Sweet Silken Bondage Read online

  Clay's whole manner transformed as he crossed the hall to the ballroom. The anger that was driving him was carefully hidden beneath an outward veneer of cool sophistication. Trying to find David so he could exact the introduction to Isabel he'd been promised, he made his way smoothly through the party-goers, smiling and exchanging greetings. Eventually, Clay spotted David dancing with Reina and Lucien standing alone on the sidelines looking very annoyed. Clay smiled cynically to himself. Reina Alvarez hadn't been satisfied with just capturing Lucien's heart, now she had to have David's, too.

  "I take it that's the irresistible Isabel Nunez dancing with David?" Clay asked Lucien as he came to stand beside him.

  "You take it right," Lucien confirmed a bit brusquely.

  "She's one lovely woman" he told him. "How did David manage to get her away from you? I thought she was the only one for you."

  "We were dancing, and he cut in," Lucien complained. "Some friend.. .he thinks to steal her from me."

  "Was Isabel ever yours to steal?"

  "I was working on it," Lucien replied with a quick grin.

  "How long is she going to be staying?"

  "She didn't say, but I would imagine shell be here for some time yet. She only arrived this week."

  Lucien's words gave final confirmation to Clay's suspicions, and he smiled sharkishly, eager to be about his game. "Good. That gives me plenty of time..."

  Lucien stifled a groan of irritation at the thought of Clay single-mindedly pursuing her. While he'd been away, Lucien had had little real competition for the ladies, but now that he'd returned, things didn't look too promising. Cordell was one of the wealthiest men around. Beating him out for Isabel's hand would not be easy.

  When the dance finally ended, David led Reina to where Lucien and Clay stood. David enjoyed aggravating the cocksure ladies' man Lucien, and he thought this would be the perfect time to introduce Isabel to Clay.

  Reina had enjoyed her dance with David. She found him a delightful, easy-going companion. She was so caught up in their animated conversation that she didn't notice right away that he was escorting her to Clay.

  "Isabel, there's someone here I'd like you to meet," David began as they drew near.

  "Oh?" she questioned, looking up just then to find Clay with Lucien and both men watching her approach. Heat flushed through Reina, and then she was filled with an icy dread. Only by pure strength of will did she keep her uneasiness hidden. To the world, she appeared the alluring temptress, enchantingly gorgeous with her ebony tresses done up high on her head and the tops of her creamy breasts swelling oh-so-temptingly above the decolletage of her gown.

  Much to Clay's annoyance, as Reina drew near, a flare of unbidden hot desire pulsed through him. It disturbed him to find that he could be attracted to Reina physically while despising her for what she was.

  Clay's eyes met hers, and her gaze revealed nothing. He'd expected to see some flicker of emotion there, and he was surprised by her calm. Her consummate acting abilities amazed him. Knowing how good a liar she really was, hardened his resolve all the more. He knew he would never trust anything she said or did again.

  "Yes, Isabel, this is Clay Cordell. He's an old family friend. Clay, this is Isabel Nunez," David made the introductions easily, completely unaware of Reina's quiet desperation.

  "Miss Nunez, it's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance," Clay returned, bowing slightly in acknowledgment. No one realized just how much he really meant those words.

  His deep voice, so well remembered, sent shivers down her spine, and Reina fought to dismiss her reaction, attributing it to her fear.

  "Finally, Mr. Cordell?" Reina gave him her most beguiling smile as her eyes met his. When she saw no spark of recognition in the depths of his gaze, a dizzying sense of relief filled her. He didn't even know her up close! Her identity really was safe.

  Clay's pulse quickened at her smile, but he ignored it. "Clay, please, Miss Nunez, and, yes, finally. I've been admiring you from afar for some time," he told her, smirking inwardly in satisfaction at the double meaning of his words.

  "I'm flattered, Clay," Reina answered easily, "and please, call me Isabel."

  "I'd be honored, Isabel," Clay said her name slowly as if savoring the sound of it.

