Randy dries off Charlotte

"Anything I want, Lady Charlotte." His words increased her anxiety as did the way his hungry eyes roamed over her body hanging helplessly before him. "Anything at all." It was what she feared, the villain was going to violate her. Charlotte's aunts had repeatedly warned her "Common men cannot control their animal desires, thus it is the responsibility of the lady to be ever vigilant." Here she was, suffering the consequences of her carelessness.

He disappeared momentarily back into the cave, and then he was at her side again, this time with a soft cotton towel.

"First to dry you my beauty." He murmured as he gently wiped the drops of spray from her face, caressing her skin softly with the cloth as spoke. In spite of her fear, Charlotte felt a inner glow at his words. Few men had ever referred to her as a beauty, and those that did were trying to secure her hand. She knew that she was too tall, and despite her best efforts to protect her skin from the sun that her golden tan and sprinkling of freckles was nothing like the milky white skin of her friends. However when this outlaw called her a beauty, he seemed to mean it. His towering height and bronzed skin made her feel as dainty and pale as the most sought after debutante of the season.

"Sir!" She gasped as the cloth traveled over the swell of her breasts, drying the drops that had collected there. "Please, my father will pay you in gold for my safe return."

"I told you, I don't want your father's money!" Snarled Randy fiercely "What he took from me can never be repaid in gold." When he saw Lady Charlotte flinch at the cold tone in his voice Randy regretted snapping at her, but clearly this young lady still thought money could solve all problems. There was not enough money in the world to ease his mother's grief over the loss of Mary, nor the quench his anger at how Lord Marlton banished first his sister and then Randy himself with whips and threats.

Stepping behind Charlotte so he would not have to see the fear in her eyes Randy dropped the cotton towel and started to unfasten the long row of tiny buttons that ran from the curve of her back to the smooth skin at the base of her neck. Despite their strength and size, his fingers were surprisingly adept at working each of the buttons free. When at last all of the fastenings had been released Randy pushed open the back of Charlotte's riding dress. The dainty silk camisole that hung from her shoulders covered only from her shoulder blades down and unable to resist any longer, Randy lowered his lips to the softness of her skin.

The back of her neck smelled like fruit - apricots or perhaps peaches - and her skin quivered like a butterfly's wing each time his lips brushed her warm flesh. Miss Marlton moaned softly and her body twisted helplessly as he slid a hand through the open back of the dress and across the firm muscles of her abdomen. Years of riding and swimming had strengthened her core and he could feel her warm belly rippling against his outstretched fingers through the thin layer of silk.

The dress he realized was designed to be lifted on and off this woman over her head, if she remained hanging he would either have to cut it off her body with his knife, release her wrists or deal with the yards of fabric that hung from her shoulders and flaring hips. The simple frocks worn by the local women and the clothing of the dockside whores were never this frustrating. Vengeance would suggest ripping the gown from his captive, but he had no desire to brutalize her more than he had to, and it seemed a waste to ruin such a fine dress.