Indigo (20 page)

Hester had no idea what he was about and so she hesitated. Undaunted, he gently raised her hand, then holding her gaze captive, very slowly removed the glove. He nodded to her other hand. She held it out and he repeated the move, saying softly, "You don't need the gloves when we're alone."

Hester trembled under the force of his gaze and had a hard time focusing her thoughts on anything else.

He placed her gloves in the inner pocket of his black velvet dinner coat. He politely handed her her cup and Hester took her seat.

To focus on something besides succumbing to the desire arcing thickly through the room, Hester asked, "Why did you tell me about John Brown's plans? I would think you'd want only those directly involved to know."

"Because talking with you is an easy and relaxing way to spend an evening. And I wanted you to be aware of the prevailing winds. Now, did you come here tonight to give me the kiss I asked for yesterday?"

She laughed. "No, I came to talk about Foster's school."

"How about afterwards?"

She smiled at him over her cup. "We'll see."

"Ah, hope. It can keep a man alive."

"The school, Galen."

So for the next hour they discussed the educational needs of the area's children. Hester also brought up the subject of Foster's salary. Galen seemed amenable to it all.

She asked, "Are you certain this is within your means? Funding the school won't be a strain?"

"Not at all."

"Foster will be pleased."

"I find your acceptance of Frederick's marriage quite admirable."

"What choice have I really? He says he is happy. He and I weren't in love, so—" She shrugged as if no further explanation was needed.

"But it has to be uncomfortable for you. Shall I kill him for you?"

Her eyes widened. "No!"

He grinned. "What did you think of the gowns I sent you?"

"I think they should be returned to you."

"Why?"

"Because they are made for—"

"A mistress? A lover?"

"Both, and I am neither."

"You may take a lover some day, one never knows."

She ignored his velvet voice. "Then he will have to be content with the gowns I already own."

"Indigo, I've seen the gowns you own, they inspire warmth, not the passion a lover expects."

"And you are an expert on this also?"

"In some corners, yes."

Hester shook her head. "Galen, have you ever had a woman tell you no?"

"Fortunately, or unfortunately, no."

"Never?"

"Never."

"No wonder you play this game so well."

"This isn't a game."

"Of course it is. The players are an ex-slave woman and a man who may or may not be the wealthy Galen Vachon."

She swung her eyes to him. He neither refuted nor gave credence to her remark, so she continued. "To pass the time on his rustic adventure, this man who may or may not be Galen Vachon dallies with the ex-slave woman. He seems to believe that because she was foolish and naive enough to fall prey to his expert kisses, she is his for the taking. Does this sound familiar?"

"Vaguely," he replied distantly. "But continue."

"He sends her gifts of gowns, money, and even oranges, of all things. She is as impressed as he hopes, but she is not sure of his intentions."

"Did you enjoy the oranges?"

She nodded.

"Good. I'll send you more."

"No, Galen. You are not to send me anything else. And no more entering my room while I'm sleeping."

"Would you rather I awakened you? I did toy with the idea."

"You are incorrigible."

"So you keep reminding me."

He set aside his cup then came over to where she sat and hunkered down before her. His eyes were serious as he spoke.
"Petite,
look, I understand your misgivings and if I could put a stop to all this I would, but I can't."

Hester eyed him warily. "What do you mean, you can't?"

He shrugged. "I can't. Ever since I left you back in October I've thought of nothing but returning. Whether you care to believe me or not, not a day went by that I didn't wonder how you were or what you were doing."

She could not help but be moved by his impassioned confession.

"And now that you can't bar the door with a fiance, I want us to enjoy one another."

"But for how long, Galen? A few weeks, a few months. What happens when you become bored? Who will pick up the shards you leave behind?"

"I've no answer, other than to say I will do my best to leave you whole."

"But you
will
leave."

"You're twisting my words."

She looked into his eyes and said softly. "No. Maybe the women of your circle enjoy open-ended games, but I don't, because I don't know the rules."

He straightened slowly. "You really are telling me no, aren't you?"

He had such a surprised look on his face, Hester could only smile. "Yes, Galen, I am. No. No more gowns, oranges, or anything else."

Hester wondered what he was thinking. "Are we agreed, Galen?"

He ran his eyes over her ripe mouth, remembering how sweetly they'd parted under his kiss and said, "No." To watch her black-diamond eyes close with passion was well worth the price of the campaign he planned on waging to have her. "No," he replied again. "Call it the selfish desire of a wealthy man, but I refuse to give you up without a proper fight."

She thought back on what he'd mentioned earlier. "You wouldn't really kill Foster would you?"

He laughed at the serious look on her face. "Only if you want me to, so don't fret." He took her hands and gently urged her to her feet. "And what I want is this..."

Hester supposed she could have stopped what came next, but when he leaned down and softly brushed his lips across her own it was already too late. He repeated the gesture, cajoling, tempting, promising, and her eyes fluttered closed. The sharp sweetness filled her, drawing her in much the same way he slowly eased her into the warm circle of his arms and pulled her close.

Galen could feel himself begin to shake. He touched her lips faintly, magically, whispering, "Deny this and you deny yourself..."

He kissed her fully and Hester was unable to deny him anything.

The sensations brought on by his splendid kisses set off flares of need. Her virgin's body bloomed and blossomed, embracing the thrill of the moment, casting aside the misgivings in favor of the pleasure he could bring.

