James River - Lost Lady Part 5

She needed her dreams, she thought, needed to believe in love and beauty, had to have something to make up for all the emptiness in her life.

Not exactly understanding the thoughts going through Regan's mind, Travis did see her hurt, and her tears made him weak. Instantly, he was beside her on the bed, folding her into his arms, trying his best to shelter her from whatever painful memories haunted her.

"You'll like America," he said gently, stroking her hair. "The people are good and honest, and they'll like you. I'll introduce you to half of Virginia, and before you know it you'll have more friends than you know what to do with."

"Friends?" she whispered, clinging to him, only now beginning to realize how the experience on the waterfront had upset her. There still seemed to be clutching, greedy hands on her body.

"You can't imagine all the wonderful people in America. I have a little brother, Wesley, who will love you, and of course there's Clay and Nicole. Nicole is from France and can talk French as fast as lightning."

"Is she pretty?" Regan sniffed.

"Almost as pretty as you," he smiled, caressing her hair. "And when I left she was just about to have a baby. It's probably months old by now. Of course, she's already got the twins."

"Twins?"

Travis laughed and held her away from him, wiping away her tears with his fingertips. "Don't you understand yet that I'm taking you to America, not to punish you or because I like kidnapping little girls, but because I have no choice? There's nothing else I can do with you."

His words, meant to calm her and said in Travis's own special blunt way of calling a problem by its true name, had the opposite effect on Regan. Her uncle and Farrell had said similar things about having to put up with her. She was tired of being a burden to everyone. "Let me up!" she demanded, pus.h.i.+ng against him.

"Now what the h.e.l.l's the matter?"

Twisting her head, she tried to bite his hand on her shoulder.

Travis pushed her back into the mattress and rubbed his hand. "I don't understand you at all. I save your life not more than an hour ago, and now I tell you, as kindly as you please, how I have your own best interests at heart, and you get madder'n h.e.l.l at me. I don't understand you at all."

"Understand me!" she gasped, eyes spitting fire. "I wouldn't have had to run away if you hadn't beenholding me prisoner, and I wouldn't have needed rescuing if it hadn't been for you in the first place. In asense, you saved me from yourself for yourself."

Bewildered, his mouth falling open, Travis could only gape at her. "Does your mind always work that way? Do you always go down ten different twisted paths before you get to where you want to go?"

"I a.s.sume that is an American colloquialism, meant to cover your lack of logic. The fact is that you are holding me prisoner, and I demand to be released," she said smugly, arms folded, chin tilted away from him.

Travis's anger faded quickly to laughter, which he tried very hard to suppress. Whatever her understanding of logic was, it was far away from the true meaning of the word. He considered explaining again what would happen if he released her, but since she'd been a.s.saulted twice and it seemed to have made no impression on her, he had no desire to try to explain again. Nor would he try painting a glorious picture of America for her. All he could do was to let her see for herself. He also considered throwing open the door and giving her another chance to try to make it out of the docks, or he could pay for a cab to take her wherever she wanted to go.

At this last thought, something inside him tightened. If he sent her away, he might never see her again, this starry-eyed little vixen who seemed to look at the world through her own special pink haze. The thought of the long sea voyage without her to entertain and delight him made him feel very sad.

"You're going to America with me," he said firmly as he ran his hand along her bare shoulder. He'd felt so guilty about seducing her when she was so innocent that he'd forced himself to stay away from her for two nights, but now the near panic he'd felt all day when he couldn't find her, combined with the seductive image she presented now with her bare shoulder and partially exposed breast, made him forget about logic.

"Do not touch me," she said haughtily.

"We may disagree about* logic"—he smiled at the word—"but there's one area where we seem to be in complete agreement."

Regan really tried to keep herself aloof from Travis's touch, but the feel of his hand—that wide, warm, sensual palm running along her neck—was impossible to ignore. She wanted to appear unaffected by what had happened to her, wanted him to think she was courageous and brave, but truthfully she wanted to climb into his lap and hide, perhaps crawl into his pocket. When he had stood over her this evening, pistols drawn, she'd never in her life been so glad to see anyone.

Turning her head to one side, his fingers stroked her neck, and she closed her eyes as his other hand went to the opposite side of her neck.

"You're tired, aren't you, love?" Travis whispered, the pressure of his hands increasing. "Muscles stiff?"

Her nod was barely perceptible as she felt her body relaxing. She had no idea what he was doing, only that by some magic he seemed to be making her body melt. She closed her eyes, giving herself over to Travis, hardly aware when he slipped off her dress and laid her naked body face down on the bed. The gentle, deep sound of his voice added to this new pleasure she was experiencing.

"When I was a boy, " he said, "I s.h.i.+pped out on a whaler for three years. Terrible experience, but at least there were some interesting stops, such as China, where I learned to do this."

