Hidden Currents (3 page)

Stavros was very used to getting his way, and trying to force her to comply to his will would be something he might do without thinking it was wrong. It was her first real reprimand, gentle as she could make it although she wanted to spit fire at him.

His eyes darkened to a stormy color. “I asked you to stay with me. To go to my home with me. Sheena, I’ve never brought a woman there.”

She took a deep breath. He was taking her to his island and she would be cut off from all aid. Did he suspect her? And if he did, did that mean he had something to hide? Already the engines were starting to rumble and she could feel the deck vibrating beneath her feet. “Stavros, maybe I should meet you there later, tomorrow or the day after.”

Stavros patted her hand and led her across the deck to seat her in a plush chair. “We need time together, Sheena. I want to spend a week together, just the two of us, and perhaps you’ll change your mind about me.”

“I don’t have enough clothes for a week,” Elle said, trying to be practical.

“I’ll send for them.”

“I’m not sleeping with you, Stavros. I told you I can’t be in a relationship right now. I’m not ready.”

“You told me this man broke your heart, Sheena. Who is he?”

She shrugged, suddenly concerned by the steel in his eyes. She had the uneasy feeling that if she named anyone, he might turn up dead. Which was silly when she had been very certain that Stavros was no criminal. But, then, if that was the case, why were all her internal alarms screaming at her?

“He’s of no consequence.”

“He must be, if you won’t consider another relationship.” Stavros drummed his fingers on the table. She’d seen him do that when he was deep in thought or very agitated. “Did you live with him? How long were you with him?”

“That isn’t your business,” Elle said firmly.

His eyes narrowed. “I can hire someone to find out these answers for me.”

Her heart jumped. He’d had her investigated. Dane had told her to be prepared for that. They had meticulously built her life and provided everything down to college pictures and records as well as a detailed past, but would it stand up to the kind of investigation a man like Stavros Gratsos would demand? Was this the reason he was taking her to his island? He’d discovered that she was undercover?

“Why are you pushing me?”

Stavros leaned toward her, his gaze locking with hers. “I want you. I have never wanted a woman in the way I want you.”

Was that the simple truth? She doubted it. Sheena was beautiful and a woman of mystery and intelligence, the type that would attract and intrigue Stavros, but he wasn’t known for falling for women. He escorted them, spent time with them, but inevitably he walked away. Why was he so determined to claim Sheena for his own?

Elle sighed. “You’re going to have to get over it, Stavros. I’ll be as honest as possible with you. Birth control won’t work on me. I have this anomaly that runs in my family. No form of birth control works. Even if you used a condom, chances are still very high that I would get pregnant. I’m not doing that to myself. Or to you, for that matter.”

His eyes darkened even more as he searched her face for the truth. She actually felt his mind reach out to hers and she pulled back, afraid for the first time that he might be able to read her as she did others. She allowed only the truth of her statement in her mind where he might catch her thoughts. Not only did he look intrigued, he looked pleased.

“You speak the truth.”

She nodded. “I have no reason to lie. I really can’t take the chance and as I want children someday, I can’t take care of the problem permanently.”

“So you didn’t sleep with the man who broke your heart?”

She shook her head and looked out toward sea. The shore was fading as the yacht picked up speed heading toward his private island.

Stavros let out his breath, drawing her attention back to him. “Then I will be your first. Your only.” There was deep satisfaction in his purring voice.

“I told you I will get pregnant. Not
can
, Stavros, I
will
get pregnant.”

“I want children,” he said. “I have no problem with you getting pregnant.”

Her heart jumped. There it was. Stavros was handsome, charming, wealthy and he wanted children. She was certain he was psychic. Why couldn’t the Drake house choose him? Maybe there was more than one man who would fit with her, and fate had intervened to give her another choice. Stavros Gratsos, who was forcing her to accompany him home.

“Stavros,” she said gently, “you are the sweetest man, but you’re way out of my league. Half your guests wonder what you’re doing with me.”

“Let them wonder.”

