“What do you want?” Colin finally demanded, his voice showing his impatience.
From the corner of her eyes, Bea saw the man flash that brilliant smile again, easy and sure. “Want? Why, nothing. Merely for you to be our honored guest.”
Bea didn’t believe the man and apparently neither did Colin. His legs shifted, braced apart like a pirate at the helm of a ship, preparing for attack. “How’d you find us?”
“You were easy to track, my friend. Your coloring.” He slid Bea another glance. “The description of your woman.”
“My wife,” Colin shot back.
Bea attempted to hide her surprise, trying to keep her face as expressionless as Colin’s, but she could feel the heat rising to her cheeks in a telling flush.
The man raised his dark brows, his gaze still pinned to her. “I hadn’t realized. You are a fortunate man.”
Bea dropped to the heels of her feet, using Colin’s broad shoulders to hide behind. Colin, apparently, wasn’t as unaffected as she’d believed. His long fingers curled at his sides. She rested her palms on his lower back, hoping her touch might ease his tension. Responding to the man would only court trouble. There had to be some way to escape. Bea took the time to examine their surroundings, her gaze slipping serendipitously around the room, looking for, at the very least, a weapon.
Hardly anything was visible in the dimly lit area. A few lanterns glowed in the corners. The dark shutters covering the windows kept any light from entering the dwelling. She could only decipher a few large statues of humans scattered here and there. Frustration welled within.
Bloody nothing to help! The door whispered open. Bea spun around. Two women floated into the room, the gauzy material of their trousers and bodices portraying every curve. They glanced only once toward Bea and Colin, but showed little interest in their guests.
“Come, my friends,” Shiva said, sliding an arm around each lass and leading them toward the mound of cushions, away from Colin and Bea.
The small group settled, stretching out onto their makeshift bed as if Bea and Colin weren’t even present. Horrified and enthralled, Bea watched as one of those women leaned down and pressed her red lips to Shiva’s chest. Another woman, as if taking her cue, slid down Shiva’s body and pressed her mouth to his flat stomach.
Heat shot to Bea’s cheeks and flared through her body, intense and rather uncomfortable. She tore her gaze away, deciding to focus on the room. Through the haze, the marble statues morphed into men and women. Naked men and women. Bea’s mouth fell open, only just now realizing what those statues were. One man lay upon the ground, his shaft buried into a woman’s stone mouth.
“You enjoy my art?”
Bea had to resist the urge to press her hands to her face. The heat was so unbearable she thought for sure she’d burst into flames. “I’ve … seen nothing like it,” she managed in a horrified gurgle.
Shiva merely grinned. “You’ll grow used to them. In fact, I’m sure you’ll come to enjoy them, as I do.”
“I doubt it,” Bea muttered.
Colin took her hand, his grip tight, but his face surprisingly passive.
“Come.” Shiva waved them over. “Rest.”
Bea glanced at Colin to judge his reaction. A small smile lifted the left corner of his lips. Surprised, Bea nearly stumbled when he pulled her forward. His gait was unhurried but confident as they made their way to the unused pillows. Bea had to resist the urge to dig her heels into the marble floor and pull back. What the bloody hell was he doing? Colin settled on the cushions and jerked Bea down. She landed on his lap with a yelp.
Before she could escape, he wrapped his arm around her waist and held her tight to his chest. His gaze slid to her, a quick acknowledgment, but enough time for her to read his thoughts. Don’t move. Shut up. Bea clenched her jaw and focused on the shutters covering the windows, the only safe place in the room to look. She didn’t know what Colin’s game was, but she refused to participate.
Slowly, his fingers trailed through her long locks, almost as if he didn’t realize he did it, but she did. Damn it all if shivers didn’t race over her skin. She took in a deep breath, telling herself she would not react to his touch. Above, a large fan that was attached to the ceiling swung back and forth, providing them with a soft breeze that cooled her flushed skin.
Shiva gave a discreet wave of his fingers. “You travel far from home, my friend.”
