Wicked Proposition (35 page)

He conversed easily with the merchants. They
loitered about, looking for bargains among the goods the sea
captain returned from the Orient with. Nicholas bartered quite
successfully. All were pleased when they walked away. By the time
the wagon was loaded, he had nearly dispensed with all his smuggled
goods for triple what he purchased them for.

He was grinning widely and her breath caught at
how boyish he appeared when he smiled. She looked away feeling she
was staring at him like an idiot, and blushed.

Mrs. Bingham watched Catherine’s interest in her
benefactor and was secretly pleased at the effect the captain was
having upon her charge. Catherine had indeed grown up in his
absence. Mrs. Bingham planned to encourage the attraction between
the couple.

She knew in her heart they belonged together
despite Tulley’s worries she may be some other man’s wife. They
still knew nothing about her. She had listened to her lover’s
words, but in her heart she wanted to see Catherine safe before she
left her. She had become the daughter she had never had, and she
wanted her happiness. Nicholas obviously cared for her charge. When
he thought she wasn’t aware, he stole glances at Catherine. His
blue eyes filled with such adoration, it was clear to see he loved
her. All saw it but Catherine.

It warmed her heart he had been so patient and
had not taken advantage of Catherine’s illness. He was back and
Catherine was a full blown woman now. It would not be hard to get
them together, just a push in the right direction. She planned on
staying clear of the couple. She decided the more time they spent
alone in each other’s company, the closer they came to realizing
their feelings.

By the pained look Tulley tossed at her when he
arrived, she would be quite busy seeing to his needs as well. She
chuckled low as she winked at him discreetly. The small group
disembarked from the dock and left for home. Tulley had obviously
no intention of allowing Saul to drive. When he flicked the reins
and drove the horses up the dirt road leading to the residence,
everyone within the wagon was relieved.

Nicholas was pleased with the changes made to
his home. He commended Mrs. Bingham her choices in colors and
furnishings. She promised refreshments to be sent to the parlor as
the wagons were unpacked, leaving he and Catherine alone there
suddenly.

An awkward silence persisted and she looked
decidedly uncomfortable until he smiled and patted the settee next
to him.

“Catherine, I realize you have suffered much
confusion this last year. You are not fully aware of many things,
but please know this, my dear, I do not bite,” And he chuckled at
her look of surprise. The girl was so easy to read. Her expressions
were most obvious. “Come sit and I will tell you of my travels. You
can tell me of how you spent your time as well.”

They conversed easily after that initial stilted
feeling passed, and soon Catherine was telling him of the few
things she remembered since he had left. He told her of China and
its people, describing the country and the customs so accurately,
Catherine felt like she was there.

She was caught up in his stories and did not
notice the dark-skinned servant who brought a tray of iced tea and
tip-toed out of the parlor, a knowing smile upon her face. She was
aware of those blue eyes so keenly she nearly pinched herself to
keep from drowning in his gaze. She was grateful when she noticed
the tea had arrived and busily poured him a tall glass.

She nearly groaned when he raised the glass to
his lips and drank. A bit of moisture remained upon his lower lip
and her eyes clung to it before his tongue darted out to lick it.
She felt like her insides were in molten knots when he looked at
her.

His large hand held hers easily as he spoke of
his trip and she sat mutely and listened, so aware of his
masculinity she was eager for Mrs. Bingham’s return. When the lady
did not appear she frowned slightly.

“Are you alright, Catherine?” he asked huskily,
his blue eyes tracing the perfection of her face in concern, his
hand tightening upon hers.

She flushed and nodded, noting the way her palm
sweated within his grasp and itched to smooth his unruly ebony
mane. He had shaved recently and she could smell lemon balm. He had
leaned forward and she found herself trapped against the arm of the
settee.

His blue eyes twinkled knowingly and she was
sure he was laughing at her, knowing what effect he was having upon
her senses. She felt him lean nearer and her heart leapt in her
throat, thinking he meant to kiss her. He merely sat back suddenly
and eyed her carefully, his features now expressionless. Catherine
hurriedly rose and moved away from the settee, gesturing to the
veranda and explaining the changes made in his absence to the
gardens below.

