Hurt spiraled through her,jarring her back to reality. She said haltingly, "It's not yourresponsibility. No one forced me to come here. It was my choice."
"The hell it was,"he said roughly. "I seduced you. I wanted you and I set out to get what Iwanted."
"That's right, youdid." That first flush of heat was leaving her. She shivered and drew thethrow closer around her. "And I'm sure you were very good at it. But I letyou do it and now it's over. I'd... better get back to the bungalow."
"To Patrick" Hesmiled bitterly. "Do you know I've been very close to paying dear Patricka visit? I kept thinking about him and his fondness for little girls anddecided I wanted to cut his heart out."
She believed him. Ruel satmotionless, looking like a splendid statue of a naked gladiator, but therepressed ferocity she sensed beneath his stillness bewildered her. "Itwas never like that with us."
"Obviously. Why the helldid you let me do it?"
"I thought if I letyou... men go away afterward. They don't want it anymore."
"Don't they?"
She gazed at him and herbreath left her.
"Oh, yes, I still wantit. I wanted it again almost the minute I left you and I'm mad as hell I can'thave it. Are you going to tell me why you deliberately misled me?"
"I didn't mislead you. Itwas none of your concern."
"Well, it is now. Who isPatrick Reilly to you?"
"My father." She sawhis surprise and rushed on. "There's no proof, you understand. He was onlyone of my mother's customers, but I know he's my father."
"But he doesn't?"
"He doesn't likeresponsibility either," she said simply.
"Christ."
"Someday he'll tell me hebelieves it's true," she said quietly. "But you don't have to worry.I don't expect anything from either of you."
"Even I have a code ofsorts. I took something from you and now I have to give it back."
She smiled tremulously."I believe that's considered physically impossible."
"Then I'll give yousomething else. What do you want?"
She realized he actually meantit. "You didn't take anything of value from me. I'm not like those womenat the fort who believe a woman is lost to shame because she doesn't go to herwedding bed a virgin."
"Ian told me," hesaid sardonically. "You're 'different.' I doubt if your bridegroom wouldapprove of this particular difference."
"I shall probably neverwed, so it's foolish to continue this discussion." She looked around forher clothes and found them strewn across the carpet where he had tossed them."Would you please pass me my shirt?"
"No, but I'll put themcloser to the fire to dry out." He scooped up the garments and crossed backto the stove. "You're not leaving until we finish this. Now, what do youwant?"
Sweet Mary, why wouldn't hegive up? She was tempted to tell him she wanted only to escape from thisstrange pain that continued to grow the longer she stayed with him. "Youdon't owe me anything," she repeated. "Why won't you listen tome?"
"Because I'm havinguncomfortable twinges of conscience. I guarantee it doesn't happen often."He turned from spreading her clothes out before the stove. "But then, I'venever been in this particular situation before. First I cause a woman to beknifed, then I take her innocence. It's a bit much even for me."
"I wasn't innocent."
"The hell you weren't.Growing up in a whorehouse doesn't make you a whore."
She stiffened. "I knowthat," she said fiercely. "I'll never be like her."
"Who?"
