Love Captive Read Online Free

we're going?" she asked, too tired to really care but hungry to hear his voice, hoping to start a conversation.
    But all Carlos said in response was, "You'll see," and again he fell silent. His narrow, long-fingered hands held the wheel firmly yet without apparent strain. Even sitting casually as he was now, there was something unnervingly commanding about his bearing, about the way he held his head. He wore dark slacks, black loafers, a dark green turtleneck sweater. He is
so
incredibly handsome, Anne thought, and again forced herself to rest her head back and to close her eyes. Carlos Philip Maximilian Alvarado-Castellon, who was completely out of her reach, who would one day be a duke.
    The movement of the car lulled her, and before very long Anne drifted off into sleep. She had no real idea how long they'd driven when the car slowed, then stopped. As Anne jerked upright, blinking, she saw Carlos turn to her with a smile.
    "We're here now, my tired little friend." There was a hint of amused tenderness in his voice that immediately set Anne's pulses to racing. As his dark eyes held hers, he leaned toward her. For one electrifying moment Anne could only think that he meant to kiss her. Instead he leaned past her to throw open the door.
    As he drew back, he smiled. "You asked me to stop the car so you could climb out; now I have and you can." He smiled even more broadly, then turned away to climb out of the car.
    Shaking her head a bit to wake herself up, Anne climbed out too. It was so dark that for a moment, as she stood peering around, she could make nothing out. She felt relieved and happy as Carlos stepped up beside her.
    "It's very dark here, is it not? But this is where your brother directed us to come. If you'll wait a moment, I'll fetch a light."
    As he walked away, Anne almost cried out to him to stop, not to leave her there all alone in the dark. But, biting her lip, she held the cry back. She could hear Carlos's steps moving away, then she heard nothing. Gradually her eyes adjusted to the blackness, and peering ahead, Anne thought that possibly she could see the outline of a boat. Then she could definitely make out a swinging light, and soon Carlos was back at her side, holding a lantern that threw off a soft, flickering light.
    "Come along, Anne." Carlos took her arm and guided her forward. "We're parked near the pier where Tay's boat is moored. Now, step up here onto the pier." He held the lantern low so Anne could see where to step. They began walking along the dark pier side by side and soon Anne could clearly make out a boat.
    "It's a small cabin cruiser," Carlos informed her, "belonging to a man Dolores and I have known all our lives, Tay Dominquez. If this is where your brother wishes to meet and talk with me, so be it."
    As Carlos fell silent again, Anne could hear the lapping of the water against the pier. Even as the sound calmed and soothed her, it excited her too. Suddenly she could think of nothing more poignantly romantic than to be right here where she was, with an incredibly handsome Spanish nobleman at her side, in Tangier, Morocco. Suddenly Anne grinned to herself, remembering what Carlos had said in the car. If he had the least notion of what she was thinking about at this moment, he would surely burst out laughing. Then he would probably lecture her on how Americans, seeing far too many movies, were not only painfully melodramatic but hopelessly romantic as well. And… he'd be right.
    When they reached the boat, Carlos climbed aboard first, then hung the lantern on a pole and turned back to help her on. As she stepped aboard, he momentarily held her by both arms, smiling down at her.
    "All we need is a full moon, and this is the perfect setting for romance, no?" His black eyes intently fixed on her, he started to lean down to kiss her. Before he had done so, however, a shadow crossed his face and he drew back again. "But possibly you have no romantic notions about a man like me—one who does