Noir34

Ursula was waiting behind the door for Corinna when she walked into the bedroom and shut the door. With a stern, unwavering expression she watched Corinna jump when she saw her.

"You frightened me," Corinna said in Hindi. "I thought you retired for the night."

"I was wrong," Ursula replied, giving Corinna a stone-cold glare. "It's not Erik I need to worry about, it's you."

"Pardon me?"

Ursula's eyes hardened. "You know very well what I mean. You, Miss Desai, have no inhibitions. It's very unbecoming of a girl your age to be so foolish!"

Corinna shook her head, feigning an innocence that was transparent to her companion. "I have no idea what you mean. We were merely speaking in the lobby."

Ursula blew air past her lips and rolled her eyes. "How could you possibly speak? The two of you could not even breathe in your lecherous position. Yes, that's right," she said when she saw the shock register on Corinna's face. "I saw how the two of you were behaving in plain sight. You should be ashamed of yourselves!"

"It was only a kiss," Corinna replied with a shrug. Not even she believed it was so simple. It was the most profound sensation she had ever experienced. It had felt like a fire pit deep inside had suddenly been filled with a thousand logs, all of which were put to flame at the same time. The initial heat had cooled once Corinna saw Ursula but she was certain that if Erik came through the door the fire would immediately be stoked again.

"Clearly you think I'm a blind fool," Ursula barked. "I saw how you placed your leg over his. I was surprised you didn't burst into flames, child! Have you no sense? Your father would be furious—I am furious!"

Corinna turned away and began unbraiding her hair. Everything felt too right to be something to fuss over. Erik had kissed her and nothing more. "He didn't do anything."

"But you wanted him to, didn't you?"

With a heavy sigh Corinna pulled the dresser drawer open and reached for her gown. "I have self control," she muttered, wondering if it were true.

"You're going to get yourself into trouble."

Corinna made no reply, thinking that this man was worth all the trouble in the world. Still, she knew Ursula was correct. The moment she had realized her leg was draped over Erik's she felt the surge of danger, the sweet temptation of peril beckoning her further. Caught in the moment, Corinna knew she would have done little to resist his touch.

She hadn't been in full possession of her senses. The promise of romance had infiltrated her cautious, chaste side and made her weak with desire.

But I felt so powerful! Corinna told herself, hands squeezing around the cotton gown. All she knew was that she wanted to experience the same feelings all over again It felt like floating, like falling, like everything in the world that she wanted to know.

"Did you know your cousin is looking for Erik?" Ursula asked. She saw Corinna freeze, gown in hand as she prepared to change for bed. "Before you came inside Ravi called for you. I told him you were in the courtyard in the back."

Corinna whirled around to face her companion, her lips parted and eyes wide. With as much protesting as Ursula had done over Erik being their guardian she couldn't imagine why she would send Ravi in the opposite direction.

"What else did he say?" Corinna asked, stepping away from the changing area.

"He asked if I had seen Erik or Anisha. He thought they would be together." Ursula sat on her bed and rubbed her tired eyes. "Ravi wants Erik to return to Dareesh by tomorrow afternoon."

With her head bowed, Corinna disappeared behind the changing screen. The warmth she once felt inside cooled to icy alarm. Ravi's insistence on finding Anisha alarmed Corinna. As she pulled her arms through her nightgown she wanted to kick herself for not mentioning her apprehension in greater detail to Erik. When she told him Ravi was in Chandernagore he had only shrugged.

Once she finished dressingshe sat on her bed and stared at her knees.

"I saw Ravi outside the Inn when we were looking for Erik," Corinna said blankly. "He was very adamant about finding him but he wouldn't tell me what he wanted with Anisha and Erik."

"That should come as no surprise. You know how he is."

Corinna nodded. Ravi didn't like Ursula because she was from the Southern region of India. He thought of Corinna and her companion as little more than trained animals. Ravi didn't like anyone who wasn't Indian, which was why she found it strange that her uncle would appoint Ravi as Erik's translator. She had requested that her Uncle Pandir allow her to show Erik around but her uncle didn't want her role as guide to become an excuse for wandering off alone with the architect.

"What do you think Ravi is doing here?" Corinna asked obtusely.

"Come now, Corinna, you know already, don't you?"

Corinna nodded, feeling a sting of jealousy. "Everyone saw how he watched her at the engagement party. When she traveled here…" Her voice trailed off and she shook her head. "She's going to get him into trouble if he is not careful."

