Free Alien Vengeance by Sara Craven Page B

would be tempted to be— very reckless.’ He paused. ‘As it is,’ he added sardonically, ‘I can relax and go about my business, knowing that you are here, safely occupied with your domestic concerns. Who knows?’ He shrugged slightly. ‘You might even miss me a little.’
    Her pulses felt erratic. ‘I wouldn’t count on it.’
    ‘You might also,’ he went on silkily, as if he hadn’t heard her last remark, ‘give some further thought to the fascinating offer of your body you made me earlier.’ He paused again. ‘I am inclined to accept, so if you were not serious, now is the time to say so.’
    ‘I wasn’t serious,’ she said.
    ‘Very wise.’ He sounded almost approving. ‘You see, agape mou, , I would have guaranteed nothing in return. You assumed, did you not, that I would be satisfied with one brief coupling which you would somehow endure?’ He shook his head, smiling faintly. ‘You are wrong, my lovely one, on all counts. Once I have you, Gemma, I intend to keep you—for a while at least. And it is also possible that once you belong to me, you will not want to leave either,’ he added softly.
    She wanted to say something shattering, something which would blast his ego, his selfesteem to smithereens, but no words came. Did he really believe, she found herself wondering shakily, that his physical enthralment of her would be so simple, so effortless as he implied? And knew, in that moment, that he did.
    At last she heard herself say in a voice which did not seem to belong to her, ‘You’re mad—you have to be. It’s the only explanation.’
    ‘It’s a crazy world, Gemma mou .’ He paused. ‘I will bring food for this evening with me when I come back. Is there anything else you require? Anything you would like me to bring you from the town?’
    She raised her eyebrows in exaggerated surprise. ‘Trying to buy me now, kyrie ? Surely you’re not losing faith in your own technique at this late stage.’
    He looked at her for a long moment, bleakly, and in silence, his mouth firmed to a harsh line. Then he said, ‘It was a gesture of goodwill, intended perhaps to ease the situation a little. But forget it.’ He shrugged dismissively, and turned away.
    Gemma bit her lip. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said stiffly. ‘Actually, there is something—but I’m sure you don’t have to go all the way to town for it.’ She took a breath. ‘I’d like something to wear, please, if only as an alternative to this.’ She indicated the shirt, with a gesture of self-derision. ‘It surely isn’t too much to ask?’
    ‘No.’ He went on watching her. ‘At least not when it is asked in the right way.’
    ‘I said “please”.’ Her chin went up.
    ‘I heard you, but I would have preferred the request to be made with a little more warmth.’
    ‘Do you want me to go on my knees?’ She fiddled with the dishes, piling them together fussily on the table, avoiding looking at him.
    ‘No.’ He paused again. ‘I think I would prefer you to kiss me.’
    ‘Go to hell.’ Gemma spoke with bitter distinctness.
    ‘As you wish. Then your request is refused.’
    She stared down at the table. ‘You mean—if I kiss you—and only then—you’ll bring me something else to wear.’
    ‘Why, yes, matia mou . That is exactly what I mean,’ he said mockingly. ‘Is it so much to ask?’ She swallowed. ‘I’m not actually putting you to any trouble. You’ve got my luggage hidden somewhere, after all. You only have to open the case...’
    ‘And you only have to walk a few paces across this terrace to me,’ the tormenting voice returned. ‘The decision is yours.’
    Head bent, cheeks burning, hating him, she took the requisite number of steps. He didn’t move, and she had to stand more or less on tiptoe to reach his olive-skinned cheek with her lips, briefly and awkwardly.
    He said something terse and very violent half under his breath, and in his own language. His hands clamped down on her shoulders, forcing