The Danger in Tempting an Earl (15 page)

“Katherine,” he pleaded. “Please look at me.”

She did and was instantly rendered breathless by the level of fear staring back at her. It mirrored her own, yet it was tightly wound with fierce determination. Everything was about to change between them. She could feel it in her veins and she was helpless to stop it.

“I no longer have the patience for pretense or for keeping my feelings for you at bay when my greatest wish of all is for you to be mine.” Taking her hand in his, he brushed her wrist with his thumb until tiny sparks of heat danced across her skin. “If there is any chance at all that you will welcome my advances, please give me a sign. I cannot bear the thought of not knowing, when the mere sight of you, your very presence, stirs me like nothing else ever will.”

“I . . .” The word was almost a croak. She tried to speak again, not knowing what she would say, but words failed to come.

Lucien’s hand, still touching hers, toyed with the edge of her kidskin glove. Katherine watched, enthralled as he gently peeled it away so he could caress her bare flesh. Heat washed over her, dizzying her senses. Their eyes met, and Katherine could not look away as Lucien raised her hand to his lips and, with the utmost reverence, kissed her pulse.

Pure pleasure flooded her insides, curling and building until it rendered her breathless. “Forgive me,” Lucien said, “but I cannot seem to stop myself. I need to know what it’s like to kiss you.”

The words barely registered before he was on the seat beside her, pulling her toward him and lowering his mouth over hers. Their lips met, and as they did, every wicked thought he’d stirred in her these past few days collided, crashed over her, and made her desperate for more. Her hands reached for his shoulders, curling into the fabric of his jacket as his tongue traced her lower lip. Katherine’s insides melted with desire as it pooled between her thighs. Her lips parted, inviting him in, and he was instantly there, his tongue exploring with deliberate strokes while he pushed her back against the squabs of the seat, her breasts flattening against his chest.

A groan filled the air. His or hers? She wasn’t sure. All she knew was that his kiss would not be enough to satisfy the need that roared to life inside her, filling her breasts until they ached for his touch.

“You’ve no idea how long I’ve wanted this,” she heard him whisper as he kissed his way along the edge of her jaw while desperate fingers worked at the ribbon holding her bonnet in place. The silk fastenings slipped apart and the bonnet tumbled away.

Katherine didn’t spare it a thought but leaned her head back instead, offering Lucien the curve of her neck. “Tell me,” she begged.

Licking and nibbling, he coaxed from her a sigh. “Years, Kate.” One hand settled on her thigh while the other found the curve of her breast. “Years of sleepless nights wondering what it might be like to touch you like this . . .” He gave her a gentle squeeze and she arched her back in response. “Imagining the feel of your body against mine, my name upon your lips as I give you pleasure . . .” She whimpered, entirely too helpless to resist reaching for more. His scandalous words had brought her to a point of unrestrained wantonness from which there could be no return. She wanted the pleasure of which he spoke—wanted it more desperately than she’d ever wanted anything else in her life. “You’ve no idea how many times I’ve thought of peeling away your gown so I could kiss the skin beneath.”

Katherine gasped. His words, undoubtedly meant to seduce, served instead as a stark reminder of her imperfections. For a heartbeat, she’d allowed herself to forget, but now, as he spoke of undressing her and of bearing witness to her ugliness, she was assaulted by a flood of unpleasant memories that sent her crashing back to reality.

Placing her palm against Lucien’s chest, she gave him a slight push. “I’m sorry, but I . . .” Her voice was breathless. “This is happening too fast.”

Lucien stilled, then pulled back. She knew he was looking at her, even though she dared not look at him, instead keeping her attention fixed on one of the chess pieces as it rolled from side to side on the floor. Silence descended, and he removed himself to the opposite bench. There was a beat, and then he asked the one question she dared not answer. “What are you so afraid of?”

Katherine shrugged one shoulder. Her gaze rose warily to meet his. “Nothing,” she said, “but I have told you that I have no intention of remarrying or of becoming someone’s mistress, so really, where will all this lead?”

“To the altar, I had hoped.”

“I just told you that—”

“Yes, you did.” His voice was terse, his face set in grim lines. “Kate, you know that I must marry. Are you telling me that you would rather I choose another woman for my wife?”

