A Daring Passion

Carlos placed a firm hand against Philippe’s shoulder. “It is late, amigo. You need to rest.”

“Why is she not here?” Philippe weakly struggled to lift himself from the pillows. “Where has she gone?”

“Philippe, you must remain still or you will open your wound.”

“I need to find Raine. She cannot leave…”

“She is right here,” Carlos soothed, turning to Raine with an impatient glare. “Come.”

Still, Raine hesitated. For a change Philippe was in no position to force his will upon her. She was quite at liberty to return to her chambers and ignore his demands. It was a tempting thought, but even as it teased at her mind Philippe turned his head and

captured her with pain-filled eyes.

“Raine?”

With a faint sigh at her own stupidity, Raine discovered her feet moving her forward. “I am here.”

His hand shot out to grasp her fingers in a tight grip. “Where have you been?” he demanded with an edge of his customary arrogance. “Why are you not in bed?”

“You have been injured, Philippe,” she said. “You must rest.”

He gave a tug on her fingers. “I will rest as soon as you join me.”

Good Lord, he was impossible even when he was hovering on the edge of unconsciousness. “Philippe, I will be right here.”

“I want you next to me.”

“For all your undoubted talents you are in no shape to have a beautiful woman in your bed,” Carlos protested sternly. “Be content with your brandy until you have regained your strength.”

“No.”

“Philippe…”

Philippe gave his friend a steely glare. “She will leave. She will slip away while I am unable to stop her.”

Carlos slid a dark glance toward the silent Raine. “I will not allow her to slip away, that I promise.”

“You cannot halt her. Only I can.”

“Good heavens, Philippe,” Raine muttered. “Where the devil do you imagine I’ll go?”

“Perhaps it would be best to humor him for the moment,” Carlos unexpectedly commanded. “If you were to join him, then perhaps he would relax and cease his struggles.”

As usual no one appeared to be the least interested in what she desired. If Philippe wanted her in bed then it was seemingly her duty to crawl in next to him.

“He is your friend, you join him,” Raine snapped.

Carlos’s lips twitched. “I somehow doubt that my presence would offer quite the comfort as your own.”

About to respond, Raine was distracted by the feel of Philippe running a caressing thumb over her knuckles. She reluctantly turned her head to discover the injured man regarding her with a brooding expression.

“Querida, I merely want you near. Is that so much to ask?”

Their gazes battled for a silent moment and then Raine heaved a deep sigh. Bloody hell. The night was bound to be a long and painful one for Philippe, and if he continued to thrash about he might very well bring on an infection. Goodness only knew how long they would be trapped in Paris if that occurred.

Surely it was only sensible to give in to his wishes and be done with it?

“Fine,” she muttered, climbing onto the bed and allowing Philippe to tug her close to his side. She glared up at Carlos, who was regarding them with an enigmatic smile on his lips. “Satisfied now?”