Dark And Dangerous (30 page)

 
"What? You've lost your ability to speak
all of a sudden?"

That had her spine
snapping straight with pride. She might have thrown most of it away at his
expense, but she was damned if she was going to let him break what she had
left.

 
"It shouldn't be so difficult to figure
out. Even with your limited mental capacity." She watched his eyes burn
with rage, so dark it made them nearly black. He stopped an arm length away
from her.

 
"Is that so?" His voice was so cold
it could have frozen hell over. "Well, then, with my limited mental
capacity, I deduce that you're once again running away like a coward."

 
"I'm not running away. I
—
"

 
"Really? Then what do you call it?"
he cut her off before she could continue.

 
"I was simply trying to save us both a
lot of trouble." Her chin came up in defiance at his sarcastic tone.

 
"Oh, is that right?" He took a step
towards her and felt a turmoil of anger and dark satisfaction, as fear jumped
into her eyes. "It's a little too late for that. You've been nothing but
trouble since the moment I met you."

 
Hurt made her voice cool and regal.
"Well, I won't trouble you anymore."

 
She had barely turned to open the door before
he grabbed her arm, whirling her around and against him. The bags fell out of
her suddenly limp hands, when Nathan's mouth descended on hers. Heat exploded
through her as his hands and mouth ravished her. His hands coursed over her
body and into her hair, then down to her shoulders, before he ripped his mouth
away from hers, and pulled her back far enough to glare angrily down at her.
But he didn't let her go. He wasn't going to give her any chance to run away.

She was glad he held onto
her, as her head spun dizzily from the onslaught of his kiss.

 
"Damn it, Kayley. Do you think I'm just
going to let you walk away from me?"

 
"I
…
" She blew out a confused breath and tried
to gather her scattered mind.

 
"Shit." He yanked her back against
him, crushing his mouth to hers. Her world spun again as he ravished her once
more. His taste swept through her, hot and desperate, with an edge of
dangerous. Then he jerked her back again. "Christ, I love you. Why are you
doing this to me?"

 
"You
…
You love me?" she repeated, trying to wrap
her mind around what he was saying. Her voice sounded far away, and shrouded in
surprise and wonder.

 
"Yes, and you're not going
anywhere." He drew her up on her toes, so that her eyes were only inches
from his. "
No where
."

 
"You love me?" she repeated again,
unable to understand.

 
"Yes, damn it. That's what I just told
you." His eyes were still clouded with anger and something more. Something
undefinable.

 
"But I thought that
…
Since you left I thought that
—
"

 
"What?" he asked impatiently when
she didn't finish her
sentence.

 
"Well, I thought that you leaving me was
your subtle way of telling me it was over between us."

 
"I left you alone because I couldn't
sleep thinking about what had happened to you, and I didn't think you would
want to wake up beside a man after what you had been through."

 
"What do you mean?"

His hands had gentled on
her shoulders and his eyes were no longer burning with anger.

 
"He tried to rape you, Kayley. After
that I would think the last thing you wanted was to have a man close to
you." He framed her face gently with his hands while he spoke.

 
"It's not like that, Nathan. Not for me
at least." She had to lower her eyes as she spoke. Expressing her feelings
was never easy for her, but she knew she had to do it. "I wanted you
there. When I was captured on the boat, you were all I wanted."

 
Relief swept through him. He had been afraid
her experience had ripped open old wounds, and he would have to start all over
again, earning her trust. "Having to wait for the right moment to rescue
you were the worst time of my life." He tipped her face up, so she had to
meet his eyes.

 
"Mine too."

He bend and kissed her
tenderly, making her heart sigh with pleasure.

 
"Except when I just caught you leaving,
and I thought I might lose you all over again."

 
"I'm sorry I caused you so much
trouble." She slid her hand up his chest, letting it rest over his heart,
where it beat strong and healthy.

 
"You haven't caused me any trouble I
would want to live without." He slipped his arms down around her waist,
drawing her close against him.

 
"But you said
—
"

 
"I didn't mean it that way," he
interrupted her, explaining. "I meant the feelings you've made me feel
from the first moment I saw you, has caused me a great deal of trouble. But I
still wouldn't want to be without it, and I don't intend to."

 
Her pulse skipped at his words, and her heart
fluttered in her chest from the look in his eyes.

 
"Do you love me, Kayley?"

She had to swallow hard as
her mouth went suddenly paper dry. She had never told anyone in her life that
she loved them. Not even her brother.

 
"I
…
" Panic clutched at her throat, making her
unable to speak.