  "You know, David introduced you as an old family friend, but you don't look very old," she told him archly. "Have you known each other for a long time?" Reina was curious about his connections here in Louisiana. It was one thing for her father to send the bounty hunter after her. It was another for him to fit right into plantation society as if he'd been born to it.

  "David, Lucien and I all grew up together," Clay offered only sparse information. The less she knew about him, the better he liked it.

  "I'm surprised," Reina said, pausing. "My cousin, Emilie Delacroix, was telling me who would be here tonight, but I don't remember her mentioning you." She knew if Emilie had mentioned anyone named Cordell, she certainly wouldn't have come along.

  "I've been away for a while, and I'm not personally acquainted with the Delacroix family," Clay answered. "That's a shortcoming of mine I intend to remedy very soon, though."

  "Clay's been out west," David spoke up, proud of his friend's daring in leaving home and trying a new way of life.

  "Really? Where were you?"

  "California mostly."

  "How did you find it there? Was it exciting?" Reina asked, wishing more than anything that he'd go back.

  "It has its moments," Clay responded dryly. "Where's your home, Isabel?"

  "I'm from San Antonio," Reina replied quickly. She'd gone over and over the fake background she and Emilie had created until she knew it by heart.

  Another lie, he thought sarcastically, then complimented her through gritted teeth, "I'll bet you broke a lot of hearts when you left. Is there anyone special waiting for you there?"

  "No, there's no one back home."

  For once Clay recognized that she'd told the truth. She wasn't lying about that. She didn't care about anyone she'd left behind. She cared only about herself.

  The music began once more, and Clay knew he had to make his move quickly before Lucien or David or some other young bachelor offered for her. "Isabel, would you care to dance?"

  Reina stayed coolly composed as she answered, "Why I'd love to, Clay, thank you."

  The lilting strains of the romantic waltz filled the ballroom as Clay led Reina out onto the dance floor. He was pleased that everything was going so smoothly, and he congratulated himself on his own thespian skills. He had her honestly believing that he didn't recognize her. Clay was confident that if he played it right for the rest of the night he would soon be on his way to California with her in tow.

  Clay turned to Reina then, and smiling warmly down at her, took her in his arms ready to guide her into the crowd of dancers. At that first intimate contact of his arm at her waist, a flare of unexpected sensual awareness electrified them both. In a moment of mute surprise, they hesitated, standing perfectly still as they stared at each other in something akin to wonder.

  The desire Reina stirred within Clay was potent, but the last thing in the world he wanted to do was get involved with her. The role he'd set out for himself as her hopeful lover was just that ...a role he was playing, nothing else.

  "You're very beautiful, Isabel," he murmured seductively as they began to dance.

  "Thank you, Clay," Reina replied, gazing up at him through the pleasant, champagne-induced haze that tingled her senses, mellowing her mood. Dreamily, she thought of that night at the waystation and how magnificent Clay had looked as he'd stood there bare-chested in the moonlight. Her pulse quickened at the memory. She regretted the things that stood between them.

  Reina wondered just how different everything might have been had he not been working for her father. Clay was an exciting man who, she knew, could be fiercely brave or kind and gentle as the situation warranted. He was everything she'd ever wanted in a man, and Reina realized with some amazement
that if they'd met at any other time for any other reason, she might have fallen in love with him.

  "Perhaps fate brought us together," Clay suggested in low tones, drawing her a little closer. But then as a surge of passion swept through him at her nearness, he reprimanded himself firmly. He told himself that he wasn't really enjoying holding her in his arms. He reminded himself, again, that this was his job.

  "I'd like to think that," Reina answered, caught up in the perfection of waltzing with him. They moved together in unison, completely attuned to one another, swirling gracefully around the room to the swelling melody as if they were made for each other. Reina was conscious only of Clay's powerful arms about her. She wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, it had been fate and not her father's devious plan that had brought her to this moment.

