Again (3 page)

A chill ran the length of Catherine’s spine, causing her to stiffen.
 
Blinking several times, she could not stop the way the noise of the village or brightness of the sun dimmed when her eyes locked with his.  This stranger reached out and enveloped Catherine without so much as touching her.
 
Her pulse quickened and her skin tingled as if his fingertips traced the very curves of her body.  She caught her breath as her body responded in a way she didn’t understand, tightening in some places, weakening in others.

The sound of Emelie clearing her throat finally broke Catherine’s gaze.  She looked around at the village women who stood unmoving, staring, waiting in anticipation.

Catherine squared her shoulders and stepped closer, ignoring the whispers that followed in her wake.
 
Uncertain if her knees would continue to hold her were she to look at him again, Catherine instead tried to focus on the jewelry, brushes, trinkets, and fabrics that lay before her.

Be not a fool, Catherine!
 
Remember who you are!
 
She was legendary for the number of her potential suitors who called on her, all of whom she rebuffed.
 
This was partially due to their boorishness and partially because Galen, her companion since childhood, intimidated them.
 
His size and possessiveness was enough to send them scampering away.
 

Not one man has ever done so much as to give Catherine pause, let alone enrapture her in the way she was experiencing right now.
 
Why was this man so different?

She gave into her curiosity and let her gaze wander upward.
 
Her eyes touched upon his trim waist and moved their way up to his broad chest barely concealed by the shirt that clung to his wide shoulders.
 
She nervously licked her lips as she imagined sliding her arms around his bronzed neck, kissing the strong line of his jaw.
 
She closed her eyes abruptly and clenched her jaw hard.

Fabric,
she chided.
 
Look at the fabric.
 
Not him.
 

Eyes still held tight, she said, “I could not help but notice your magnificent fabric.”
 
Her words were strained, struggling against the tightening of her throat.

She opened her eyes to the fabrics that lay before her and gasped in astonishment.
 
For the moment all else was forgotten.
 
The fabric was truly something to behold.   There were layers of brilliant, vibrant colors glowing in the sunlight, with textures so soft and shimmering, like nothing she had ever felt before.
 
The rich-colored fabrics of blood red, deep green, royal blue, and pale lavender glistened under her touch.
 
She could almost feel what it would be like to be wrapped in a dress made from such exquisite material. 

“Magnificent,” she whispered.

“Milady recognizes fine quality.”

She looked up and met his eyes that were studying her so intently.  Control slipped and her pulse quickened.
 
She fought to focus once again on the fabric spread out before her.
 
She looked to the sky.
 
By the saints,
how can one shiver when it is so impossibly hot in the sun?

“Might I suggest the jade?  It matches your eyes.”  His voice was soft.
 
Though the other women still lingered around them, he spoke to her as if she was the only one in his world that mattered.

She chided herself for being weak.
 
It was so unlike her to allow her feelings to have free rein.
 
This situation in which she found herself truly chafed her to the core.
 
Taking a deep breath, she tried to look at him again, this time with cool assessing eyes, free of emotion.

He stood with his hands on his hips with an impossibly contagious smile curving his lips.

Her resolve faltered as an unfamiliar feeling of surrender muddied her thoughts.  Like a caged bird, her heart fluttered desperately in her chest, rising to her throat.
 
She struggled to maintain an impassive expression as a battle raged within her.
 
How could this merchant, with one look, take away her control?  Ire gripped at her now as she realized this man who stood before her was not even
trying
to win her favor, that just his presence alone caused her body to betray her mind.

“Milady?”  His voice was questioning.

Oh, how this one made her feel so vulnerable.  Her soul felt naked under his gaze.
 
Somehow he managed to erase the line between their social classes.
 
They were man and woman, not lady and merchant.

Fighting the urge to settle herself in his eyes again, her gaze flickered here and there, focusing on nothing in particular.
 
She wanted to press her hands to her ears to shut out the pounding of her heart.
 

“Yes, yes.
 
Of course.
 
I would like the jade.
 
All that you have.”
 
She felt the words rushing out. “Have it delivered to Elderidge castle.”
 
Catherine fumbled in her purse and held out a stack of coins, horrified to see her hand shake ever so slightly.
 
She still refused to look at him.

The merchant glanced at Catherine’s maid questioningly.
 

Emelie, who had been staring at him unabashedly, giggled.
 
“May I present the Lady Catherine, sir.
 
Daughter of Lord Roberts.”

Once again his eyes took in Catherine’s entire form, but unlike the lust she saw too often in other men’s eyes, this man held open appreciation, sincerity, and genuine interest in something other than her wealth.

“The fair Lady Catherine.
 
I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”
 
He bowed low.
 
“I am Jonathan.”

His eyes spoke words not heard, but felt, as they penetrated to her soul.
 
She sensed that not only did he understand the way she was feeling, but that he was drawn to her as she was to him.

She released a breath of impatience as she continued to hold out the coins, her control sorely tested.

He lifted his hand to take what she offered.  Though she steeled herself against further assault of unbidden feelings, she was unprepared for the sensation of his touch as he took the coins from her hand.  A shock like a lightening bolt sent a flame through her body, and she recoiled in surprise, swallowing hard.
  
How could she be such a fool?
 
