Excerpt:
Cecile looked up and saw James as he descended the stairs. Slowly, she raised herself off the floor. James had a day’s growth of beard and the expression on his face was visibly hostile. He looked more formidable than he had the previous evening. She was suddenly conscious of his overpowering physique, his maleness and the fact that she was alone with him.
“Colin’s not here.” His voice was brusque.
“When do you expect him?” she asked, not at all surprised by his rudeness.
“I don’t,” he bit out.
“Are you always this bad-mannered?”
He came closer. An ironic sneer hovered about his mouth as he eyed her coolly. “I answered your questions. Didn’t I?”
Trying to keep her distance, Cecile moved backwards toward the wall. She tried to discipline her voice, to maintain control. He was not going to intimidate her.
“I need to speak with Colin,” she said, craning her head up, refusing to cower. “He owes me an apology.”
“I don’t know what little game you’re playing, Cecile, but you better forget that Colin exists. He left this morning, and won’t be back for another two months. So you can turn around and go right back home.”
“Two months? But I need him today. I can’t wait. You don’t understand. Helen thinks Colin and I …”
“That’s your problem.”
“No, it’s Colin’s problem. He’s a …flirt.”
James laughed. “I couldn’t agree with you more. But you’re no different, are you?” His mouth curved into a cynical twist.
If it wasn’t that he was bigger and stronger, she would have hit him. The man was an insufferable and offensive boor. What had she done to deserve his insults?
“How dare you?”
Crossing his arms over his chest, James’ brown eyes were hooded like those of a hawk. “If you know what’s good for you, leave Colin alone. He’s a grown man and you are a little too young to be chasing after him. If you don’t want a man’s advances don’t lead him on. You might not like what you get.”
“Save your speech for your brother. I’m not chasing after him,” she said indignantly.
“You could have fooled me. You really are quite the tease, Cecile Dubois. If things were different and you were a little older, I might go after you myself.”
In spite of her youth and inexperience, Cecile knew the message in James’ eyes was starkly sexual. She felt his gaze slowly undressing her, stripping away every article of clothing from her body. He was taunting her, playing with her, daring her to protest. The man had no shame.
“And Nelly? Wouldn’t she object?” she asked, arming herself with bravado.
Showing surprise, James narrowed his eyes.
“Nelly is a friend, and none of your concern. She’s my business”
“Well, your friend, as you call her, flaunted your… business in my face. Not that I was interested in anything she had to say. She is extremely vulgar.”
“She has other attributes,” he said flatly.
“I’m sure. They are quite obvious. Your taste in women leaves much to be desired. I, for one, believe in discretion. I would never discuss our time together…”
James grinned. “I love discretion myself. Are you offering me your services, Cecile? I’ve never shared a woman with my brother, but I can always make an exception with you.”
Offended, Cecile raised her hand to slap him, but James caught it in time. It was then that she kicked him in the shin.
“Damn it!” he cursed.
“You asked for it. Let go of my hand,” she demanded, trying to free herself from his grasp. “You’re hurting me.”
James tightened his grip as his steely eyes bore into hers. “You better keep a check on that temper of yours, little girl. Next time, I won’t be so understanding,” he said, releasing his hold. “A good spanking might do you a world of good and teach you a thing or two about playing with fire.”
Cecile controlled her anger. “And next time, I’ll kick you where it will really hurt,” she spat out without thinking.
Amusement flickered in the eyes that looked down at her. “My, my, you’ve managed to shock me, Miss Dubois. I believe you’ve made me blush,” James teased.
With as much dignity as she could muster, Cecile gave him a scorching look. “Rattlesnakes don’t blush, Mister Blackthorn.”
Cecile looked up and saw James as he descended the stairs. Slowly, she raised herself off the floor. James had a day’s growth of beard and the expression on his face was visibly hostile. He looked more formidable than he had the previous evening. She was suddenly conscious of his overpowering physique, his maleness and the fact that she was alone with him.
“Colin’s not here.” His voice was brusque.
“When do you expect him?” she asked, not at all surprised by his rudeness.
“I don’t,” he bit out.
“Are you always this bad-mannered?”
He came closer. An ironic sneer hovered about his mouth as he eyed her coolly. “I answered your questions. Didn’t I?”
Trying to keep her distance, Cecile moved backwards toward the wall. She tried to discipline her voice, to maintain control. He was not going to intimidate her.
“I need to speak with Colin,” she said, craning her head up, refusing to cower. “He owes me an apology.”
“I don’t know what little game you’re playing, Cecile, but you better forget that Colin exists. He left this morning, and won’t be back for another two months. So you can turn around and go right back home.”
“Two months? But I need him today. I can’t wait. You don’t understand. Helen thinks Colin and I …”
“That’s your problem.”
“No, it’s Colin’s problem. He’s a …flirt.”
James laughed. “I couldn’t agree with you more. But you’re no different, are you?” His mouth curved into a cynical twist.
If it wasn’t that he was bigger and stronger, she would have hit him. The man was an insufferable and offensive boor. What had she done to deserve his insults?
“How dare you?”
Crossing his arms over his chest, James’ brown eyes were hooded like those of a hawk. “If you know what’s good for you, leave Colin alone. He’s a grown man and you are a little too young to be chasing after him. If you don’t want a man’s advances don’t lead him on. You might not like what you get.”
“Save your speech for your brother. I’m not chasing after him,” she said indignantly.
“You could have fooled me. You really are quite the tease, Cecile Dubois. If things were different and you were a little older, I might go after you myself.”
In spite of her youth and inexperience, Cecile knew the message in James’ eyes was starkly sexual. She felt his gaze slowly undressing her, stripping away every article of clothing from her body. He was taunting her, playing with her, daring her to protest. The man had no shame.
“And Nelly? Wouldn’t she object?” she asked, arming herself with bravado.
Showing surprise, James narrowed his eyes.
“Nelly is a friend, and none of your concern. She’s my business”
“Well, your friend, as you call her, flaunted your… business in my face. Not that I was interested in anything she had to say. She is extremely vulgar.”
“She has other attributes,” he said flatly.
“I’m sure. They are quite obvious. Your taste in women leaves much to be desired. I, for one, believe in discretion. I would never discuss our time together…”
James grinned. “I love discretion myself. Are you offering me your services, Cecile? I’ve never shared a woman with my brother, but I can always make an exception with you.”
Offended, Cecile raised her hand to slap him, but James caught it in time. It was then that she kicked him in the shin.
“Damn it!” he cursed.
“You asked for it. Let go of my hand,” she demanded, trying to free herself from his grasp. “You’re hurting me.”
James tightened his grip as his steely eyes bore into hers. “You better keep a check on that temper of yours, little girl. Next time, I won’t be so understanding,” he said, releasing his hold. “A good spanking might do you a world of good and teach you a thing or two about playing with fire.”
Cecile controlled her anger. “And next time, I’ll kick you where it will really hurt,” she spat out without thinking.
Amusement flickered in the eyes that looked down at her. “My, my, you’ve managed to shock me, Miss Dubois. I believe you’ve made me blush,” James teased.
With as much dignity as she could muster, Cecile gave him a scorching look. “Rattlesnakes don’t blush, Mister Blackthorn.”
Paragraph.
