Catalina's Caress by Sylvie F. Sommerfield Read Free Book Online Page B

he, too, refused to move. His smile was openly challenging as he stood close enough to touch her.
    When Catalina reached up to lower the hood of the cloak she wore, Marc's smile remained unchanged, but he grew tense. Her hair, deliberately left unbound, fell in a cascade over her shoulders and down her back. He was tempted to bury his hands in it, to inhale more of the subtle intoxicating fragrance that touched his senses.
    Her features were creamy perfection, and his hands itched to trace the fine texture of her skin. He imposed a firm grip on himself and remained silent.
    "I... I must talk to you."
    He moved slowly around behind her, but she obstinately refused to turn and see what he was about. Scarcely breathing, she felt his presence close to her.
    His hands came over her shoulders, and she shivered as he loosened her cloak and drew it from them.
    "Make yourself comfortable,'' he said softly. "Would you like some brandy?"
    "No!" she said quickly. The last thing she needed was something that would affect her senses even more.
    God, he thought, does she have any idea how breathtaking she is? Then reason struck him: of course she knew. She had planned this carefully, and if he wasn't careful he would find himself wound around her little finger like some hot-blooded boy.
    "I take it," he said with aggravating coolness and a soft laugh that pricked her ears, "that you have come to agree to my bargain?"
    She spun about and rage she could barely control leapt into her eyes. Only by exerting the severest discipline did she respond to his words verbally rather than physically.
    "I have come to discuss our situation," she said frigidly. The damnable beast, she thought Does he honestly believe I will surrender to him? The battle is not over yet.
    "Our situation?" he repeated. "I didn't know there was much about it to discuss. I have something you want... and you know the price of it. I thought you had done your thinking and had come to agree."
    Offering neither a word of agreement nor of explanation, Catalina moved away from him. The combination of fear and anger were difficult to control. They put words on the tip of her tongue, words that would ruin all her plans if they were spoken.
    She stood with her back to him because she could not trust herself.
    "I have another offer for you. One you might find even more agreeable."
    "More agreeable than three days—and nights—with you?" he said with disbelieving humor. "I hardly think so. It would take a great deal to make a more tempting offer."
    Catalina had set the small satchel just inside the door when she had entered the cabin. Now she turned back to look at him.
    "You said the Belle was worth two hundred thousand."
    "She is ... in fact most likely more."
    "There is two hundred thousand in that bag."
    Marc cast a quick look at the bag, then another very irritated one at Catalina.
    "And what simple-minded fool lets you wander the streets carrying something like that? You alone are enough to lure any scoundrel without that provocation."
    "As a scroundrel I'm sure you would know." Catalina could not resist that one cut. Her reward was a wide white smile and a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.
    "My lady, you do tempt me."
    She refused to listen to the double entendre. The pearls are there also. You should see at least sixty thousand on them. It is an immense profit."
    "Very," he said gently. His eyes were warm as they roamed over her. "But then, much depends on what kind of profit I really want."
    "You can hardly refuse such an offer! It's many times what Seth lost. Are you a fool?"
    "Hardly. I am simply the owner of what you want As such I've the right to set my own price."
    "But you are unreasonable!" she cried.
    "My dear Cat," he said seriously, "no man who looked at you would consider me unreasonable. I would be considered a fool if I passed up the chance to share your... charms. I have a great deal of money already, and possess one of the best boats on the river. In fact"—he