My Enemy, My Lover
Available from loveyoudivine
www.loveyoudivine.com
February 2007
Historical (American Revolution)
Copyright 2005-2007 Marianne LaCroix
All rights reserved.
Arriving at a large tent, flaps rolled open to catch the night breeze and illuminated from inside with an oil lamp set in the center of a table, Rebecca felt on edge. Spotting a cot made up neatly towards one side of the tent, she had the overwhelming urge to bolt. Of course, how far could she go without any clothes? She’d have to bide her time and escape when they least expected it.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but the colonel instructed for you to be bound.”
“What about some clothes?” Surely, he hadn’t expected her to remain naked?
“We’re finding you something right now.” Taking her hands, he wrapped one end of thin rope around her wrists tightly, then tied the other end to the tent’s center pole. Because of the rope’s short length, she had to stand at the pole with her arms raised. It was a humiliating position, especially when she had to keep the blanket from falling by hugging the pole.
“That’ll be all for now, Sergeant.” He stood at the tent opening, unrolling the tent flaps, closing the tent from his men’s prying eyes.
“Yes, sir.” The young sergeant nodded his head and left the tent.
The air became heavy within as they stared at each other. He filled the tent merely with his presence. In the flickering lamp light, she had a better view of him. Ruggedly handsome with icy blue eyes and long, flowing black hair pulled back into a queue, the colonel looked like a dangerous wolf, awaiting his prey to move so he could attack, sinking his teeth within her flesh.
Her heart raced and her breathing quickened as she stood so vulnerable under his gaze. Her body felt alive with unknown sensations, and this man awakened them with just a heated look.
“Feel better?” he asked with a cock of his dark brow. Removing his red coat and hanging it on the back of a nearby chair, he seemed a little less menacing. Only a little.
“I’d feel better if you’d give me some clothes.”
He smirked as he stepped over to a chest placed at the foot of the cot. Opening it, he pulled out what looked like a decanter of brandy and two glasses. “You’ve no use for clothes right now.” Pouring the amber liquid into the glasses, he gazed back to her, adding in a husky tone, “I prefer you without clothes from what I’ve seen.”
She gasped at his outright roguish opinion. “You, sir, are no gentleman.
Raising the glass to his lips, he sipped the brandy, then said, “I never claimed to be a gentleman.”
Angered, she tried to move, but only succeeded in letting the blanket fall lower about her body, baring her to his raking eyes. “Well, at least you can untie me. I certainly can’t leave the camp without clothes.”
“You will remain bound until I am sure of your reasons for spying.”
“I told you, I wasn’t spying.” She tried to sound calm.
“Then what were you doing in the middle of the evening outside our camp? Were you looking to satisfy some of our officers with your charms?” He stood before her now, looking down at her face with those cold, calculating eyes. His intoxicating scent, a mixture of soap, spice, and male essence, filled her nostrils.
Her blood began to boil at his accusation, but more at her own body’s reactions to him. “I am not a camp tramp. I was simply hunting for rabbit. It scurried away. I slipped in the mud and fell. Then your men found me.”
He made a sound as he thought on her words. His eyes traveled along her exposed skin, making her feel extremely defenseless. A shiver wracked her body under his gaze. Then, he leaned in and breathed low in her ear, “How did it make you feel, knowing I watched you bathing?”
She let out a slow breath as she closed her eyes. He had awakened her body with his closeness, and now he seduced her with his words, speaking of things that should never be discussed. “You are a rogue, Colonel,” she said in a whisper, turning her head toward his face.
“A rogue? Hmm...I’ve been called worse things than that.” She felt his fingertips graze along her skin in a light touch. Then his fingers tugged the blanket gently, and she allowed it to fall away.