Wherever he'd learned it, she was grateful. His hands dug into her and sometimes even hurt her, but she soon found that when she relaxed the pain stopped. Fingers ma.s.saged along her spine, kneading out the soreness from crouching in the alleyway for hours. Cramps in her legs and calves relaxed, and when he started on her feet new areas of her body sank deeper into the soft mattress. It amazed her that even her arms could be tense, but Travis's hands loosened knots of tight muscle and made them limp.

Since Regan was too relaxed to move, he turned her over as if she were a heap of rags and began on her front. From the feet up, he rubbed, pummeled, stroked, gouged, caressed every pore of her body. When he reached her face, his thumbs gently touching the muscles in her cheeks, and around her nose, she was near senseless.

Feeling so relaxed, she wasn't aware of the sensuality of the ma.s.sage, that the feel of Travis's strong hands, his eyes on her nude body, had awakened her pa.s.sion. She felt like a big cat stretching in the sun, every muscle quiet, awaiting the adventures that lay ahead.

When Travis's hands returned to her thighs, it seemed the most natural thing in the world. A sweet, knowing smile curved her lips as she kept her eyes closed, preferring only to feel, to give her mind over to her senses. The change of pressure in Travis's hands, perhaps his own l.u.s.t coming through his fingertips, was subtle, but she understood it.

"Yes, love," he growled throatily, his breath extraordinarily deep.

He didn't use his lips or any other part of his body except his hands—those marvelous, big, hard hands that she'd seen used to toss grown men about as if they were weightless. Wide, callused fingers were artfully agile, deliciously provocative as they reexplored the skin they'd just touched.

Regan felt a deep hum inside her, some primitive piece of machinery beginning to work. Arching slightly, rhythmically, she gave herself over to him. "Please," she whispered, her hands rising up his arms, fingers tracing the muscles. "Please."

Travis lost no time in obeying her, as he was close to the breaking point. The sheer sensuality of their lovemaking and the beauty of her slim young body had fascinated him, and when he entered her it was slowly, very slowly, never once relinquis.h.i.+ng the gentle, ethereal quality of their pleasure.

Regan had learned enough about lovemaking to know to prolong their movement, and she followed his lead as if they were two heavenly bodies joined in a union that would last through eternity. Yet she could not hold off long, and soon she began to breathe quicker and to dig her hands into Travis's flesh. Within seconds their gentleness turned into ferocity, their hunger equal, greedy, starving.

When at last their pa.s.sion peaked, Regan cried out and felt tears coming to her eyes at the violence of her release.

For some minutes she lay still, afloat in a sea of nothingness, sated and happy, relaxed and deeply quiet.

Slowly, Travis rolled off her, propped his head on one elbow, and looked down at her. His brown eyes were dark, and she noticed the thickness of his short lashes.

Who is this man? she wondered. Who is this man who makes my body sing to some heavenly music? He didn't say a word, and she felt she was seeing him for the first time. He held her prisoner, yet he took care of her, acted as if he valued her, and even a few times seemed remorseful about enslaving her. What sort of man could be so gentle and so strong at the same time?

Studying him, she thought how little she knew of him. What thoughts went through his mind, who were the people he loved, and, yes, who loved him? She put her hand to the side of his face, running her fingertips along his cheek. Could this man, who seemed to think the world was his for the taking, ever be made to love? Could a mere woman ever make a slave of this man, hold his strong, pounding heart in her small hands?

She moved her hand to his bare chest, felt his heart under her palm, twined her fingers in the hair on his chest, and then on impulse gave it a sharp pull.

"Stop that, you little imp," he growled, then kissed her fingers. "I'd think you'd be more grateful after the way I just made you squeal."

"Grateful!" she gasped, but concealing a smile. "Since when does a slave thank her master?"

Travis refused to take the bait but merely grunted and gathered her to him. He seemed to give no thought to the fact that he twisted her body into an impossible position.

Regan started to protest that she could not possibly sleep entwined about him in such a way, but even as she formed the words they disappeared. Feeling rather like a vine twirled about the trunk of a great oak, her body relaxed, and she drifted into a deep sleep.

Chapter 6.

Regan's languorous, catlike mood disappeared astoundingly quickly the next morning when Travis roughly pulled her out of bed and then dashed a handful of cold water in her face. Gasping for air, she finally managed to open her sleepy eyes just in time to see a towel flying at her.

"Get dressed," Travis tossed over his shoulder as he jammed clothes, hers included, into the too-full trunk.

Seeing her torn velvet dress further mutilated as he wadded it into a tight little ball, Regan flung herself at him. "Stop that! I will not have you treat my beautiful dress like that," she said, taking it from him and smoothing it lovingly.

Pulling back, Travis eyed her with interest. "It's torn anyway. What good is it except for a dust rag?"

"It can be patched," she said, folding the dress carefully. "I'm very good at mending my own clothes, and, besides, the nap of the velvet will hide the repair work."

"Since when have rich young English ladies had to patch their own clothes?"

