Jenna Petersen - [Lady Spies] (15 page)

Ana’s eyes widened and her breath caught. “Lucas…”

His eyes shut, and he held back a curse at the sound of her breathing his name out like a prayer. The
wanting
had never been so powerful with any other woman before. Just hearing her voice was enough to get him ready. How the hell had this happened with her, of all the women in the world?

With difficulty, he cleared his swimming head.

“I hope you will be able to work tonight.” His voice sounded rough with desire.

Her eyes narrowed, and a flash of bright, emotional fury lit up and made them sparkle with a life she often hid behind the shield of her spectacles or widow’s weeds. It was a pleasure to see her awakening, despite the fact that her anger was directed toward him.

“I am not the one with a problem,” she ground out. “If you believe we won’t be able to work together because of a—a—” She hesitated and he knew she was thinking about the night before. Pink tinged her cheeks before she continued. “Because we had a disagreement, then you are the one who should reconsider your abilities.”

She pushed his hand away from the carriage door and turned the handle.

“Because I know what my duty is.”

Then she took the footman’s waiting hand and stepped outside into the night.

I
f he wouldn’t look at her, she certainly didn’t have to look at him. Ana folded her arms and pointedly looked away from where Lucas was standing at the edge of the ballroom talking to a gentleman she didn’t recognize. It was childish reaction and one she wasn’t proud of, but right now her emotions seemed to be leading her behavior.

Growling out her dissatisfaction with herself, she returned her focus to the ballroom. It was quite a crush tonight. General Mathison was a highly decorated soldier who had come home to great acclaim and married a well-born lady. He was the current toast of the
ton
, which meant every important person wanted to align themselves with him.

Including Lord Sansbury, who was currently dancing with a young lady. Ana rolled her eyes. Despite the fact that she didn’t particularly like Sansbury after he outed the secret of her first kiss with Lucas, she had lingering doubts about his involvement in this case. Looking at him with his vapid smile, she doubted he was mastermind material, though she could be wrong. After all, she’d thought the spy they’d watched in the park was a fool, too.

And Lucas was insistent, plus the information Henry kept providing to them boosted the case against Sansbury. Which only served to make Ana all the more suspicious of Henry. It seemed mightily convenient that he kept decoding information that pointed straight to the loose-lipped dandy. Especially since she had not been allowed to view the encoded evidence herself.

Her head spun. She looked away from their suspect to find herself locking eyes with Lucas’s mother. Lady Dannington waved, and she lifted her own hand in greeting. She just hoped she would not be trapped into conversation with the woman a second time. She’d talked with her for over half an hour upon their arrival and every moment was torture. Not because she didn’t care for her ladyship’s company. On the contrary, she already felt a strong kinship toward the woman. But because Ana knew Lucas’s mother was heading for a disappointment. When this case was over, when this “engagement” was quietly ended…his entire family would be hurt.

She hated that.

Lady Dannington’s smile suddenly broadened and Ana looked instinctively to her right to see Lucas crossing the room toward her in long, purposeful steps. To anyone else’s eyes, he certainly looked like a man off for a moment with the woman he loved. Everything about him screamed that he was staking a claim. Her heart leapt at the sight, despite the fact that this was all part of some formula he had been repeating all night.

They would dance. He’d hold her close and smile at her as he looked into her eyes. Then he would walk away and not spare her a glance for three or four dances. He spent exactly enough time with her to ensure the world believed their farce, no more.

It was becoming so frustrating that she fought the urge to turn on her heel and publicly refuse him.

“Ready?” he asked with a smile that didn’t even come close to lighting up his gray eyes.

She took his arm with a sigh. “My, you are a romantic, aren’t you?”

He took a position in the line of dancers across from her. At least this was a country dance, so she wouldn’t have to press against him as she had when the waltz played.

“My lady,” he purred as they moved together and touched hands. “Is it romance you desire from me?”

She bit her lip as they moved apart. She turned around the gentleman beside her, moved as she was
supposed to do, but her mind was anywhere but in the steps she was performing. Insolent man.

They came back together and Lucas was smirking. She glared at him briefly before she forced her face into a more polite and warm expression. “Of course not.”

His grin tilted up. “And what is it you
do
desire?”

As they parted a second time, Ana sighed. He did delight in tormenting her, that was clear. The worst part was that his questions were exactly the same as the ones she’d been asking herself since they made love. How could she have let things go so far?

