Stormy Vows - Iris Johansen [101]
She made a mocking bow. “Forgive me, O honorable master,” she said in a singsong, lowering her lashes demurely. “Your lowly servant humbly begs to be excused for this grievous misdemeanor.”
A reluctant smile curved his lips. “Impudent scamp,” he charged. “Be careful, redhead. One of these days I'm going to teach you a little respect.” He rose to his feet and swallowed the rest of his drink.
“What do you call our chess games?” she asked lightly. “If you ever think of a more severe lesson than you dish out over that chess table, I may not show up at all.”
A flicker of annoyance touched Jake's face. “You'll do as you're told,” he said coolly. “I own you, remember?”
Perhaps it was her weariness that urged her to prick at that arrogance. “But only for two months,” she reminded him sweetly. “Our agreement was just until the end of the cruise.”
His face became even darker, and Jane wondered idly what had served to put him in such a savage humor. Surely the fact that she was a little late couldn't have annoyed him to this extent.
An unpleasant smile twisted his lips. “That's right, redhead,” he said silkily. “It was just for the duration of the cruise. But I don't believe I specified the exact length of the cruise. Who knows—I may feel the need for an extended rest.” His eyes flickered moodily. “How would you like to continue with your duties for the next six months?”
Jane gave him a distinctly skeptical look. “That would be a greater punishment for you than it would be for me,” she said serenely. “I'd wager you'd be bored to tears in no time, Mr. Dominic. You're not exactly the playboy type.”
“There are a number of people who would disagree with you,” he said bitterly. “Don't you read the gossip columns?”
“I'm not saying that you don't try to maintain the pose,” Jane said kindly. “But you're much too dynamic to be really successful at it.”
Jake Dominic's dark eyes narrowed. “You're very confident of your own powers of judgment,” he said softly. “I think you should be aware that I heartily dislike being considered predictable, little one.” There was such a wealth of menace in his tone that Jane took an involuntary step backward.
The action brought a glint of satisfaction to his eyes. “If you're through with your amateurish psychoanalysis, I suggest we get on with the game,” he said coldly, and he turned and walked away.
The game that night bore no resemblance to the ones that had preceded it. Jake Dominic was out for blood tonight. From the first move it was clear that he meant to vanquish her in the most brutal and humiliating method possible. In a little under an hour he had her in check.
Jane looked across the table into the ebony eyes gleaming in triumph, and said ruefully, “I guess you put me in my place. Remind me not to make you angry again. My self-esteem can't take it.”
Some of the ruthlessness faded from his face, to be replaced by an odd watchfulness. He shook his head incredulously. “Don't you know that you're supposed to be ground beneath my heel?” he asked dryly. “What does it take to put you down, Jane?”
Jane shrugged, her smile shaky. “Oh, I'm suitably chastised, I assure you. You can be a very intimidating man, Mr. Dominic.”
“Jake, damn it,” he said impatiently. “What's the point in addressing me so formally, when you know I get nothing but cheek from you?”
“Jake,” she repeated, the name sounding strangely intimate on her lips. She pushed back her chair and rose slowly, her knees stiff from inactivity. “Well, Jake, I believe I'll call it a night. I'm afraid your court jester isn't providing you with the proper degree of amusement this evening. Perhaps another time.”
The dark eyes flared with annoyance. “It's early yet. Stay a bit,” he ordered arrogantly. “I'll give you another chance.”
She shook her head. “Not tonight,” she said, turning away.
Jake's hand snaked out to grasp her wrist, obviously meaning only to stop her, but the stiffness of her legs caused her to be momentarily unbalanced, so that her left limb