Captive Pride

“You aren’t pla

“No. I have another ship due in port soon, and I have to be here to handle the business transactions,” he informed her casually.

“I’m glad,” she told him in a sultry voice as she took a sip of her wine, her eyes meeting his over the rim of the crystal glass.

Noah’s smile was sensual as he read the open hunger in her gaze. “I’ll be staying in Boston until the spring.”

“Good. That gives us plenty of time to become better acquainted.” Her meaning was clear, yet she did not press.

“Indeed it does,” he responded, lifting his glass in a silent toast as his eyes raked over her. She was a beautiful woman. Her curves were alluring, her eyes upon him were heated in invitation, and her mouth, full and pouting, promised untold delights. Noah knew that Eve Woodham would not fight off his advances; if anything, she would welcome them. Eve would make a very sensual mistress.

Eve saw the flame of desire in his gaze, and she began to tremble in excitement. Never before in her life had she wanted a man so badly. Lord Noah Kincade was her dream. She stared at him in the flickering of the candlelight, admiring his devilish good looks. His dark hair was unpowdered, and his refusal to follow the style only convinced her all the more that he was a man of his own convictions. He was not like Geoffrey, who constantly strove to stay abreast of the most current fads. Noah Kincade needed no artifice to prove his manhood. His shoulders beneath his perfectly tailored coat looked broad and strong, and she longed to caress his hard-muscled chest. The crisp whiteness of his shirt and artfully arranged cravat enhanced the darkness of his ta

Noah smiled at her then, and the slightly mocking smile sent Eve’s pulses racing as she imagined that he’d read her thoughts.

“Shall we go into the parlor?” she suggested, still not confident enough to be more forward with him and hoping the more comfortable setting of the sitting room would encourage him to be more bold.

“As you wish.” Noah maintained his aloofness as he followed her lead into the fashionably furnished parlor.

“Please, sit down. Would you care for a brandy?” Eve gestured toward the comfortable-looking sofa as she moved to a small liquor cabinet. At his nod, she poured him a generous amount in a snifter.

“Thank you.” He accepted the glass as she sat down beside him.

“My pleasure,” she purred, leaning comfortably back as she savored her own drink.

Noah’s eyes were dark upon Eve as he raised the snifter to his lips to drink of the potent liquor, but as he tasted of the brandy he was reminded of the last time he’d partaken of it…and of the woman he’d met that night…CC.

A

“Is something wrong?” Eve was asking as she noticed the sudden, unexplained fierceness in his expression.

“No,” he denied, not even wanting to consider that memories of CC’s lovemaking might have the power to ruin a night of carnal desire in Eve’s arms. “Nothing is wrong. Absolutely nothing.”

Taking her glass, he placed it along with his on a nearby table and then wasted no time in pulling her into his arms. Eve was elated. He wanted her! Surrendering to his demanding kiss, she met him in that passionate exchange, forbidding him nothing as his lips parted hers and his tongue delved within her mouth to tangle erotically with her own.

Sensually she pressed herself against him, and her hands were never still as they took the opportunity to explore the width and strength of his shoulders. The solid, taut feel of his hard, masculine body beneath her hands thrilled her, and she could hardly control her need to be free of her clothing and naked in his arms.

Noah had thought he would be able to lose himself in Eve’s embrace, that a night of wild, undemanding passion was what he needed, but he realized now as he felt Eve’s hands boldly exploring him that she was not what he wanted…not what he needed.

The realization that he really did not want to make love to Eve came as quite a shock to him. A short time ago in England any woman would have done as long as she was comely and clean, but now all that had changed, and he was confused. Even the sweet Polly at the i

As Eve melted against him, her body alive and throbbing with barely leashed passion, she was totally unaware that another woman-a woman she thought little of-held Noah’s thoughts. Hungrily she kissed him, moaning his name in a desire-drugged voice.

“Noah…I want you…”

The sound of her voice jerked him completely back to reality, and he took her by her upper arms and tightened his grip to hold her away from him. Eve was stu

“Noah?” Her voice was throaty and suggestive. “Don’t you want me?”

The answer was obvious to Noah, but he knew he could hardly tell her the truth-that he didn’t want her…that there seemed to be only one woman who could satisfy him right now, and that woman was CC Demorest.

“You’re a beautiful woman, Eve, and I find you very desirable…”

“Yes…” She was hopeful.

“But I am not in a position to make any commitments at this time, and I feel you deserve more than I can give you right now.” The lie was a smooth one, and he felt certain that by his telling it, Eve would be left feeling good about herself.

“Noah…” Her heart swelled with even more love for him. He respected her! It was more than she’d ever hoped for, and she firmly believed that there was a very real chance for a marriage between them now. “You are such a wonderful man…”

She leaned forward to kiss him tenderly. It was a kiss that Noah accepted without active participation.

“But I understand…”

“You do?”

“Yes, and it doesn’t matter. The way I feel about you is so special… I want you very much, Noah.” Her meaning was clear.

“I don’t want to use you, Eve,” he said firmly as he got to his feet. “It would be best if I left now.”

Eve reluctantly admitted that the night was lost. “All right, but Noah…?” When he glanced down at her, she continued, “I’ll be here, should you change your mind.”

Noah bent to her then and kissed her one last time before letting himself out of the room.

The immense crowd assembled at Faneuil Hall was a noisy, vocal one, and Matthew stood at Ben’s side listening with avid interest to all that was being discussed. When they had first arrived some time before, he’d been surprised by the size of the gathering. Though he had known from all he had heard that the revolutionary theory was growing in popularity, he’d had no idea that there were this many of them willing to stand up and be counted in their discontent.