A woman swept forward and handed Colin a drink. She didn’t ask Bea if she was thirsty. Bea shifted, half on Colin’s lap, half off. Stiff and nervous, she was uncomfortably perched on his hard thighs, but too afraid to move.
Colin didn’t seem to notice, merely sipped his drink, his attention on Shiva.
“I’m thrilled you’re here. Why, already your talents have traveled far. Many wish to seek your assistance. You are very valuable, my friend.” Shiva’s hand settled on the thigh of one of the women.
Valuable? As if Colin were a thing, instead of a person. Bea frowned, the words not sitting right with her. Colin, though, didn’t seem to mind but continued to stare passively at the group.
He set his glass on a low table made of dark wood. “Honestly, I don’t give a damn what anyone wants.”
“Of course not,” Shiver replied, steepling his long fingers together. “You’re a man who has a purpose, yes?”
“I’m looking for a statue,” Colin said. “But then you already knew that.”
Bea stiffened, waiting with bated breath for Shiva’s response.
The man didn’t deny, didn’t lie, but merely smiled.
Colin drummed his fingers against Bea’s thigh, his face bored. “How long do we have, before he arrives?”
One of the women handed Shiva a pipe. The man gave her a grateful smile and sucked in a deep puff, then released the gray smoke into a cloud that hovered overhead until the movement of the fan sent it forward. Bea couldn’t tell if she liked the sweet scent or not. It left her feeling odd, light headed and off balance.
Finished, Shiva handed the woman the pipe. “Not long, I’m afraid.”
Bea forced her mind to concentrate, surging through the numbing sensation that had settled in her body. She’d known all along that Shiva must be working with Demyan, yet the man’s words shocked her all the same. Had he just admitted he was in league with the monster? Just admitted the Demon would be here soon?
“How soon?” Colin asked.
One of the women straddled Shiver’s hips and pressed her mouth to his neck. Shiva sighed, closing his eyes in ecstasy. “A day, perhaps two.”
Bea attempted to focus on Shiva’s words, truly she did. But instead, she found utter fascination in the way the woman was rocking against the man, completely uncaring that strangers were in their midst.
After a few moments and a few moans, Shiva patted her on her bottom and set her aside. “I’ve decided you and I shall be friends, yes?” He looked at Colin. “With your talents and my money, there is no need for anyone else. This suits you?”
No! No, it didn’t suit Bea.
Colin didn’t respond.
Shiva merely watched, waiting for a response. Bea was no ninny. She knew enough to know they had no choice. Work with Shiva or work with Demyan. But could Shiva truly keep Demyan away if the man wanted them? And what would Shiva do if he realized Demyan didn’t want Colin at all, but wanted Bea? Would he toss her to the wolves?
The woman who’d straddled Shiva’s waist was at it again, tearing Bea from thoughts of Demyan. She slid her hands down Shiva’s flat stomach to the waistband of his silky trousers. Bea sucked in a breath and froze. The woman wouldn’t dare.
She did. Turning her dark gaze in Colin’s direction, the woman slipped her hand underneath Shiva’s waistband. Bea’s heart slammed against her chest. Shiva’s lids drifted down, the pleasure evident on his face. Bea jerked her gaze away, staring at the far, dark corner of the room. Her heart thundered in her chest. How? How could this happen, here, now? People just didn’t do these so
rt of things in front of others, did they?
“We shall enjoy ourselves now, yes?”
No! Bea wanted to scream. No! Colin’s hand moved slowly up and down her arm. The touch should have been comforting, yet it felt wrong, here and now, and she had to resist the urge to jerk away.
“You know how white women are,” Colin murmured, apparently using Bea as an excuse. Well, that was fine with her!
The woman whose hand was down Shiva’s trousers grinned behind her veil. Shiva, too, smiled slow and wicked. “Of course. Go then. Make your own merriment and think over my proposition. With your abilities, we could have power together, my friend.”
Colin nodded. Before Bea could guess his intentions, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her toward the door. She clung to him, her body trembling, her heart racing as she resisted the urge to shout at him to move faster.