Sid approached in his silent way and leaned down to whisper in Stavros’s ear. Stavros immediately patted her hand. “We’ll be home soon. I have to take this call.” He dropped a kiss on top of her head as if they had already settled everything and walked away.

Elle took a breath and let it out. She needed to try to stay in character just in case her cover wasn’t blown, but she needed to get word to someone where she was. She couldn’t kid herself. She could easily disappear and Stavros could have a hundred people swearing they saw him drop her off.

She closed her eyes. She needed to reach her sisters and let them know where she was, but the distance was too great. They were back in the United States and unless the psychic link between them was shattered, they wouldn’t feel her—but . . . There was the worm. Jackson Deveau. His psychic connection to her was strong and if she reached out to him, she might be able to connect and let him know where she was being taken. Did pride count when one’s life might be in danger? Was she really that stupid?

Already the boat was moving the short distance to his private island. It wasn’t that far from the mainland. As the yacht approached the island, she could feel a faint buzzing in her head. At first it was annoying, but soon began to swell in volume almost to the point of pain. Pressing her fingers to her temples in an effort to relieve the ache, she caught Stavros watching her. There was a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes, as if he knew of the pressure in her head. She glanced at Sid. Whatever she was feeling, so was he, but he hid it better. He kept walking with Stavros, his face turned away from his boss, but she knew that same pressure was in his head as well.

Elle took another deep breath and let it out. The island was getting closer and the pressure in her head increasing. It was now or never. She closed her eyes and blocked out everything but Jackson. The way he looked. Remote. Broad shoulders. Scars. Thick chest. Piercing eyes filled with shadows.
Jackson.
She whispered his name in her mind. Sent it out into the universe.

There was a brief moment of silence, as if the world around her held its breath. A dolphin leapt from the sea and somersaulted back under the glassy waves. Elle nearly screamed when Stavros jerked her from her seat. She hadn’t even sensed him coming up behind her.

“What are you doing?” he bit out, his white teeth snapping together. Fury etched the lines in his face.

He knew. Elle glanced toward his bodyguard. Sid knew, too. They not only had natural barriers but they were sensitive to telepathy.
Both of them.
She was in way over her head.

“Sheena! Answer me.”

“Let go of me.” Elle jerked her body away from him. “I don’t understand why you’re behaving this way.” Even Sheena, as calm and collected as she was, wouldn’t put up with being manhandled. Elle glared at him. “I’ve had enough, Stavros. I want to go home.”

She was never going home again
. The thought came unbidden, but settled into her churning stomach. Once she set foot on that island, her life as she knew it would be over.

Elle? Where are you? Stay alive, baby, any way you have to. Stay alive for me. I’ll come to you. I’ll find you. Do whatever you have to do.

Jackson’s voice was warm, a soft, intimate slide into her mind—into her body. He felt like home. Like comfort. She wanted to fling herself inside him and shelter there. He must have heard—or felt—the despair in her, the fear.

Stavros caught both of her arms and yanked her against him, giving her a little shake as he brought her up onto her toes. “You will stop this moment unless you wish Sid to put you to sleep. I know what you are doing.”

Elle. Answer me.
There was a hard command in Jackson’s voice, almost a compulsion for her to answer. She gasped when Stavros’s fingers tightened hard on her upper arms.

“Don’t!” he warned.

Had he heard? She doubted it. But he’d felt the energy vibrating and knew she’d received a response.

Damn it, baby. Just fucking stay alive. Whatever it takes.

Elle glanced at Sid. He held a syringe in his hand. She forced her body to relax, not wanting to go to his island unconscious. “You know about me.” She kept her voice even. Very calm.

“That you are telepathic? Yes, of course. I felt it immediately.”

“Well at least I don’t have to try to explain that to you,” Elle said, spilling relief into her voice. “I hate hiding who I am from the world, but people think I’m crazy.”

His fingers relaxed their hold on her, although she knew she’d have bruises. “You don’t ever have to hide from me, Sheena. I’m very much like you.”

Elle studied his face. Stavros was a little too okay with kidnapping to be as clean as she’d first believed him to be.