She whirled on him. "I never said I was rich," she smiled smugly.

"There must be money involved somewhere, or you wouldn't have been thrown out on your ear." Eyes twinkling, he caressed her bare b.u.t.tock. "Or should I say thrown out on your pretty little rear?" Before she could give him the scathing reply he deserved, he smacked her smartly. "Now get dressed before we end up back in bed and the s.h.i.+p leaves without us."

Thoughtfully, she began to dress; then on impulse she turned back to him. "Do you think I really could tempt you to* to do something?"

Travis had no idea what she was talking about, but the sight of her, half-dressed, the silk making her eyes brilliantly blue, her skin still glowing from last night's love-making and his head still dazzled by it, he felt that she could persuade him to do anything. "Stop tempting me and get dressed. You'll have months on board s.h.i.+p to play the seductress, but for now there's work to do."

Blus.h.i.+ng because he'd misunderstood her, Regan concentrated on dressing. Perhaps, she thought dreamily, perhaps this American could be* Glancing at Travis, tossing boots into the trunk on top of clean white s.h.i.+rts, she smiled. Maybe he could never be a gentleman, but he did have possibilities. Her eyes widened as he locked the trunk, bent, grabbed the leather handle, and rose with it hanging down his back.

"Ready?" he asked, seeming not to notice his enormous burden.

She nodded and preceded him out of the door.

Downstairs, a breakfast the size of which she'd never seen before was hot and waiting for them. "You've made me miss more meals than I ever have before in my life," Travis informed her.

She coolly glanced up at his great height, then pointedly at the thickness of his chest. "Perhaps you could stand to miss a few meals."

Travis laughed, but a few minutes later she saw him glancing at a mirror as if he were inspecting himself.

His reaction made her smile, feeling a touch triumphant.

The food was delicious, and Regan was ravenous. She was pleased to see that Travis's table manners were quite good, perhaps without the delicacy of Farrell or another gentleman of his quality, but he would pa.s.s in decent society.

"Have I grown horns?" Travis asked, teasing.

Ignoring him, she looked back down at her food and wondered at her own lack of spirit. Perhaps it was yesterday's terrible experience on the docks and Travis's rescuing of her, but, truthfully, she was beginning to feel some excitement about the idea of going to America. People said that, since the people of America were free, you could get rich there. Maybe she could make her fortune in the primitive country and return to England—and Farrell—in triumph.

Travis's hand under her chin brought her out of her dream. "Were you leaving me again?" he asked quietly. "Or perhaps planning to murder me in my sleep?"

"Neither. I wouldn't waste my time."

Chuckling, Travis stood, offered her his hand, and helped her up. "I think you're going to do quite well in America. We need more women with your spirit."

"I thought you considered all American women the epitome of grace and courage."

"There's always room for improvement," he laughed, taking her arm. "Now, stay close to me and you'll be all right," he said seriously, his eyes warning her.

She didn't need a second warning, and as soon as they left the inn she found herself clinging to Travis's arm. The fishy smell and the noises peculiar to the waterfront hit her hard, and for a moment she was transported back to the time when the men's hands had clawed at her.

Travis was watching her thoughtfully, aware of the fear in her eyes. He threw the heavy trunk onto the waiting wagon and told the driver which s.h.i.+p to take it to. When it was gone, he turned back to Regan. "There's only one way to lick a fear, and that is to face it straight on. If you fall off a horse, you have to get right back on immediately."

Regan barely listened to this confusing bit of advice but instead moved even closer to Travis, her fingers digging into his arm. "Will the carriage be here soon?" she whispered.

"We're not getting a carriage," Travis said heartily. "You and I are going to walk to the s.h.i.+p. By the time we get there, you won't be so afraid. I don't want you cowering every time we get near a wharf or you smell rotten fish. "

It took several moments for his words to reach her brain. Pulling away from him, she looked up in astonishment. "Is this some sort of American logic? I do not want to walk through this* this place. I demand you get me a carriage."

"Demand, is it?" Travis smiled. "From what I've learned in life, people shouldn't make demands unless they can carry them through. Are you prepared to walk to the s.h.i.+p by yourself?"

"You wouldn't do that, would you?" she whispered.

"No, love, " he said quietly, grasping her hand. "I won't even leave you in this country alone, much less in this slimy place. Now, come on and smile at me. We'll walk to the s.h.i.+p, and you'll see how safe you are with me."

In spite of her misgivings, Regan soon began to enjoy the walk. Travis pointed to buildings, warehouses, and taverns, and told her a humorous story about a fight he'd seen in one tavern. Before long, she was laughing and had stopped clutching so desperately at his arm. Several sailors lounged against a brick wall and made remarks about her that she couldn't quite hear but certainly understood the essence of. Calmly, Travis excused himself and went to say a few words to the men. Within seconds they doffed their caps and came to murmur good mornings to Regan and to wish her a pleasant trip.