He could see it written
clearly in her eyes and grinned at her. Oh yes, he thought. She did love him.

 
"Come on, Kayley. You can say it. It's
not that bad once you get it out."

 
She took a deep breath and licked her lips
nervously. He was grinning at her, but his eyes were dead serious. She could
see the tension in him and realized how much it meant to him to hear her say
it. Strangely enough, it helped calm her nerves.

 
"I do love you, Nathan." She saw
emotion flicker into his eyes, warm and deep, and felt love for him swamp her.
"I really do."

 
He kissed her again sweetly, pouring all his
feelings into it, before pulling her back to look down into her eyes.

 
 
"Marry me, Kayley. I don't want to live
without you. I never want to live without you. Belong to me." His eyes
were deep and intense, and only inches from hers. "Please, belong to me. I
need you."

 
"Yes. Yes." She threw her arms
around his neck, and thought her heart might burst with happiness. "Of
course I'll marry you."

 
"Thank God." He took her mouth
again in a hungry kiss, and swung her up into his arms.

 
"I love you, Kayley, and I always
will," he murmured between kisses and carried her back up the stairs.

Epilogue
  

 
Kayley stood in the large airy art exhibition
at Nathan's resort, and watched people milling around to watch her paintings as
they hung cleverly displayed on the walls. Champagne sparkled in glasses,
competing for attention with elaborate jewelry, but neither could take the
attention away from her art that swirled with life and beauty. She could see
Nathan at the other end of the room talking to a couple, explaining something
she couldn't hear about her art. Her heart filled with warmth. His whole
family, her family she reminded herself, were all there for her. She could see
them talking to guests, laughing and enjoying themselves, while they praised
her work. She spotted Yasmin busily entertaining Miss
Kans
,
who were glowing with joy and excitement.
 

 
"It is simply stunning."

 
She realized she had drifted off during a
conversation with a sweet middle aged
couple, that
were considering buying several of her paintings. She snapped back into focus
and quickly backtracked her thoughts.

 
"Thank you." Kayley smiled at them
and hoped they hadn't noticed her small detour. "I'm glad you like
it."

 
"We have already bought your painting
'Irish mist', but I just can't decide between those two seascapes," the
woman told Kayley and sighed. "I was trying to convince Bob to buy both,
but he says we just don't have the space."

 
Bob blushed scarlet and shifted his feet.
"Now, it's not because I don't like them all." He gestured with an
apologizing smile. "But Jessica already have paintings on nearly every
surface of the walls in our house."

 
"I told Bob we should just buy a bigger
house," Jessica said, looking up hopefully at Bob.

 
Kayley hid a smile at the look in Bob's eyes.
He was close to giving in to his wife's demands, she could see that clearly.
Unsure of how she should respond, she cleared her throat. "I must admit I
wouldn't know which painting to get either, if it was me. They are so
different. But I'm sure you'll work it out."

 
"Oh, don't worry dear
.
"
Jessica gave her a very feminine
smile, that
said she was sure she was going to get it the way she wanted it, and took Bob's
arm. "We'll just go look at them again, and see if we can make up our
minds."

 
Poor Bob, Kayley thought, and hurried outside
through a couple of big doors before another guest could start asking
questions. Bob probably didn't know what hit him the day he met Jessica, she
thought smiling, and escaped out onto one of the large stone patios. There was
no doubt in her mind that Jessica was going to get what she wanted, the way she
wanted it.

  
And wasn't that different from the way she
had grown up. Her mother would never have dared to ask for anything, and if she
had, chances were she would have been beaten, if she hadn't been quick enough
to escape.

She had come a long way
from that life, she thought, and breathed in the fresh night air.

 
"Hey, sis."

She spun towards the
voice. "Joe."

 
"Yeah." He walked towards her, out
of the dark shadows that had concealed him. "Miss
Kans
told me you had an exhibition, so I thought I would come by and see it."
He stopped beside her and looked out over the dark water.

 
"And what do you think?"

 
"It's grand." He stuck his hands in
his pockets, and glanced sideways at her. "I knew you were good, but I
didn't realize you were quite this good."

 
"Thanks." She knew that that was
about as big a compliment as Joe had ever given, or were able to give. "I
guess you haven't seen any of my paintings since I left for France."

 
"I have every paper clipping that's ever
been written about you and your art," Joe said, keeping his eyes on the
water. It wasn't easy for him to tell her.

 
"You do?" She looked at him
surprised. That was the last thing she would have expected.

 
"You're my sister. I like to keep track
of you." He tipped back on his heels.

 
"But you never kept in touch with
me," she said despite herself. She hadn't meant to say it.

