Cameron was startled out of the first good sleep he’d had since arriving at the island five nights ago. He and his surly guest had called an unexpected truce. Sarah spent her days wading through the waves, collecting shells and exploring the island. She seemed happy. She was even polite. It was suspicious. Cameron didn’t trust her. Far from it; he was warier than ever.

He had good reason to be. He sensed more than heard footsteps outside in the hall. He froze. The gentle padding could only belong to Sarah. There was no one else on the island and no way to get there without his noticing. He would have heard the noise of anything landing or a boat pulling up.

He feigned sleep, careful to make his breathing deep and even while he waited, wondering why on earth she was creeping through the hallway in the middle of the night. He was more annoyed than he was intrigued. She’d woken him just when he finally found rest. Her face haunted his dreams and his every waking hours. As a result, he seemed to be perpetually exhausted and in a foul mood.

The footsteps paused outside his door. She waited before creeping in. Cam kept up with his deep breaths. He was on his back so the charade was easy enough. Those shuffling steps sidled up to the bed. There was a sharp intake of breath before something cold and hard was pressed to his throat.

He cracked an eyelid, letting her know he was awake. The moonlight streaming through the large window by his bed glinted off the blade of a huge knife.

“Where did you get that from? The kitchen knife block?” He quipped, surprising her.

Sarah’s breath hitched, but she pressed the knife further into his skin. “Of course I got it from the kitchen. It’s real stupid to leave them lying around. And for you not to lock your door at night.”

“Or yours I suppose. Perhaps I should start doing so like I promised I would if you did anything stupid. Maybe I should tie you up for this.”

Her gorgeous lips flattened out into a thin line. “You’re not in any positon to be threatening me.”

“It wasn’t a threat, just a thought.” The look Sarah shot him was absolutely murderous. It was very apparent that she wanted to smack his smug grin right off his face. “Oh, I’m sorry. Am I supposed to be afraid right now?” Cam mocked her, further angering her.

“Shut up!” Sarah pressed the blade in even closer. Another inch and he was sure she might actually do some damage. Cam still wasn’t afraid. Sarah looked like she knew what she was doing. She seemed to know just how much pressure to apply to that knife handle. He was sure he was in capable hands. “You are going to promise to pay me that ten million in exchange for your life. Forget about those photos. We’ll return them. I assume your life is worth the money?”

Cam swallowed carefully against the sharp edge. “How am I supposed to pay you if I’m dead?”

“You’ll promise now and I’ll release the knife. You’ll follow through on your word or does your word mean nothing at all?”

“Oh, my word means everything to me.” Cam leaned forward just an inch, pressing his throat into the blade. A sharp sting traveled up his neck and a warm rush followed. Sarah gasped. Her hand wavered for just a second. It was all the time he needed to reach up and grasp her wrist. He squeezed unmercifully until she cried out in pain and dropped the blade. He immediately scooped it up as it fell to the mattress.

Cam stood, walked to the window and threw the knife outside. He glared at Sarah who slowly backed away from his bed. “You know Sarah, the one mistake you made was underestimating your opponent. I heard that your brother grew up on the streets. Quite admirable of him to protect you and raise you, I must admit.” Her eyes widened. “Oh yes, I’ve heard that story.” He stalked closer to her, his steps slow and calculated, almost predatory.  “You must have heard mine as well. I too grew up in the roughest parts of town. If you think you’re the first to hold a knife to my throat you’re sadly mistaken. I’m much, much tougher than you give me credit for.”

He was so close he could feel Sarah’s heated breath on his cheek. She seemed to be rooted to the floor. All he had to do was reach out and capture her wrist. She didn’t even struggle against him. It was almost a disappointment. Her eyes were glazed over, as though she had gone somewhere else. His touch snapped her back to attention.

“I want to know why you need that money so badly? What the hell kind of trouble is your brother in?”

Sarah’s lips flattened again. Her eyes flashed with defiance and he knew she wasn’t going to tell him. Well, he would just have to make her speak. He remembered that she said she couldn’t swim. Now would be a good time to find out if she’d been lying to him.

