Chapter 18
Chapter
Eighteen
C hristopher sat at the dinner table that evening, surrounded by family, the local vicar and his wife, the magnificent meal prepared by their ever-reliable cook, which everyone seemed to be enjoying. Yet, despite the perfection of the scene, he was deeply unsatisfied.
Unsatisfied and burning to gain satisfaction from the woman who was seated across from him. She conversed with those around her, her sensual laugh making the hairs on his arms rise and his body harden. And yet, she seemed utterly unaware of his reaction to her. Or simply did not care.
Her mere presence taunted his frayed nerves. He couldn’t banish the image of her from earlier—standing in her bedroom window, as naked as the day she was born.
Water had cascaded down her perfect curves, her skin glowing in the sunlight. Her breasts, fully revealed in his memory, made his mouth water. He clenched his jaw, his appetite for food overshadowed by his hunger for her.
Christopher picked up his napkin, laying it across his lap to ensure a semblance of decorum was upheld. He murmured a quick response to Lady Delphine and Lord Lacy, who sat on either side of him before reaching for his wine and taking a long, fortifying sip.
If only he were seated beside Matilda rather than across from her. He wanted—no, needed—to be closer to her, not just tonight but for the rest of their stay at his ancestral home.
When had he fallen so completely under her spell? He wasn’t sure, but the realization left him both exhilarated and uneasy.
Lady Delphine cast him another of her longing glances, her delicate features hopeful. He sighed inwardly. She had been doing this all evening, and while he didn’t wish to hurt her, he had no interest in encouraging her misplaced affections. He would need to speak to her again—make it clear that the promises they had exchanged as children held no meaning now.
Matilda, meanwhile, seemed determined to torment him. She spoke spiritedly to Charlotte and the local vicar, ignoring his presence. Not once had she glanced his way or even bestowed a little conversation.
Was she ignoring him on purpose? Trying to drive him mad with her indifference?
His mind strayed to their earlier encounter in his office—a rendezvous that had left them both unsatisfied. He had remained hard for hours after she left, her scent and the memory of her touch haunting him. And then, as if to completely undo him, she had stood naked in her window, a vision of perfection luring him beyond reason.
Had it not been for sheer willpower, he might have stormed upstairs, broken down her door, pulled her from her bath, and carried her to her bed to finish what they had started.
Thrust his hard cock into her wet, willing core and fucked her until they were spent and breathless.
Christopher took a calming breath. With her sitting across from him, he was desperate to shake her calm, collected demeanor. She sat there, every hair in place, her expression serene, as if nothing had happened between them. He wanted to make her lose control, to make her yearn for him as much as he was aching for her.
"I'm so looking forward to visiting the grotto tomorrow, Lord Charteris," Lady Delphine said, with anticipation. "I’m ever so grateful you’re willing to take me. It’s been years since I last saw it. I think we may have all been children then."
Christopher inwardly winced, having forgotten about the planned excursion. It was another of his parents’ schemes to force him and Lady Delphine to spend time together.
"It is no trouble." He raised his voice so the rest of the table could hear. "In fact, if anyone else would like to visit the grotto, you are more than welcome to join us. We’ll leave at ten tomorrow morning and have a luncheon in the woods and river. There’s a small clearing perfect for a picnic."
"That would be lovely, brother." Charlotte smiled at her husband and then Matilda. "We shall certainly join you."
Matilda’s gaze finally met his, and the impact was immediate. Her calm demeanor betrayed nothing, but her eyes—oh, her eyes—sparked with mischief and understanding.
Christopher swallowed.
Hard.
He tamped down the fire she stoked within him. He wished they could escape to the grotto alone, where they could abandon propriety and give in to the wild desire simmering between them.
Let him make her scream his name where no one would hear. Relish the feel of her convulsing about his hard cock, or over his tongue when he made another meal of her.
"That does sound like a wonderful way to spend the day." Matilda’s lips curved into an innocent smile that belied the wicked heat in her gaze.
He shifted in his seat, her words stirring images that had no place in a dining room. She was tormenting him, of that he had no doubt.
"So many joining us now. How delightful the day will be," Lady Delphine stated dryly, her words laden with sarcasm.
Christopher ignored her irritation. He had invited others for a reason—being alone with her would only lead to further misunderstandings. Perhaps he would use tomorrow’s outing as an opportunity to finally set things straight with her, to explain that he no longer harbored the feelings he once had. That there would be no understanding, nor one forthcoming.
She would be hurt, of course, but better than allowing her to hope for something that would never come to pass.
"I’ll have the cook prepare a variety of dishes for your picnic," his mother interjected. "Several servants can meet you there and have everything set up for you all. It will be a splendid outing for the younger members of the house party."
"It will indeed," Lady Delphine agreed, replacing her earlier ire with a smile for his parents.
"Is there not a river near the grotto? Or am I misremembering?" Matilda asked.
"There is," Christopher replied. "And a small boathouse with a wooden rowing boat. It’s there year round."
Lady Delphine jumped beside him and clutched at his arm. "Will you take me rowing, my lord? I’ve never been, and it will be so much fun," Lady Delphine asked, her enthusiasm evident for everyone to see.
Christopher shook his head apologetically. "From what I recall, you cannot swim, Lady Delphine. I wouldn’t want to risk your safety."
"That is true," Charlotte interjected. "Falling into the water while wearing such heavy gowns could be most dangerous."
"But I can swim." Matilda's calm voice floated across to him. "I would love to go rowing with you, Lord Charteris. It sounds most…invigorating."
Christopher’s hand clenched around his wine glass. The minx knew what she was doing. The sly smile tugging at her lips was proof enough.
Her words, innocent to the others, carried a far deeper meaning for him. Did she truly want to go rowing? Or did she have other "stimulating" activities in mind?
Images of her sprawled in the boat, her skirts hitched up, her lips parted in pleasure, assaulted his mind. He swallowed hard, forcing the thoughts away.
He clamped his jaw shut, refusing to let her get the better of him. But tomorrow, he vowed, she would not escape unscathed.
He had never brought a woman to climax on a boat before, but there was a first time for everything. Tomorrow would undoubtedly prove both a challenge and an adventure.