Bride for a Night(43)

He prowled forward, his golden hair shimmering in the moonlight and his eyes a pure silver.

Talia shivered at the sudden danger that filled the air. How ironic that she felt perfectly comfortable with the man who had taken her captive, while her husband—the one man she should trust above all others—made her tremble with uncertainty.

“I should think that is obvious.” His hooded gaze skimmed over her stiff form, lingering on her tumble of loose curls that spilled over her shoulders and down her back. “I have come to collect my wayward wife.”

A breathless, aching sensation raced through Talia, making her acutely conscious of the vast amount of bare skin revealed by her gown and the manner in which it clung to her generous curves.

“How in heaven’s name did you find me?” she rasped.

He halted a mere breath from her, the scent of his warm male skin teasing at her nose.

“I am not without skills.”

“But…”

“Why did you assume another man would be entering your chambers?” he roughly interrupted.

Sudden fear that they would be overheard by the guards in the garden below jolted Talia out of her lingering sense of disbelief.

“Shh.” She lifted a hand to press her fingers to his lips. “Someone will hear you.”

He grabbed her wrist, his touch sending a sizzle of heat through her blood even as his eyes flashed with anger.

“Answer the question, Talia. Who is Jacques?”

She frowned in confusion. “He is…or was your vicar until he revealed himself as a traitor and kidnapped me.”

“Jacques…Jack,” he breathed in sudden comprehension. “Of course.”

“Yes, Jack Gerard.”

“And he is a frequent visitor?”

“I do not understand.”

She furrowed her brow, wondering why on earth he appeared to be so preoccupied with her captor. Surely they should be concentrating on escaping before his presence was noticed?

Then realization struck like a slap to the face.

“Oh, my God.” She jerked her hand from his grip. “Did you come here to rescue me or to discover if Jacques is my lover?”

His jaw clenched. “Is he?”

For a crazed moment Talia contemplated the pleasure of knocking the arrogant bastard over the edge of the balcony.

What sort of insufferable, selfish beast was more concerned with whether or not his wife might have strayed than her well-being after enduring the trauma of being kidnapped and held captive?

Then deciding his head was too thick to be harmed by a mere fall, Talia pushed her way past his large form to enter her bedchamber.

“You should leave before the guards discover you are here,” she ordered between clenched teeth.

He was swiftly in pursuit. “You wish to remain?” he demanded.

“I wish…” She came to a sharp halt near the bed, recalling her ridiculous dreams of Gabriel’s romantic charge to the rescue. “I am such an idiot.”

He grabbed her shoulder, turning her to meet his fierce scowl.

“Talia.”

“No.” Instinctively she reached up to knock his hand away. “Do not touch me.”

He froze, regarding her as if she had suddenly grown a second head.

“You are my wife.”

Her humorless laugh echoed through the room. “A wife you insisted leave town mere hours after our wedding and to whom you haven’t bothered to send so much as a note.”

A flare of color crawled beneath his skin. Talia might have suspected he was embarrassed by her accusation if it weren’t so absurd.