The Untamable Rogue Read online

“No. I’m just …,” I stopped and smiled at him.”… just overwhelmed.”

  Slowly he began to move again and I threw my legs around his waist. It was even more intense than what I had already experienced with him. My fears concerning his size had been unnecessary. He filled me perfectly as if we were made for one another. As the waves of desire crashed over me I called out his name and Ivo groaned, continuing to move inside me, and then sank onto me, exhausted and bathed in sweat.

  We rolled together onto our sides and lay wrapped around one another, both breathing heavily. It was done. I was no longer a virgin. I had really done it.

  Chapter 31

  The moon was shining into the room when I awoke. I looked at Ivo who was asleep next to me. He looked relaxed. Propped up my elbow, I looked at him for a long time. I loved his wild locks and wanted most to sink my fingers into them. Carefully I lifted the cover so that I could look at him in all his glory. In the pale moonlight he looked like a statue, with light and shade, every muscle perfectly sculptured. My fingers were itching to follow the curves of his muscles, from his broad shoulders, over his chest down to his flat stomach and to his ...

  Curious, my eyes remained on his resting penis. In a relaxed state it did not look as threatening as the evening before. I became hot as I thought of how it had felt to be filled by him. I wanted to touch it, to see how it felt. Carefully I put out my hand and stroked it. It felt velvety. I moved my fingers to the tip.

  He murmured and I pulled my hand away. What had happened to me? Fascinated, I watched as it transformed – became bigger and harder. Furtively I looked up Ivo’s body. His eyes were still closed. He was obviously still sleeping. I touched it again, enclosing it carefully with my hand and it grew still more, twitched and almost stood up. It was a strange feeling.

  He murmured again and his hand closed over mine.

  ‘Damn it! He is awake!’

  Suddenly I felt embarrassed and did not dare look at him.

  “Do you like it?” he asked with a little laughter in his voice.

  I went red and became terribly hot.

  “Touch me,” he requested hoarsely. “Get to know me. It all belongs to you.”

  I did as he asked – at first shyly, then with growing interest, until he began to tremble and asked me to stop what I was doing by rolling on top of me.

  “You’re driving me mad,” he murmured and slowly slid inside me – this time with no barrier whatsoever.

  I raised my pelvis slightly, eager to feel him more deeply. I wanted to melt with him. Close was not close enough – deep not deep enough. Desperate, I sobbed convulsively and threw my arms and legs around him. His groaning in my ear was like opium for my soul. He propped himself up on his arms and his eyes gazed into mine. Tears ran over my cheeks. I needed him so desperately – I felt like a shipwreck on a stormy sea. I was at risk of sinking until I found something in his eyes that I could hold onto: the same, strong emotion that I felt – love!

  My centre exploded at the same moment as he, writhing, exploded within me. Exhausted, he sank onto the bed and pulled me into his arms. I could not stop sobbing and he gently stroked my back until I was under control again and looked at him.

  “I … I love you,” I said, in tears.

  Gently he wiped the tears from my face.

  “I love you more that my own life, Liz. I’m obsessed with you and to know that you love me, too, makes me the happiest person in the world.”

  “But what about Jelonka?” I asked quietly. I was afraid of the answer but I had to know it.

  “She means nothing to me and has never meant anything to me. I would have married her because I do have something like honour. After you had run away, before I even knew, Grandmother Aneta came to me. She said I had to follow you. I asked her the same as you just asked. She told me that Jelonka was meant for another man and my child …” He sighed quietly. “… it will never be born. Grandmother Aneta said that it would not grow in Jelonka’s belly and I believe her. She always knows what’s going to happen. She also knew that we are meant for one another.”

  I felt relief. It would have always come between us if I had known that he had abandoned his pregnant lover. I was glad that things were different and hoped that Jelonka be happy with the man that was meant for her.

  “Are you sure that you want me?” he suddenly asked. “I have nothing to offer you and I really do not belong in your world.”

  “If you don’t belong in my world then I don’t belong in it, either. I can’t live without you any longer – no matter what the consequences of that. I would also live with you with your people. It is of no matter to me as long as you are with me.”

  “I will always be with you,” he murmured and he kissed me slowly and provocatively.

  He made love to me in a completely different way. With great tenderness he caressed every inch of my body and I melted like wax under his caresses. When I climaxed this time it was like a warm wave washing over me and it seemed to be unending. As happy as never before in my life I fell asleep in his arms once again.

  *

  Ivo woke me up with a gentle kiss. He was smiling at me. It amazed me the way a smile could change his whole face. Whereas he usually gave the impression of being hard and unapproachable, he now looked like a mischievous rascal. His eyes were twinkling at me.

  “Good morning, my beauty.”

  “Good morning.”

  I smiled back at him, a little embarrassed at the thought of the passionate night that we had spent together.

  “What shall we do with this wonderful morning?” he asked and teasingly stroked around my navel.

  A blissful shudder flooded through me.

  “Make love to me,” I requested in a whisper.

  “Your wish is my command,” he answered, chuckling, and set about putting his promise into action.

  “Are you hungry?” asked Ivo after an hour full of passion.

