Raven’s Prey(41)
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz

“You can’t keep me here indefinitely against my will, Judd,” she pointed out carefully, at a loss to comprehend her own feelings in that moment.

He touched the side of her face with rough fingers. “I only have to keep you here long enough to convince you that you have to stay,” he said simply.

“I’m not staying with you, Judd. I won’t live with a man who doesn’t know the meaning of love.” She met his eyes unflinchingly, refusing to give way beneath the grim determination she read in his gaze.

“You have to give me a chance, Honor,” he said softly.

“Why?”

“Because you’re too soft, too gentle, not to give me a chance now that you’re no longer blazingly angry with me.” He rolled off the edge of the bed and got to this feet. “Good night, sweetheart. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Honor stared after him in confusion as Judd quietly let himself out of the room.

Chapter 9

The next morning wariness replaced the confusion Honor had been feeling during the night. It was an innate, feminine caution and it was again tinged with resentment. But as she climbed out of bed and padded over to the window a lot of the feelings of anger were directed at herself.

How could she have been so weak as to let herself be seduced by Judd Raven a second time? There wasn’t another man on the face of the earth who could have managed to do that to her! What was it about this one?

Several birds had landed in the courtyard garden and in the bright, early-morning light they hopped cheerfully about having breakfast. These were cute little creatures, though, not menacing birds of prey. They feasted on berries and seeds and warbled sweetly. If a raven had appeared in their midst they would have scattered in a flash.

Her mouth curving wryly, Honor turned away from the window and started toward the bath. She could feel the memory of the night imprinted on her body. There was a lingering, tantalizing ache in the muscles of her thighs and it seemed to Honor she could vividly remember the sheer weight of the man who had swept her away in the darkness.

What was she going to do?

A shower made her feel somewhat revitalized and by the time she emerged from it the aroma of sizzling bacon did its share to lift her spirits. Judd was cooking breakfast.

But by the time she had dressed in a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved checked shirt with a mandarin collar, Honor was no nearer a solution about how she should handle the situation. Clipping her amber hair at the nape of her neck, she slipped into a pair of sandals and let herself out of the room.

She could, in the light of day, simply demand to be released or threaten to call the police. Would that faze Judd? She remembered that he had seemed intimidated by Craig Maddock and decided that calling the cops might not make much of an impression on her captor.

She could try running again. Her mouth twisted in disgust. Fat lot of good that would do if Judd decided to come after her, which he undoubtedly would.

She could try screaming for help every time they came within earshot of a stranger. [_If _]they came within earshot of any passing strangers.

Or she could give Judd his chance. What Honor didn’t quite understand was what he intended to prove. She wasn’t sure he did, either.

But he had given her a chance in Mexico. He had allowed her four extra days and during that time she had managed to at least put a few doubts in his head about Garrison and Prager. If she hadn’t been given that chance, she might very well be dead by now. Judd hadn’t trusted her completely or lost his heart to her or anything else so dramatic, but he had at least checked out a portion of her story and his willingness to do that had saved her life.

How much did she really owe him?

Honor had the uncomfortable realization that she owed Judd Raven her life.

It was on that thought that she entered the kitchen and discovered she was hungry. Judd was in the act of stacking bacon on a hot platter as she walked cautiously through the door. He glanced up quickly, the expression in his dark eyes almost as wary as her own.

“Breakfast.” He nodded toward the bacon and a large stack of toast.

“Yes.” Honor surveyed the huge pile of bacon. “Who else is invited? There’s enough there to feed a platoon.”

“I’m not used to cooking for two,” he muttered. “Besides, I seem to remember you had a pretty healthy appetite down in Mexico.” He looked down at the bacon and toast. ‘This was about all there was in the freezer.”

Why was she feeling an insane urge to show some appreciation of his efforts? “It looks delicious. I’m starving.” Going forward she reached out and helped herself to a strip of bacon. Judd looked visibly relieved and Honor didn’t know whether to be furious with herself for softening or to give in to the small feeling of pleasure she got out of making him happy.

Wordlessly they sat down at the small kitchen table and began eating. Honor refused to meet Judd’s eyes for several moments, her own uncertainty and caution making her uncomfortable. It was he who finally broke the silence between them, extending a hand to touch her scarred wrist.

“Honor.” He waited until she finally looked up and men he went on very intently. “I know I handled things badly last night.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” she managed with a flippancy she was far from feeling. “Kidnapping is a Federal crime, you know.”

He shook his head impatiently. “I don’t mean in bringing you here. I mean in coming to your bed last night. I honestly hadn’t intended to do that. But sometimes you have a way of making me do things I don’t intend to do ” he concluded bluntly.

“So it’s all my fault?”

Judd stared at her. “Maybe it would be better if we talked about something else,” he finally decided. It was abruptly obvious that he was backing away from the issue.

“Such as?” she challenged bravely. Judd backing down? Amazing!

“Such as what we’re going to do today,” he announced, removing his hand from her wrist and picking up another slice of bacon. He seemed bound and determined to lighten his tone and the mood in the kitchen. “I thought we could have some fun together.”

It was Honor’s turn to stare, this time suspiciously. “Fun?” She wasn’t at all convinced Judd Raven knew the meaning of the word. She had a clear memory of trying to teach him to play down in Mexico. The effort had wound up with her getting dunked in the stream.

“I,” he told her rather grandly, “am going to give you your first flying lesson.” He waited for her to show her unabashed delight.