“We’ll talk at my home,” Stavros said, effectively stopping her questions.

Elle remained silent, determined not to allow him to see that she was afraid. She let Sid help her from the yacht to the pier and then into the waiting car. The island was beautiful, lush and green under the late morning sun. She noted the way as they drove along the road up toward the villa.

Once there, Elle turned gracefully on the rich leather seat of the chauffeur-driven car and extended her high-heeled foot out the door, allowing the slit along her glittering gown to slip open and reveal her shapely leg just for a brief flash as she exited the car. Beside her, Stavros tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and guided her up the walkway to the enormous house built on the island overlooking the sea. He stroked her fingers and she glanced up at him, sending him a faint smile before turning her attention to his masterpiece of a house.

The structure was long, sprawling and multilevel and looked to be nearly all glass, so the views could be seen from any direction. Reachable only by small plane, helicopter or boat, the island afforded Gratsos as much privacy as he wanted. She knew he was trying to impress her, that she had intrigued him, because so far, nothing of his world had impressed her. He was used to women throwing themselves at him, and she was different enough to be a challenge. Well . . . that and he somehow had built-in radar when it came to psychic abilities. It was how he must have found his bodyguard and why he had been so drawn to her.

At least she knew why he was so interested in her now or it might have been difficult not to be flattered by his attentions. Stavros was a handsome, intelligent man and knew how to pull out every stop to seduce a woman. He was charming about it, but there was an aura of danger surrounding him, and she never discounted reading auras. He wasn’t going to let her go. She was in trouble and she knew it. Stavros didn’t like taking no for an answer.

Her heart beat a little too fast, and she took a couple of deep breaths to calm the flood of adrenaline. She was out of range of communication here, completely cut off from all help, especially with that bothersome pain growing stronger in her head. It had to be a transmission of some kind to block psychic energy. She wasn’t certain it was even possible, but the moment she was alone, she was going to test her theory.

“Sheena?” Stavros rubbed the back of her hand again. “I wanted you to see my home.” His voice purred. “Say you’re not upset with me for kidnapping you and bringing you here.” He paused on the intricate walkway leading to his magnificent home, tipping up her face to stare intently into her eyes.

Elle could imagine that his intent look would make most women feel a little faint. She just felt sick. Whatever Stavros’s intentions were, he didn’t much care if she agreed or not.

“Does telepathy run in your family?” She wanted him to think only of that ability and no other. She kept herself strictly under control, not giving in to fear when she wanted to raise her arms to the wind and use the force of it to gain freedom.

“Don’t talk in front of anyone,” he hissed, still smiling. “This subject is for us alone.”

Another bid to join them together. She recognized manipulation when she saw it. At least he was still trying to be charming and gain compliance rather than force it. She nodded her head, unwilling to try to fight a losing battle. She’d much rather wait and see what Stavros wanted from her. Maybe she could collect information that Dane would find helpful, if she managed to make it out alive.

The door was opened by a matronly looking woman who managed to look right through Elle as if she wasn’t there. “This is Drusilla. She’s our housekeeper,” Stavros introduced. “Without her we’d all be lost.”

Drusilla beamed and smiled a welcome to Stavros while she nodded a little warily to Elle. Elle stepped inside the enormous multilevel glass room. “This is beautiful, Stavros.”

“I’m glad you like it, as it will be your home.”

Elle heard Drusilla’s swift intake of breath and Stavros immediately sent her a glaring reprimand. Elle forced herself to step farther into the room, looking around her. The view was breathtaking, the most incredible she’d ever seen. It was an amazing silken cage, a prison beyond her wildest dreams.

She allowed Stavros to lead her through the long, starkly beautiful room and up the wide staircase to a large bedroom. He pushed open the door and gestured toward the four-poster bed. “This will be your room. Mine is just down the hall.”

Someone had already placed Elle’s small overnight bag on the bed. It looked ridiculous among the rich opulence of the room.

“Stavros, wait.” Elle caught his arm. “I really can’t stay. I have an appointment this afternoon and I can’t be late.”