A Perilous Eden Read Free Page B

“Dear God. Oh God …”
    He took a step toward the bunk so that he could whisper in the night. She saw the white flash of his teeth and the deadly warning in his eyes. “Scream again.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œScream again.”
    â€œMichael, I don’t—”
    â€œYou idiot. I said scream !”
    His eyes met hers for a second, then fell to the white bodice of her gown. He released her shoulders and bluntly reached for the fabric between her breasts, then wrenched it apart.
    Amber clawed at his hands, screaming. “Don’t! Don’t!” Hysteria was rising within her. Not this. Not this, not from him …
    He smiled, his teeth flashing again. There seemed to be a touch of humor in his eyes. “Good scream,” he told her, and then he proceeded to rip the bodice of her white cocktail gown until it was split to her navel.
    He wanted screams, she gave him a barrage of them, clawing at his hands, his face, his throat, pummeling anything she could reach.
    â€œGood,” he murmured to her, releasing her suddenly. Amber fell against the wall, struggling to hold her clothing together, gasping for breath and completely dazed.
    Michael Adams sat at the foot of the bed, untied his black sneakers and tossed them across the cabin.
    â€œI’ll kill you myself!” Amber swore, close to tears, fighting them wildly.
    He reached behind him to his waistband and produced a smooth steel weapon, then set it on a bureau by the bed. Amber caught her breath, gazing at the gun longingly.
    Then her eyes darted back to him. He was standing again, sliding out of the black jeans, and moonlight was dancing over the whole of his body.
    He had worn nothing beneath the jeans.
    â€œNo!”
    This time he replied, chuckling softly. “Amber, my love, there’s nothing new here.…”
    The deep husky tone of his voice nearly demolished the last of her sanity. How dare he remind her of how familiar they were to one another?
    He let out a very explicit oath, then fell on top of her. She felt his flesh against her body. Her white gown fell open, and the rough hair on his chest brushed over her breasts. A scream rose in her throat again, but she didn’t let it loose. His eyes were on her, piercing into her own. He brought his hand up and softly stroked her cheek. “You fool. For God’s sake, give yourself a chance.”
    He was going to kill her now, she thought. She could fight, but she couldn’t win.
    She moistened her lips. “Don’t …” she whispered. She kept her eyes on his. Maybe there was mercy somewhere within him.
    â€œListen to me. And listen good. I am trying to keep you alive.”
    She nodded. Sure. Sure he was.
    He moved away, sitting at the foot of the bunk, running his fingers through his hair. He seemed to have forgotten her, but then she must have moved, or breathed, or something, and she drew his attention again.
    He looked at her torn bodice and her breasts and her skirt bunched up beneath her hips. “Take that off,” he told her.
    â€œNo, Michael. No, I—”
    He rose, leaning over her. “Now. You can do it, or I can. If I do it, it’s going to be worse.”
    â€œIf they don’t shoot you, I swear that I will!” Amber vowed, desperately fighting against hands that moved with a steely will. The grim line of his mouth tightened, but other than that he gave no indication that he had even heard her.
    Then she tried to grab the gun, and he could no longer ignore her. Calmly, forcefully, coldly, with grim determination, he stripped away her clothing.
    Any struggle was useless. Her once glorious gown was shredded, and he didn’t stop there. Without any finesse he stripped off her stockings and slip, then unsnapped her bra. He leaned closer to her, whispering in her ear. “Damn it, I am not trying to hurt you! But if you keep trying to hurt me, so help me, I’ll—”
    He stopped