they made love.
If the soldiers outside let them. He had conveniently forgotten about the damn soldiers. And when he made a low sound of anger, she stiffened in his arms.
Instantly he was sorry he'd alarmed her. Wanting to let her know that the angry sound had nothing to do with her, he moved back a few inches. Then he forgot what he was supposed to be doing when she moved her shoulder, pulling the thin gown against her breasts, drawing his attention to their sweetly rounded shape and the rosy nipples, which he could see through the gauzy fabric.
The temptation was more than he could stand.
Reaching out with his hand, he gently cupped her again.
"Oh!"
The warmth and weight of her felt wonderful. Just right for his palm. And when he began to play his fingers over the tight bud of her nipple, she cried out again.
"You like that."
She dropped her gaze and he knew that need and modesty were warring inside her.
That sweet reluctance made him want her all the more. His body tightened with need for her. They were in a bedroom. Because both of them wanted to make love. Even if she couldn't admit it yet.
But he would use his hands and mouth on her body—with all the skill he possessed. And she would open to him.
"Don't be afraid of me. All you have to do is let me give you pleasure."
She looked around the room, as though seeing it for the first time.
"Why did you bring me here?"
"To please you. Only that."
Before he could drag her closer and pull her down to the surface of the bed, the wall shimmered and another man stepped into the cave.
"Take your hands off her. She's mine," a gruff voice commanded.
Logan turned to face the intruder. "Who the hell are you?"
The man laughed. "I own this woman. Get away from her."
"Falcone!" Rinna breathed, taking a step back, and then another, until her shoulders were pressed against the wall of the cave.
He was nothing like the monster Logan had imagined. He was young and handsome, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. He raised his hand, and suddenly he was holding a sword. Logan backed away, knowing he would die if he couldn't find a way to defend himself.
"Reach for a weapon," Rinna shouted.
He didn't know what she meant. But he understood that his only chance was to follow her directions.
So he reached out his hand and felt his fingers close around something cold and hard.
The hilt of a sword.
Falcone made an angry sound and charged.
Logan jumped back, holding the blade in front of him. He'd never used one. His only experience with sword fighting was from the old movies he'd seen on television. He raised the weapon, parrying the thrust of the man who was now on the attack.
Miraculously, he seemed to know what to do. He beat the man back, pressed him against the stone wall opposite where Rinna stood. But Falcone lashed out again, striking Logan on the shoulder. As the sword slashed his flesh, hot pain shot through.
And suddenly he was on the floor, the intruder leaning over him, about the plunge the sword into his heart.
"No," Rinna shouted, and the man dropped his weapon, pressing his hands over his ears as though he could block out some horrible sound Logan couldn't hear.
Falcone turned toward Rinna, his eyes blazing. "Stop it," he ordered through gritted teeth. "Stop it. You're not allowed to use your power."
She screamed, her face contorting as she sagged against the wall. Then she straightened and focused her gaze on Falcone, and he fell back once again.
This was Logan's chance to get the guy. But when he tried to lunge forward, he found he couldn't move. And he couldn't call out. All he could do was lie paralyzed on the ground, waiting to see what would happen next.
Sickness rose in his throat as Falcone advanced on Rinna. He felt her fear and her revulsion. And he knew that the worst thing that could ever happen to her was to have this man touch her.
Falcone reached for her, and her scream rang in his ears.
Before it happened, Logan's eyes blinked