“My friend,” Shiva called and Bea resisted the urge to curse.
Colin paused and turned, the doorway just out of reach. Shiva still lay upon the bed, looking relaxed and at ease as the three women crawled over him like butterflies on a flower.
His arm wrapped around one woman, bringing her close. “It’s the dry season, you know.”
Colin let Bea slide down his body.
Shiva nuzzled his face into the woman’s neck. “In India, more than anywhere else, we value water.”
Colin didn’t move and Bea was left to stand there, wondering what the hell Shiva was speaking of. Oh, she knew he was telling them something important—that much was obvious—but what?
Shiva looked at them again. “Water is life, purification.” A knowing smile slipped across his lips. “You understand, my friend?”
Colin nodded slowly.
They were silent for one long moment.
Shiva clapped his hands, the sound unnaturally loud in the silence. “Now, I’m sure you’d like to rest. You’ll stay, as my honored guests, yes?” Servants scurried into the room, bowing low. “Show them to their quarters.”
One of the women jumped to her feet and sashayed forward, swinging her hips from side to side in a way that most men would find mesmerizing. Bea didn’t miss the flirtatious smile she threw Colin’s way, visible through the gauzy material covering her full lips. The flare of jealousy that coursed through her body felt odd and unnatural. All she knew was that she wanted to do nothing more than to tear the hair from the woman’s scalp.
Colin, though, didn’t seem to notice the woman’s attention. No, his mind was probably centered on the odd words Shiva had spoken. Bea dared to glance back. Their host stood in the center of the room, watching her as if he knew more than he was letting on. A shiver of unease tickled her spine. She jerked her gaze forward, scurrying after Colin up a flight of marble stairs. How badly she wanted to demand answers, but knew better than to ask now. They stopped outside a dark wooden door. The woman pushed it wide and bowed.
“Thank you.” Colin pulled Bea inside.
As soon as the door shut, Bea faced him. “We can’t possibly stay here. It’s ridi—”
Colin moved past her, his hands brushing up and down the walls.
“What are you doing?”
“Looking for peepholes,” he murmured, continuing his progress around the room.
“Rubbish.” Bea’s lips curled in disgust. He couldn’t be serious, yet he obviously was as he continued his search. Bea took the time to survey their surroundings. Her ire and confusion were momentarily forgotten. Curtains hung around the room, brilliant blues and greens that covered the windows and bed. Already, a fire roared in a marble hearth. And it was clean! Wonderfully clean without a speck of dirt or sand in sight.
Bea’s breath caught. “Oh my.”
Colin lifted a brow, returning to her side. “You were saying?”
She slowly shook her head, unable to tear her gaze from the room long enough to look at him. It was beautiful. So clean, so stunning. Tears welled in her eyes. After days of camping outside, days of dirt, it was heaven. And she was supposed to stay in this sensual room, as a married couple, with Colin. It was too intimate, too much. Heat traveled through her body, making her skin tingle.
“It’s … lovely,” she finally managed. “So, does this mean we aren’t in danger here?” She couldn’t keep the hope from her voice. How wonderful it would be if they could stay in this room for a day, two, a lifetime.
Colin sighed softly. “No, it doesn’t. Damn it, Bea, if I thought you’d learned anything so far, it’s that you’re always in danger.”
She ignored his dire words and settled her hand on one of the cushions of the bed. So incredibly soft, it was like cream. The dirt under her fingernails caught her attention. Horrified, she drew back.
“Obviously they were expecting us.” Colin nodded toward the tub that lay half-hidden behind a curtain of brilliant blue.
Like a child drawn to sweets, Bea made her way toward the water. The scent of roses hovered in the air, the oil swirling atop the surface tempting. Her body ached with just the thought of settling into the warm liquid.
“Get in.”
Bea spun around, pressing her hands to her chest. “What?”
Colin’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “I said get in.”
“But … I can’t … you’re …”
He started unbuttoning his shirt. “I’m not leaving you here alone and unprotected, but there’s no reason why you can’t bathe.”
