Jacquie D'Alessandro (19 page)

He raised their joined hands to his lips and pressed a kiss to the sensitive skin inside her wrist. “I did tell you I enjoy being first.”

The feel of his mouth on her skin, the quiet words breathing heat, licked tiny trails of fire up her arm. He then lowered her hand to press it against his chest, where
his heart thumped strong and fast against her palm. Almost as strong and fast as her heart was beating. Because of the way he was looking at her. How close he stood. And because of not only
what
he’d done, but the
way
he’d done it.

“The flowers are even more special because you included Spencer in your surprise,” she said softly. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

To her mortification the moisture building up behind her eyes overflowed, and a pair of tears leaked from her eyes.

His eyes widened with a look that could only be described as masculine panic. “You’re crying.”

He sounded so horrified and accusatory, the sob that was caught in her throat bubbled forth as a laugh. “I’m not.”

“Then what do you call
this?
” He caught one tear on the tip of his finger while his other hand frantically patted his pockets, presumably for a handkerchief.

Now amused—thank goodness—she slipped her own lace hanky from her long sleeve and dabbed at her eyes.

“Are you still crying?”

“I was
not
crying.”

“Again we require the dictionary.” He reached out and took the handkerchief from her, then gently dabbed at her cheeks. When he finished, he tilted his head first left, then right, peering at her closely. “It appears you’ve stopped.”

“I had not started. I’d simply…sprung a freakish leak of the eyeballs. Today’s Modern Woman does not cry when a man brings her flowers. Heavens, if that were the case, I’d have been in a state of constant hysterics for the past fortnight.”

She said the words in a teasing manner, but the instant
they left her lips, she realized that these were not just any flowers. Moreover, it was becoming alarmingly clear that the man standing in front of her was not just any man.

He handed her back her handkerchief, which she tucked up her sleeve. “Well, consider me relieved that your, er, freakish eyeball leak has corrected itself.”

He did indeed look relieved, and she had to bite back a smile. Even in the aftermath of the shooting, he’d remained calm and collected. Yet the sight of feminine tears clearly undid the man, a trait she found utterly endearing.

Dear God. She simply did
not
want to find something
endearing
about him. Bad enough she already found him painfully attractive.
Speaking of which
, her inner voice interjected,
’tis well past the time to put your plan into action.

Angel’s Smile would do just as nicely as the gazebo, and she did not want to wait any longer for him to hold her. Kiss her. Which, for some reason she could not fathom, he had yet to do. She wanted to grab him by the shoulders, shake him, and demand to know what the bloody blazes he was waiting for. Well, it was simply time to take matters into her own hands.

Giving him what she hoped passed for a carefree, yet with a hint of alluring smile, she said, “Your generosity and thoughtfulness makes me feel all the more guilty about the wager we made.”

“Wager?”

“Regarding you reading
A Ladies’Guide
.”

His confused expression cleared. “Ah, yes. That wager. Why do you feel guilty about it?”

“When we made the wager, we’d agreed upon a time of three weeks. Since then we’ve mutually decided that you’ll only be in Little Longstone for one week. I’m afraid that given the time constraints and the fact that it
would prove nearly impossible for you to secure a copy of the
Guide
here, I think we need to discuss terms.”

His expression turned thoughtful, and taking two steps backward, he leaned his back against the thick trunk of the elm behind him and studied her. “If it would be nearly impossible for me to secure a copy of the
Guide
here in Little Longstone in one week’s time, I don’t see how I would have been able to accomplish the task in three weeks. Or three months for that matter. Which makes me wonder if perhaps I was duped.”

“Not at all. With three weeks at your disposal, you would have had sufficient time to send an order to a London bookstore and have had a copy delivered to you here. If you’d been so inclined.”

“Ah. But now that I only have a week—”

“I fear that is no longer a viable option,” she said, injecting just the right note of regret in her voice. However, her conscience made her ask, “If you still had the three weeks’ time, would you have sent an order to London?”

“No.”

It was all Catherine could do to keep her lips from curving into a triumphant smile. Perfect. He’d swallowed her bait without a hitch. Now all she had to do was reel him in.

“I thought not,” she said, keeping her expression serious, “which means that—”

“Our wager is void.” He nodded. “Yes, I suppose you’re right.”

She stared at him. “
Void?
That is not what I was going to say at all.”

“Oh? What were you going to say?”

“That I was the winner.”

His brows shot upward, and he folded his arms across his chest. “How did you arrive at that conclusion?”