And why, as their fingers brushed a third time while they moved down the line, did her body ache to do it all again?

She refused to meet his gaze, instead looking into the crowd behind him. She found Lord Sansbury in a group of gentlemen, but he didn’t appear to be paying much attention to the buzzing soirée. In fact, he continually looked to the grandfather clock near the terrace doors.

Her brow furrowed. There was something very strange in his demeanor. Like he was nervous. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him like that before.

“Look at Sansbury when you make the next turn,” she whispered. “He is by the middle terrace door on the south side of the ballroom.”

The teasing, testing light in Lucas’s stare dissipated, and his face hardened. The rogue was gone, the spy
was back. The shift was so subtle, she never should have seen it, but she was so damned aware of Lucas’s every affectation that she couldn’t avoid noticing the switch.

He glanced at the door as he made an elaborate turn, and his eyes narrowed. She followed his gaze as she moved back into place in line. Sansbury was moving toward the terrace. He cast a quick glance over his shoulder before he exited. Her heart began to race.

Lucas met her stare, his mouth in a thin line. “We’ll follow when the music ends.”

She nodded, quickly counting off the beats. The orchestra was playing a popular song and it had two movements left. The time that passed during those movements could be crucial. They needed to get out of the ballroom.

Now.

She drew in a sharp breath as she stepped out. The moment she set her slipper down, she wrenched her ankle to the side and went down with a gasp.

Immediately, the other women in the line rushed for her as Lucas went down on one knee.

“Are you all right, my dear?” one woman said as Lucas slipped a hand under her elbow. He met her eyes and she saw his fleeting smile.

“Yes,” she said with a pretend wince. “Oh, how silly. I’ve twisted my ankle that is all.”

Lucas tilted his head with the perfect amount of concern. “Let me help you, darling.”

She slipped her arm through his and leaned against him, painfully aware of his body heat through his woolen coat.

“If I walk a bit, it might help,” she said. “Will you take me for a turn about the garden?”

He nodded as the crowd began to pull back. “Of course.”

“I’m very sorry,” she called out as the dancers reformed their lines, and the orchestra picked up the song where they had left off. The crowd murmured as they passed through, but her smiles and assurances that she was quite all right seemed to soothe them. She even overheard a group of ladies whispering about Lucas’s attentiveness.

Perfect.

He pushed the terrace doors open, and they moved out into the cooler night air. Quickly, she scanned the area, but Sansbury was not to be found.

“The garden,” Lucas said, but they moved slowly. They were still close enough to the house that she exaggerated a limp just in case. But as they moved down the terrace stairs and began to weave their way down the garden pathways, she let the limp fade.

“That was quick thinking,” Lucas said as they hurried along the trail that was lit by fancy, Oriental lanterns inspired by the Far East where the General had been stationed. “You saved us some time.”

She shrugged, though his compliment warmed her. “We needed to follow.”

“Look,” Lucas’s voice dropped to a sharp whisper as he pulled her down slightly and pointed ahead of them. Sansbury was moving away from the path at a fast pace, heading toward a small gazebo in the distance.

They followed, staying low behind the line of shrubs. When they reached the area behind the little building, Lucas dropped down even lower and began to make his way through the bushes, darting left and right until he found a spot less than ten feet from the enclosure. Ana drew in a harsh breath, prayed she wouldn’t be seen in her light-colored gown, and started to move, following the path he’d taken until she reached his side.

She crouched beside him, positioning her gown in the hopes she could keep it clean for their return to the ballroom.

They were far enough away from the main house that the buzz of the ball did not reach her ears, but close enough that there were still a few decorative lanterns to brighten the area slightly. She peeked over the brush line to see Sansbury pacing the gazebo, checking his pocket watch from time to time.

Lucas leaned back and the heat of his breath suddenly touched her cheek, bringing her to the stark realization of their position. Crouched down behind the shrubbery, she was pressed against his side, his leg was rubbing hers every time he moved, and she could smell the spicy hint of his shaving soap.

“He’s waiting for someone.”

She nodded, though it took some effort. Now that she was aware of their proximity, it was all she could think about. God, he was warm. His arm shifted against hers, and she felt the muscles flex beneath his coat. Her thoughts began to trail away to dangerous places.

Dark and dangerous places.

Sudden movement from the corner of her eye blessedly distracted her from those thoughts. “There,” she whispered, close to Lucas’s ear.