  I nodded.

  “I’ll get you some breakfast,” he said, and jumped out of bed.

  I watched him dress.

  “If you keep on looking at me like this, I’ll be straight back in bed with you instead of getting you something for your hunger.”

  “I’m hungry for something else apart from food.”

  He laughed and winked at me.

  “I had no idea that you’d be so insatiable. This is really turning out to be hard work.”

  I grinned at him teasingly.

  “Are you already regretting getting involved with me? Maybe you’re not big enough for the task, after all.”

  Growling, Ivo tore the clothing from his body again to prove the opposite.

  Chapter 32

  “Now what do you have to report?” asked the scrawny man behind the desk.

  The attractive man in the large armchair sat up and cleared his throat. He gave the impression of being a bold adventurer with his ruffled, jet-black hair and his flashing, dark eyes.

  “It has come to my attention that you’re looking for a Miss Graham, sir.”

  The scrawny man nodded and looked at the dark-haired man with interest.

  “Yes, that is true. May I presume that you have come to report something that might be of interest to me?”

  “Yes, I think I could be of great help to you. – Against a small fee as …hm … shall we call it – expenses?”

  The scrawny man raised an eyebrow.

  “Expenses?”

  “Well, your informants are also rewarded for their work, aren’t they?”

  “May I first enquire as to the nature of your information? I must, of course, somehow estimate how valuable this information may be to us.”

  “I happen to know where the missing person is staying – the actual house – you just need to turn the door handle.”

  “How certain are you that this is Elizabeth Graham?”

  “One hundred per cent. I know the girl.”

  “Good. I can pay you one hundred pounds for this information.”


  The adventurer shook his head.

  “Oh, no! I’m not giving the information that cheaply. I want three hundred!”

  “That’s three times as much as an engineer earns in a year! Out of the question.”

  “Fine, then I’ll keep the information to myself,” said the adventurer and got up. “Good day!”

  “Wait!” said the scrawny man, when the man had already reached the door.

  The dark-haired man grinned. He had almost counted on the bloodhound paying more for the information. He slowly turned and looked at the scrawny man expectantly.

  “I’ll pay you one hundred and fifty.”

  “Two hundred!” the dark-haired man demanded. “That is my final offer!”

  The scrawny man sighed.

  “OK, fine! Come. Sit down so that we can discuss everything.”

  With a quiet smile on his sensual lips the adventurer stepped across to the armchair again and took a seat.

  Chapter 33

  I was snuggling dreamily into the bed. Ivo had done it. I was completely exhausted from our love play. What had remained was the feeling of hunger in my belly and Ivo had gone to fetch something to eat.

  I was lying with my face to the wall when the door opened. He must have hurried. My heart beat excitedly. How had I ever lived without him? One night had changed my life. I turned around and froze. Before I could utter a sound I was hit on the head and everything went black.

  *

  I woke up with horrible pains in my head. The fact that everything was swaying back and forth did not help my headache. Groaning, I opened my eyes. Everything was blurred so I closed my eyes again and tried to sort out the confusion in my head. I had no idea where I was and what had happened. I was not in the position to think at all clearly. I felt sick and I urged, but the contents of my stomach stayed, fortunately, where they were.

  After a while I made another attempt at opening my eyes. Still everything was blurred. I concentrated and slowly my vision cleared. The man sitting opposite me was looking at me coldly. I did not know him – I had never seen him before, I was certain of that. At least I now knew where I was – I was sitting with a stranger in a stage-coach with red velvet covers.

  “I thought you weren’t going to wake up again,” said the person sitting opposite me, casually.

  “Who are you? What …” I asked, dazed.

  The person sitting opposite me grinned sinisterly.

  “Who I am is of no importance. We’re on the way to your uncle. He has paid a lot for you to be found.”

  “Ha! My money,” I responded dryly. Slowly my spirits returned and I felt an unbelievable anger and frustration grow within me.

  “Whatever,” said my abductor, disinterested. “Soon you’ll be back at home again.”

  A part of me was looking forward to Blue Hall. But the fact that I would meet my uncle there, who was definitely up to no good, thoroughly dampened this joy.

  “How did you find me?” I asked. “Did Mr Porter betray me by any chance?”

  “A little bird told me.”

  “Who was that?”

  My abductor forced a smile, then his scrawny face gradually grimaced derisively.

  “I don’t know but he maintained that he knew you very well. It wouldn’t help you to know who had betrayed you, anyway. You will soon be Mrs Atkins and I will be a good deal wealthier.”

  “What did he look like? What does it matter to you if you tell me?”

  “Well, he was very tall and well-built. Some women would perhaps describe him as handsome, even though he looked a little wild and … let’s say … unconventional. He’ll be able to afford a new life with the two hundred pound reward, he told me. “

  My heart contracted in pain. Could it be true? Could Ivo be the betrayer? He had told me that he had dreamt for a long time of a new life in America. With two hundred pounds he could act upon this intention. I simply did not want to believe it. But everything pointed at this. Only Mr Porter and Ivo knew where I was living and the description did not fit Mr Porter at all.

