Luna continued to caress her, a teasing massage that made her shiver with revulsion. He laughed softly.
“I think you like that. You cannot deny your own nature after all, mariposa…exotic little butterfly. See? I can make you squirm, make you beg for me…no, do not back away. You will like how I make you feel, though you may pretend that you do not. Yes, close your eyes if you must, but do not run away, little one.”
A feeling of panic engulfed her as he held her much too tightly, his arm around her preventing her from reaching the knife strapped to her thigh. She remained calm with an effort.
“You are hurting me. Has no woman ever told you that you must pursue her with gentleness instead of pain?”
“But pain is part of pleasure, is it not? You know that, for you have experienced it. Did you not find it exciting? There is more pleasure to be found in passion if one is aware of the body’s limits, and the delight in going beyond them.”
“I do not equate pleasure and pain on the same level,” she said sharply, and this time shoved hard at him with the heels of her hands. “If you persist, I will summon my servants to show you to the door.”
“Ah, but your servants have gone for the day. I took the liberty of telling them that you wished to allow them to join the festival in the main plaza, and that they need not return until tomorrow. But you look so unhappy, my sweet. Are you not pleased?”
“You know I am not! How dare you take it upon yourself to direct my employees. Perhaps it is best if you leave, General Luna, for I find that I do not care at all to be in your company any longer.”
He only smiled. Sunlight behind him created a hazy glow that left his face shadowed. Outside, she could hear the tolling of church bells, and the muted sounds of celebration that filled Mexico City. No one would hear her screams if she tried. She had only her wits and her weapon to keep him at bay.
Casually, as if it were his house, Luna strode across the sitting room to open the door to her bedroom beyond, then turned to look at her.
“We have the afternoon before us, chica. Come, let us begin to discuss our bargain.”
Ginny remained by the window, turning now with her back to the light, angled so that Luna could not see her right hand. With her left, she tugged her bodice up over her bare breasts and said coolly, “I have changed my mind. A woman’s prerogative. It is time for you to leave. I must begin to get ready for the ball tonight at the palace. President Díaz is expecting me. He’ll be worried if I do not arrive on time, so don’t think my absence will be unnoticed.”
“The day belongs to us. El presidente does not expect you until much later this evening. We are alone. I will wait no longer for you, for I have waited too long already.”
As he moved toward her, long swift strides that brought him to her in only a few steps, Ginny reached beneath her skirts and whipped out the wicked dagger. It briefly caught the light, a sharp glitter of warning, then sliced across Luna’s arm as he reached out for her.
It brought him to a sudden halt, and he drew in a hiss of pain, staring in disbelief at the bloody gash opened in his sleeve and arm.
“Little bitch, do you think that will stop me!”
“It was not meant to stop you, only to warn you. I am not a novice with this knife, General, and you would do well to remember that should you try to come any closer.”
Anger glittered in black eyes, and his mouth twisted into a sneer. But he inclined his head in a surrender, and said harshly, “I yield for the moment.”
Ginny did not relax her guard when he moved a step away from her and pulled off his coat to examine his arm. It oozed blood, dripping to the carpets on the tile floor, bright-red splashes that slowly diminished.
“You will forgive me, General, if I request that you tend your wound in your own home. Circumstances being what they are, I would be more comfortable if you left at once.”
“I am certain that you would.” Luna slanted her a disdainful glance as he moved to the sideboard that held crystal decanters. “But surely you will be civilized enough to allow me a drink before I leave?”
He poured a liberal amount of brandy into a small snifter and turned to face her, his white shirt stained with blood as he lifted his arm in a mocking salute.
“To a beautiful gypsy whore!”
Before she could anticipate it, he tossed the brandy into her eyes, temporarily blinding her as he leaped forward agilely. A crushing blow of his hand disarmed her, and she heard the knife clatter to the tile floor as Luna captured her arm.
“And now,” he promised softly, “I shall have to punish you for your insolence. But I think you may learn to like it before I am done.”
Half-blinded, struggling, Ginny screamed only once as he dragged her across the sitting room toward the door of her bedroom. Outside there was too much noise, too many shouts and even fireworks to celebrate Don Porfirio’s triumphant arrival. No one would hear her.
As if reading her mind, Rafael Luna said against her ear, “Scream if you like, chica, for no one will come. The celebrations will last for days, and so, perhaps, will you. Would it not be entertaining, to lie in your wide bed for the next few days and explore all the ways that pain can add to pleasure? Yes, I can see that you want it…fight me if you like, for then I will have the pleasure of subduing you….”
Ginny did fight, desperately, and with a
