Silencing Eve (25 page)

All had faded into nothingness.

And darkness.

*   *   *

“ENOUGH.” CALEB’S VOICE WAS SOFT
in her ear. “You should be ready now.”

Ready? Ready for him to come over her and again begin that mad, sexual marathon that had driven her—

Wrong. Something was wrong. How could that have happened? How could she have let it happen?

And then she realized just how wrong it had been.

Her eyes flew open. “No!” She bolted upright in bed. “You son of a bitch.” She glared at him. “Your damn tricks.”

He chuckled as he rolled over and raised himself on one elbow. “You enjoyed those tricks enormously.” His smile faded. “And so did I. I had no idea you were that responsive. I had to force myself to stop.”

“Responsive? It wasn’t real. It was a hallucination. You were playing mind games with me.”

“And what games they were…” His eyes wandered slowly from her breasts down her body. “You’re beautiful, you know. Even more beautiful than you were in that garden. That’s one of the disadvantages of having to concentrate on maintaining a fantasy. I have to build the entire picture when I’d prefer to enjoy the reality of you.”

“Bastard.” She was jerking on her clothes. “It was
all
fantasy. I had nothing to do with it.”

He shook his head. “I’m sure that would be comforting, but it’s not true. All I did was lull you into a responsive state and give you a pleasant setting. Every one of those emotional reactions were your own. That’s the way it works, Jane.”

“Then it was a physical response to what you were doing to the flow of my blood.”

“Perhaps a little. Most of it was—”

“I’m not going to listen to this.” She glared at him as she finished buttoning her blouse. “It was deceit. I’m not going to forgive this, Caleb.”

“Someday. Just another hurdle to overcome.”

“The hell it is.” She got to her feet and strode toward the bathroom. “That was an … invasion.”

“Only mentally. Just imagine what it would have been like if I’d actually been in you.”

“You imagine. You’re so damn good at it.” She splashed water in her face. “And my mind is as important as my body. You make me—”

“Forget your outrage for a moment. I did nothing to hurt you physically. I was careful and didn’t let it interfere with getting you well. Do you realize how strong you’re feeling? Stop a minute and gauge the difference from when you walked into this room. I don’t want you to leave me until I’m certain that I’ve done my job.”

“Done your job?” She wiped her face on the hand towel and threw it on the vanity. “Oh, you’ve done more than your job, Caleb.” She strode back into the bedroom. “I want to strangle you.”

“No pain? No exhaustion?” He was ignoring her rage. “You feel entirely normal? Think. That’s why you came here. Let’s get that right.”

She drew a deep breath. It was hard to think through this emotional turmoil. “I feel normal physically. I believe that part came out okay. Other than that I feel … used.”

“Really? Then that makes two of us.” He sat up and leaned back against the headboard. He was still naked, and he looked arrogant, beautifully indolent, and an entirely sexual being. Yet she was suddenly aware that that indolence was false, beneath it a storm was brewing. He was angry. “So don’t expect me to feel too badly about returning the favor.” He smiled. “It’s not my nature.”

“You’re angry.” Caleb had disguised it behind his usual enigmatic, cynical facade, but Jane was now realizing something else. “And you’ve been angry since the moment I walked into this room.”

“Why not? Trevor gave me orders, and you graciously but reluctantly agreed to do what he wanted. No one asked me to help you. It was all between the two of you. I was merely the go-between, a tool.” His smile vanished entirely. “I didn’t like the role I was assigned to play. I’ve been an outsider all my life, but I’ve never felt it quite this deeply. I made it clear to you that all you had to do was come to me, and I’d help you. If you’d just come to me, it could have gone differently. Who knows? I might have even been able to go against nature and shown you a little of Trevor’s magnificent selflessness.”

“You’re saying it’s my fault?”

“I’m saying that there’s blame enough for everyone.” He shrugged. “And that I could have been far worse than I was tonight.”

“If you were that resentful, why didn’t you refuse? Why didn’t you turn your back and walk away from me?”

He didn’t speak for a moment. “I find I’m not capable of doing that.” He shrugged. “So I made the best of it. You got what you wanted. I didn’t entirely get what I wanted, but you’re not going to be able to forget that little preview of what’s to come. We’ll be even more fantastic when we finally come together.”

