Chapter 9

Julian leaned over Eve, his heart in his eyes. "You can fight me, but I know you love me as much as I love you, don't you Eve...don't you," he whispered as his lips hovered above hers.

"Arrgh!" he yelped, for Eve had resourcefully kneed him in his privates, tied ankles and all."That was uncalled for!" he complained, seeing her victorious smirk."Have I harmed you in any way to warrant a physical attack on my person?"

"I think your kidnapping me counts as harm," Eve told him, not feeling the least bit sorry. "You deserved it!" she exclaimed, tossing him a triumphant look.

Undaunted, he slowly smiled at her, forgetting the pain as he saw the fire in her eyes. "Now that I know that I need to be wary of you, my dear....looks like I'll simply have to feed you myself rather than release your hands so you can cause me more pain," Julian informed her. "I do admire your spirit--still unbroken after all of these years." He went to get the tray of food he had brought in earlier, courtesy of the Lobster Shack. Hardly his usual fare, but he had phoned them during the drive up to the cabin, and the delivery driver who'd sped ahead of them had received a two hundred dollar tip for his efforts. Eve had never been the caviar and pate de foie gras type, he remembered.

"Please Julian, let me at least eat in peace," Eve asked. When he shook his head, she scowled at him. "I'll never forgive you for this....caging me up like some animal in a zoo!"

He held up a piece of shrimp to her. "You know I will release you if you admit you still love and want me.And you are keeping more than that from me, my dear--won't you tell me and unburden yourself?" He held it up to her lips, then stopped, seeing a far away look in her lovely brown eyes. What was she thinking about, he wondered...

Unbidden thoughts had come to Eve's mind--Julian's strong hands moving over her body, stoking it to fiery heights of desire she had never known. How well she remembered the nights she had spent in his arms....nights that had left her breathless with wanting him, wanting all of him. Being this close, even under these circumstances, was causing her to ache for him again. You still want him, Eve, she silently admitted to herself. Even after everything that has happened, you still love him--faults and all.

No! she thought wildly--she couldn't let it happen, could not tell him about the secret that haunted her still. She had to bide her time and escape from Julian or she would be lost to him again, body and soul. And Eve had too much pride to be his plaything a second time--and more than that, she had to protect herself.

"Eve?" Julian asked, seeing the emotions play across her face. "Is anything amiss, my dear?"

"With the exception of being trussed up like a Thanksgiving Day turkey, I'm as well as can be expected." she told him dryly. "Isn't there anything I can do to convince you to let me go?" She nearly smiled at the look of mischief that appeared on his face but bit on her lip to control it.

Seeing her bite her bottom lip was almost too much for him. "Ah, I can think of so many things you could try--and would enjoy all of them, believe me--but I would settle for an admission and a confession from you," Julian said, his eyes still upon her lips. He remembered just how they felt under his own, soft with passion. No other woman had compared to her....her kiss alone had been enough to catapult him into ecstasy.

"I don't have anything to say, Julian--except I pray you come to your senses and stop this." Eve finally opened her mouth to accept the shrimp, in spite of herself she was hungry. Try as she may, her tongue lightly touched his fingers in spite of her effort not to, causing Julian to groan in response. He continued to feed her until the shrimp was finished, then offered her some Evian water to drink.

Julian stood up, feeling rather drained from the simple act of feeding her. "I'll just get you some more water, shall I," he said haltingly, needing to be away from her for a moment so he could collect himself. Her lips on his fingers had been akin to torture the whole while, albeit a sweet torture. He wondered how long he would be able to stand being around her without making love to her.

"Thank you," Eve said absently as he left the room. Leaning back, she exhaled deeply--Julian Crane still had a very powerful hold on her, whether she wanted to admit it or not. Yet that could not deter her--she had to somehow get Julian to let her go, and only then would she be safe once more. Safe from the intoxicating prescence of her first love. And far from the man who had treated her so cruelly.

And the secret that she bore would be safe as well.
 

Meanwhile, in the city of Quincy, T.C. Russell ripped up a picture of Eve as he stood beside his car. She had lied to him all of these years about their daughter Whitney....she was someone else's daughter, not his! After that revelation, he had physically abused Eve in his fury over her betrayal, and she had ran away from him. He was going to find her though....or die trying. And find the bastard who had fathered the girl he had loved as his own these many years. And when he did--

"There'll be hell to pay--I promise them both that!"
 

Ivy's smile was as wide as a Cheshire cat's. She listened on her cell phone gleefully. "Her name is actually Eve RUSSELL...and the little tramp left her wife beating husband? How interesting," she almost purred.