“I was under the impression that you had already considered doing so. After all, Lady Julie—”

“Is in love with Mr. Goodard, as I’m sure you already know,” he said. “She means nothing to me. More to the point, she never did.”

“But at the ball and the other day when she and Mr. Goodard came to Cresthaven . . . your intentions toward her were so clear.”

He shook his head. “My only intention was to find out whether or not you cared.”

Katherine gasped as it all became startlingly real. “You used Lady Julie to try and make me jealous?”

“No. She and I had an agreement.” He paused before saying, “You know, Mr. Goodard’s keen interest in Lady Julie when she hurt her ankle, coupled with your reaction to my recent embraces, have enlightened me greatly.”

“You’re being unbearably arrogant right now,” she said as annoyance fanned through her. “If there was one thing I always thought I could count on from you, Lucien, it was honesty. Why would you deliberately trick me like that? Have you so little regard for my feelings that you would give no second thought to playing games with me?”

“On the contrary, I feel very deeply for you, which was why I had to know if there was any chance you might feel the same toward me.”

“Well, I don’t.” The lie, born from the pain of his deception, quivered upon her lips.

“I don’t believe you,” he said, leaning toward her, “not when you responded the way you did to my kiss. Can you honestly tell me it wouldn’t bother you if I were to press such advances on another lady?”

Katherine opened her mouth to speak, to tell him she wouldn’t care in the least, but jealousy soared and words failed her. Lucien smiled with smug satisfaction. “I thought so,” he said, settling back against the squabs. “Something is holding you back, stopping you from grasping on to what you want, and I have every intention of discovering what that something is, not only because I want to convince you to marry me, Kate, but because I genuinely care about you. I hate to see you suffer.”

“So much has happened while you’ve been away.” She longed to explore the possibilities of this attraction between them, but fear held her back even as she tried to fight it.

The glint in Lucien’s eyes softened. “Kate,” he told her gently as he placed his hand over hers, “we’ve come too far for you to back out now, and just so you know, I have every intention of slaying whatever dragons you’re hiding. After all, I still have one favor to ask of you, and I intend to use it wisely.”

Oh no
.

“Lucien . . .” She eyed him warily.

“Don’t worry. I won’t make good on it until I’m sure you’re ready. I’m not a beast, Kate—I want you to be willing.”

Heaven help her if he wasn’t speaking of taking her to his bed. To her complete and utter dismay, her body did not revolt at the idea. On the contrary, she felt heated from the inside out, perhaps even a little excited, if she was to be completely honest. A loud pitter-patter on the roof brought her amorous thoughts to a halt. It had started to rain, and from the sound of it, they’d hit a torrential downpour.

Opening the window a notch, Lucien called to the driver, “We’ll stop at the next posting inn for the night.” Once the window had been closed back up, he looked at Katherine. “No sense in being reckless.”

“Quite right,” she muttered.

“With this weather, it will be nightfall before we reach London, and that’s if we don’t get stuck in the mud on the way there. I for one would like to avoid having to get out and push the carriage.”

“I didn’t argue,” Katherine said.

“No, but you looked as if you disapproved.”

Crossing her arms, she stared back at him. It was impossible to stop from smiling when he was scowling at her as if she’d just denied him his favorite treat. Recalling his advances, she acknowledged that indeed, she probably had. Her cheeks heated with the realization. “I do not disapprove of being cautious,” she told him, “but in light of what has recently transpired within this carriage I must admit I think it remarkably coincidental that we should find ourselves trapped together at an inn during a rainstorm. Sounds like something out of a novel, if you ask me.”

His eyebrows drew together. “Are you suggesting that I have some control over the weather? That this is all part of my secret plan to seduce you?”

She laughed, hoping to make light of his suggestion. “I wouldn’t dare.”

“Wouldn’t you?” A smile touched his lips. “As far as I recall, you’ve always been more daring than most ladies ought to be, balancing on fallen-down tree trunks and leaping over rivers.” Leaning forward, he raised his finger to her lips and gently swept it across the sensitive flesh. “The rain
is
a coincidence, as you say. Still, I am glad for it, for I can think of no better way to spend the evening than by continuing to convince you to submit to your wishes.”