Ursula's face darkened. "I fear she already has."

-0-

The moment Erik closed the door and locked it he stopped and grimaced. In the heat of the moment he had left his work in the lobby below. Though he was fairly certain that no one would meddle with his designs he couldn't sleep knowing they weren't in his room.

His eyes felt as though they were filled with sand and his muscles ached as he opened the door and dragged his weary body down the stairs again. For a holiday, Chandernagore had proven to be exhausting.

As he jumped off the second step and strolled toward the lobby Erik couldn't help but think that the only moments he had enjoyed were the times he spent with Corinna. Each moment spent lusting over Anisha was wasted time. Nothing had proved that more to him than when he kissed Corinna in the lobby.

Erik heard himself exhale at the recollection. Holding her hand in his had evoked a stir of emotions but nothing compared to what had transpired after that innocent gesture. He glanced down and saw the red scratches on his wrists where the Dutchman had fought him to breathe outside in the courtyard. The sight made him shudder as he thought of the gunshots, the beautiful animals, and the ignorant fools out on their holiday.

He rubbed his fingers over his wrist and frowned. How could one moment be so angry and the next so completely intoxicating? The feelings Corinna created within him were far better than the anger he knew so well. He still felt slightly drunk on the mere thought of her beside him, of how he knew a touch and a kiss that had not last nearly long enough stirred her in the same way it rustled his desires.

With a yawn, Erik sat down and gathered the two tubes that had rolled beneath the small table, wondering what would have happened if he hadn't sent Corinna into her own room. A healthy imagination left him tangled in daydreams of her thighs the curves of her hips and everything between.

Erik inhaled deeply and searched the air for a hint of her warm, familiar scent. He sifted through each detail, starting with seeing Corinna on the outside steps and ending with her walking into her room. His mind continued to pause on the feel of her lips. Was there any better feeling than being so close to a beautiful woman?

As the memory consumed him, Erik was unaware that he was no longer alone in the parlor. He sat loosely clutching the tubes that rested on his knees, his thoughts pushing further and further into the fantasy of what could have happened had he taken her back to his room.

The longer he sat the more he knew his imagination was fruitless and frustrating. He was better off recalculating measurements than pining over Corinna. Still, it was satisfying that his feelings had been returned. He smiled to himself as he thought of her breathless. He felt somewhat triumphant that she had to cross her arms over her chest to hide a sign of her pleasure.

Erik wanted nothing more than to sweep her off her feet and marry her. With the money he earned in Persia and the small fortune he expected to make here in India he could take care of Corinna. She would live like a princess, he thought. If she wanted a palace he would build her one. He would do whatever she asked as long as her father gave him permission to wed his daughter.

"Profound," he said under his breath. Being in love was the most pleasant form of chaos he had ever known.

Erik glanced at the doorway and froze, lips parted in surprise.

"H-how are you are feeling?" he asked.

Anisha looked away from him once she saw her gaze was returned. "You need to leave at once."

"It's late, I realize, but what are you doing out here? And alone at that?"

"You need to leave," she said again, her tone more insistent. She crossed and uncrossed her arms, moving restlessly in the doorway.

With a nod, Erik rose to his feet, unsure of how close she would allow him to get to her following her encounter with Joseph.

"I'll walk you to your room. You should rest yourself," he said. He balanced all of his work in one hand and started to reach for her but she swiftly moved away. Instantly he regretted his foolish offer. The last thing he wanted to do was inadvertently threaten her.

"Don't touch me."

"I—I didn't mean anything by it. I won't…do anything to harm you."

Her dark eyes filled with tears. "You must leave at once. Before they find you. Before they take you. If he…" her words stopped as she turned away from him.

Erik lowered his voice. Joseph had put her through such an ordeal that he didn't want to upset Anisha any further but he still wanted to know what she meant. "What's wrong?"

"It's not safe here."

He nodded, sympathizing with her. He imagined no woman would feel safe in the building where she was taken against her will.

"Would you rather stay with Ursula and Corinna than by yourself? Their room is near mine, if you asked I'm sure—"

"You must leave," Anisha ordered again. She turned toward him again, lips trembling. "Forgive me."

Erik's eyes narrowed. "There is nothing to forgive. You have done nothing wrong."

And without another word she was gone.