Rafael Luna put his hand on her throat, forcing her chin up so that she had to look into his eyes, his fingers a light clasp that was vaguely threatening.
“I hope you are not planning anything foolish, chica, for it would make me very angry.” His grasp tightened the smallest bit, restricting her breathing. “I am afraid that I would have to punish you were you to misbehave….”
A spurt of fear rendered her momentarily unable to do more than stare up at him, eyes wide and absorbing light from the windows so that she felt dazed, blinded by it. Her right arm dropped to one side, fingers curling into green silk like claws. The outline of the dagger hilt was buffered by her skirts. It fit snugly against her thigh. She touched it lightly for reassurance.
Luna’s eyes narrowed fractionally. She forced herself to go still, returning his stare with what she hoped was a cool gaze.
“If you think you can intimidate me—”
“Ah, I know I can intimidate you, chica. But I wonder, has any man ever conquered you? This husband of yours, this Steve Morgan who is so competent, so fierce and noble that you love him so much, has he ever conquered you? Has he made you beg for him, made you yield all to him when you did not want to?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. You could not begin to understand what I feel for him. Do not even try.”
“You think I do not know about love? I do. I have felt it myself. It burns like a fire inside, makes a man do things he should not. Is it that way for a woman, too? I think it is. And you, passionate little gypsy with the hair like flame and eyes so green, you would do whatever you must to have your man, would you not?”
“If you are asking me to go to bed with you to find out where my husband is, I have told you before that I refuse.”
Ginny held his gaze. Her jaw tightened against the subtle pressure of his fingers cradling her throat, but she did not attempt to struggle or pull away. Defiance lit her eyes, and the cleft in her chin deepened as her mouth thinned to a taut line.
“Let go of me, General Luna. I would hate to have to explain to President Díaz how I got bruises on my face. And I must begin to get ready, for the ball at the palace is this evening and I haven’t made proper arrangements.”
Despite her bravado, a frisson of fear shivered down Ginny’s spine. Luna only looked at her with a small smile on his mouth.
“I think that I am done with waiting, fiery one. If you please me well, perhaps I shall tell you what I have learned about this paragon of a husband of yours, eh?”
“And if I do not please you?” Her hand slid downward, crumpling silk beneath her fingers as she tugged her skirt upward. A seductive smile played upon her lips, and she gave the general a glance from beneath her lashes. “I am married, and have tried to be a faithful wife to my husband. You ask of me what I do not wish to give, General Luna. What if Steve should learn of our…liaison?”
He sucked in a sharp breath, and his clasp on her throat loosened as his palm slid down over the bare skin gleaming above her scooped bodice.
“It is not necessary that he know.” Sharp sunlight reflected in his black eyes so that they gleamed like pieces of jet, a cold glitter warmed by desire. Boldly, he cupped her breast, and when Ginny did not move or offer a protest, he molded it into his palm, fingers stroking her. “Since seeing you in Ojinaga, dancing with all the abandon of a Spanish gypsy, I have dreamed of having you. You are like them, you know, the fiery ones who have such passion in their souls. Only one other woman has ever intrigued me as you have— ¡Te quiero mi alma!”
She allowed him to press hot kisses over her face and throat, his hands working at the low scooped bodice of her gown, hard and demanding against her breasts. Stifling a shudder, Ginny forced herself to relax, to lure him into heated complacence.
If only I can keep him busy until I have a chance to free the knife….
There was no question of yielding to him. Not even for Steve could she barter her body again. She had learned her lesson well. It was a sacrifice that Steve would not want from her, and when had it ever worked anyway? Men like Luna were without honor. He would tell her nothing once he had used her. Or worse, he would do as that fat Colonel Devereaux had done so long ago, trick her into giving him what he wanted in exchange for Steve’s freedom, then refuse to honor their bargain. No, if she gave herself to a man, she had vowed that it would be because she wanted to, and for no other reason.
But now she had to play the part Luna expected of her, lure him into a sense of false security before she could use her knife.
“Wait,” she murmured as he freed her breasts from their prison of silk and lace. “I must have your promise that you will tell me what I want to know.”
“You want to know where your husband is? Ah, such a devoted little wife. How unexpected.” His hands were large and dark against the milky skin of her breasts; her nipples were tight beads between his fingers. “Perhaps, my dove, if you please me well enough, I shall tell you everything.”
Where was Artur? Carmen? Oh, if only someone would come to the door of the sitting room, interrupt them so that she could think. She had to think, to delay Luna until she could get
