Taken By Storm Part 47

as he wanted to love you."

Had she wanted that from the beginning? Had she been searching for someone to challenge her stubbornness? Her pain? Her hurt? And prove that she could truly love again?

"I am glad we rescued the American that fateful day, for he now rescues us."

"He certainly does," Storm agreed with a smile.

Tanin left Storm with her thoughts, and it didn't take long before various people joined her for a few

moments to express their appreciation for all she had done for them and the opportunity that they had been given.

By the time Burke joined her she had tears in her eyes.

He reached down and eased her to her feet.

"Your people are grateful," he said.

"It is you they should be grateful to."

He slipped his arm around her slim waist, and they walked from the campfire. "Not really. If it wasn't for your courage and persistence none of this would have been possible. It is because of you that they have a chance at a new life."

"I refuse to take all the credit."

"Too bad, it's yours," he teased and hurried her along. "But if you feel you owe me something, then Isuggest-" He leaned down and nuzzled her neck."How romantic." She giggled and scrunched her neck, trying to prevent his sensual tickles."You want romance?" he whispered, and suddenly scooped her up, flinging her over his shoulder. He grabbed hold of the rope and they were up to the tree house before Storm could protest.

She sighed and rested her head on his chest while he carried her into her small quarters. Then slowly he began to undress her piece by piece while gently kissing every exposed part of her.

Her pa.s.sion lit like an ignited flame, bursting with a quivering heat. She melted under his kisses, his

touches, and was aching with the want of him by the time he stripped naked and took her to bed.

"Lord, I'd love to take my time with you but I want you so badly I don't think I can wait."

"I feel the same," she urged, her hands reaching down to feel his readiness.

He groaned. "d.a.m.n, but I love when you touch me."

"I love the feel of you, especially inside me."

He took her lips in a frantic kiss before saying, "Then let me give you what you love."

She grabbed hold of his arms, strong and taut as he eased himself inside her slowly and gently, until she

swung her hips up and took him in her with a solid push.

They both groaned and set a rhythm that had the bed rocking, their hearts pounding, and their bodies sweating.

Afterward they lay beside each other, hands clasped, while their breathing eased and their satisfied

bodies completely relaxed.

"Promise me you'll take no unnecessary risks," Burke said softly.

Strange that he should say that since she was thinking the same herself. This would be one rescue mission that she wanted desperately to survive. The others never mattered to her, but then she didn't have anything to live for. Now she did.

Now she had Burke.

"I promise," she said, and meant it with all her heart.

"I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

The tremor in his voice told her just how sincere he was, and it touched her heart and quivered her

stomach. Lord, but she wanted a chance at a life with this man.

"I feel the same about you. I never believed I could feel that way again; perhaps I feared feeling that way

again. Now, however, I'm glad I have you to love. I forgot how truly wonderful loving and being loved feels."

He leaned on his side and ran his finger gently over her lips. "I want you to keep my love strong in your

heart while on this mission. Know I am with you at all times and know I will not let anything happen to

you."

Storm kissed his finger and attempted to ease his concern and possibly her own. "My stubbornness will not allow me to remain captured."

"And my stubbornness will make certain that you return to America with me."

"Which has been your plan from the beginning, to take me to America," she accused teasingly.

He kissed her softly and grinned. "And my plans always succeed."

Storm silently prayed it would be so. It had to be so. She loved him too much to lose him.

Chapter 35.

B urke didn't want to let Storm out of his sight but he knew that in a few minutes she would walk off and be captured.

It had all been planned. William had scouted an area near Weighton where Storm, Tanin, and Angus would be spotted. While the two men would be able to escape, Storm would be imprisoned. Burke and her men would wait in an area where they could remain undetected until the time came to carry out the remaining part of the plan.

They had made certain the capture would take place near Weighton so she would be incarcerated there immediately. News of her capture would spread fast enough, which was why two days was the maximum time she could remain behind the prison walls. After that, there was no telling what orders would be given and what fate she would meet.

"Almost time," Tanin informed Storm and walked away, leaving the couple alone.

Burke tugged her stocking cap down on her head. "You have the knife I fas.h.i.+oned for you tucked in your boot?"

"Yes. I don't think anyone will find it between the strips of leather. It is concealed quite well."

He grabbed hold of her. "I hate sending you off like this."

She placed a gentle hand on his arm. "I know, but soon I will return with your brother and we will all set sail safely for America."

"Promise," he urged. "Promise me you'll be careful and take no chances."

"I have promised you time and again, but I will promise you this one last time," she said quietly and squeezed his arm. "I promise you I will be careful, and I promise you I will return safely."

He kissed her hard and long, fearful that it might be their last kiss.

Their hands held tight for a moment and then drifted reluctantly apart, and she walked away from him, taking one last glance back before the dense woods swallowed her from his view.

He continued to stare at the trees and bushes, thinking for a split second that he should go after her and stop this madness. But then he would insult her with his lack of confidence in her.

He had thought about simply sailing off to America with her and leaving his brother behind. It wasn't something he could do. He had promised his father, and he could not break that promise. Besides, Cullen was his brother, and he could never leave him to die. He was also reminded of the look of love in Lady Alaina's eyes when she spoke of his brother. They loved as strongly as Storm and he.

He could not desert them. It would be like failing Storm and himself.

There was no easy choice in this matter and little time to make one. Once his attempt failed, there was no other option left to him, though he tormented his brain trying to find one.

Time had run out, and now he had until tomorrow evening to wait and pray that Storm and his brother made it out of Weighton alive.

Storm ached from the punches and kicks the guards had taken delight in delivering to her. Once they had discovered who she was they had pranced and strutted like braggarts, claiming they had captured the uncatchable Storm.

What they hadn't realized was that the whole time they had been praising themselves they had paid little attention to the way she had watched every twist and turn and noticed every guard post and key hook along the way to her cell.

She now had a good notion of how to make her escape and how many guards would stand in her way, not to mention which ones she felt wouldn't present much of a problem.

Burke had entered her mind a few times during capture, but she had chased him away. She'd had to; she couldn't allow her thoughts to be diverted at such an important time. Her only concern now was to find Cullen and somehow manage to get them out of there by tomorrow night.

The buffoons who had captured her never bothered to search her boot for weapons. They were satisfied as well as surprised by the sizable sword she carried, and a.s.sumed it was her only weapon.

She now sat chained to a wall in a cell that held another prisoner who was not Cullen. He was older, thin, and white-haired.

"The angel's wings have been clipped."

Storm looked over at the man, who could barely lift his head. "What did you say?"

"You're the angel who rescues prisoners. You must be, for only the infamous angel would be brought to the likes of Weighton. Who have you come to rescue?"

Here was her chance. "Cullen. I look for a man named Cullen."

The man managed to keep his head up straight. "If I tell you where this man is, will you take me with you?"

He looked as if he could barely stand on his own, and Storm knew then and there she would not see him die in prison.

"I give you my word." He smiled, though Storm saw that it pained him to do so.

"The word of an angel is a good thing." He coughed, and again pain was visible on his thin face. "You will find Cullen in the torture chamber. The guards seem to delight in punis.h.i.+ng the man."

She sighed and shook her head.

"You have no choice?" the man asked.