both his touch and his voice, Sabrina slept on, and, unable to resist the
temptation of that sweet mouth, he leaned over and very gently kissed her. For
just a moment he let the hungry desire that was clamoring for release sweep
through his body as slowly he kissed her soft, warm mouth. But then, with a
regretful sigh, he lifted his mouth from hers and sank back on his heels, a
twisted smile on his lips.

That
smile was the first thing Sabrina saw as she slowly drifted awake. That and the
mockery that was dancing in those dark green eyes. She thought she had been
dreaming that he had kissed her, but as she gradually awakened and saw his
smile, she realized instantly that she had not been dreaming.

Oddly
enough she wasn't angry. Sabrina might not forget an insult, but she did not
hold grudges, nor did she stay truly angry for very long. And she'd had a long,
lonesome evening in which to mull over everything. Brett was infuriating, but
she had to admit uncomfortably that she had, at least partially, invited both
his embrace and his enraging comments. Further thought on the subject of Brett
Dangermond had left her feeling only confused and frustrated, and she had come
to the reluctant conclusion that she was going to have to come to grips with
his disturbing effect upon her.

It
wasn't a pleasant admission for her, but she had finally conceded that it was
her reaction to him that was the problem and not necessarily his actions.
Having gotten that far in her musings, she had made a grim little vow not to
allow herself to be provoked anymore by him, and more importantly not to let
her volatile emotions get the better of her. She would treat him with courtesy
and politeness and make a determined attempt to rekindle some of the rapport
they had once shared—which didn't mean, she had thought with a snort, that she
would fawn over him with childlike adoration! She would be adult about it—not
an infant!

Pleased
with her deductions, she had happily settled down to read and await the return
of the gentlemen. Perhaps worn out by the constant conflicts within herself,
she was fast asleep not too many minutes later, her dreams, unfortunately, at
complete variance with her resolutions.

Sheltered
and innocent as she was, though, her dreams were not very explicit beyond the
point of Brett's sweeping her into his arms and kissing her, but they were
quite satisfying, and to awake and find the object of those fantasies smiling
at her, his lips only inches from her, was quite,
quite
gratifying.

Still
only half-awake, Sabrina smiled at Brett sleepily, completely unaware of how
seductive that smile was. She made no move to change her position on the sofa
beyond bringing the outflung arm down next to her body and nestling her cheek
against her hands. Drowsy amber-gold eyes met his as she said softly, "
Buenos
noches
, Senor Brett. Did you enjoy your meeting?"

His
smile a bit wry, he replied lightly, "Did you expect me to? Especially my
meeting with your so very curious Aunt Francisca?"

Sabrina
giggled. ''Did she ask an inordinate number of questions?"

Nodding
his dark head, he rose lithely to his feet and sat down on the sofa next to
her, resting one arm along the high back. The mocking light in the green eyes
becoming more pronounced, he answered, "She certainly did! At this moment,
I don't believe there is one aspect of my life that she isn't aware of. You
should have warned me!"

There
was a sudden easy relationship between them, as if all the earlier days of
stormy emotion had never existed. For these few precious moments, Brett seemed
to have banished the taunting, galling manner in which he usually treated her,
and was, unwisely, allowing himself the pleasure of responding unguardedly to
her natural charm. Sabrina, too, for once at ease with herself, was acting more
normally; she was relaxed and unruffled, content merely to enjoy his
fascinating company.

The
circumstances themselves deepened the growing intimacy—it was very late, the
house was still and quiet, they were the only two people awake, and the
flickering candlelight cast a soft, golden glow over them, intensifying
Sabrina's fiery beauty, illuminating Brett's dark, sardonic features. Even
their positions increased the cocoon of warm intimacy that was slowly,
inexorably surrounding them. Brett's hard hip was nearly touching Sabrina's
stomach as she lay on her side on the dark green velvet cushions, his upper
body looming almost protectively above her.

They
continued to talk for some minutes longer, neither willing to break the spell
that seemed to have fallen over them. Brett knew he was playing with fire, knew
that it was sheer insanity to prolong the dangerous interlude, and yet he could
not escape her web of enchantment. He could not take his eyes off her, watching
with an odd, hungry intentness the way her smile lit her entire face, the way
the amber-gold eyes would shyly meet his and then flicker away. The faint scent
of orange blossoms came from her body, and he was suddenly assailed by an
insane desire to seek out the source of that beguiling perfume.