“We’re not ever going to come together. I hate to be weak, and you took advantage of that weakness. Do you think I’d ever trust you again?” She drew a long, shaky breath. “You’re right, Trevor and I did use you. It was wrong. I should have shown you gratitude and not taken anything for granted.”

“Screw your gratitude,” Caleb said roughly. “And I never expected trust from you. You’ve been wary of me from the moment we met. I accept that since the fringe benefits will be extraordinary. As for being weak, you’re not weak. You’re strong, and I love that strength. You just wanted what I gave you. If you feel a little overwhelmed, you’ll rally and find a way to control anything I do to you.”

She shook her head adamantly. “No, Caleb.”

“Yes, Jane,” he said softly. “Now go on out to Trevor and tell him all is well and that I’ve done as ordered. He’s probably ready to have a breakdown by now. Not that I’d mind. But you’d be all teary and emotional, and it would be another step back for me.”

“Not just a step. Trevor is miles ahead of you,” she said quietly. “What happened tonight proved that to me.”

“But the game’s not over. It’s scarcely begun.”

“It’s over, Caleb.” She opened the door and saw Trevor standing at the door of the balcony gazing out at the city. She felt a sudden rush of relief and joy. “You just can’t see it. It couldn’t be more clear to me.”

*   *   *

TREVOR MUST HAVE HEARD HER
because he turned to look at her as she shut the door behind her. “You were a long time.”

“Yes.”

“Three hours and thirty-five minutes.”

“You kept track?”

“Oh, yes. Every minute. Every second. Are you okay?” He gazed at her searchingly. “It did what it was supposed to do?”

She nodded. “I feel the same way that I did after Caleb did his voodoo the last time. It should last me long enough. I only need a few days.”

“Yes.” He was silent a moment. “And was everything else about it the same?”

“Yes … and no.” She came into his arms and laid her head on his shoulder. “Hold me, Trevor.”

He stiffened, then his arms slid around her. “Why do you need me to hold you? Should I go kill Caleb?”

“No, I don’t need protection. Caleb and I understand our positions. He told me to tell you that he’d done what you ordered.”

“You said yes and no. What was the no?”

“He was angry.”

His grip tightened. “Did he hurt you?”

“You want to know details?”

“Not if you don’t want to tell me.”

“I want you to know everything you want to know. I don’t want to close you out of what happened. I know sending me to him wasn’t easy for you.”

“It was hell.” He paused. “Did he rape you?”

“No.” She added, “And no, I didn’t really have sex with him.”

“Really? That’s a little too tentative.”

“Mind games. I told you that Caleb had that capability.” She paused. “And the touching was more intimate than the first time. That’s all that was different.”

“I still think I should kill him.” He tilted back her head and looked into her eyes. “Because I’m sensing something else about you. There’s a difference. You’re more…” He searched for a word. “Open.”

He was right, she had never felt more open, more free. All the boundaries were gone. She smiled. “But that’s a good thing. Can’t you understand that?”

“No, why don’t you tell me?”

“I will. Because I realized something when you sent me to Caleb tonight. Not at first, I was too confused and hazy to be able to think clearly during those first moments, then Caleb was dominating every—”

“I don’t want to hear that.”

“But I have to be honest with you. I want you to know everything that I’m feeling. It’s important. You were right when you said that I have an erotic response to Caleb. I can’t seem to help that response. It may have something to do with that damn blood thing. I don’t know. But I don’t have to act on it. And it’s just sex, Trevor.”

“Just? That’s damn important.”

“But not most important.” She took his face in her hands and looked him in the eye. “Love is more important. Love and trust.” This was harder than she’d thought it would be. “I … love you, Trevor.”

“Love,” he repeated. “That’s the first time you’ve said that to me.” He paused. “Have we had a breakthrough?”

“I do love you.” She moistened her lips. “And I trust you. You said I didn’t trust anyone but Eve, but I do trust you. You’d never lie or do anything that wasn’t honest or good.”

“I’m no angel, Jane. You should know that better than anyone.”

“I trust you.” She kissed him. “Now will you stop trying to talk me out of this? It’s all new to me, and I’m having a tough time adjusting. You wanted trust and commitment? You’ve got it. Unless you’ve changed your mind.”

“Changed my mind? After all these years of trying to get you to admit that we were born to be together?” A brilliant smile broke the gravity of his expression. He picked her up and whirled her in a circle. “And all I had to do was throw you into bed with another man.” He kissed her long, hard. “But that’s not going to happen again.”

