Bandit Love

"I shall do nothing of the sort," exclaimed Myra with spirit.

"In that case, Myra, you will remain here as the captive of El Diablo

Cojuelo, and the outlaw will try to teach you the meaning of love and

passion, teach you to respond to the call of your heart--if you have a

heart. You shall have your first lesson now, my sweet captive."

He sat down beside Myra on the couch as he spoke, flung his arms around

her and drew her into a close embrace in spite of her frantic

struggles, crushing her close to his breast and kissing her lips, her

cheeks, and her breast. Myra screamed breathlessly, but he only

laughed at her.

"Why waste your breath, sweet lady?" he laughed. "No one can hear your

cries, except, perhaps, Mother Dolores; but if all my band were within

hearing not one man would even think of daring to attempt to intervene,

no, not even if you were his own daughter. You are completely at my

mercy."

"Let me go. Oh, please, please, let me go!" gasped Myra, still vainly

striving to break from his embrace. "Surely you won't be coward enough

to take advantage of my helplessness!"

"Only confess that you love me, Myra darling, and I will do anything

you ask," Don Carlos replied, his deep voice vibrant with passion, his

dark eyes aglow with ardour. "Only confess yourself conquered."

"I won't! I won't! I'd rather die! I hate you, hate you!" stormed

Myra gaspingly, still struggling. "Let me go, you brute. You are

hurting me."

Don Carlos relaxed his hold, but restrained Myra when she would have

risen from the couch.

"Myra, darling, why do you persist in resisting me and refusing to

listen to the call of love?" he asked gently. "Do you realise that

your resistance is but adding fuel to the fires of my passion? You

drove me almost mad when you coquetted with me aboard the yacht, made

me crazy with desire, then laughed at me. I am but human, and my

longing for you is not to be denied. I vowed I would make you mine if

I had to break every law of God and man. You are mine now, my lovely,

adorable Myra, my heart's delight, mine to do with as I will, to take

or break."

The quietly spoken words struck dread into Myra's heart. It seemed to

her that a remorseless gleam had crept into the bright eyes of Don

Carlos. Intuitively she knew that he was determined to impose his will

upon her, and mingled with her dread there was resentment.