'Shannon, I really am trying. Now, open the door and—'
'You're an ass, Malachi. A complete ass!'
'Shannon, I am trying—darlin'. But keep it up, and you'll pay. I promise,' he said very softly.
'Go away!'
'Shannon, I'm giving you ten seconds. One—'
'You should have knocked when you came last night.'
'I didn't come here last night. You're dreaming.'
'Nightmare, Mr. Slater. If I was dreaming, it was a nightmare.' She paused, then said with disgust, 'You liar!'
'I didn't come near you last night, Shannon. But so help me, I'll come near you now!'
It was a threat. A definite threat. After everything that he had done!
She spat out exactly what he should do with himself.
He slammed into the door. The noise brought her flying up in panic, searching for the Colt. The wood splintered and sheared around the lock, and the door soared open.
Malachi stood in the doorway, looking much the worse for wear. His clothing was rumpled, his eyes were red, and his temper hadn't improved a hair.
Not that the night had done much for Shannon's.
She lifted the Colt and aimed it straight at his heart. 'What do you think you're doing here?' she demanded huskily. She couldn't quite find her voice.
He eyed the Colt but ignored it. He stepped into the room, kicking the door shut behind him. 'Shannon, I am going to try and talk reasonably. I—'
'Malachi, get out of here. Or else I will shoot you. I will not kill you. I will aim—'
''Don't you dare say it!' he snapped at her.
'Say what?'
'You know what!'
'All right! I'll shoot at—'
'Shannon!'
'Malachi, I don't want you here. I married you to save your damn neck and you can't even stay with me for two seconds.'
'I had to beg you to—'
'You forced me to say those words.'
'You know, I'm remembering right now just how bad it was. Dropping down on my knees to beg you to —'
'Beg! You get out, now! Or I will put a bullet right where it might count the most!'
'Why, darlin',' he drawled. 'You are my beloved wife, and I can come to you whenever I choose.'
'The hell you can.'
'The law says I can,' he told her softly.
'The law plans on stringing you up—darlin'. Maybe we ought not tempt fate.'
'Well, then, Mrs. Slater, I say that I can.' He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back against the broken door. His lashes fell with a lazy nonchalance over his eyes, but she could see the slit of blue beneath them, wary and hard.
She was trembling. She couldn't let him see it. She kept her hand as steady as she could manage on the Colt.
'You chose your bed, captain. You just go on back to it.'
'Darlin', I'm tired of you spying on me, and I'm damned tired of your being a brat. I didn't come to fight —'
'You shouldn't have come at all.'
'Put the gun away, Shannon.'
'Get out!'
'I can't, not now—'
'Malachi, get away from me, now!'
'Put the gun away, Shannon. Put it away now! I'm warning you as nicely as I can, but I mean it.' It sounded as if he was growling at her. She gritted her teeth and smiled sweetly.
'Malachi, since I am the one with the gun, I'm warning you.'
'You'll be damned sorry when you don't have the gun.'
'Don't threaten me.'
'You vowed to obey me.'
'You vowed to cherish me. It was all lies. So no, captain, you go on back across the street to your whore. You're not going to touch me.'
'You're one Yank I do intend to touch, my love.'
She pulled back the trigger on the Colt, letting him hear the deadly click. 'Get out. You know that I can aim.'
'I haven't come to do anything to you. I've come because this is my room, and you are my wife. Put the gun down. I have every right here, and you won't shoot me.'
'You have no rights here, and I will shoot you!'
He took a step toward her. She fired, with deadly accuracy. The bullet whizzed by his face, so close that it clipped his beard before embedding itself into the thick wood of the door behind him. He stopped, staring at her, the muscles in his jaw working. He was surprised, but he was not afraid. 'You shot at me!' he said, his voice harsh and low. 'You actually shot at me!' He took another step toward her.
'You fool!' Shannon warned him, backing away. She fired again, and drew blood this time, nicking his ear.
But it did no good. He was upon her, wrenching the Colt from her hand. His fingers dug around her upper arms with a trembling force, and he picked her up and tossed her like a sack of wheat upon the bed. She struggled to rise, but he caught her and pushed her back. He straddled her, pinning her down, and she saw the naked amazement and wrath in his eyes. 'You little bitch! You really would have killed me!'
She wriggled and kicked, struggling fiercely. 'If I'd meant to kill you, you'd be dead, and you know it.'
He eased his hold on her to touch his ear, feeling the trickle of blood. She used the opportunity to surge against him, freeing her hands and swinging at him. She caught him on the jaw with a good punch, and he swore savagely, securing her beneath him again. The beautiful white satin bridal nightgown was twisting higher and higher around her hips with every fevered moment. 'Let me go, Malachi.'
'Oh, no, Shannon, you're the one who wanted to play rough. Well, let's play rough, shall we?'
And he wrenched the gown up high on her thighs with his free hand. He released her to unbuckle his trousers, and she screeched, jumping up. He caught her arm, twisting her down.
'You shot at me!' he hissed at her.
She swung forward, trying to hurt him, trying not to cry.
'And you slept with the red-haired harlot, so leave me alone!' She slammed against his chest and thrashed out with her legs. She heard him groan in pain and she knew that she had gotten him good.
But he fell against her again, and her hair caught and pulled in his fingers. 'I didn't sleep with her—'
'Oh, no! Don't try to play me for a fool, Malachi.'
'I did not sleep with Iris. She's a real friend, an old friend. I should sleep with her. She is kind, and caring. And warm. But I wasn't with her last night. I slept in her bed, but not with her.'
'Liar!'
'No!'
He pushed her flat against the bed. Tears stung her eyes and she writhed and struggled against him. 'Liar!' she accused him again. But his lips met hers, and she didn't understand what happened at all.
'I am not lying!' he swore, and his hatred contoured and marred his features.
'Please…'
He assaulted her…but she met his fury with her own. His mouth forced down hard upon hers…but her lips parted to his, and she met the invading thrust of his tongue with the passionate fury of her own. When his lips
