'No.' Perry laughed. 'What has brought you?'
He released her long enough to throw his hat and heavy coat aside. 'When I see you, I forget all else but my need to hold you.' He reached for her, but she darted from his touch.
'Hunter, this is my brother's house.'
He moved toward her slowly. 'I'm aware of that fact. Why else would I be restraining myself?' A devilish twinkle danced in his gray eyes.
'You're a lost cause.' Perry moved away, loving the way he followed.
'Agreed, lady, completely lost,' he whispered before sobering to his duty. 'I came to warn you of something. Abram arrived this afternoon and reported Wade may have reached North Carolina ahead of him. He said several people along the road reported having seen a man of Wade's description, traveling fast.'
'Wade's here?' she whispered as she unconsciously slipped her hand into her pocket and encircled her knife.
'I've spent the past few hours looking for him but with no luck.' Hunter walked to the window, as if searching the darkness. 'He has a house between here and town, but he isn't there.'
Hunter turned suddenly to face Perry. His voice was cold with determination. 'I must go to Raleigh tonight. It's very important. I've come to tell you to stay inside and be careful. Go nowhere until I return.'
'Ordering me?' she asked, placing her fists on her hips as she faced him. When would he learn to stop treating her like a child or a servant?
'Yes, damn it, I'm ordering you!' he shouted, suddenly tired and torn between staying with her and doing what must be done.
'Well, I'm through with running away from Wade. Let him find me. I'll shoot him for the dog he is!' Finally all the fear within her changed to anger. 'I can't spend the rest of my life running from him.'
Hunter raised his finger. 'You will stay safe. I'll not have you confronting Wade alone.' His anger set fire to his stormy eyes. He'd seen men freeze at his wrath, yet this little lady stood her ground.
She lifted her chin. 'And who are you to tell me what to do? No one owns me, and I'll do as I please.'
Hunter moved toward her, his frustration showing in the muscles along his jaw. The door to the study opened before he reached Perry.
'Oh,' Victoria said, ignorant of the drama she had walked in on. 'I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone was in this room.'
Perry introduced Victoria, loving the way Hunter fought to control his anger as he addressed the lady. 'I hope you'll excuse us, Victoria,' Perry urged. 'We were in the middle of an argument.'
Andrew stepped into the room just behind Victoria. He watched his sister and the Yankee closely as the widow politely said, 'Oh, we can't have you two arguing. I'll bring tea and we'll talk over any problem.'
Andrew almost burst out laughing. Gentle Victoria, who'd been sheltered from the war, would be unprepared for these two.
Hunter bowed politely. 'I thank you, but I can fight with Perry quite successfully without refreshment. If you and Andrew will excuse us, I have a few things to say to her, and I feel they must be said without an audience.'
Victoria looked at Andrew for direction.
'Does my sister wish us to leave?' He watched Perry.
'I'll be quite safe.' Perry smiled at Andrew, wondering what he would have done if she'd demanded he stay.
Andrew nodded and took Victoria's arm. He closed the door behind them without another word.
'Safe?' Hunter raised one sandy eyebrow as he moved toward her.
'I'm not afraid of you or anyone else.' She stood her ground by the fireplace. He seemed so tall in his black riding boots and dark gray slacks.
He put his hands around her waist, encircling her as he lifted her off her feet and stood her upon the brick hearth. Now her face was equal to his as he studied her in the firelight.
'Perry.' His voice was low, without anger. 'I must go to Raleigh tonight. I would feel much better if I thought you safe. This morning you asked me if I cared for you.' He was only an inch from her nose. 'I care for you very deeply.' His words came slowly, as though being pried from him.
Perry laid her arms lightly on his shoulders. 'And you think your caring gives you permission to order me around?'
She loved his words, but she had to be honest. 'I'll not be ordered or bullied by any man. Not even you. You can't take what must be given.' He would accept her as an equal or not at all. She would not be one of those women who lived in fear of a man's orders.
He ran his fingers through his hair. He had to convince her of the danger she was in, but he found it hard to reason with her hands gently moving across his neck. Finally he shoved his fists into his pockets and looked deep into her eyes. He saw the warmth and fire of a woman he would hunger for all his life. 'Come here,' he whispered as she stood only an inch away.
Perry closed the space between them and lightly kissed him. 'I'll not be ordered.'
He closed his eyes in agony as she slowly moved her lips over his face. She ran her fingers through his windblown hair, yet he made no move to withdraw his hands from his pockets. He was waiting for her to agree to his request. It was unthinkable that she might try to face Wade alone.
'You'll stay in the house until I return?' he asked, not moving as she slid her hands along his shirt.
'And if I say no, what will you do?' she whispered as she kissed his ear.
'Will you take care?' His body stood in agony as she moved beside him, pushing her breasts lightly into his chest as she kissed his cheek. The vision of her dressing only hours ago floated over his mind like a fog.
'I will,' she mumbled as she boldly kissed his face. Her velvety lips moved along his skin with maddening slowness. 'You need have no thought of my safety.'
'Thoughts and dreams of you are all I ever have,' he whispered as she swayed against him.
'I'm not a thought or a dream now,' she answered.
Finally he could stand no more of her torture. He pulled his hands from his pockets and broke his vow to talk without touching her. 'You're driving me mad,' he said, pulling her into his arms. Moving one arm under her knees, he lifted her against his chest and carried her to a chair. As he fell into the large chair he pulled her into his lap.
'I've never met the likes of you,' Perry said with a giggle. 'I'm beginning to think my brother's right-you are part madman.'
'It's true, my love. I'm quite mad.' He moved his hand up her bodice and began pulling at her blouse as he slowly kissed her neck.
'No!' Perry squealed. 'Andrew is probably at the door.'
'Then we must be respectable.' Hunter laughed as she rebuttoned her blouse. 'I have to go. I've a long ride ahead of me. But first I'll hold you once more, for your memory will warm this night.'
'We will continue our argument when you return.'
'Ah, lady, and more.' He pulled her close. His kiss was long and deep, exciting her with its promised fire. His hand moved up her leg, under her skirt, and to her bare thigh. As her eyes opened in shock he moved his hand boldly up and down the soft flesh of her leg. Suddenly she was lost in a whirlwind of ecstasy. With each new touch her yearning for him deepened.
Finally he pulled away to study her face, glowing with the fires he had kindled. He knew he would never tire of her. He watched her eyes close in pleasure, and she leaned back against his arm as his hand moved slowly beneath her skirts. Her lips parted and he leaned to catch her cry of joy in his mouth. She was his as surely as he had lost his heart to her.
When he was able to break their kiss, he whispered, his voice low and thick with passion, 'I must leave. Promise you'll wait in safety. I have much to say to you, and now is not the time or place.' She pulled his face to her, and he was lost once more in her kiss.
She pulled away and whispered, 'I'll be careful.' Standing, she looked at him, her mahogany eyes telling him all that he needed to know about how she felt.
Hunter wanted to stop time's passing, but he couldn't. He wanted to stay with her forever, but honor and duty demanded he leave her once more. In silence he grabbed his coat and led the way to the porch.
