Through Ancient Eyes (BookStrand Publishing Romance) Read online

  “I never check into a hotel where the key card works!” she complained in the empty corridor. About to give up and knock on Britton’s door in defeat, she dumped her carry on bag and the black case against the elaborately carved wooden frame of her dysfunctional entryway. The contents shifted in her baggage and fell against the door which immediately popped open.

  Too thankful to wonder why her room hadn’t been closed up properly, she hefted up her things and pushed her way clumsily inside.

  There was one dim light in the center of what looked like a small living room, but it was enough for her to see her luggage had already been placed in the middle of a suite that contained a bathroom, parlor area and presumably a bedroom through the darkest doorway. She immediately made her way into the bathroom to inspect the shower facilities and was delighted when she turned the faucet and a strong, steady stream of hot water came pouring out.

  Not wanting to waste anything as precious as a warm shower in a foreign country, she immediately set the case and carry-on next to the sink before she went to the central luggage pile to retrieve her zip lock bag of toiletries. She could worry about what she was going to wear after she was cleaned up.

  With an almost last-minute look at the door, spying the key card she had so hastily tossed on the stand next to it, she hurried over and bolted the security bar from the inside. She didn’t really think Britton would let himself in without her knowledge, even if he did have an extra pass, but there was no sense in taking chances. She had seen the movie Psycho enough times that that she was even wary of hotel showers at Disney World.

  * * * *

  The water was soft and warm as it poured in rivulets over her fair skin, and she took her time massaging the sweetly scented soap over her curves with sensitive fingers. She fully immersed her thick, darkly golden mane under the spray and imagined for a moment that she was standing under a waterfall in a secluded rainforest. As her mind began to conjure him into her fantasy her heart started to beat erratically with the irrational but exhilarating feeling that she was somehow being watched through the filmy curtain draped around her shower in a perfect circle.

  She imagined the taste of his golden skin against her lips and her hands wandered suggestively over her breasts and along her thighs in the way she would want her mysterious, missing explorer to touch her.

  Without realizing it, she had stirred up a deep and volatile passion that nearly left her breathless with its intensity, and she quickly came to her senses. The last thing she needed right now was to be sensually vulnerable in the company of one Britton Majers.

  As if on cue, the water cooled abruptly, and she was almost thankful for the wake up call. It was a miracle it lasted for as long as it did, but she still shivered from the chilly splash down at the end.

  She stepped out onto the tiny bathmat and reached for the white cotton towels that were located on the wall as far away as possible from the shower. To her dismay there were only three available. Small, Medium and Large sat uniformly on the bar and she pulled the largest one from the rack for her thick hair. Small and Medium wouldn’t do to wrap up her curls and she knew it.

  The middle towel obliged as much as possible and nearly made a successful attempt at covering her torso. Danielle didn’t see a lot of reason to be worried about her state of nudity. She had bolted the door and wasn’t expecting any surprises.

  She slid over the cool tiles as quickly as possible and opened the door to let the steam out. With one hand holding the heavy towel in place on her head and the other reluctantly releasing her tiny toga, she grabbed the handle of her large suitcase and pulled it sideways into the darkened bedroom. She kept her arms pressed at her sides as much as possible to keep the towel secure, and that made for slow going because it was bulky and awkward as she attempted to avoid a run in between the wheels and her toes. It certainly didn’t help that she couldn’t find the light switch as her fingertips desperately groped along the bare wall for some kind of plate.

  With a defeated sigh she dropped the handle of her load and stood up straight, figuring she’d turn on the lights in the other room so she could see into this one.

  She was completely unguarded when it happened.

  Danielle had no idea that anyone else was in the room, and his hand was quick to cover her mouth and stifle her scream in the darkness.

  His free arm encircled her waist and held her closely against his body in an effort to reduce her struggle, and Danielle struggled like her life depended on it. Maybe it did.

  When she understood that she wasn’t strong enough to break loose she tried a different tack and forced her muscles to relax within his grip. The force his arm applied to the middle of her body lessened in reciprocation almost instantly. It was completely ludicrous, but both captor and captive had come to some kind understanding during the first few seconds of their encounter.

  His left arm barred her hands at her side as he held her figure completely against his chest and though she should not have noticed, that chest was firm and contoured. His skin was hot through his shirt and she could feel his heart hammer against her back. The scent of him was hauntingly familiar, and her senses reeled for a moment as her mind filled with visions of the old farmhouse and tattered library she’d left behind. It was overwhelming enough that she ceased her plans of resistance for just a moment while she considered the implications.

  A brisk knock echoed rather impatiently from the door to her room, and she felt the hold around her retighten instinctively.

  “Danielle, are you ready? I’ve been waiting almost an hour. Our table is nearly ready.”

  “Please, don’t say a word,” her captor whispered somewhat apprehensively in her right ear. The sound of his voice was sensually deep and beautiful. Her reaction to it was out of place as a shiver flew up her spine.

