Free Sweet Savage Eden by Heather Graham Page A

somewhat successful, for she had never known just how hungry she was. She couldn’t remember eating food that tasted this good, that was served so deliciously.
    Then she looked up and found him still staring at her, and her pleasure in the meal dimmed. She did not know which of the men was paying the cost of the meal.
    Jamie Cameron refilled her tankard with ale. She took it from him, sipping it, nervously meeting his eyes. Robert was talking about the fine flavor of the tart. She barely heard him, for she felt Jamie Cameron’s eyes. Felt them, just as she had when they had fallen on her naked flesh, searching into her.
    “Eat,” Jamie said softly, “but go carefully.”
    “I have eaten too much,” she murmured.
    “Nay, it is good to see you so thoroughly enjoy that which I have taken far oft for granted. Take care, lest it be too much for your stomach.”
    She nodded and set down the bread upon which she had chewed. He stood up and walked to the window and watched the winter wind. “Master John should be hanged,” he muttered suddenly, savagely.
    Then he turned back to the two of them. “Hurry, now. Jassy, you must change. And we must be under way. I’d reach Somerfield before dark if at all possible.”
    “I’ll see about the horses,” Robert said. He squeezed Jassy’s hand and strode out of the room. Jassy rose. She stared over at the clothing, and she knew that she could not go on. It wasn’t right; it was making her the woman she had sworn she would not become.
    “I am not going,” she said.
    “You are.”
    She shook her head. “Robert has been kind to me. but I can accept no more. I want nothing from the Somerfields, and I am certain that they will not welcome me. I wish to go on, alone.”
    He walked over to the bench. He plowed through the clothing there, to find a dress in dark green velvet with tiers of black lace over white lace at the bodice and sleeve. The underskirt was beige silk, daintily embroidered. There were no corsets among the things, and no petticoats. Those that she had would have to do. “Thank God you are small, and the same size. This is the one you will wear now.” He came to her with the dress.
    She shook her head. “You are not listening—I am not going with you.”
    His brow arched tauntingly. “Are you such a coward, then?”
    “I am not a coward! I have no desire to be with you!”
    “Ah, but I shall leave you at Somerfield.”
    “No!”
    He thrust the dress toward her. “Do take this. I will leave you alone to dress.”
    “I will not—”
    “I will,” he said, interrupting her softly. “And I think that you know that I will, so please, change on your own. You have no secrets from me, you know. None at all.”
    Totally exasperated, she stamped her foot on theground. “I am not going with you! You may have wealth and power, Lord Cameron, but I am not a slave! You cannot make me!”
    “Then what will you do? You have nothing.”
    “You forget. I have your coin from last night. And believe me, Lord Cameron, I have earned it!”
    He smiled slowly, shaking his head. “Ah, but you
don’t
have the coin I gave you last night.”
    “Threw at me.”
    “Whatever. You have it no longer.”
    He spoke with quiet assurance. She plunged her hand into her pocket and discovered that he was right—her one gold coin was gone.
    He bowed low to her. “I’m afraid, Mistress Jassy, that you have taught me your tricks.”
    “Give it back to me!”
    “But it is mine.”
    “No!”
    “You performed no service. Did you intend to alter that fact?”
    “Oh!” She dropped the dress and tried to strike him. He caught her arm, and she fell against him, breathing heavily. He pulled her close and their eyes met. “Now—”
    “Give it back!”
    “Gladly. But you earn it here and now.”
    “Oh! You are a toad!”
    “Perhaps, but, mistress, you are no princess! Now—”
    “You gave it to me!”
    “Threw it, or so you say. What matters that? It is mine now. I possess it. And