Susan Johnson - Seduction in Mind

"You must miss your family," Alex said kindly.

He nodded. "After the earthquake I had to leave the village to help support them. London can be lonely."

"I imagine it can. Are you hoping to return soon?"

"Not soon, but eventually, God willing," he said. "Harry promised to find me more work modeling so I can earn extra money. Most of my pay from the museum goes directly home."

"Harry can be depended on, you can be sure. Would you like something to eat before we begin? I think I missed lunch." She hadn't, but the young man didn't look as though he had an abundance of food.

"If you don't mind, miss. I haven't eaten since yesterday."

"You poor man. Come to the kitchen. I'll find us something."

In short order, Ben was seated across from Alex at a large monk's table, an array of food before him.

While he ate, Alex kept him company with a slice of Madeira cake and a glass of hock, and between mouthfuls he gave an account of his family and the village poverty that had brought him to England.

It was a poignant tale typical of so many immigrants to the city, one she'd heard many times before. As the story of his plight unfolded, Alex offered not only sympathy but in the end also a well-paying job at her father's warehouse. "You could still help at the museum. I'm sure my father would allow you flexibility in your hours, and you'd be able to send more help home to your family."

Ben's eyes filled with tears again. "Thank you, thank you, kind lady." His voice vibrated with emotion. "It was the most fortunate of days when I met young Harry and you."

"We're more than happy to help. Once Harry arrives, he'll tell you himself."

"Bless you, my lady." Ben's bottom lip trembled. "You are our benevolent angel."

"Well, well, well…" a lazy voice intoned. "What do we have here?"

Alex spun around at the low drawl, saw Sam looming large in the doorway, and immediately frowned. "What are you doing here?"

"You probably should run along." Sam gestured at the man seated across from Alex. "And tell your sister to stay out of my life."

Alex's gaze swiveled to Ben and then back to Sam. "What's going on here?" A hint of temper vibrated in her voice. "What sister? Ben's modeling for me."

"I'll bet he is."

"You know him?"

"You might say so. And I doubt Mahmud's up to any good."

"His name is Ben."

"Today maybe." Sam snapped his fingers at the young man and indicated the door with a jerk of his thumb. "Get out, Mahmud."

As the young man scrambled to his feet, Alex put up her hand to stop him. "You needn't leave," she said, taking issue with Sam's peremptory commands. "I won't let Lord Ranelagh hurt you."

"You decide, Mahmud," Sam gritted out, soft menace in his tone. "Do you think this lady can save you?"

Slipping around the end of the table, Mahmud bolted for the back door, and a moment later silence filled the kitchen.

Alex rose and faced Sam, her annoyance plain. "Would you care to tell me what that was all about?"

"Would you care to tell me what you were doing with him?" Sam returned, a minute edge to his voice.

He filled the doorway, his broad shoulders brushing the jambs. Resentful of this unwanted intervention, she said, "You're not my keeper. You have no right to question me, and I don't like you barging into my house. I particularly don't like you frightening my friends away."

"He's not your friend. He's Farida's brother and he's not here because he likes the color of your eyes. Let me rephrase that. If he likes the color of your eyes, you're damned lucky I showed up when I did."

"He was modeling for Harry. He's perfectly benign, and don't think just because your liaisons come to disastrous ends that Ben, or Mahmud, or whatever his name was, would necessarily be a danger to me."

Sam blew out an impatient breath. "That brother-and-sister duet are predators, and danger follows in their wake as sure as the sun rises in the east."

"I beg to differ with you. He's not a predator. For your information, he comes from a village near Damascus that was nearly destroyed by an earthquake and he's working very hard to support his entire family on very little money, and-"

"He was born and raised in Cairo."

"How do you know?"

"I know because Farris had them investigated. They're thieves. They have been most of their lives, and while I don't question the motives behind their life of crime, I'm done paying for it. They have orders to leave London by week's end or lose the settlement I've agreed to give them. Is that a clear enough picture?"

He took a step into the room. Alex unconsciously braced herself. "Very clear," she replied stiffly, irritated to have been momentarily intimidated. "But it still doesn't give you the right to intrude into my house and life. This is my home, Sam, and even if you hadn't disregarded our agreement, I don't appreciate your barging in."

