Desire and Deception by Nicole Jordan Page B

been attracted to a man before. But then she had never met anyone so commanding, so self-assured, so very . . . male. Captain Stuart made her feel so terribly vulnerable.
    "Relax, sweetheart. You're far too tense."
    Relax? How could she relax? She had to remember he was dangerous. She couldn't let down her guard as she had when he had comforted her. Yet there was the matter of their bargain. He was paying for her services—whatever that meant. She supposed she ought to at least pretend to welcome his attentions, even if she couldn't completely overcome her trepidation. Otherwise he might change his mind and she wouldn't be able to earn the money she needed for passage to America.
    She felt his fingers in her hair, searching for the pins, removing them one by one. When the golden mass fell heavily down her back, Lauren shut her eyes and tried not to think of what was to come.
    "Your hair is lovely," he murmured. "Like spun gold." He stroked the shining tresses, glorying in the silken texture and the elusive scent that teased his faculties. Slowly then, he drew Lauren back against his chest, shifting her till she rested in the crook of his arm.
    Gazing down at the delicate oval of her face, Jason drank in her beauty. He would never get his fill of looking at her, he decided. With unsteady fingers, he traced the line of her jaw and then the full coral lips. Her eyes were still shut tightly when he lowered his head to capture her mouth.
    Lauren shivered as his tongue rippled over her lips, teasing, coaxing, playing upon hers. And when it parted her lips to slide between her teeth, she fought the overwhelming urge to leap off his lap. His kiss was having the same startling effect on her as before—leaving her dazed and breathless.
    Jason felt her resistance and lifted his head to gaze down at her, his blue eyes caressing her, amused. "You've never even been kissed, have you?" he asked tenderly. When Lauren shook her head, Jason laughed softly. "Lord, you must have been raised in a convent. No man in his right mind could resist kissing you, given half a chance."
    He regretted the words at once, for her wariness returned before she turned her head away. Although he was still holding her, Jason felt her withdrawal almost physically, and realized he had lost almost all the ground he had gained.
    He settled his palm against her cheek, turning her face back to his. "You promised me the night, Cat-eyes," he chided. "So far you haven't been very accommodating."
    Reminded of their agreement, Lauren gazed up at him. Did a hundred pounds give him the right to demand anything of her? "What . . . what do you want me to do?"
    "Lie still and don't fight me. I'm merely going to kiss you." He bent his head then, catching the soft flesh of her earlobe between his lips. After teasing it for a moment, he abandoned her ear to blaze a trail of soft, nibbling kisses to her mouth.
    "Give me your mouth, sweetheart." Lauren had no chance to comply, for he kissed her without waiting for her response. The touch of his lips was gentle but firm as he set about wooing her senses. Lauren's heartbeat quickened when his tongue delved into her mouth, but Jason's arms came around her like iron bands, stilling any protest she might have made.
    She proved to be no match for his determined expertise. In only a short while, he had conquered her resistance and was purposefully attacking the defensive barrier she had erected against him. His lips moved possessively over hers, while his tongue intimately probed and caressed the recesses of her mouth.
    Dazed and quivering, Lauren only vaguely realized when his passion threatened to rage out of control. He was kissing her hungrily. . . . No, he was savoring her. And to her dismay, she found herself enjoying the taste of him and wanting more. A delicious lassitude stole over her limbs, as desire, unfamiliar and inescapable, flooded the rest of her body.
    She thought he must be feeling the same desire, for she heard Jason