  “Mmmm, mmm mm,” Danielle immediately responded into the palm of his hand and though she truly had not said a word, the sarcastic nature of her tone carried through loud and clear.

  “If I let you speak, will you answer my questions and not alert anyone else?”

  Danielle didn’t think she had much of a choice right at that moment, so she nodded the best he would allow and could hardly believe he took her at her word and let go of her mouth.

  “Why is Britton Majers here in South America?” he immediately asked.

  “Why are you in my bedroom, and probably my shower? Are you wearing my underwear?” she countered with a fiery will, and she could hear him suppress an audible gasp.

  “The Director of Antiquities certainly does know how to pick them.” His own venomous response stung her already raw nerves.

  “If I had let him pick me, would the bar across my door be locked right now?” she shot back in defense and was met with silence before she continued.

  “He won’t come in, anyway. He doesn’t have a key.”

  She sounded sure, but she could easily see the green light flash in the lock and the ornate brass handle plainly turned as he attempted to enter. Only the security bar stopped him.

  “Oh really?” the voice whispered in her ear. “Do you know him as well as you think?”

  “Damn keycards never work,” she heard Britton’s distinct accent as he cursed through the door. His padded footfalls faded in the distance, and she knew she was alone with the stranger once again.

  She should have been concerned, but instead found herself mulling over the fact she hadn’t called out when she had the chance, telling herself he might have done any number of things to her before security had knocked down the door at Britton’s request. That was surely the reason.

  “Whether I believe you or not, you arrived with the esteemed Mr. Majers, and in happy company I was told. Please, let me know why he is here.”

  “Turn on the light, let me go, and we can talk about this like civilized people,” she answered him point blank, honestly wondering why she felt so strongly he should know she was not with Britton in the way he seemed to think.

 
It was probably the way she said it, but he obviously believed her and his free arm reached out for a shadowed object which must have been a bedside lamp.

  The soft reading light came on at his touch, and she was finally able to see a large section of the spacious room with a well made up bed and generic dresser in the corner.

  Though he didn’t completely release her from his protective hold, she found herself free enough to turn around in his arms, trying to decide if she should brush the wet curls from her face left awry by the towel she’d lost five minutes ago or hang on to the one that tenuously remained around her middle.

  Her lips parted in surprise the moment she caught a glimpse of his face. It was all she could do to keep her knees from betraying her shaky emotions as she finally gazed for the first time into his hazel eyes.

  They were the knowledgeable, complex and pleading eyes of Professor Jacob Steven Wilde.

  Chapter Eight

  “Jake Wilde?” She found her voice, and his name fell from her lips with all the awe a teenager might display toward her date during prom. It was then Danielle understood perfectly well how Anna, and probably every townie girl in the heartland, could consider this handsome professor a dream come true.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…” His words trailed off with hesitation. He seemed to lose his train of thought the instant his eyes fell upon her face, and it was a moment or two before he was able to focus on the task at hand.

  “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  Danielle remained just inches away from his chest, her legs powerless at the thought of moving to a distance.

  His skin was deeply tanned, the same as in the photo, but his strong, rugged chin was cleanly shaven. The turmoil in his eyes was mesmerizing, and his pulse visibly pounded in the vein along the side of his forehead.

  “I heard you were dead…” she finally managed, struggling to hold her towel up in the front and together in the back while she futilely attempted to toss the clinging hair from her eyes.

  He watched her carefully for a few seconds, as if he couldn’t decide what he should do with her now that he had her attention.

  “If this was any other place, and if you were anyone else…”

  He spoke softly as the fingertips of his right hand stroked the wet curls away from her forehead, seeing her failed attempt a moment before. When she didn’t resist, he gently slid the base of his hand across her cheek. His touch sent a whirlwind of sensations through every nerve in her body, and her reaction was so heady it was almost like an aphrodisiac in nature. She had never felt anything like it before and without thinking she instinctively turned the side of her face into his gentle caress and kissed the very center of his palm with her lips.

  Jake suddenly pulled his hand back in confusion and took his own two steps away from her. Danielle wasn’t sure what happened, and the conflicted look on his face didn’t offer her any immediate answers.

  ‘This is not what I expected from you.” He turned his eyes away so she couldn’t see his expression before he continued. “I knew you’d be beautiful. They all are. I just had no idea you’d be so…amazing.”

  “Wait, I’m the victim here, remember? Just who do you think I am?”

  “Britton Majers is never wanting for a gorgeous woman by his side when he plans on taking over the world,” he remarked a bit caustically, letting his eyes roam boldly over her partially clad figure to drive his point home.

  Danielle glanced down at her crumpled towel and the mass of unruly hair which was beginning to dry on her shoulders in disarray.

  “Yeah, I’m real hot.”

  “He’s a lucky bastard this time, though I hate to admit it. I never thought he could have such incredible taste in women until now.”

  “Listen up wise guy,” she finally snapped as she felt the heat rise to her cheeks. “This is a misunderstanding, and if I can sit here and listen to you after you broke into my room—“

  “The door was open,” he interjected, but at least had the decency to look embarrassed.