“My wishes?” she croaked. “You have no—”

“You betray yourself, Kate, for your eyes, the blush upon your skin, the occasional hitch in your breath all speak of a longing that you are determined to deny. Don’t worry though.” His eyes were bright with excitement. “I have every intention of kissing you again before the night is over.”

The carriage rolled to a stop and Lucien stepped out, his hands reaching for her so he could help her alight. Her thoughts hadn’t moved past his last statement, but somehow she managed to rise from her seat and reach out, ready to accept his hand. He caught her by the waist instead and swung her into his arms, the rain heavy upon them as he strode through puddles in order to reach the front door. Pushing it open, he set her down carefully and followed her inside, leaving the coachman to see to the horses and their luggage.

“Thank you,” Katherine said. She’d still managed to get wet, even though he’d carried her, but at least her slippers had avoided the mud.

“You’re very welcome,” he said, not looking at her. His attention, it seemed, was on the man coming toward them. “Good evening, sir. Are you the innkeeper?”

“I am,” the man said with a curt nod. He was an old and weather-beaten sort, who walked slightly hunched over and with a bit of a limp. “I trust you’ll be needing a room for the night?”

“Indeed. It’s coming down heavily out there. Thought it best not to risk the horses or the carriage.”

“Quite right,” the innkeeper said as he grabbed a key from a hook on the wall. “If you’ll please follow me.”

“Forgive me,” Katherine said, halting both men on their way toward the stairs, “but is it possible for us to have two rooms? We’re not married, you see.”

“Oh, I say! Indeed it is. You must forgive me. When I saw you come in together, I just assumed that you were,” the innkeeper said, returning for another key.

Shaking his head, Lucien grabbed Katherine by the elbow and leaned toward her, his lips brushing the edge of her ear. “You just
had
to ruin things, didn’t you?”

Turning her head, Katherine saw that his features were completely relaxed, his eyes dancing with amusement, while his grin was one of boyish mischievousness. She smiled in return. “But of course,” she said. “A joint room would be far too easy, and besides, everyone knows that most men enjoy a good challenge.”

“Is that an invitation?” he asked, his murmur so soft that nobody else was likely to hear, his tone so enticing she could practically feel it caressing her skin.

Swatting his arm to make light of it all, she chuckled, “By all means, you’re willing to try.” Heavens! Why on earth would she say that? She’d baited him—quite brazenly at that—and without being the least bit certain of how far she was willing to go. But for some inexplicable reason, the words had been a natural response to his—familiar and so very similar to the way in which they always sparred with each other. Except this time, there would be consequences, and she wasn’t the least bit sure if she was prepared to face them.

Apprehension still gnawed, yet there could be no denying the feelings he stirred inside her. Never in her life had she felt so at ease and flustered in a man’s presence. It was most unsettling. And then of course there was the kiss. She’d pushed him away, fearing what it might have led to, but by God if she hadn’t enjoyed every marvelous second of it for as long as it had lasted. He’d promised to kiss her again—this very evening—and the thought brought a flutter to her belly. Perhaps if all they could do was kiss, then that would not be such a bad thing.

Reaching the top of the landing, the innkeeper showed them each to their rooms with the promise that a bath would be brought up for each of them before dinner.

“I’ll see you later then,” Lucien said once the innkeeper was gone. Katherine stood in the doorway to her room, looking back at him, her eyes helplessly seeking his mouth. “Shall we say seven o’clock in the dining room?”

She blinked, then nodded, feeling quite out of sorts and perfectly stupid. If only he wouldn’t have dangled the promise of another kiss before her. “That sounds fine.” With a nod, he started inside his room, his door almost closing when a thought struck her. “What about our luggage? We’ll need dry clothes after the bath.”

“I’m sure my coachman will have someone send it up.” He’d popped his head back out into the hallway. “Don’t worry, Kate—you’ll be warm and dry in no time.”

Oh, she wasn’t worried about that. Not really. What she
was
worried about was her own sanity and how she’d prevent herself from being reduced to a complete imbecile. How on earth had this happened to her?