Free Bargain with the devil by Jayne Castle Page B

it’s different for a man,“ she added, stumbling slightly over the words,
    „but I need time – “
    „What more do you need to know about the devil?“ Hunter asked with a mocking touch of whimsy as his fingers undid the last of the buttons and slowly, coolly pushed aside the material, exposing her breasts.
    Stacy felt the angry blood rush into her cheeks and turned her face into the cushion of the couch. Her eyes squeezed shut on her fury and helplessness. He was right, she thought bitterly. What more did one need to know about the devil? And she had made her pact of her own free will, hadn’t she? What right did she have to complain about her fate? She felt him touch her breast, slide beneath the lacy cup of the small bra, and then his fingers were gently circling, tugging, and-teasing her nipple. Stacy sipped air on a tiny moan.
    „Look at me, Stacy,“ he commanded in a low, husky murmur as he shifted to settle his full length along her trapped body. She could feel the steel in him, the smooth, muscled heaviness of his leanness as he crushed her softly into the couch.
    „I said look at me,“ he repeated, as she refused to meet his eyes.
    Helifted his hand, the one he had been using to caress her breast, and fjrmly turned her taut face away from the poor protection of the flowered cushion.
    Unwillingly Stacy looked up into the rugged, uncompromising face and swallowed dryly. In that moment it took all her courage simply not to cry. And Stacy hadn’t cried for a very long time.
    „I’m not doing this because of some uncontrollable lust I’ve conceived for a woman I’ve only known a couple of hours,“ he told her forcefully. „I’m doing it because my instincts tell me you’re going to argue, bargain, and try to wriggle out of this marriage unless I make it very clear there’s no going back.“
    „I’ll honor my end of the deal!“ she snapped, offended that he thought she would sink to his level of scheming.
    „I’d prefer to make certain of it,“ he retorted grimly. „Besides,“
    he taunted, thumbs toying with the corners of her mouth, „aren’t you even mildly interested to see whether or not you can bear to have the devil in bed with you?“
    „And if I can’t bear it?“ she challenged. „Will you call off our deal if it turns out I’m not capable of enjoying the act of love with a man who despises me and my whole family?“
    Something hardened in the grayness of his eyes, and the line of his mouth tightened. „The bargain stands regardless of how miserable you choose to make your own life!“
    „Because you’ll do anything to complete your revenge?“ she hissed, knowing it was useless to goad him. Nothing would make him change his mind.
    „Because of that and the fact that once I’ve made a deal, -I stick by it,“ he said arrogantly through tightly clamped teeth.
    „Well so do I!“ she stormed. Precious seconds ticked past.
    „You want me to trust you?“ he mused finally.
    „Yes,“ she breathed. „Please.“ She could sense the thoughtful hesitation in him as if he were examining the idea from all sides.
    „All right.“ He agreed so suddenly, she flinched. „Come to think of it, it might not be a bad idea if you learned to trust me, too. Give me a little on account tonight, Stacy Rylan, just to show your good will,“ he mocked, „and I’ll give you my word not to make a Manning out of you until our wedding!“
    „A little on account?“ she queried suspiciously.
    „Don’t you trust me?“ he asked, his mouth twisting cruelly.
    Stacy stared at him for a timeless instant. The strange part was that she really did trust him. He was a hard, bitter, unforgiving man, but she somehow believed him when he said his word was his bond.
    He was too proud for it to be otherwise.
    „A… a few kisses and that’s all,“ she hedged carefully.
    „That’s my Stacy.“ He sighed, bending his head to set his mouth on hers. „Always trying to qualify the terms of the