The Beauty and the Spy Read Free

gave a little squeak and started struggling again. He admired her bravery even as he was forced to squeeze her tighter. Her waist was fragile; her bones felt as delicate as a bird’s. He could hurt her if he wasn’t careful.
    Campbell lifted the woman’s chin and stared into her face. “Perhaps I would enjoy it more.”
    Everything seemed suspended as the woman froze and whimpered softly.
    â€œGo—quickly,” Nick said with force. “Someone could be missing her even as you lust over her. At least I belong at the ball. What excuse will you give if they find us?”
    Campbell glared at him, then gave a short nod. “I’ll look for the message at the inn. You make sure she never talks again.”
    â€œCount on it.”
    Campbell opened the door, looked both ways, and shut it behind him as he left. The woman hung limp in Nick’s arms, but at the click of the door, she became wild, flailing her arms and legs, scratching at his hand where it covered her mouth.
    â€œCalm down,” he whispered forcefully, his face pressed against her hair. “I’m not going to kill you.”
    He turned her away from the door toward the bed, and that made her struggle even more. A flowered wreath that had been perched on her dark curls went skittering along the floor.
    With sudden comprehension, he tried to gruffly reassure her. “I’m not going to do that either. Just be quiet so I can explain—”
    She bit down hard on his hand and deliberately collapsed toward the floor. In their struggle he got a handful of one ample breast. After all the work he’d done on this mission, he’d about had it with trying not to hurt her. He picked her up and threw her onto the bed. When she tried to scramble away, he fell on her, forcing her onto her back and pinning her gloved hands over her head with one of his hands and using the other to cover her mouth. His legs and her skirts pinned her lower body. He had an odd, quick thought that she felt very comfortable beneath him.
    She stared at him wide-eyed, dark hair sticking out about her face, breathing so hard that her breasts, partially covered and barely contained, shuddered against his chest.
    â€œThat’s enough,” he said in a cold, menacing voice. “You can’t escape me, and you’ll only be hurt trying. Whether you believe it or not, I don’t want to hurt you. But I can’t risk discovery, either.” He rotated his hips until she could feel the pressure of the pistol tucked in his belt against her soft stomach. “Don’t force me to use this.”
    The threat was hollow, and he knew it—butthe woman didn’t. She squeezed her eyes closed, and another tear leaked out to slide into her hair. Though her lips moved against his hand, he didn’t allow her to speak. The stiffness went out of her body, and she gazed up at him beseechingly with hazel eyes, the flecks of green and gray shimmering with her tears.
    â€œWe have to leave,” he said in a low, impatient voice, “and it obviously can’t be through the ballroom. It will have to be the balcony. Can you be quiet and walk alone, or do I have to gag you?”
    Very slowly he removed his hand from her mouth. His weight still held her pinned to the bed, and he imagined she was having difficulty breathing by this point.
    Softly she said, “I’ll be good. But please, my family has money. Let me go, and I promise they’ll reward you handsomely.”
    â€œI’m not after money. Now let’s go.”
    â€œBut—”
    He slid backward off the bed, pulling her to her feet with the same motion. For a moment their gazes locked, and he saw her fright and desperation. He knew then that he couldn’t trust her not to do something stupid. Holding on to her arm, he turned and pulled the coverlet and blanket off the bed.
    She gave a ragged cry and tried to tug away.
    With his hands on her upper arms, he