“You just admitted that you would not have made arrangements to secure a copy of
A Ladies’ Guide
from London, regardless of the length of your stay in Little Longstone. You will recall that in order for you to win the wager, you had to read the
Guide
, then engage in a discussion about it,
which
you cannot do if you do not have a copy,
which
you cannot secure without making special arrangements,
which
by your own admission you’ve no plan to do,
which
, even if you did plan to do, you no longer have the time to do.” She finished her speech with a flourishing wave of her hand and sucked in a much-needed breath. Then she offered him her sweetest smile. “Therefore, that means I am the winner.”

He remained silent for several seconds, studying her with a slightly bemused expression that delighted her. Excellent. She’d obviously thrown him off-balance. Her strategy was working brilliantly. Now for the final step…

“Do you concede?” she asked.

“It would appear I have little choice.”

Her heart leapt in anticipation. “As I’m sure you recall, the winner is entitled to a boon of their choosing.”

“Ah, yes. Now that you mention it, I do recall that.” He chuckled. “So
that
is why you wanted me to concede rather than call our wager void. I suppose I’ll be spending tomorrow polishing the silver.”

She took one step closer to him. “No.”

“Weeding the roses?”

Another step closer. “No.”

“Mucking out the stalls?”

Another step. Now only an arm’s length separated them. Her heart was beating so hard she felt the pounding in her ears. “No.”

His watchful gaze held hers for what felt like an eter
nity, but was surely no more than ten seconds. Finally, he said in a husky voice, “Then perhaps you should tell me what you
do
want, Catherine.”

Carpe diem, her inner voice prodded. Summoning all her courage, Catherine took one more step forward. Her body brushed against his, and his masculine scent filled her head. Encouraged by his sharp intake of breath, she placed her palms against his chest and looked directly into his eyes.

“I want you to make love to me.”

A
ndrew remained perfectly still, allowing his mind and body to absorb fully the stunning impact of her words and actions. Catherine standing before him, desire shimmering in her eyes, her hands splayed against his chest, her lush body leaning against his. The smoky timbre of her voice when she whispered that heart-stopping sentence.
I want you to make love to me.

For as many times as he’d fantasized about her saying those words, nothing prepared him for the reality. His heart slapped so hard against his ribs, it wouldn’t have surprised him if she’d said,
what on earth is that drumming sound?

Yet, beneath the layers of elation, desire, want, and
need, flickered a single, tiny candle of discontent. Yes, he desperately wanted to make love to her, but he wanted a great deal more than that. Given her aversion to marriage, and her belief in the precepts put forth in
A Ladies’ Guide
, one of which encouraged “women of a certain age” not to remain celibate, she clearly only wanted an affair. If he refused her, would she turn to someone else? The mere thought of her asking another man to make love to her clenched his jaw.

Not that he had any intention of refusing her.

She shifted against him, and his entire body tightened. Yes, he wanted much more from her, but for now, this was enough.

Uncertainty flickered in her eyes, and he realized that he’d remained silent too long. That she thought his silence meant he planned to refuse her. Words and feelings he’d suppressed for what felt like an eternity welled up, clogging his throat, rendering him unable to speak. But it mattered not as he was incapable of forming a coherent sentence. Only one word echoed through his mind, a mantra of all he wanted. All he’d ever wanted from the moment he’d laid eyes on her.
Catherine. Catherine. Catherine.

She clearly read the inferno of desire he knew burned in his gaze because the uncertainty vanished from her eyes, and her lips parted. Wrapping one arm around her waist, he drew her fully against him while he ran his other hand up her back until his fingers sifted into her soft, upswept hair. He lowered his head as she rose up on her toes.

The instant their lips met, he was lost. In the sweet seductive taste of her. In the incredible feel of her pressing against him. In the delicate floral scent of her. The delicious friction of her tongue rubbing against his. The erotic sound of her moan of pleasure.

Needs and wants that had gone unanswered, unfulfilled
for so long, clawed him like sharp talons. Spreading his legs, he gathered her closer, pressing her into the V between his thighs. His erection strained against his tight breeches, and he cursed the barrier of the clothing between them. Another low moan rumbled in her throat, and she rubbed herself against him, stripping away another layer of his rapidly vanishing control.

While his lips and tongue explored all the velvety delights of her mouth, one of his hands came forward to palm her breast while his other hand slid down her back to cup her rounded bottom. She gasped, and her head fell limply back, presenting him with the delicate, vulnerable curve of her neck, a delicacy he instantly took advantage of.

Catherine strained closer, thrilling to the feel of his hard, aroused body. Closing her eyes, she clutched his broad shoulders in an effort to remain upright against the storm of sensations battering her. His lips and tongue blazed a trail of fire down her neck, fanning the flames already burning her. One strong hand kneaded her breast through the material of her gown, tightening her nipple and shooting shards of sharp want down to her womb, while his other hand massaged her buttocks with a slow, hypnotic motion that forced a long, need-filled moan from her throat. The feminine flesh between her legs felt swollen and heavy and moist, and a mounting desperation edged through her.