She wasn’t sure which was more tempting, watching Colin undress, or taking a bath. Oh, how wonderful it would be to bathe, to be clean once more.
Colin nodded. “Go on then.”
She couldn’t resist. “You won’t look?”
He grinned a slow, completely lovely smile that showed off his dimples and warmed her heart. “Of course not. Don’t you trust me?”
Chapter 20
Colin kept his eyes closed, focusing on the darkness and attempting to make sense of what had happened with Shiva. But each slight splash of water sent fire pulsing through his veins, centering his thoughts on Bea. Always Bea. He tried to control his breathing, tried to control his thoughts. Then Bea sighed. It was the tenth time she’d sighed. It was also the same way she sighed when he kissed her, touched her …
His hands fisted into the satin duvet covering the bed as sweat beaded on his bare chest. How badly he wanted to haul her out of that water, to show her how loudly he could make her sigh. Slowly, he lifted his lashes and studied her through the green, gauzy material covering the bed. Only one lone lantern sat on a stool near the tub, but it was enough light to highlight her creamy bare shoulders.
With a growl of frustration, he flung the curtains wide and stood.
“Colin, what …” Bea’s protest died as he moved toward the balcony.
Yes, he’d promised to lie upon the bed with his eyes closed, but hell, how much could a man take? Not much, apparently. And if he had to hear one more sigh part her lips, he’d …
The marble was cool under his bare feet. He took in a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. The night air hung heavy with the scent of jasmine, so sweet and intoxicating that it was almost overwhelming. The scent reminded him of Bea. Mysterious, complicated, addictive. His fingers tightened around the stone railing as heat pounded through his body in a force that could kill a lesser man.
He should be focused on Shiva. The man had given him a choice, work for him, or Demyan. But if Shiva knew Demyan, then he knew what the man was capable of. How could he possibly think he could defeat a man who wouldn’t die?
Water splashed, reminding him of Shiva’s cryptic message. Water is life, purification. You understand, my friend?
No. He didn’t understand. But the overall message was clear: Shiva knew something and he’d most likely share it with Colin if he relented and joined Shiva’s little army of the insane.
Water splashed once more, sending a jolt of passion flaring through his body and tearing his mind from dark thoughts to more pleasant ones. He knew she stood, coul
d hear the rustle of cloth as she dried. He knew she stood there naked and it took everything he had not to turn, haul her sleek, warm body up against his, and … and …
“Colin?” Her English accent moved over him like warm honey.
He breathed deep and swallowed hard. He didn’t dare answer for fear she’d hear the tremor of his voice.
There was a whisper of clothing as she walked toward him. “Are you well?”
His fingers tightened on the railing. “Yeah, fine.”
The scent of roses wafted through the air and he knew she was close. He could feel her indecision, heavy and suffocating, as she paused just behind him. She didn’t say a word, merely stood behind him. Damn her, why didn’t she return to the room? Why didn’t she retire to bed? Gritting his teeth, he finally turned.
She looked better than he could have imagined. Her wet hair hung in loose waves down her back. Her face was flushed pink from the warm water. Wearing a long robe of a gauzy green material that showed every dip and curve of her glorious form. Did she realize that with the lantern shining behind her, he could see the outline of her body? Did she realize how badly he wanted to rip that robe from her?
“Well then,” she finally whispered, her gaze lowering to take in his bare chest. “I should …”
Leave? Go to bed? Take off that damn robe and let him touch every inch of her?
She took her bottom lip between her teeth, her gaze flickering with indecision. “Colin.”
“Yeah?” His voice came out husky, breathless.
“Did I … are you … are you angry with me?”
He released a wry laugh. Far from angry. No, he was angry with himself for falling for the impossible once again. And Bea was certainly an impossibility. “No. Of course not.”
She frowned. “Then why are you snapping at me?”
“I’m tired, Bea.” His voice came out in a low growl. Damn her, why didn’t she leave him in peace?
“I’m sorry.” She turned and started back toward the room.