Whoever had joined him, the person hadn’t come from the party. The man slipped through the heavy shadows away from the house and stepped into the gazebo.

“Blast, I can’t hear them clearly,” Lucas breathed, craning his neck as if he would hear better if he leaned the right way.

Ana nodded. She heard the murmur of voices, but couldn’t make out any clear words or recognize who was speaking. Still, the tone of the occasional murmur didn’t seem cordial. It was harsh, short. Angry.

If only she could determine the identity of the man who had joined Sansbury, but there were no lanterns in the gazebo and the lights that illuminated the garden paths were dim at best. They didn’t cut through more than a foot or so around them. All she could see were the hulking shadows of masculine shoulders.

“I can move closer,” she whispered, preparing to crawl toward the gazebo.

“No!” Lucas grabbed her arm and yanked her back,
pulling her into his chest hard enough that the air left her lungs. “They’re looking this way,” he murmured as he flattened down, pinning her half under his body.

Ana shivered. Not from fear, not from cold as she knew she would later try to convince herself. Her tremors were absolutely caused by Lucas. His chest warmed hers, his arms around her as he lifted his head in the ready in case the two men stumbled upon them. In the dim lantern light, she saw the cords of muscles in his neck strain.

“Lucas,” she whispered, shifting beneath his weight and wishing her body wasn’t reacting so strongly.

“Shhh. Damn it, they’re leaving. Hold still, Sansbury is coming this way.”

She bit her lip as she waited. Sure enough, the sound of footsteps approached on the other side of the brush, then faded as Sansbury strolled back to the house.

“Let me up,” she ordered, a little louder now that their suspects had departed.

Lucas looked down at her and he started, as if he hadn’t fully realized their position, her on her back, him half on top of her on the grass.

He let her go instantly and sat up, pulling her to a seated position as they went.

“I beg your pardon, my lady. I was more worried about not being detected than your delicate sensibilities,” he drawled.

She pursed her lips, intent on ignoring the taunt. “Should we follow?”

He shook his head. “No. Sansbury promised dances to several of the debutantes. There’s no point in rushing behind him to watch him woo them.” His eyes met hers. “So, does that help to clear your mind?”

“What do you mean?”

“Clearly, Sansbury was doing
something
tonight.” He motioned toward the house where the other man had gone.

Her brow furrowed. “Yes. Clearly, he was. But how does that change anything?”

“You don’t think that lends credence to Henry’s assertions that Sansbury is involved in this plot?” His stare snared hers. “You don’t think it clears my friend’s name?”

She shook her head. “No! And I know you realize that fully. Why are you being so bullheaded? Is it because you’re angry with me about last night?”

He snorted out a laugh. “You’re the one who is angry about last night, Ana, not me. You’re afraid of what happened between us. Afraid of letting go of the past. And you are using a dead man to keep life away, to keep any experiences beyond the ones you control away.”

Her lips parted in outrage. “You aren’t starting that again, are you? I have no intention of listening to your ridiculousness one moment longer.”

She started to get up, but his hand snaked out and clamped onto her forearm like a vise. With a tug, she fell back, landing on top of his chest. His arms came around her and she was trapped.

“I didn’t want to make love, Lucas,” she whispered, unable to meet his eyes when she was lying.

He barked out a laugh. “Is that what you’re telling yourself now? Then why didn’t you say no?” His grip was suddenly gentler. His hands moved down her back, stroking her spine. “All the times I offered you a way out last night, why didn’t you take any of them?”

His hands were still moving until finally he cupped her rear end and lifted, rubbing her against him. She stifled a moan. God, he was already hard as steel, pressed against her belly.

“Why aren’t you saying no to me now?”

He leaned up and brushed his lips against hers.

Ana tried for just a moment to block her reaction, but her body’s wants were far more powerful, and they swept away all the protests her mind had formulated, leaving only sensation behind.

“Say no, Ana,” he whispered, just before he speared his tongue between her lips and swirled it around her own.

Desire spiked in her blood and her clenched fists relaxed, flattening against his broad chest as she met his tongue with a few fierce swipes of her own. He tasted so good. He felt so good.

God help her, she wanted him. Now. Here. Fast.

Her legs parted, like someone else controlled them, and she straddled his waist. His hands fumbled with her gown and the fabric fell forward to bunch around her waist. And then all she could feel was his mouth
as he leaned up and wrapped his lips around her nipple.