"I saved you from a thief, possibly more. Most would thank me."

"Thank you," she said coolly. "Now, I'd appreciate it if you'd leave."

"What if I said I didn't want to?"

"Then, you'd be no better than he. I don't want anyone taking advantage of me."

"Am I taking advantage of you?" His voice had suddenly gone soft.

"Yes." She steeled herself against the silken accents, against potent memory, against his seductive gaze. "Yes, you are. I prefer my privacy."

"What the hell does that mean?"

She straightened her shoulders. "It means I can't-I won't allow you to take over my life."

"And I've done that?"

"Completely. Since I met you, I haven't done anything but-"

"Make love?"

She flushed crimson, but her voice, when she spoke, was firm. "I can't afford to keep doing that."

"Why not? You liked it."

"It's not enough. Don't you understand?"

"No, I don't. Explain to me why you won't do something you like."

"Explain to me why making love is all you do."

"It's not all I do."

Her brows rose. "You're simply misunderstood by the world at large. Is that it?"

"I don't care what the world thinks."

"Obviously. And perhaps there's where our visions differ. I do care-"

This time his brows rose. "Really. I don't know too many ladies who pose nude."

"Let's just say I care in my own way," she said, impassioned about her freedom. "And I also care about a great number of things other than my own pleasure."

"Don't suddenly turn Puritan on me. I know you better."

"You couldn't wait even two days."

"Waiting somehow makes me a better person?"

"You could have done it for me. Instead, you chose to indulge yourself as usual-as always."

"Look, I don't want to fight," he said quietly.

"And I don't want to give up my life." She lifted her chin. "I've come too far to relinquish my independence for-what? Your capricious desires?"

His eyes suddenly turned chill. "Nobody asked you to give up your life," he said curtly. "And pleasure isn't necessarily evil, despite your newfound virtue. You're reading way the hell too much into this, sweetheart." He nodded, a brisk, dismissive gesture. "It's been interesting." His cool gaze raked her from head to foot. "I'll give you that." And then he turned and walked away.

When the door shut a moment later, the soft sound was utterly final.

Well, that little scene demonstrated how useless it was to try to please a woman, Sam decided angrily, striding away from Alex's studio. He hadn't even had a drink since last he saw her-not with Eddie, not the previous night, nor had he considered seeing another woman, all in an effort to meet some damned exacting standard of some dutiful bitch who had just told him she wasn't changing her life for him.

As if he wanted her to change her life for him!

As if he wanted more than the pleasure of her damned hot body!

Standing at the curb, he surveyed the empty street, begrudging his stupidity in sending his carriage away. Who would think she didn't want to have sex when she'd been having sex with him for nearly a week now. Silly him. He should have known she was in a new celibate phase. If he was a fortune-teller, maybe he might have known, he fumed, turning toward the park. Well, he wished her pleasure in her cold, chaste bed. There were plenty of other women in London who were more than willing.

But he'd not walked far before he found himself wondering just how long her bed would remain chaste, and considering the passionate nature of their relationship the last few days, that disastrous thought refused to be dislodged from his brain. She didn't seem like the type who would go long without sex and, of course, there was always damned Harry with his soulful eyes just waiting to console her. Merde and damn and bloody hell. It wasn't a pleasing prospect. Especially knowing how unbelievably hot she could be. Especially after having screwed her almost constantly the past week. Dammit, he didn't like to think of her with Harry-or whomever-and for a flashing moment he considered pirating her away to some distant place where he could keep her for himself. Cooler reason almost immediately put period to such a ludicrous notion, and he instead surveyed the street ahead, looking for a pub.

He needed a drink badly.

Alex was equally distrait, but in a less predaceous way. She didn't distribute blame or wish to spirit him away for herself alone. Instead, she wished it were possible to have him without compromising her entire life. It wasn't, of course. Men like Sam were used to making demands, used to having their wishes fulfilled, familiar only with compliance. She couldn't so easily acquiesce, although she realistically understood he hadn't asked her for anything more than the pleasure of her company.