Erotica Fantastica by Saskia Walker Page B

calling them impossible frippery. She'd always known
that his engineering skills could make them solid and true, but
he'd not taken her seriously when they'd been together. "The real
reason."
    He nodded, deferring to her skepticism.
"Your design was outrageous…wild, and seemingly unattainable." His
gaze roved over her. "It was perfect in every other way."
    He met her stare. She scowled at him.
    "The Crimean war raised many issues," he
continued in a more serious tone. "The world is changing. Britain
may be an empire and an island but our coastline is still
vulnerable. I presented your design to Parliament and offered to
build a prototype from my own funds. I suggested it could be used
to guard shallow waters and low-lying areas such as this, the
Romney Marshes, places that would be our frontline if invasion
should threaten." He gave a sardonic smile. "Given the problem we
already have with smugglers here on the marshes, Parliament
practically snatched the contract from my fingertips."
    Nina's fury built. The way he so blatantly
told her what he'd done with her design was utterly galling.
    "Now that the Minister of Defense has seen
it," Dominic continued, "he wants more of your beautiful machines."
He paused, observing her reaction. "Imagine it, Nina, a frontline
of Daedalus spiders, cunning workers observing our coastline, able
to march through any terrain and confront the enemy."
    Her emotions twisted and turned. Pride
flared in her chest, but at the very same moment the sense of
injustice she felt bit deep into her. If she had taken the project
to Parliament she would have been cast out as a foolish woman. "I
suppose you expect me to be grateful that you took charge of
it?"
    "Of course not. You are far too contrary and
stubborn to be grateful for anything."
    The sardonic tone to his comment irked her
even more.
    Then he licked his lips as if he was
relishing his power over her. "I've engineered your design
successfully, improved on it, made it solid in real and useful, but
all you can do is glare at me." He shrugged one shoulder. "I'm
disappointed. Frankly, my dear, I expected more fire." His handsome
mouth lifted at one corner, as if he was daring her to lash out at
him. He knew her rebellious spirit far too well.
    "I always knew it could be done," she
retorted. "What annoys me is that you stole my designs and you
ruined my reputation, and now you expect me to be pleased because
you've sold it to Parliament, the very establishment I detest?"
    "What better way to mutiny Parliament than
from within?" He was quite serious, and she loved that. The
suggestion was there in his eyes, bright, devilish, and promising
her many an adventure. Her body responded, aching for him.
"Besides," he continued, "as I recall you were quite willing to
have your reputation ruined, eager in fact." He looked her over
with undisguised appraisal, as if recalling their more intimate
encounters.
    Nina bristled. "Heat of the moment, nothing
more."
    "Is that so? And there was me thinking it
was so much more than that."
    He was right of course. Studying together
meant that their mutual attraction had built steadily, until it
could not be denied. And how well matched they had turned out to be
in matters of sexual congress. Her body throbbed with arousal as
treasured memories flitted through her mind. But that was behind
them now, and that's where it had to stay.
    Dominic strolled closer. He parted her cloak
and gazed at her chest, then trailed the back of his knuckles along
her jaw, his touch inflaming her. "In fact being a vicar's daughter
only seemed to make you more rebellious in matters of morals."
    Fury bit into her. She slapped him.
    With lightening reactions he gripped her
around the upper arms and kissed her, his mouth hungry and
possessive on hers.
    Stunned, she froze then melted. Her lips
parted under his, her fisted hands pressed to his chest. His wicked
charms always had made her weak.
    "I want you," he demanded as he drew back,
"right here