Taken By Storm Part 37

"You're angry with me," he said, approaching her.

She stood and moved away from the bed. "No, how can I be when you offer a future to many who thought they had none. It is kind of you."

She sensed his next words would be that he offered her the same, but she didn't want to hear that, not

now.

"I'm tired," she said, moving farther away from him. "I will see you in the morning. Remember we leaveat dawn."He nodded and turned to leave, then swerved around and walked over to her.She braced for the kiss she knew he'd deliver and steeled herself against responding. She couldn't fall into bed with him again, she couldn't. She lost herself completely to him when she did and she couldn't

allow herself to do that anymore.

He reached for her face, cupped it in his warm hands, and kissed her until she thought she would go insane from the want of him.

She kept her hands fisted at her sides, her back rigid and her heart cold.

He brushed his lips across hers. "Is it a challenge you want?"

She opened her mouth to answer and he plunged in, his tongue taking complete charge and sending

spears of pa.s.sion stabbing pinp.r.i.c.ks of pleasure over every inch of her body.

He scooped her up in his arms and had her on the bed in no time. His hands worked magic beneath her clothes, not once attempting to remove her garments or his.

"Only if you want me, Storm," he whispered in her ear. "I will love you only if you want me to."

She thought to push him off her. Her hands went to his chest and rested against hard muscle. One push,

one simple push, and he'd be gone.

He waited, his arms supporting his strength as he hovered over her. And there in his dark eyes where his hunger for her was always obvious, she caught a spark of intense love.

It jolted her heart and soared her pa.s.sion and she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him

down on top of her.

Their pa.s.sion was much too heated to waste time in removing clothes, so garments were s.h.i.+fted out of the way, bodies entwined, and movement fast and furious.

She feared her cries must have surely echoed out into the night, for the pleasure he brought her was so

great, she could not control her moans. He must have thought the same for he captured as many as he

could with kisses.

She savored the aftermath of their lovemaking and wanted nothing more than to fall asleep in his arms and not think of tomorrow or the future, just this time here and now spent with him.

As if he read her mind, he saw to undressing both of them and getting them settled beneath the blanket

where they snuggled against each other, as had been their way since first they made love.

They didn't talk. It wasn't necessary. Their bodies had done the talking for them, and now Storm had a lot to consider, but not this moment. This moment was to enjoy.

They fell asleep wrapped around each other, and she woke in the middle of the night aroused by his intimate touches, and they made love again.

In the morning, before dawn touched the horizon, they rose and dressed and spoke not a word. Soon

they would, but for now, it would wait.

Five of them, Storm, Burke, Tannin, William, and Philip, had spent two days observing the activities and routine of the guards along Balford land. It was easily determined what route Burke could take to reach the gardens and where the most secluded spot was for him to approach Lady Alaina.

Storm advised him that Lady Alaina's daily stroll usually lasted thirty to forty minutes, and given the time it would take Burke to reach the location, it would leave him with no more then twenty minutes to speak with her. Otherwise, he ran the risk of guards breathing down his neck.

In the early morning of the day of the meeting, Storm found Burke standing on the edge of the forest that bordered Balford land.

"You are getting closer to rescuing your brother," she encouraged as she approached.

He held his hand out to her. "Thanks to you."

She took it and he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. She loved that he was so generous with his affection, for it made her feel wanted.

"I hope this goes well for you today," she said, snuggled in the crook of his arm.

"If nothing else, I will discover more than I already know about my brother, and that is bound to help me."

"Yes, Lady Alaina would know much about your brother, being in love with him."

"I am eager to hear it all, for then I can reach a reasonable conclusion that will allow me to take the next

step.""Attempting to purchase your brother's freedom," Storm said softly."You don't think it a viable option."She laid a gentle hand on his chest. "Lady Alaina would be the best one to answer that.""I value your opinion.""Something tells me that you need to be cautious. The Earl of Balford is a deceitful man and that means a dangerous man."

"I will keep your warning in mind at all times."

"You'd better," she said with a poke to his ribs. "I don't want anything happening to you."

He pulled her in front of him with his hands resting at her waist. "Why is that?"

She stared into his dark eyes and knew what he wanted to hear from her, felt it in his touch, heard it in his

voice, but was she ready to tell him? Did she know for sure herself?

"Time to leave," Tanin said from behind them.

She s.h.i.+vered, Burke's dark eyes warning along with his whisper: "I will have my answer soon."

Chapter 29.

B urke waited at the end of a row of box hedges. According to Philip, Lady Alaina's routine was to enter the garden, walk to the edge of the forest until she came to a row of box hedges, then stroll around them and retrace her trail.

The high hedges would afford them privacy, and the length it took to walk them would provide him with

the needed twenty minutes.

He was anxious to speak with her, anxious to learn all he could about his brother, anxious to be one step closer to freeing Cullen.

He heard the rustle of footsteps and the swish of material along the ground and stilled, waiting for Lady Alaina to turn the corner of the hedges.

She did and startled to a stop.

"Forgive my intrusion," Burke said and offered his arm to her and quickly refreshed her memory of him.

"We met at the seamstress shop in St. Andrew. Burke Longton from America."

Her tense stance eased and she accepted his arm. "Forgive me, I did not know you visited with my father."

"I haven't visited with your father. It is you I wished to see."

Her steps faltered and he was quick to rea.s.sure her.

"I mean you no harm, Lady Alaina. I seek information about my brother-Cullen."

She stopped and glanced over his face with loving eyes. "I wondered how two men with an uncanny resemblance could not be related."

"Let me explain," Burke offered, and proceeded to tell her his story in detail and how Cullen had no idea

that he had a brother.

Tears threatened her eyes. "Cullen would be so happy to learn of this. He always wondered about his father. He would be pleased to know how much his father loved him."