She was not some commoner who crumbled at the feet of a man!
 
So why was it that with a simple look, an innocent touch, this man had the power to take all that away?

Jonathan smiled.

And she shivered. Again.
 
Oh, that smile shall surely be my undoing
.

He turned around and called to a man not far off.
 

For the first time Catherine took notice of the men working behind Jonathan who were organizing, sorting, and tending to his ship.
 
In sharp contrast to Jonathan’s refined and confident presence, the crew was haggard and weather-worn.
 
A certain camaraderie flowed in and out of their conversations, but it was clear Jonathan was the master.

“Will there be anything else, milady?”
 
Once again, he turned to address her.
 
His brows arched with encouragement and perhaps a bit of hope.
 
“You have only but to ask.”

“
No.”  She shook her head, suddenly wishing she was anywhere but where she stood. “Nothing.”
 
It unnerved her that she couldn’t trust herself, yet she made no attempt to stop him when he reached down and placed her hand in his.
 
Ivory white against bronzed skin met with a sizzling burn.
 
Time meant nothing to her as she watched him bring her hand upwards, his lips branding her knuckles with a mere whisper of a kiss.

“Perhaps then, we shall meet again?”
 
His easy smile triggered a fluttering in her stomach.

Catherine withdrew her hand quickly and stepped back, bumping into Emelie. “I doubt that.
 
Good day, sir.”

Walking quickly through the marketplace, Catherine hardly noticed the other merchants and villagers.
 
She walked past those calling her, waving perfumes, gems, and cloths.
 
She rubbed the place on her hand where Jonathan’s lips kissed her.
 
The softness with which he held her hand, the tenderness of his kiss upon her skin, the warmth that spread through her body as he looked at her, fogged her thinking.
 
This is madness. ‘Tis a blessing Galen is not here to see me falter this way.

She sighed.
 
Galen had been her champion since they were children, swearing an oath of loyalty to her when they were but eight years old.
 
How could she be so shallow as to already forget the devotion he had shown her this morning?
 
He had been so pleased when he presented to her a small sapphire brooch with diamonds circling the gem.

Catherine trailed her fingers along the contour of the brooch that was now pinned to her dress.
 
Solid like the gem, Galen had been her rock, her pillar of strength, and as close to her as if he were her own brother, but for months now she knew his affections for her were growing far deeper than that.
 
Everyone expected them to wed, being as close as they were, and they should have by now, but it was Catherine who begged to wait.
 
She was still waiting for that spark, the telltale sign that love was true.
 
She wanted the same kind of love that permeated the castle when her mother was alive, a soul-searing love that bound together her mother and father.
 
Theirs was a love that knew no bounds.
 
And yes, they had shared lust, too.
 
Catherine’s mother never hid her shivers of desire when Lord Roberts brushed his lips against her cheek or atop her hand.
  
Much like the desire Catherine, herself, felt today with…

A ripple of uneasiness swept through Catherine as she realized her mind refused to dismiss this merchant. 
She shook her head.
 
At this moment she was no different from the women in the village.
 
The same heated desire ran through her blood as did theirs, only she needed to escape those eyes and the touch that would have her stay.

“
Enough!” Catherine said, shaking her head.

“
Milady?” asked Emelie, running along at her side, trying to keep up with Catherine.

“Nothing, Emelie.”
 
She released a ragged sigh.
 
“I have had enough for today. Let us fetch our horses.”

“
There you are, Catherine!”

Catherine turned to the sound of Galen’s voice.
 
Relief washed through her.
 
Galen’s presence would make it easier for her to control her wandering thoughts, so she did not object when he put his hands around her waist and drew her to him.
 
Catherine felt Galen’s strong arms through his tunic as he held her close.
 
She tensed with agitation, finding herself wondering if the merchant’s arms were as strong.
 
She simply could not help but compare the two men - Galen so fair with his blond hair framing high, strong cheek bones, a slender nose and strong chin, serious eyes, and lips that promised passion; the merchant, with dark locks that flowed freely, softer, yet oh-so-masculine features, and laughing eyes that showed no trace of regret, sadness, or pain.

Galen held her at arm’s length and searched her face. “Catherine!
 
Is anything amiss?”

He knew her only too well.
 
She forced the thoughts of Jonathan back and mustered a smile.
 

“
No, of course not, Galen.”
 
She rested her forehead on his chest, hiding her face. “I merely wish to go home.”

He lifted her chin.
 
His eyes narrowed with suspicion. “You are certain you are well?
 
Has anyone upset you?”

The memory of Jonathan’s eyes hung in her mind as she looked back at Galen.

“
Really, Galen, I am well,” she said, pushing herself from his arms. “I believe I have spent far more time in the sun than I should have.”
 
Hooking her arm through Galen’s, she tugged him in the direction of the horses.
 
“I have arranged for my purchase to be delivered to the castle, so we need not dally here any longer.”

“
But I am here now.
 
I will fetch your goods myself.
”

“
No!” she said quickly.

Galen’s raised eyebrows invited an explanation from her.

She thought quickly.
 
Had he any knowledge that another man filled her senses the way Jonathan had, he would put an end to it.
 
It would take but one word from her and Galen would see to it that the merchant maintained a fair distance from her, but no such hint passed her lips.