Free Love Me With Fury by Janelle Taylor Page A

timidly wheedled, “Please, Stephen, must you strip away all my pride? Surely a valiant man such as yourself understands pride? Would you meekly permit a total stranger to make you feel degraded and defeated? Would you allow a female to treat you as you are treating me? I daresay you would rebel and resist with every ounce of strength and daring which you so vividly possess. You seem to forget something very important, my swash-buckling rogue; I am not a willing strumpet whom you’ve paid to accept these cruelties. Is it truly necessary to treat me as a highly paid harlot or some cheap doxy? After all, I am at your mercy.” Her emerald eyes welled with tears; her dainty chin quivered. She lowered her head, her silvery gold hair falling forward to conceal her expression which might unwittingly give away her crafty deceit.
    Her wily scheme had the desired effect upon him. She had shrewdly selected arguments which he could readily comprehend and accept. Her vulnerability and sadness touched him deeply. As she sniffled, he was sorely tempted to go to her and to comfort her, butdecided that would be unwise. She was like a fragile budding flower who was frightened and confused by the torrid rays of the sun, enticing her to unfold her delicate petals and present her beauty and freshness to him.
    “You’re right, Angel. I need not wither such a lovely flower with my blazing eyes. Wash off; then we’ll talk, love,” he crooned in that husky voice which stirred her.
    He grinned at her fetching sight before his gaze. He lay down upon the grass which still boasted of her shapely impression. His body was temporarily sated, although stirrings of new desire were lapping at his mind. This place was tranquil and the sun was relaxing. A feeling of contented drowsiness and total peacefulness came over him. He shut out the azure sky and white clouds above him. The twittering of birds, the droning of bees, the singing of other busy insects relaxed his taut body and soothed his battle-weary brain. Thoughts of other matters entered his mind, that critical mission which had deserted his attention in favor of enticing plans for this alluring angel whom he had fortuitously discovered. She was beautiful and intriguing and he definitely planned to savor her. Dispatches, Spain, and Madison could wait just a wee bit longer…
    Alex chanced a quick glance at him. Watching the steady rise and fall of his manly chest, she hoped he was not deceiving her with feigned slumber. Had he given in to her too easily to be trusted? Did he think her too mesmerized by him or too faint-hearted toattempt escape? The ruthless tyrant! The arrogant nincompoop! He had just demolished her world of beauty and innocence; and now, he was calmly taking a snooze! Fury consumed her.
    She held her breath and dipped beneath the surface of the water to lift a heavy rock with her two hands, the weapon which she had been gingerly seeking out with her toes, that device to better the odds between them. Terrified, but determined, she slowly and carefully eased over to the edge of the pond to carry out her daring assault upon him. He was resting close enough to the bank for her to strike him senseless with a properly placed blow upon his handsome head. She struggled to silence her noisy respiration and to still her shaking hands. Her heart was racing wildly; shivers washed over her. As she forced her shaky legs to move forward, she held the rock beneath the surface of the water, ready to drop it if discovered. One wrong move…
    Lulled into a delusive sense of security and power, Spencer’s keen instincts were not at full alert; they failed him for the first time ever. Nearly asleep, he did not detect his angel’s stealthy approach or his imminent danger until it was too late to react. He dreamily opened his eyes just as the rock was about to land upon his forehead. A last minute attempt to quickly roll aside only served to bring the stone down upon one temple. There had been no time