Rapture's Tempest Read Online Free PDF Page B

back room.
    Rose’s blue eyes were frosty with dislike when he returned to her. “Did you find her?”
    “No, but—”
    “Then get out of my house, Martin Montgomery, and don’t ever come back,” she ordered, unafraid of this spineless man, who preyed on helpless women.
    Martin, recognizing her disdain, decided to put thesmart-mouthed wench in her place. With lightning speed, he grasped her wrists and wrenched her closer to him.
    “I’ll go when I’m ready,” he sneered, enjoying her struggle to free herself from his painful grip. “But remember this moment. Rose. For I could have you right now, if I wanted you.” Then, with seemingly little effort, he shoved her away. “But I don’t want you. You’re old and you look it.” He let his critical gaze sweep over her, taking in her tired features and her too-thin body. “No. You don’t have to worry about that. No self-respecting man would ever want to have anything to do with you.”
    “Get out,” she seethed, rubbing her bruised wrists. Rose was furious that he’d been able to manhandle her so easily.
    Indolently straightening his coat, he looked at her coldly once again. “Tell Delight that I’m looking for her and that I won’t quit until she’s back home where she belongs.” Then, turning on his heel, he was gone, the only reminder of his visit the livid welts on Rose’s arms.
    As the sound of her father’s footsteps ascending the staircase echoed into the study, Annabelle smiled invitingly at Wade.
    “I thought he’d never leave,” she complained sensuously.
    “If you’d marry me, we wouldn’t have these problems.”
    Wade’s words sounded lighthearted, but Annabelle knew that he was serious.
    “Wade—” she began, her tone brooking no comment, “we’ve been through this before, and you know how I feel about marriage. Let’s just enjoy the relationship we have.”
    Wade didn’t respond as he poured them both a brandy and carried the crystal snifters back to her. He had loved Annabelle for a long time now, and he would never give up hope that one day she would change her mind about marriage. He didn’t know why she never wanted to wed; he just knew that it was the one subject she absolutely refused to discuss with him.
    “For you.” He handed her the liquor and sat down easily beside her.
    Taking the goblet with both hands, Annabelle swirled the potent liquid, warming it with her palms. “Thank you.”
    Their eyes met and locked as they both sipped the heady brew. Silently, Wade admired her delicate beauty, marveling that such a fragile-looking woman could be such a formidable foe. He was glad that they were working for the same side in this war.
    “How did I do?” she asked.
    “You were magnificent.”
    “Good. I do detest pleading my case before those imbeciles, but we really will need their help with this one.”
    Wade nodded his agreement. “They’re all we have. I wish I could tell you that they’ll be there when we need them, but, apart from Gordon Tyndale, I don’t think there’s a real man among them.”
    “I had that impression, too. The war’s been going on for three years now, and not once have they taken any action.”
    “Well, under our direction, that’s all going to change.”
    Raising her glass in a toast, Annabelle spoke, “To the Cause. May it never die.”
    As their glasses met, their fingers touched, and thoughts of the war faded from their minds. Wade took her snifter and put it on the small table with his, then, without speaking, he took her in his arms and kissed her deeply. Passion, long suppressed, flamed to life as Annabelle strained against him.
    “My darling.” Wade spoke breathlessly as they broke apart. “I love you.”
    He bent to kiss her again, not caring that her father slept upstairs, not caring that the door was open and anyone could have walked in on them. When he was in Annabelle’s arms, nothing else mattered…
    “Annabelle?” He spoke softly when he ended the kiss, but