“It would if you thought it would help me,” she whispered. “Because that’s what your love is about, Trevor. It’s giving and caring and not taking.” She nestled closer. “And I thank God for it. I do love you, Trevor. You said I seemed open. That’s the way I feel. Everything is flowing out to you. I want to give you my thoughts and feelings and dreams…” She suddenly broke away from him. “Let’s go bring Caleb out here to monitor those machines. I want to go somewhere and be alone with you.”

“My, how aggressive.” He smiled. “I’m not sure that Caleb will welcome that call to duty.”

“He said we’d used him, and I realized how callous I’d been. We shouldn’t have done it. It was wrong,” she said. “But this time I don’t care. We don’t have much time, and I’m going to steal a little.” She headed for the bedroom door. “You call down and get us a room on this floor, and I’ll go get Caleb.”

And hope that he was not still naked, she thought dryly. She wouldn’t put it past him to open the door nude for sheer devilment.

But when Caleb opened the door to her knock he was no longer naked but wearing jeans and a turtleneck sweater. He smiled. “You need me?”

“To monitor the machines.” She added deliberately, “Trevor and I are getting a room. Unless you’ve decided that you’re going to opt out of finding Eve.”

She couldn’t read his expression, but she could see the tension of the muscles in his shoulders and abdomen. “That would be very foolish of me. I told you it wasn’t over.” He strolled out into the sitting room. “By all means, run along. Comparisons are always interesting.” He dropped down in the chair by the table. “I’ll let you know if you should drop everything and come running.” He glanced at Trevor. “But you should thank me for the gift I gave you.”

“No way.” Trevor took Jane’s hand and led her toward the door to the corridor. “I’d be a fool to do that when this is how it was meant to be. You didn’t give me anything, it was all Jane. And I’ll take it and never let go.” He looked down at her as he whisked her out of the room. “Now and forever, so help me God.”

“That sounds like a wedding vow.” Her voice was uneven. Love, trust, devotion, commitment. So many emotions she had been afraid to feel were brimming within her in this moment. “I like it. Now and forever…”

CHAPTER

12

Bayside, Washington

“JOE, JUST THINK ABOUT IT,”
Catherine urged. “Gallo is damn good. He can help you. Two can sometimes accomplish more than one.”

“Okay, I’ll think about it.”

“That’s all I ask. Stubborn. You’re both so damn stubborn. I got the same response from Gallo.” She hung up.

Two can sometimes accomplish more than one
.

Catherine’s words might have rung true to Joe, but it all depended on what two you were talking about, he thought as he hung up. Gallo might have been a top-notch Special Forces guy, but Joe did
not
want to have to deal with him. Gallo would want to go his own way and try to control everything and everyone around him.

Like Joe did, himself.

That was different.

Or, if it wasn’t, it was irrelevant that they had similar philosophies if they didn’t have to work together. He didn’t need Gallo. The minute he got into Seattle, he would make contact with Detective Brewer in Seattle Homicide and see what the word was out on the streets about any new cell movement. Then he would hit the bars and try to pick up—

His cell phone rang.

He stiffened when he read the ID.

Ben Hudson.

He hadn’t thought of the boy since he had left the hospital after Jane had drawn Doane’s sketch from the description Ben had given her of Eve’s kidnapper. He should have thought more about the kid, dammit. The reason Ben had ended up in that hospital was that he was trying to protect Eve. “Ben? Are you okay? What can I do for you?”

“You should have taken me with you,” Ben said reproachfully. “I told you that Bonnie wanted me to keep Eve safe. I let her down when I let that man take her away from the cottage. I have to get Eve back.”

“I told you that was my job, Ben. You can’t—” Be patient, Joe told himself. He had to remind himself that Ben might still have the mind of a child, but that spirit and heart he possessed were special in more ways than one. In their search for Bonnie, they had come upon Ben, who had been having dreams of Eve’s daughter. Eve believed that Bonnie’s ghost actually visited Ben because they were kindred souls. Joe had to acknowledge there was some kind of mystical connection when Ben had ended up in the hospital because one of his Bonnie dreams had sent him to try to protect Eve from Doane. Joe owed him. He could have been killed instead of just injured. “You were wounded and in the hospital. I didn’t have time to wait for you to get well. Are you still in the hospital, Ben?”