In the Eye of the Storm (Storm and Silence 2)

‘You’re going to try.’

Bloody hell! How can he still sound so infuriatingly cool?

‘Let - me - go!’

‘No.’ He leaned forward until I could feel his breath on my face. For some inexplicable reason, my knees suddenly felt weak. ‘Let’s talk about that man, my dear.’

‘Let’s not!’

‘Who was he, exactly, and what was he doing here?’

I glared up at him. ‘He isn’t coming back!’

‘Indeed?’ He cocked his head like a panther about to leap. ‘That is satisfactory to hear. But it is not what I asked, my love. What is he doing here in Alexandria?’

‘Go to hell!’ I snarled - or at least tried to snarl. It somehow came out softer and breathier than intended. Darn!

I could have told him about Captain Carter and his mission, of course. I could have told him everything, and he’d probably have been content. But I would be damned before I answered the questions of a man who had dared to call me a defenceless girl! Worse, a man who had grabbed me, held me, and proved to me that in comparison to him, I was a defenceless girl.

Curse him! I’ll be damned before I say a single word! No matter what malignant methods he’ll use to question me!

‘Did he follow you here? Did he follow you from London to Egypt?’

My mouth fell open in utter astonishment. The flame under my boiling pot of anger went out in a puff of smoke.

‘What?’

‘It’s a simple enough question, Wife. Did this man follow you to Egypt? Is he after yo

u?’

‘After me?’

‘Yes.’

‘You mean…?’

Lightning flashed in the dark clouds of his eyes. ‘I mean is he enamoured with you? Does he wish you to be his?’

My mouth dropped open a little farther. I didn’t know it could open this wide. You never cease to learn, I guess.

‘What business of yours would it be if he did?’

Mr Ambrose’s eyes glittered darkly. ‘None whatsoever - except for the fact that, for the next few months at least, you’re already taken.’

‘You don’t seriously expect me to…’

‘Yes, I expect you to!’ He leaned closer, and I couldn’t for an instant look away from his chiselled stone-hard face. Those eyes of his seemed to draw me in, threatening to swallow me whole, body, mind and soul. ‘Here’s how seriously I expect you to!’

His mouth was on me before I could blink. A wave of heat surged through me from my lips down to my toes the moment our lips touched. Suddenly, I didn’t mind the fact that he was holding me tightly against him so much. I didn’t mind it at all. My hands shot out, grasping his arms to pull him still closer. His lips moved against mine with enough force to shatter a mountain. Was I stronger than a mountain? I’d always thought so, but I felt ready to break into a thousand pieces of ecstasy any moment.

‘While we are here,’ his cold voice reached my ear, his murmur caressing my mouth, ‘you’re mine. Do you understand? Mine!’

‘I’m not-’

Before I could say another word, he had caught my lower lip between his teeth, holding it prisoner.

‘Let go! I ot anyody’s!’