“Mrs. Bingham worked upon it every day while you
were gone. You really must see it after you are rested from your
trip,” she stammered nervously, aware of how closely he watched her
and was beginning to feel like a mouse being stalked by a large
black cat. She licked her lips nervously and smiled too brightly.
“I am sure you must be tired and here I am just rattling on and on,
how rude of me.”

“I’m not tired, my dear,” he said softly as he
rose and sauntered towards her purposefully, his eyes gazing at the
creamy skin exposed at her bodice in the peach gown hungrily. “I
have missed you very much, Catherine,” he breathed softly and he
reached for her. She leaned towards him automatically. Before she
knew what he was about to do, he pulled her to his chest and his
mouth descended upon hers.

A ragged moan escaped him as he tested her soft
honeyed lips, moving over them tenderly at first. He was more
insistent then, pulling her lower lip with his teeth before his
tongue thrust into her mouth. His tongue was stroking within her
mouth with such thoroughness, she whimpered and hung limply in his
arms. She was unsure of the tightening in her belly as his arms
slid around her and she was flattened against his chest.

His hands cupped her cheeks as his mouth mated
insistently with hers. He let loose a low growl as his hands molded
her against his hard body. She gasped as she felt a hot stab of
need forming in her middle. She pressed closer to him and her arms
slid about his waist and she closed her eyes as the drugging kiss
continued.

Nicholas kissed her so thoroughly she was
unsteady when he released her, his passion darkened blue gaze
meeting hers and delighting in the way her green eyes held such a
languid expression. He wanted nothing more than to drag her up to
his room and give her a proper welcome, but voices were heard
outside the parlor. He set her away from him gently and went to
look out the double glass paned doors to the gardens. His heart was
thumping so madly in his chest he was certain she could hear
it.

Mrs. Bingham entered and noted Catherine’s
flushed features knowingly and smiled cheerfully as she approached.
Even a fool could see she had been kissed silly! She was delighted
as Nicholas scowled at her slightly at her interruption. She
insisted he tour the house to see the rest of the changes.

Catherine was grateful for her timely approach.
When the pair of them drifted out of the room, she closed her eyes
tightly. She shuddered slightly, her hand going to her lips,
feeling the way they tingled from his kiss. Her hand trembled and
her legs were wobbly as she slid back down to the settee. He had
been home in little more than an hour and she was panting after him
like a bitch in heat. Her face flamed and she felt ashamed at her
response to him. He must think her wanton for her behavior. Her
lips quivered and still tasted of his.

A moan escaped her when she realized his room
was next to hers, only a door separated them. She would get little
sleep thinking about him in the next room. She knew she was no
virgin. The flashes from her past had informed her she was
well-versed in what went on with the opposite sex. Those images
haunted her. She realized she wanted Nicholas and bit her lip.
Would he be disgusted at her appalling behavior?

Weeks passed since Nicholas had arrived home and
she took great pains to avoid him when she could. The memory of his
kiss had left her shaken, stirring memories of other kisses.

She felt like she had known Nicholas before her
accident. Somehow this feeling persisted, despite the vague replies
she got from Mrs. Bingham. Catherine was jumpy and irritable of
late. She often spoke snappishly, earning a reproving stare from
her teacher. Her lessons were complete. She had learned everything
she needed to know to venture back out into the world again, but
wondered if she dared.

She had an ominous feeling when she woke from
her dreams that morning, making little sense of what she saw. She
knew whatever fragments from her past that still existed were so
jumbled she could make no sense of them. But she remembered
something that was clear. Her green eyes narrowed. She had
definitely kissed Nicholas before.

Nicholas eyed her in amusement at the end of the
dining room table as they took breakfast. She had been avoiding
him. He knew and was pleased he had ruffled her feathers.