  They were both lost deep in thought as they continued to dance, wrapped in one another's arms. Clay knew he should concentrate on the reason he was here. He knew he should remember Reina's deceitful ways and Dev's suffering. But his usually sturdy strength of will was weakened by the numer ous bourbons he'd had over the course of the evening. Suddenly, the delicate scent that was only Reina, the very feel of her slender, lovely body in his arms and the memory of her combing out her hair before the fire all undermined his iron control. In that heady instant, he became ensnared in the sweet, sweet, magic of the moment.

  Clay looked down at Reina to find her dark-eyed, liquid gaze warm upon him. Excitement lurched through him, and he suddenly realized that he wanted this. He wasn't acting anymore. He desired Reina. He had when he'd thought she was a nun, and he did, even more so now that he didn't have to feel guilty about it.

  As the music slowed and came to an end, Clay made certain that they were near the ballroom's double french doors that led to the balcony. Then, before Reina could utter a word, he whisked her out into the privacy of the cool, dark night.

  Reina was startled by his daring, but she did not resist as he drew her gently, but firmly away from the doors and into the shadowy splendor of the evening.

  He gave her a wicked smile as he confided, "I didn't want to risk running into one of the other men. Now that I've finally found you, I don't ever want to lose you - not to David or to Lucien or anyone else."

  A thrill of delight coursed through Reina at his words. She was no longer looking for double meanings in his every statement. In her heart, she wanted to believe everything he was saying.

  Clay enfolded her in his strong embrace, and she went willingly, eagerly. In the back of Clay's mind, he thought distractedly that she was this way with every man, but his passion was such that he pushed the ugly possibility from him. He wanted only to hold her and kiss her. He didn't want to think... not now.

  Clay's mouth swooped down to claim hers in a very possessive kiss, and Reina reveled in it. She realized instinctively that this was what she'd wanted ever since they'd met.

  Passion erupted between them as their lips met for the first time. Clay crushed her to his chest as he deepened the exchange, parting her lips to seek the honeyed sweetness within.

  Clay's kiss was powerful - a man's kiss, and it was unlike anything Reina had ever experienced before. Nathan's embrace had left Reina cold, and the few other men she'd kissed had never managed to stir her in any way. Only Clay with his masterful, persuasive embrace could ignite this deep, burning need within her.. .only Clay. Linking her arms around his neck, she pressed herself even more closely to him as she returned his kiss with flaming fervor. Engulfed by waves of heart-stopping pleasure, Reina wondered if this was love...

  When they finally broke off, they did not move apart, but remained locked in each other's arms, their eyes closed, trying to understand the wildness of the emotion that had just rocked them. They did not speak. There was no need.

  Clay was stunned by his own reaction and by Reina's passionate response. He couldn't really believe what had happened, and he bent to her again, testing, questioning. This time his kiss was gentler, softer. His lips moved over hers with sweet encouragement, and once more hot desire raged through him.

  Reina, too, was lost in a maelstrom of sensual excitement. The champagne's effect on her senses left her uninhibited in her response to him. Her obvious excitement encouraged Clay to even greater boldness. His mouth left hers to seek out the softness of her throat as he lifted his hands to cup the sides of her breasts through the gown.

  Reina's knees grew weak. When his mouth returned to hers, she welcomed him gladly, murmuring to him in a husky, love-laden voice, "Clay, oh, Clay... please..." She didn't know what it was she was begging for, she only knew that she wanted, no needed, to be nearer to him.

  At her urging, any thought Clay had of restraining himself disappeared. Thinking she knew exactly what she wanted, he began to explore the full, luscious curves of her breasts, boldly slipping one hand within her bodice to fondle that silken flesh.

  Never before had Reina allowed any man to touch her so intimately. It was a new experience for her, and she gasped out loud at the breathtaking sensation of his hand hot upon her bare skin. With practiced expertise, Clay sought and found the passion-hardened crest. Reina moaned in sheer ecstasy as he caressed her. She was on fire for him, lost in the sensual web he was weaving so expertly around her.

  Only vaguely were they aware of the sounds of voices coming their way.

  "Clay took her out here somewhere..." Lucien was saying impatiently as he and David crossed the ballroom toward the french doors.