 
"I know. I'm sorry, Kayley." He
dragged a hand through his hair and sighed. He knew they had to have this talk.
"I always wanted to do well and impress you." He held up a hand when
she started to speak. "We were both so hell bend on getting out, but I
just couldn't find my way as quickly as you. And I didn't want to drag you back
into it."

 
"You couldn't have. But I might have
been able to help you find your way more quickly."

 
"Maybe. But I was never much for asking
for help."

 
"I know." She looked up at him.
"I'm glad you came."

 
"So am I."

 
"Hello, Joe."

They both turned at the
sound of Nathan's voice. Kayley felt the tension between the two men, but
smiled up at Nathan as he slid his arm around her and drew her close against
him. She knew Nathan hadn't forgiven Joe for getting her into trouble.

 
"Nathan. It's been a while," Joe
said and kept his hands in his pockets.

 
"Yes, it has. We haven't heard anything
from you since
Schnyder
was captured."

 
"No." Joe turned and looked Nathan
dead in the eye. Challenging. "I've been busy wrapping up the case with Klein.
He kept his promise and hired me."

 
"Too busy to call?"

 
"Nathan." Kayley looked at him,
begging.

 
"
It's
okay,
Kayley," Joe said without taking his eyes off of Nathan's. "He has
every right to be angry. And you're right I could have called. But I thought it
was best to say what I had to say directly to Kayley."

 
Nathan took that in and nodded. "I
agree. I will never forgive you for bringing Kayley's life in danger, but I
agree."
 

 
"Fair enough."

Kayley sighed silently, as
they both relaxed.

 
"I'm sorry I missed your wedding. I
heard everything about it from Miss Kans."

 
"It's okay. Although I would have liked
you to have been there. It was small and intimate and just perfect."
Kayley smiled up at Nathan.

 
"Kayley, what are you
…
Joe." Miss
Kans
came out through the doors looking for her, and forgot everything else when she
spotted Joe. She rushed forward and threw her arms around him in a big hug.
"I can't believe you came. I was just telling Nathan's parents how much
you would enjoy the exhibition. Oh, you have to meet everyone," as she
spoke, she took a firm grip on his hand so he couldn't escape, and pulled him
towards the doors.

 
"All right. I'm coming." Joe
laughed and followed a chatting Miss
Kans
inside.

Nathan turned and pulled
Kayley close into his arms. "Are you enjoying your show?"

 
"Yes, I am. I didn't think I would, but
I am." It was true. She had even enjoyed all of the questions and
conversations that went along with it, and that was certainly a first.

 
"Good." He knew she always feared
the public part of her life. "It's a big success. You're a big success.
Over half of the paintings are already sold. We're going to have to hang up new
paintings for the long run of the exhibition."

 
"Wow," she said slightly
overwhelmed. "My paintings have never sold quite that fast before."

 
"Yeah, it calls for a celebration."
He grinned down at her. "So why don't we start now."

He took her mouth in a
deep passionate kiss, making her pulse skip and race. Her world spun dizzily
beneath her feet, and she had to grab onto the front of his shirt, to steady
herself.

 
"I've been wanting to do that all
evening," he said tearing his mouth from hers.

 
"Well, mission accomplished." Her
breath whooshed out of her lungs.

He gave a crack of
laughter. "I'm glad you talked everything out with your brother."

 
"You heard it?" she asked
surprised. Her brain still felt like mush after his kiss.

 
"Yeah. I came out looking for you, and
found you talking to Joe. I didn't want to interrupt, so I waited in the
background."

 
"I never thought he cared that
much."

 
"Kayley."

They looked towards the
open doors, and saw Yasmin waving at them to come back inside.

 
"Better go back in," Kayley said
softly.

 
"In a minute. I'm busy talking to my
wife," Nathan said over his shoulder and kept his arms firmly around her.

Her heart gave a quick
leap, as it did every time he called her his wife.

 
"Did I mention how beautiful you look
tonight?" he asked and brushed kisses along her jawline.

 
"Yes, you did." Her mind could
barely form the words, as pleasure coursed through her.

 
"We could probably make it to my suite
in under a minute," he said against her mouth.

She laughed breathlessly
and took a quick step back, before he could use his mouth to persuade her and
make her forget everything else.

 
"I don't think Yasmin would take it very
well." She brushed at her dress and prayed for the night air to cool her
hot skin.

 
"Okay." He grinned when he took a
step towards her and she backed up. "But I'm going to make up for that
later."

Delicious anticipation ran
down her spine at his words. "I'm counting on that."