  “And after you watched me in the shower…” She was the one who hesitated this time, but he only smiled in response.

  “Well?”

  “Ok. I wish I had watched you in the shower. It didn’t seem the proper thing to do, however.”

  “Oh, so we have a polite intruder on our hands.” She frowned. “If only I had known I could have had the hotel make up an extra key for you so you could come and go as you pleased.”

  e held up his hands in defense.

  “I can see you’re angry, but I have to say it is extremely difficult for me to believe you are here with that conniving villain under innocent circumstances. If what you say is true, he must be beside himself with attempts to win you over.”

  Just as she opened her mouth to tell him the whole story, an impatient knock came at the door.

  “Danielle, I am becoming concerned.” Britton’s muffled voice sounded very close and the green entry light on the interior handle flashed urgently.

  She looked with apprehension to her new friend, who was now lounging casually on the foot of the bed.

  “Prove it.” He mouthed the words, and though he made no sound she understood him clearly.

  With an impatient slap that knocked his feet off the edge of the bedspread, she hurried to the door with a keen hand on the towel at her back.

  “Professor Majers!” she said loudly with forced delight.

  “Oh, Danielle, I am so relieved to hear your voice. I was about to worry.”

  She slumped a little against the door when the handle ceased its constant flutter.

  “I came by earlier but got no response and have been diligently searching the grounds ever since.”

  “And my room too if you had the chance to get inside, I don’t doubt,” she murmured under her breath.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t quite catch that last bit. May I come in? It’s dreadfully difficult to understand you through this door.”

  “I said I must have been in the shower earlier. I am afraid I can’t let you inside at the moment, I’m not entirely presentable.”

  “My dear, I can assure you I won’t mind a bit.” He lowered his voice for the last part, but the connotation carried through the barrier quite well.

  She looked over at Jake with embarrassment, and he nodded at her with a clear ‘I told you’ so grin.

  “Britton, haven’t we always kept our friendship completely proper?”

  “Yes…yes, of course. You are quite right. I shall await you in the lounge, but do hurry as I long for your company.”

  She could barely see his shadow underneath the door, and it lingered an alarming amount of time before he reluctantly left the area.

  Danielle turned to face her mystery man, only to discover he had gone through her luggage and pulled out a rather sexy, black velvet dress that she only donned on special occasions like art gallery openings.

  “I think you should wear this.” He smiled mischievously, holding it up to his muscular physique.

  “I think you should go break into someone else’s room.”

  “Your door was open.”

  “Maybe it was.” She knew from firsthand experience it didn’t latch very well, though it was hardly an excuse. “The fact remains that you were lurking, nonetheless.”

  “I should have lurked in the shower,” he responded wistfully, his beautiful gaze lost in imagination.

  Danielle went to her suitcase and pulled out a comfortable but rather business-like pant suit and smiled in satisfaction.

  “You’re going to wear that on your date?”

  “I told you, it’s not a date. Now do you mind?” She gestured toward her clothing and then to her body in exaggeration. She knew it was crazy to ask the person who broke into her room to have the decency to turn his back while she dressed, but she basically lived in this man’s house. She even owned his things for that matter, and he just didn’t feel like a stranger to her.

  “Ah, I’ll ju
st go into the bathroom while you get ready? Then perhaps you can explain to me who you are after you’re dressed.” He walked into the adjacent room as he added a farewell jibe over his shoulder. “Although I’d like to say I didn’t mind talking to you in a towel, either.”

  Damn, Danielle thought to herself. I should be furious with Jake Wilde for a hundred reasons and all I can do is melt like butter in his hands! Why can’t I think clearly when he’s standing in front of me?

  She slid the soft, supple fabric of the pants over her shapely legs and buttoned the fashionably low waist quickly. Though she looked over her shoulder at the bathroom door a dozen times, no sound came from inside and she was beginning to wonder what the esteemed professor was doing in there.

  When the last of the ensemble was in place she regarded her reflection in the mirror above the dresser. Her beauty was evident even in the austere outfit she’d chosen for her brief outing with Britton, and she struggled with a personal dilemma. She wanted to impress Jake, but did not wish for Britton to find her appearance suggestive.

  Danielle ran a comb through her hair, letting it cascade down her back with natural curls. In a rush, she pulled the cosmetic bag from her luggage and managed as best she could in the dim light of the bedroom.

  She picked up her purse when she finally felt she was ready, just as a loud crash came from the interior of the bathroom, which ricocheted with alarming clarity off all the walls in her suite. In fact, it sounded quite a bit like the noise a black, hard-shelled case would make when falling onto a tiled floor.

  Her blood ran cold, and she remembered what she’d left tucked next to the sink in the very room she’d put Jake Wilde into.

  He came rushing out of the bathroom, sending the door flying half off its hinges as he came at her with a crazy look in his eyes.

  “What is this? You lied to me!” He practically seethed the words through clenched teeth.