  It was as if someone had torn my heart out of my chest and thrown it to the dogs to eat. Tears shot into my eyes but I fought against them bravely. I would not give this creature opposite me the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

  “Now, my dear, you look a little out of sorts.”

  “What would you look like if someone had hit you on the head and taken you away against your will?” I responded and welcomed the hatred that slowly spread through me. Hatred was much easier to bear than this pain – it concealed everything – at least, temporarily.

  Chapter 34

  Blue Hall came into sight and I tensed up. I was not ready to confront my uncle straight away.

  “You’re nearly at home now,” declared my abductor with a smug smile. “I presume that you now know your place here?”

  I clenched my teeth to stop myself saying what was on the tip of my tongue. It was not worth expending the energy for my uncle’s lackey. I would need all my strength for the coming confrontation with Uncle James.

  Slowly the coach rolled into the yard and stopped in front of the sweeping staircase. A servant that I’d never seen before came down the steps and opened the door of the stage-coach.

  “Mistress. Welcome home,” he greeted me politely and reached out his gloved hand to me to help me climb down.

  Reluctantly I allowed him to take my hand and I climbed out of the coach. I breathed in deeply and looked around with concern. Somehow my home seemed strangely foreign and impersonal to me.

  My discomfort grew when I entered the hall where a row of new faces awaited me. Not one of the servants that were stood in line in front of the staircase was familiar to me. What had happened here during my absence? Clearly Uncle James had replaced all of the old employees with new ones. Sadness and anger filled my heart. No wonder Blue Hall seemed so strange to me. It was its people that had given it its charm, and now none of them were left – my parents dead and my servants dismissed. And the man that I had given my heart to, for whom I had thrown all social rules overboard, had betrayed me to my uncle’s henchman – for the stately sum of two hundred pounds.

  A sturdy woman of about fifty with a strict expression and cold, grey eyes stepped forward and dropped a brief curtsy before me.

  “Welcome, miss. I am Mrs Beaton, the housekeeper. May I take you to your uncle? He’s awaiting you in his study.”

  “You mean, he’s waiting in my father’s study,” I corrected her spikily.

  Mrs Beaton did not change her expression. She appeared to be as cold as a block of ice. No wonder none of the employees showed the merest trace of a smile. How different everything had become here.

  *

  My uncle, however, had not changed visually. At most he looked more expensively dressed than I remembered. He was clearly spending my money liberally. I clenched my fists in anger.

  “Elizabeth,” he greeted me in a bizarrely friendly way. “I am so pleased to see you in good health. I was seriously worried about you.”

  I looked at him suspiciously. What tactic was this man now using? Was he now trying to draw me into his snare?

  “In good health?” I asked, controlling my voice with great difficulty. “I’ve been hit in the head by your henchmen and I still have not recovered from that!”

  “I’m really sorry about that. I will ensure that those concerned are punished. Honestly, I did not intend to hurt you. Whoever did that was acting of their own accord, without my agreement. I specifically asked for you to be found and brought home.”

  “I would prefer to return to the place where I was illegally attacked and abducted.

  “But my dear Elizabeth. We must not overreact now. I can understand that you are angry. I am truly sorry. I will send for a doctor to examine you. One should not make light of an injury to the head. Let me take you first to your room so that you can rest a little from the journey.”

  Reluctantly I allowed Uncle James to lead me to my room. Fortunately
he had not changed anything in there. Even the short story, that I had last read, was still lying on the table.

  “I will ask Mrs Beaton to prepare a bath for you. Would you like some refreshment? Or maybe a little snack?”

  “I could do with a brandy,” I replied.

  “I will see to it that someone brings you a nice drop,” said Uncle James to my astonishment. He had made it very clear to me before I ran away that brandy was only for men and that women should only drink liqueurs.

  There was an unpleasant silence. I stared at my feet. Uncle James cleared his throat.

  “OK then, I’ll set everything in motion,” he said. He turned around again at the door and smiled at me. “Ah, yes, welcome home, Elizabeth.”

  *

  I had slept terribly. Nightmares had haunted me all night. The worst dream was about Ivo. I dreamt about us making love. The dream had been unbelievably intense and real. I even thought I could smell him, but then the erotic dream turned into a nightmare. I was about to reach the longed-for climax and was looking at my lover when he suddenly began to transform and the man who was rhythmically thrusting inside me suddenly took on the features and form of my uncle. I had woken up screaming and bathed in sweat, and after that proper sleep was out of the question. I did nod off again and again but only to be shocked back out of sleep again soon after.

  There was a knock at the door and a little later Stina, one of the new maids, entered my room. I sat up in bed.

  “Good morning, miss. I’ve come to help you with your morning ablutions. The master is expecting you at breakfast in half an hour.”

  Sighing, I got out of bed and let the morning procedure be done unto me. When, exactly half an hour later, I appeared in the dining room, my hair done and dressed in a pine-green morning dress, my uncle was already there.

  He greeted me with a smile and laid the Bible that he had been reading to the side. Respectfully he got up from his seat and only sat down again once I had taken a seat. I did not know what I should think about the transformation that had taken place in my uncle.