Free Renegade Bride by Barbara Ankrum

an argument from him, but never this. There was a furious, unreasonable look in his eyes and something else beyond simple anger; something that frightened her much more. "You... you lay a hand on me and you'll regret it—" she warned, backing up.
    With a snort of mocking laughter he took another step closer. "Do you really think you could stop me, ma petite? A little sparrow like you?"
    "I will try. As God is my witness—"
    Just then, her heel caught on her ripped petticoat and she felt herself falling backward. She cried out as his steely hands clamped around her upper arms, stopping her fall. Her hands involuntarily gripped his shoulders, holding him at bay and clinging at once.
    "God helps those who help themselves, Miss Parsons," he reminded, "not foolish young women who haven't a thought in their heads but what they want."
    He was so close now she could feel the steamy heat from his body through the fabric of her gown, feel the angry heave of his chest brush against her breasts. A tremor raced through her, whether from anger, shock, or Creed Devereaux's touch she didn't know.
    There was a subtle shift of light in those unfathomable eyes as his gaze traveled once, twice over her face, then dropped, inexorably, to her mouth. If he meant to teach her a lesson, she knew instinctively it would not be a gentle one, for there was no generosity in his expression. For the first time, she truly regretted her decision to follow him.
    "Please..." she whispered, her dry throat constricted by fear.
    "Please, what?" he demanded, drawing her dangerously closer to him. "Tell me, ma petite, what it is you want from me?"
    "Please..." she pleaded hoarsely, her frightened eyes colliding with his. "I just... I just want to get to Seth."
    Like a candle's flame snuffed out in the wind, the frightful look in Creed Devereaux's eyes vanished at her words. She might have had no less effect if she'd slapped him, Mariah thought disconcertedly.
    Whirling away, Creed raked a trembling hand through his straight shock of dark hair. Pardieu! What had he been thinking? Not about Seth, that was certain. Damn his temper! And damn the tight, burning ache the woman incited in his loins. He drew a harsh breath and stood staring sightlessly up the tree-scattered slope.
    It was useless to try to comprehend the madness that gripped him when he'd held her in his arms or what had possessed him to wonder what those full lips of hers would taste like on his. He was a fool to entertain such thoughts and, worse, a blackguard for even having them.
    "Mr. Devereaux?"
    Her quiet, shaken voice came from close behind him. Creed swallowed and looked at the ground, afraid to look at her, afraid his eyes would mirror his betrayal.
    "You're right about... what you said," Mariah admitted in a voice choked with emotion. "My grandmother used to say I could be quite... impossible. I suppose she was right."
    There was a long pause and the wind in the tall pines nearby sang through the lengthening stillness between them. Mariah watched the breeze lift his thick ebony hair away from his neck, stirring something unexpected inside her. "I didn't mean to make you angry. I only wanted... I just—"
    "You shouldn't have come here."
    Swallowing hard, she stared at him. "I shouldn't have come here—as in after you or to the Territory at all?"
    "Take your pick."
    She stared disbelievingly at his back, which was still to her. Anger swirled anew through her and she braced her hands on her hips. "What right do you have to say something like that to me? I thought you were Seth's friend."
    Slowly, he turned and looked her in the eye. "I am."
    "If Seth had reservations about my coming he'd have—"
    "Seth has no idea what he's asking of you."
    "And you do?" she retorted.
    "Better than some. Better than Seth."
    "What makes you so wise, Mr. Devereaux, that you know what's best for everyone? If you really were his friend—"
    "—I would have put you on the next boat back to civilization and never let