He lifted his head, and a groan of protest vibrated in her throat.

“Not here,” he whispered, his breathing as ragged as hers. “Not like this.”

Her heart tripped over itself at the naked hunger in his eyes. At the waves of desire all but emanating from him. He looked as if he wanted to devour her, and everything feminine in her thrilled at the thought.

“You deserve more than a quick grope against a tree, Catherine.”

God help her, but a quick grope against the tree—indeed anything to relieve the sweet ache imprisoning her—sounded like heaven. But he was right. This was not the place.

She was about to grasp his hand and lead him toward the gazebo, when
he
grasped
her
hand, and headed in that direction.

“Come with me,” he said, his voice an aroused growl. She fell into step beside him, excitement and anticipation coursing through her. “Where are we going?”

“The gazebo. It’s closer than the house. And more private.”

“How do you know about the gazebo?”

“I came across it while riding Aphrodite.”

She was glad the darkness cloaked the satisfied grin curving her lips. Not only would they end up at the gazebo, but he would think it had been his own clever idea. Wouldn’t he be pleased to discover when they arrived that the enclosed structure wasn’t completely empty—it contained the supplies she’d smuggled out of the house and left there earlier this afternoon. She’d longed to bring more, to turn the space into a cozy haven, but hadn’t dared risk anyone discovering her leaving the house carrying more than a basket. That would have led to questions she did not want to answer. After all, she could not very well say that she was preparing the gazebo for a tryst. And while the setting was admittedly rustic, according to
A Ladies’ Guide
she’d have all she needed for a memorable night—a cozy quilt, a bottle of wine, a wedge of cheese, and…herself and Andrew.

They rounded a corner in the path, and the gazebo came into view. Nestled in a small clearing, the octagonal
structure with its domed roof gleamed white in the moonlight, the aged, peeling paint not discernible from a distance. She’d always wanted to refurbish the gazebo, but somehow hadn’t found the time.

Andrew’s footsteps slowed as they approached the structure, and she gave thanks for the sturdy wooden shutters that covered the floor-to-ceiling French windows comprising the gazebo’s walls, as they would provide an intimate cocoon of privacy for them.

A cloud obscured the moon, and Catherine looked down, concentrating on her feet so as not to trip over a branch or stone. Andrew’s hand tightened on hers, a wordless promise that he wouldn’t allow her to fall.

When they reached the door, he turned the brass knob and slowly pushed the heavy oak panel inward. “The door squeaks horribly…” she began, but her words trailed off into nothingness. The door did not squeak at all as it opened wider to reveal the inside of the gazebo.

Catherine gasped, and, clasping her hands to her chest, gaped in wonder. The cozy interior was gently illuminated with the flickering light from a half dozen hurricane lamps set in a wide semicircle around the perimeter of the floor. She inhaled, breathing in the delicate scent of flowers, and saw that a blanket of rose petals was strewn across the wood floor, lending beauty and fragrance to the small room.

The coverlet she’d smuggled from the house was arranged in the center of the otherwise bare room. Two enormous pillows, one maroon, the other dark blue, rested on one end of the cover. Off to the side sat a silver tray holding a bottle of wine, two goblets, a bowl of strawberries, and the wedge of cheese she’d pilfered from the kitchen.

As if in a trance, she entered the room and turned in a slow circle. A soft click echoed behind her, which she
recognized as the door closing. Then she heard Andrew step up behind her. Strong arms encircled her waist from behind, gently hugging him to her. She laid her hands on top of his and drank in the seductive feel of him surrounding her, enthralled and touched by the romantic hideaway he’d created.

“When did you do this?” she asked in a hushed voice, afraid to speak too loudly lest she break the magical atmosphere.

“Just before dinner.” His lips brushed her temple as he spoke, his warm breath gliding over her ear, shivering a delighted tingle down her spine. “I was very surprised—and pleased—to find the basket of items you’d obviously left. Are
you
pleased?”

Her eyes slid closed and she breathed out a lengthy, feminine sigh. Then she turned in his arms and cradled his smoothly shaven cheeks between her palms.

“You went to a great deal of time, effort, and expense to plant my favorite flowers, and to create a private, romantic place for us. Yes, Andrew. I am pleased. And touched. And flattered. I started out this evening hoping to seduce
you
, yet here I find myself thoroughly seduced.”

“I started out this evening hoping to
court
you, yet here I find myself thoroughly seduced.”

Heat rippled down to her toes. “We started out with different objectives, yet here we are, with the same results. Although I wonder how that can be as I’ve yet to try to seduce you.”