He visited Solange to ease the ache in him
nightly. He had been caught by Catherine leaving one evening to see
his mistress and the look on her face told him she knew where he
went. He had just arrived home and saw her blatant disapproval.

The servants gossiped incessantly and all spoke
of the lovely Solange in whispers that Catherine overheard and
stiffened with shock and yes, was it jealousy she felt? She told
herself she did not care who he went to, but deep down, she was
hurt by it. Each night his booted feet passed by her door, she
heard him pause before he left.

“Is there something wrong, Catherine?” he asked
as he met her gaze with an infuriating smile.

“No, it is nothing.”

“You have hardly eaten at all,” he pointed out
as he ladled more eggs onto his plate.

Her eyes narrowed more to see him taking second
helpings. She smiled tightly. “I haven’t quite your appetite this
morning, Captain,” she replied sweetly.

Nicholas knew she was angry. He could see it in
her eyes. He hoped she would act upon it soon. Holding her at arm’s
length was killing him.

“A pity, my dear,” he said softly as he met her
angry look, “for I am very hungry.”

Catherine felt those intense blue eyes upon her
and felt her face grow hotter. His subtle innuendo made her heart
beat furiously.

“I wouldn’t want to make a disgusting pig of
myself,” she stated disdainfully as her eyes cut him in two.

“I insist you dive right in, my dear,” he said
challengingly. His knowing smile made her want to throw her plate
at his head. “There is plenty to go around, to be sure. You know
you want some.”

“I think I will show a little more self-control,
Captain,” she replied coolly. She slipped away from the table.
“Gluttony is a sin, you realize?”

Nicholas grinned as she stalked past him. She
sailed out of the room with her head held high. He ladled more eggs
on his plate. After another meal similar to that, and she would
find out how hungry he really was.

###

Nicholas didn’t see Catherine again until the
noon hour. She looked adorably aggravated to see Martha and Tulley
were absent as she sat to dine alone with him again. Nicholas
didn’t have the heart to tell her they were deliberately leaving
them alone.

He drank in the sight of her in the pale yellow
cotton dress. It complimented her dark hair and her snapping green
eyes. He hid a smile, seeing she was close to coming undone.

After a fair amount of time enduring her
glowers, he set down his fork.

“You have been looking daggers at me all through
our lunch, my dear. What is it I have done to anger you?” he said
knowingly, leaning back to eye her in amusement. She scowled
slightly and pushed her plate away.

He had only just arrived home from his ship and
she seemed to notice his disreputable appearance with even more
disapproval than at breakfast. His clothes were rumpled and his
hair was disheveled. Her eyes narrowed when she saw the red love
marks upon his neck.

His eyes danced with devilish glee as they met
hers. Her look said she knew where he spent his afternoon and
clearly did not like it. He was enjoying her discomfort. He was
glad he had endured the tavern wenches affections while he had
several pints with Gibbey just to push her over the edge.

Thinking of her sleeping only feet away had been
nearly his undoing. If not for his consorting with Solange, he
would have done the unthinkable and gone to her. It was too soon,
he knew. He was disgusted with the game he played with her to push
her into coming to him. He was determined he would fight the urge
to force the issue, despite her obvious displeasure the direction
his lust took him. She certainly had not opened her door to him
yet, and he would not force himself on any woman.

“You are mistaken, Nicholas, I am not the least
angry with you,” she said coolly and drank the wine in her glass
slowly, her expression disinterested. “What you do is your
business.”

He chuckled at her dismissive words. “You have a
problem with how I spend my evenings, do you?”

“I could care less the whore’s bed you flop
upon!” she snapped irately. She flushed under his look that said he
did not believe her. “As I said, it is your business. I only think
it rather lewd you do so with such little discretion. Everyone
knows you go to her!”

“I wasn’t trying to hide it, my dear,” he said
with a gloating smile. “My relationship with Solange is my affair.
If I wish to move the woman in, I will. None will gainsay me,
especially you. I am not married. If you have an issue with my
relationship with her, I suggest you apply yourself to keeping me
home at night.”