  "Don't worry, we'll find them," David answered, and it was obvious from his tone of voice that he found the situation quite humorous. "They couldn't have gone too far..."

  "Not if we get there soon." Lucien snapped in return.

  Lucien's sarcasm penetrated the mindless pleasure Clay was finding in Reina's embrace and jarred him back to the painful reality of knowing who he was and where he was. Giving a guttural groan of frustration, he broke off the kiss. His breathing was ragged as he struggled to pull himself together, and his thoughts were in chaos. What the hell was the matter with him? What had he been trying to do? Reina was his prey. It was his job to capture her and take her home to her father and fiance, not bed her.

  "Clay?" Reina was startled at his pulling away from her. His kisses and caresses had thrilled her, and she didn't understand why he'd stopped. "What is it?"

  Clay glanced down at her and was almost unnerved to find her dark-eyed gaze wide and questioning upon him. It continued to amaze him that she could affect this innocent look so convincingly when he knew she was far from naive. He had no doubts about that any more. Hadn't she just been begging him to make love to her? Hell, he thought viciously, he probably could have taken her right there if he hadn't heard Lucien and David coming. At the thought, a jolt of desire seared him, and he girded himself against it.

  Clay's continued silence upset Reina, and she asked worriedly, "Clay ...have I done something wrong?"

  He almost gave a caustic laugh at her query. Have I done something wrong? She'd done something wrong, all right. She'd run out on her father and on the man who loved her.

  Lying, he answered, "You haven't done anything wrong, Isabel." He moved slightly away from her, grimly reminding himself of the parallel between his mother and Reina. He stiffened at the recognition of his own weakness, and he vowed silently that he would not be caught in any kind of trap of her making. There was no way he was going to allow himself to feel anything for this woman. He knew she was acting. He knew this was all just a game to her. She was only leading him on in hopes of getting him to let his defenses down or to play on his sympathies when he finally did try to take her back.

  "Then, why...?" Reina didn't understand why he'd ended their kiss so abruptly.

  "I heard someone coming, and I didn't want to cause you any embarrassment."

  "Oh..." Reina said in soft surprise. She blushed as she realized just how carried away she'd been by his kisses and caresses, and she was glad for the concealing darkness to hide her distress.
She was grateful for Clay's presence of mind and for his discretion.

  "You're one very special woman, Isabel," Clay said as he lifted one hand to tenderly caress her cheek, playing the lovesick swain.

  "I'm glad you think so. I want to be...for you Reina answered, and as she said it, she was startled to find that she honestly meant it. He was the one man who could set her soul aflame, and she wondered if it was possible to fall in love this quickly...

  Clay listened to her, but heard only lies. With cold viciousness, he wondered how many other men she'd told the same thing to and how many other men had tasted her charms. He hardened his heart against the powerful attraction that threatened his control. He knew what he had to do, and he was going to do it. He was continuing this charade only until he could turn her over to her father and not a minute longer. She meant nothing to him.

  "I must see you again, Isabel." Clay pressed ardently, for he was sure that once David and Lucien located them, he wouldn't get another moment alone with her for the rest of the night. He needed to see her again so he could set his plan in action. There were arrangements that had to be made, and people who had to be contacted....

  "I'd like that..."

  "Are you free tomorrow? We could go on a picnic, and I could show you Windown."

  "Yes, yes, tomorrow would be wonderful." Reina was dazed. Everything seemed to be happening too quickly. A part of her warned that it was dangerous to have anything more to do with this man, that she had already been far too reckless, that she should be cautious and evasively refuse to see him again. But her heart overruled her sensibilities.

  To Reina's way of thinking, there was no danger. Clay didn't know who she was, and he was attracted to her as a woman, not as Reina Alvarez. The thought thrilled her, and she could hardly wait for the next day. She wanted to be with him, to be held in his arms and...

  At her acceptance, Clay's spirits soared. He had done it! Tomorrow everything would fall into place! Tomorrow he would be on his way back to Monterey to free Dev.