Eden's Spell by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online

ocean. She raised a hand again, desperately wishing she could do him some real physical harm, repay him for what he had done to her, to Jason, to—
    â€œOohh!” she screamed out, but this time, when her hand moved, he wasn’t feeling so benevolent. He caught it, twisting it behind her back, bringing her against his chest … tightly. Eyes as hard as steel burned into her; she felt the rigid, rigid strength and control in his body, and though she tried to twist away in fear and horror, she could not. He shook her, causing her to cry out again.
    And then his hold eased, but he did not release her.
    â€œJust let me go!” she screamed out desperately. “Give me my son, and let me go! It’s happened, and now it’s over, and all I want to do is get away—”
    â€œI can’t let you go, not until this evening. And I guarantee you—”
    â€œWhat the hell do you think this is, a communist state?”
    â€œIf it were a communist state”, Mrs. Denver, we could probably just shoot you and quit worrying about confidential information being broadcast coast to coast!”
    â€œLet me go!”
    His eyes narrowed dangerously. “I am in the military, Mrs. Denver. There has been a terrible mistake. You have been wronged—how, I don’t understand, but I’m very sorry. But I’m also tired of being abused by a self-righteous little shrew—”
    â€œAnd I am tired of being used by an insane chemist who seems to think that he’s God!”
    Her heart was beating wildly against her chest as he held her; her throat was tilted all the way back so that she was forced to meet his eyes. That scent of his, of freshness and air and the sea and a breeze and—and rugged, insinuative masculinity!—was all around her, as was the horrible sense of déjà vu. She felt as if she had been here before, as if she knew him, as if she had stroked his handsome cheeks and rested against the rippling, heated muscles in his chest, as if she knew the touch of his long bronzed fingers, knew his very heartbeat, the sound of his voice in a whisper …
    Knew … and liked …
    She stiffened, but offered no resistance. Her eyes fell, and she shuddered with the force of her sudden confusion and misery. It had been almost five years since she had been held, even like this. And the sensation seemed to call to her. She wanted to like him, she even wanted to burst into tears and lean against him.
    â€œPlease let me go,” she said, calling upon all the soft dignity she could muster.
    He released her instantly, then spoke with a depth of sorrow she could not deny. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Denver. Really sorry. But I can’t answer any more of your questions. Not about the drug.”
    He walked away from her, gazing, with a frown, up the short steps to the deck and the sky above. Katrina barely noticed him. There was just one more question that she had to ask.
    â€œCaptain?”
    â€œWhat?” he asked a little absently.
    She approached him, her hands set stubbornly on her hips, her voice steady despite the color that again flooded her whole being.
    â€œI awoke—unclothed. Did you—did you take my bathing suit off?”
    He stared at her blankly. “Pardon?”
    â€œYou heard me!”
    He opened his mouth as if to answer; static suddenly filled the air. His mocking gaze left her and he rushed to the radio.
    â€œ44DFS here—come in, base, base. Dammit, come in!”
    The static faded and died. With an exclamation of disgust he threw the receiver down and turned back to her, his arms crossed over his chest.
    â€œIt seems you have communications problems, Captain!” she snapped. “You don’t know a damned thing about what you’re doing, you idiot!”
    He stiffened; she heard the grate of his teeth. He stared at her then, and smiled politely.
    â€œAh, but I do know what I’m doing—and not doing,