Sabrina
was not immune to the situation either, and she had far less control of her
emotions than Brett did. She was absolutely mesmerized by him in this charming,
teasing mood, and her gaze roved eagerly over his features—the thick black
hair, the deep-set jade-green eyes with their extravagantly long lashes, and
the full, mobile mouth. The dancing candlelight shadowed the hollows beneath
his high cheekbones, and Sabrina stared fascinated at the way the wavering
light played across his handsome nose and the hard jawline. But it was his
mouth that riveted her attention, and, unable to help herself, she found
herself remembering the texture and pressure of those warm, knowing lips
against hers. Uncomfortable with the direction her thoughts were taking, and
far too aware of his disturbing nearness, she shifted her position slightly,
turning onto her back and moving a little farther away from him.

It
was an uncalculated move, but it only increased Brett's awareness of how very
desirable she was. The soft material of her gown tightened across the firm
young bosom, bringing his eyes to the smooth golden flesh that rose so
temptingly above the low-cut neckline. The yellow gown was an old-fashioned
peasant design, that bared her shoulders and laced up the front with delicate
ribbons of green silk, and his fingers trembled at the idea of undoing those
green ribbons and exposing the satin-smooth flesh beneath. He swallowed with
difficulty, the longing to jerk her into his arms and make violent love to her
almost overpowering him. Tearing his gaze away from her, he stared grimly at
the candelabrum and said with an effort, "I think we should say good night
now.. Your father has already retired, and I was on my way to do the same when
I saw your light."

Regretfully
Sabrina agreed. "You're right, of course," she said quietly, and
then, unable to help herself, she added breathlessly, "I'm happy that we
had these moments alone to talk. . . ." Impetuously she reached up and
touched his hard chest with her hand. "It ... it makes things easier
between us, no?"

Her
touch was his undoing. Their eyes suddenly met, and Sabrina's heart began to
hammer at the glitter of raw desire in those dark green eyes. Compulsively
Brett's fingers closed around hers, and bending his head, he pressed his warm
lips against the palm of her hand and muttered in a tormented voice,
"Sweet mother of God! What are you doing to me?"

In
the grip of awakening awareness of her own sensuality, Sabrina stared dumbly up
at him, desperately wanting him to kiss her again, her lips parting in
unconscious invitation. With a groan, Brett dropped her hand and capturing her
slender shoulders, dragged her roughly up against him, his mouth crushed
demandingly against hers. Mindlessly she returned his kiss, trembling with
pleasure when his tongue entered her mouth and began to hungrily probe the
inner warmth. She didn't understand everything that was happening to her; she
only knew that Brett alone aroused an urgent need within her, that she craved
his kisses, his touch, that she wanted to be in his arms and have him kiss her
in this almost savage manner. Her arms closed around his waist, and ardently
she embraced him wanting more, wanting . . .

Desire,
warm and sweet like honey, spread languidly through her body as Brett continued
to kiss her, his hands sensuously kneading her shoulders, his chest hard
against her tingling breasts. Driven by instinct, hesitantly her tongue flicked
his, and with a bewildering mixture of delight and fright, she felt the shudder
that went through his body. Blindly she followed his lead, kissing him more
deeply, her exploring tongue taking the same liberties that his had. He tasted
of tobacco and brandy, but to Sabrina it was as intoxicating as the headiest wine
ever served, and she was helpless against the powerful tide of passion that
suddenly rocked her.

The
couch was soft beneath them, but never disrupting their kiss, Brett slid slowly
to the floor, pulling her unresisting body with him. They landed with Sabrina
on top, but gently he rolled her over until they were lying side by side, his
tall, muscled length straining against hers. He continued to kiss her, long,
drugging kisses that left Sabrina weak and dazed. But kissing didn't satisfy
the blazing hunger that raged through him, and swiftly he unlaced the green
ribbons of her bodice. Before Sabrina realized what he had done, she was
stunned to feel his warm, seeking fingers on her naked breast. It was
incredibly erotic as lightly, teasingly, his long fingers stroked and caressed
her small nipple, and she moaned low in her throat with pleasure.