Cam dragged her from the room, down the hall and outside. The full moon glistened overhead. Palm fronds swayed gently with the breeze. The night was close and warm. He traversed the worn path down to the beach, dragging Sarah behind him.

She didn’t even protest. She knew her strength was no match for his. He almost wished she would fight him just a little.

When they reached the water’s edge she did panic. She struck out at him, lashing against his chest and struggling to get away. She said nothing, just fought like a hellcat. He loved every single second of it. Of course he couldn’t actually let her know that.

“Stop that!” Cam’s arms closed around her waist. He jammed her roughly up against his chest, containing her flailing arms. She ceased struggling for just a second, shocked at being thrust against him. He took that second to pick her up in his arms. She went completely still as he started to wade into the water.

She was wearing that black dress again and it was so tight he felt all her curves lean into him. She decided that he was the lesser of two evils in that moment and she clung to him, obviously afraid. Cam waded in, the ocean’s cool waters lapping around his legs. He went in up to his waist. He paused for only a second to stare down at Sarah’s fear stricken face. She seemed absolutely paralyzed. He waded deeper, until he was in up to his neck.              

She clung to his shoulders almost frantically while trying all the while not to make it obvious how afraid she was. He admired her strength. Another woman would have screamed and begged when she realized what he was about to do.

The water grew deeper and Cam started to swim. He was almost glad Sarah clung to him. At least it left him free to tread water. He was an excellent swimmer and made quick work of getting even further away from the beach. Finally he stopped. Sarah’s arms tightened around his neck.

“I’ll go out farther,” Cam ground out. “I’ll go out deep enough that you’ll be in real trouble if I let you go. All I want is for you to tell me why your brother needs that money.”

He glanced down at Sarah’s face. It was absolutely stark white. Her eyes were wide and the moonlight illuminated the terror in those honeyed depths. Her lips parted in a silent plea. He felt her heartbeat hammering wildly against his own chest. She didn’t struggle. She didn’t move, clearly afraid if she did she would drown them both.

“Are you going to tell me or not!” Cam thundered. His patience wore thin.

Sarah broke then. Her eyes filled with tears and they spilled down her cheeks in salty trails. “Please!” She whispered brokenly. She clung to him as if for dear life. “Please don’t let me drown out here! You’re not a beast… Cameron, you’re not an animal! Please! I won’t try to escape again! I’ll do anything you say! You can tie me up if you want. Please, just anything but this!”

Her broken gasping pleas cut straight to Cameron’s heart. His chest tightened and his stomach cramped painfully. He would never have hurt her. God, he just wanted to scare her. There was no way he ever would have even let her go. He knew that but she didn’t.

He was disgusted at himself. Disgusted at what he had reduced her to. Most of all he was disgusted at his own weakness. He’d dated women. He’d slept with more than he cared to admit. Not a single one of them had ever cut through him like Sarah did in that moment.

Cam said nothing. He ground his teeth and made his way back to the shallow waters. Once his feet hit the bottom he walked the rest of the way to the beach. He dropped his burden unceremoniously onto the sand.

She sobbed there, scrabbling at the ground like she’d been marooned at sea for months. Cam should have been pleased that he had finally broken her. He was anything but. Watching her pathetic gesture of relief made him feel like the worst human being in the world. People said terrible things about him. He had always been proud that they weren’t true, until right that minute. Watching Sarah, everything anyone had ever said about him being a cold hearted beast was the truth.

She finally looked up at him, her black dress coated in the sand and salt water. Her eyes were large and tear filled, her cheeks puffy. Even when she cried she was beautiful. “Why?” She whispered. She gulped down a sob. “Why did you bring me back?”

Why indeed? Cam was aware that a low growl sounded on the breeze. He almost glanced around for the source of it before he realized it was coming from him. The sound was torn from his throat. He stepped forward, hooked his hand under Sarah’s arm and hauled her up to standing.

“You want to know why?” He ground out. “This is why.” He pulled her in against his own soaking wet body and slammed a hard, bruising kiss on her full, sensual mouth.