He turned his head and pressed a heated kiss against her palm. “If that is so, then God help me should you put a bit of effort into it. But fear not. You’ve thoroughly succeeded without expending any effort.”

“Indeed? How? What have I done?” Lord knows she wanted to know so that she could do it again.

With his gaze steady on hers, he clasped her hand, pressed another kiss against her palm, then touched his tongue to the spot. Her breath caught, and her eyes widened.

“That,” he whispered. “The way you respond to my touch. The way you breathe in, and the heat that flares in your eyes. Very seductive. And this…” He drew her into his arms then leaned forward and flicked his tongue over her earlobe. A shudder ran through her. “…the way you tremble when you find something pleasurable. And this…” His lips skimmed across her jaw, before his mouth settled on hers for a soft, teasing kiss that had her lifting her face for more. “…the way your mouth feels against mine. The way you want more, just as I do.”

He reached up and slowly pulled the pins from her hair. “The way your hair feels sifting through my fingers.” Catherine felt her hair fall loose from its chignon and tumble down her back and over her shoulders. After gathering a handful of long, loose curls in his hand, he buried his face in the strands. “The scent of flowers that clings to your hair and skin. Ah, yes, then there is your skin…”

He brushed her hair over her shoulder, then trailed his fingertips slowly down her neck. “The pale perfection. The velvet texture. The alluring fragrance…that teasing hint of floral that makes me want to remain no more than an inch away from you so as not to draw a single breath that isn’t scented with you.” He lowered his head and brushed his mouth over the sensitive juncture where her neck and shoulder met. “Pure seduction.”

Her fingers clenched against his jacket, and a low rumble of pleasure trembled in her throat. “That sound you make when you’re aroused,” he said, his words vibrating against her skin, “is one of the most seductive things I’ve ever heard.”

“One of?” she asked in a breathless voice she barely recognized. “What is the
most
seductive thing you’ve ever heard?”

He lifted his head and stared directly into her eyes. “Your voice. Asking me to make love to you.”

Warmth filled her cheeks. “I’d never said those words before.”

“Just one more of the countless ways you seduce me, Catherine. You know how I like being first.”

“Then you’d best prepare yourself, because I’ve a feeling I’m going to experience many more firsts tonight.”

“As will I.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “You mean you’ve never—?”

“No, I’m not saying I’ve never been with a woman, although it has been…a while. But I’ve never been with anyone I wanted this much. Or anyone whom I wanted to please more. Or anyone who pleased me so very much.”

Catherine swallowed, certain that her hold on his shoulders was the only thing keeping her from slithering to the floor in a quivering heap. “I hope I please you, Andrew. I want to, but—”

He silenced her by touching his fingers to her lips. “You will, Catherine. Don’t doubt it for even a second.”

His expression made it clear he believed it, but a spate of self-doubt and insecurity suddenly assailed her, and before she could stop herself, she blurted out the painful truth. “I’m afraid I cannot help it. My husband found me…less than enthralling. He never touched me after Spencer was born. In spite of the fact that I was married for a decade and bore a child, I fear I’m woefully inexperienced.” Her gaze searched his. “How can you be so sure I’ll please you?”

“As I’ve told you, there are just some things that we
know
, Catherine. You and I are going to make beautiful
love together. As for your inexperience…” He took one step back, then spread his arms. “Practice all you wish. Consider me at your disposal.”

Catherine’s heart pounded at the husky-voiced invitation, so ripe with sensual possibilities.

“Don’t be shy,” he said softly. “Or embarrassed. It’s just us, Catherine. The only other person in this room besides you is a man who wants nothing more than to grant your every wish and to please you. Tell me how to do that. Tell me what you want.”

Words from
A Ladies’ Guide
popped into her mind.
Should Today’s Modern Woman ever be fortunate enough to be asked “What do you want?” hopefully she will answer truthfully.

She licked her lips, then allowed her gaze to wander slowly down, then up his long, muscular length. When their eyes again met, she spoke the simple truth. “You make me want so many things, I’m not certain where to begin.”

“Why don’t I start by removing my jacket?”

She watched him shrug the dark blue material from his shoulders, and suddenly she knew exactly where to begin. Stepping forward, she grasped his cuff. “I want to do it.”

He stood immobile, watching her, and for the first time in her life, Catherine removed an article of clothing from a man. The simple act of slowly slipping the jacket down his arms intoxicated her. When she finished, she held the garment, still warm from his body, against her chest. Her eyes slid closed, and she bent her head to breathe him in. “You smell delicious,” she murmured on a sigh. “Sandalwood mixed with something else I can’t name. But it’s a clean, masculine scent that belongs to you alone.”