Galen wanted to carry her off to his private wing and make slow, sweet love to her. He wanted to bare her breasts, rising so lushly against his palms, and bring them to his lips, wanted to slide his hands over her full, ripe hips and touch her in places that would bring shock and then delight. He filled his hands with her tempting bottom then boldly brought her in fully against the rock-hard length of his desire.

"Feel what you do to me..." he murmured thickly. "This is no game..."

The brazen possession made Hester tremble in response. She felt swept up in a firestorm, unable to stop this though she knew she should. Instead she let him suckle her nipples through the thin worn silk of her shirtwaist, let him slide her dress over her hips with a lazy sensuality. Not a word of protest passed her lips as his hands raised her skirt then began to wantonly explore. She allowed him liberties that were plunging her into a dementia. How else could she explain her muteness as he caressed her in places that seemed to blaze under his touch, caressed her until her silence gave over to soft, hushed cries.

"This is what you would have missed in a loveless marriage, Indigo..."

He wantonly increased the intensity of his teasing. His boldness made her body arch and her head drop back. Galen pleasured her with an expertise born of many years of sensual practice and his eyes blazed as he watched her dark eyes close and her lips part in response. Unable to resist, he touched his mouth to her lips, enjoying the kiss, the seductive rhythm his bold touch drew from her hips, and the sweetness flowing from her core.

Suddenly, Hester's body soared to crescendo and her world exploded. She became a shooting star streaking across the night sky. The intensity of the feeling flung her into realms never before known and she clutched at his arm as she rode the buffeting wave.

Later, as he helped her back to earth with soft kisses and even softer touches, she shook and trembled. Something told her she would never be the same, but she didn't care, at least for now.

A knock on the door, however, brought her back to her senses. Hester hastily removed Galen's hand and jerked down her skirts. It was Maxi. She'd come to retrieve the tray. Hester tried her best to appear nonchalant, but as Maxi took in her mussed hair and twisted clothing, Hester wanted to hide beneath the furniture.

To Hester's surprise Maxi said to her, "I don't blame you,
chiquita.
You are the innocent. He is the wolf. Women have been falling in love with him since the day he was born. I was there, I know."

She then turned to Galen and said, "Consequently he should know better and do his best to preserve an innocent's reputation."

Hester looked over to Galen to see how he was taking the upbraiding. He had a decided frown on his golden face.

Maxi appeared to ignore his mood. "Galeno, it is time for the
chiquita
to return home. Raymond will drive her."

Galen echoed, "Raymond?!"

"Yes, Raymond. I don't trust you." That said, she marched from the room presumably to fetch Raymond.

Hester, who stood there still pulsing from his magnificent tutoring, met Galen's glittering eyes. He said coolly, "She's correct, I should know better, but I'm finding it hard to maintain the proper decorum when you stand there with my passion lingering in your eyes and the taste of your kisses still fresh upon my lips. I want you Indigo, in all the ways a man wants a woman."

Hester fought down the swooning feeling that rushed over her in response to his heated eyes and words. Never in her life had she imagined herself in such a situation. His kisses were still fresh upon her lips also and one would have to be blind not to see the desire blazing like flame in his eyes. He was far more dangerous than she feared, even now after the embarrassment of Maxi's entrance, Hester continued to want more.

Luckily for Hester, Maxi returned, bringing with her the handsome Raymond LeVeq. He grinned at the brooding Galen, then crossed the room to where Hester stood. He bowed low.
"Enchante
Miss Wyatt, Maxi says you are in need of a drive home?"

Hester nodded, wondering how much he knew. This was the second time she'd met LeVeq under questionable circumstances. She could only imagine what type of loose woman he thought her to be. But his smile was kind, open. She sensed that he too played a role in Galen's game, for Raymond LeVeq was dressed as richly as Galen and appeared far more cultured than any ordinary coachman she'd ever met.

Maxi handed Hester her cloak and bonnet and she quickly put them on. She hazarded a look Galen's way and found him still viewing her with heated intensity. "Good night,
petite."
Then he turned and strode smoothly from the room.

Later, after Raymond drove Hester home, Maxi found Galen sitting in the study staring into the roaring fire. She stood there in the doorway a moment trying to gauge his mood, then asked, "You're not terribly angry with me, are you?"

His voice was void of emotion. "Angry yes, terribly angry, no."

He looked over at the woman who had taken him into her vast kitchen at the age of seven and taught him more about the world and the people in it than all his fancy private tutors combined.

"Wait until you meet this Frederick she was going to marry. Tonight he sat at dinner and boasted about her lack of beauty. I could see the remark pained her while he thought he'd given her a compliment."

For a moment the room held only the crackle of the fire as Galen tried to seek a solution from the flames. When he finally spoke it sounded as if he were speaking more to himself than to Maxi. "I don't believe I've ever had a woman turn me so inside out. I can't place my finger on what it is about her that has me so obsessed, but I am. After she left with Raymond, I actually sat here and plotted ways to seduce her so she'd have no other choice but to be mine. Never in my life have I ever done anything that remotely outrageous. I want to take care of her, buy her jewels. It's the oddest and damndest experience I've ever had."

Maxi's smile reflected how much she cared for him. "Sounds as if the dragon has finally found love."

A small smile lifted his thin moustache. "I detest it when you're so wise."

She replied sagely, "That's why I keep you near me, so I can dispense this detested wisdom whenever it is needed most."

"And your recommendation?"

"From all you've told me of her past, and after seeing her here tonight, I say either offer to marry her or leave her be. This isn't New Orleans, she knows nothing of dragon games. You'll ruin her if you don't pick one or the other."