Dark Rider

Climax. Different this time. Release that has no end…

He cried out and his back arched as he gained his own release. She saw the painful contortion slowly vanish from his face. He looked down at her and she met his gaze.

Mystery. Life. Destiny. How strange that this moment of realization had come after the act, not before as it had been with Morgana and Kapu…

"Cassie…" A note of wonder, of bewilderment.

"No." She didn't want him to speak. She pulled him down and held him close as the last ripples of passion shuddered through him. She had given him this pleasure. A surge of joy tore through her, so intense it made the physical release pale in comparison. He was hers, as Kapu was hers, as Lani was hers.

No, more. So much more. The truth crashed down upon her, jarring her back to reality.

Dear God, how had it come to this?

She lay stu

"I didn't plan this." His words were muffled in her hair. "I didn't want it to happen this way. I wanted Morgana to be a gift."

"I'm certain you didn't," she said dully. She knew him so well now. She knew his humor and his impatience, his passion and sensuality, his gentleness with Josette and Bradford. She knew his strict sense of justice and his total determination. She wished with all her heart she knew less about him. "It wasn't your fault."

It was her own fault. She had done the unforgivable.

He raised his head to look down at her. "What's wrong with you?"

She shook her head without answering.

He muttered a curse, moved off her, and adjusted his clothes. "You wanted it, dammit! I did not rape you."

"No." She sat up and brushed the hair from her eyes.

"Then why are you acting as if I did?"

"I want to go to my room." She didn't look at him as she straightened her clothes. "Will Kapu and Morgana be all right in the pasture?"

"Yes. We'll leave them together for the night. They'll couple several times before morning."

"And you'll have your foal." She stood up and brushed bits of hay from the skirt of her gown. "Everything is working out just as you thought."

"The hell it is." He rose to his feet. "Tell me what's wrong!"

"Nothing." Her voice was halting. "I'm very grateful for your generosity in giving me Morgana. It's very kind."

"Kind? You must be ill. I've never known you to think me kind."

"You can be kind." Kind and ruthless. Gentle and erotic. Darkness and light. The tears were brimming, and she had to get away from him. "Good night…" She turned and fled down the corridor toward the door.

He caught her as she reached the courtyard and whirled her to face him. "Talk to me," he said through his teeth. "For God's sake, tell me what-" He broke off as he saw the tears streaming down her cheeks. "My God."

"I have to go." She started to struggle. "I have to-"

"Not until- All right, anything, just, for God's sake, stop crying." He let her go and stepped back. "But it's not the end of it. Tomorrow you're going to tell me what you're upset about."

She would never tell him.

She turned and ran across the courtyard. She could feel his baffled, frustrated gaze on her back as she tore up the stairs and into the hall. She would never commit that final betrayal.

She would never, never tell Jared she loved him.

"Cassie?" Josette was sitting on the bottom step of the staircase, dressed in night shift and robe, bare feet curled beneath her. Her eyes were wide with alarm. "You're weeping. What did he do to you?"

She wiped her wet cheeks with the back of her hands. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard you and Jared arguing in the hall. I was worried… I couldn't sleep." She shook her head. "You said he wasn't angry."

"He wasn't." She started up the stairs. "Go to bed."

Josette scrambled to her feet and followed her. "Then why are you crying? You never cry."

"I just am."

"Why?"

The tears wouldn't stop flowing and neither would Josette's questions. Cassie suddenly flared. "It's my concern. Leave me alone!" Then, when she saw Josette's stricken expression, she was instantly remorseful. "It's not… Everything is… it's too much."

"Is it Jared? Do you want me to talk to him?"

"No!" She tried to temper the sharpness. "Nothing is wrong. Jared didn't hurt me. He's actually been very kind. He gave me Morgana."

"You have to be jesting," Josette whispered.

She shook her head. "He's taking Kapu and Morgana's foal. So, you see, everything is fine."

"Then why are you crying?"

"Because I can't-" She stopped and then said, "Because it's time I left Morland. I can't stay here any longer."

The words startled her as much as they did Josette, but once they were uttered, she knew no other action could result from the realization that she loved Jared. If she didn't leave him now, she wasn't sure she would ever leave him.

"No!" Josette cried, dismayed. "Why should you go? Everything is fine now. I don't have to go back to school, and Jared gave you Morgana. We could have a lovely time."

"Josette, I don't belong here. Have you forgotten my father?"

Josette was silent a moment. "I wish you could." She held up her hand as Cassie opened her lips to speak. "But I know you can't." She shook her head. "Jared won't let you go."

Cassie forced a smile. "Then I'll have to go without his knowledge, won't I?"

"Do you have any money?"

"About a hundred pounds my father left with Lani."

"Lani will go with you?" Josette answered her own question. "Of course she will." Her tone became wistful. "It's just that I've gotten so used to both of you. I'll miss you…"

"We'll miss you, too."

"Truly?"

Cassie nodded her head. "Truly. But I have to go."

"It's difficult getting into French ports these days. Few ships will accept the risk." Josette frowned. "And how will you manage to arrange passage? I doubt if you could leave Morland without Jared's sanction."

"I don't know." She shook her head wearily. It was trying enough to come to terms with the knowledge that she loved Jared. She couldn't deal with anything else. "I'll think about it later. Right now I'm going to bed." She started up the stairs again. "And so should you."

"And what about papers?" Josette followed her. "I think you should stay here."

Cassie shook her head.

"Then I think I should go with you."

"What!" Cassie turned to look at her in surprise.

"Well, I could sail you across the cha

"You would do that for us?"

Josette gri

"Carradine Hall isn't Morland." Cassie's first leap of hope vanished. "I couldn't let you do that for us."

She coaxed. "I'm a very good sailor. It wouldn't be that dangerous just to land you and Lani on a beach near a village and come back."

"Jared would be angry with you."

"Not for long. Besides, I'd rather face Jared's anger than worry about your safety."

It was very tempting, the answer to most of the obstacles that stood in their way. "I'll consider it."

Josette nodded briskly. "You'll see that my way is best." She turned down the wing where her chamber was located. She cast Cassie a mischievous glance over her shoulder. "And in the meantime I'll start making plans. It takes a great deal of forethought to make good an escape."

Josette's sorrow and disappointment had been submerged in anticipation and purpose. Cassie wished she could shift emotions so easily. She felt raw and desolate, and the entire world seemed dark. She wanted to run to Lani and hear her say that everything would be all right.