Chapter 7 Shocked #2
She sat very straight—feet and knees together—on the elegant high-backed chair.
She didn’t move. If she made any move or motion, she feared the intimacy of the moment would be broken and he would snarl something sarcastic.
“I don’t know.” His voice was low and sounded hoarse. He wasn’t looking at her, but at the carpet on the floor between them. He cleared his throat and then looked back at her defiantly. “That’s not what we were talking about, anyhow.”
She could tell he didn’t want to discuss his past. She supposed he thought he didn’t need her pity. He was a very proud man.
“I was saying that, upon reflection, I agree that I am lucky. Yes, I have a second chance to be accepted into society—to regain honor and respect for the Hawthorne earldom. And I believe I may do well to take full advantage of this.” He leaned forward again, his demeanor ominously serious.
He spoke as though he needed to make her understand something very important.
“You, my dear lady, are very, very lucky as well.”
When she tried to interrupt him, he went right on talking.
“No, do not belittle all you have. I am not referring to this beautiful home and all the material wealth your family is able to bestow upon you. I am talking about your brothers and your parents.” He swallowed hard.
“You have siblings who would kill anyone who dared ever hurt you, a father and mother who would do anything to ensure your happiness. They all love you deeply. Good God, they smile at you. I have even seen your father hug you! In public, no less.”
Garrett paused a moment. “I beg of you, do not dismiss this.” At that, he went silent. A lump had formed in his throat, and he resented it. He rather resented the emotions threatening to overcome him. He far preferred his normal cynical indifference. How had it become so corroded?
“Well, blast.” Lady Natalie looked as though she’d tasted something sour.
Garrett sat back, startled. He realized he oughtn’t to be startled by anything that came out of this chit’s mouth, but he was, nonetheless.
“I beg your pardon?”
“It’s just that the irony of the situation is, in truth, rather magnificent. You have what I want, and I have what you want. In order for either of us to obtain what we want, we must sacrifice some of what we already have.”
Garrett’s mind retraced her words a time or two before understanding what she meant. “Yes, you are somewhat right.”
“Why only somewhat?”
“Because you are not going to sacrifice what you have. You are going to honor your parents and forget this crazy notion of playing the ‘lady rake’.” Nonsensical, addlepated female!
He did not admit, however, that he had no intentions of sacrificing what he’d been doing in the past. He would simply be more discreet about it.
And discretion did not include having the daughter of his host in his bedchamber late at night with both of them in nothing but nightclothes.
Lady Natalie glared at him. “That’s a little condescending, wouldn’t you agree? How would you feel if I told you something like that? I am not a child, you know.”
He regarded her narrowed blue eyes and petulant bottom lip for a moment in silence.
Perhaps what Lady Natalie needed was a taste of what she wanted. Perhaps that would result in her realizing the wisdom of being more amenable to her father’s plans.
Lord Ravensdale ought to appreciate the favor Garrett was going to do for him. He obviously had no idea how much of a powder keg his daughter was.
“What would you like, my lady? To pretend you are not the daughter of an earl?” The taunt caught her full attention.
“Would you like—” He paused, enjoying the expressions racing across her perfect features, “—another kiss?” He’d meant the offer to scare her, to shake her reckless courage.
The acceleration of his own heartbeat surprised him.
Natalie’s gaze turned suspicious. She was so very expressive, he could almost read her mind. Oh, yes, she wanted another kiss. But was he asking, or was he mocking her?
“Are you offering?” She lifted her chin and challenged him.
“I am if it will get you out of my room. I’ll also have your word that it will put an end to all of this nonsense!” Would her promise be worth anything?
“Very well, then,” she said quickly—too quickly.
He stared back for a moment and then shook his head, trying not to laugh. Good Lord, she was priceless!
“Don’t laugh at me!” she grumbled.
She sounded hurt. He didn’t want her to feel hurt. He would give her what she wanted—this one last time. And then he’d have her promise to leave him the hell alone.
“Come here, then.” He patted his lap.
“You want me to sit on top of you? Shouldn’t we be standing?” She narrowed her eyes, finally exhibiting some prudent caution. Ah, she wasn’t so foolish after all.
But it had been a long day and he was tired. “If you want a kiss from a rake, then you must do as he demands.” He patted his lap again. “Come here.”
Appearing unusually shy, Natalie rose and inched over to stand in front of him.
As she neared, floral perfume teased his senses.
Not giving her the opportunity to change her mind, Garrett grabbed hold of her waist and pulled her down to sit across his knees.
She dropped her hand onto his shoulder and then slid it around his neck.
The minute her soft bottom landed on his lap, Garrett realized he was making a colossal mistake. Every ounce of blood he possessed headed south, and his own physical response to her was making itself known. Oh, hell.
This was intimate. Far too intimate. The lushness of her body assaulted his senses. He could smell her shampoo, a hint of lavender and citrus. Her long hair flowed silky and sensual on his arms, some even finding his chest. And when her fingers tickled the skin of his neck, his muscles tensed.
Her face was inches from his. “What now?” she asked, all innocence. Her breath was minty. He knew his would smell of whiskey.
He had better make this good if he was going to scare her to such a degree that she’d stop playing with fire. He turned her face toward his.
He meant to scare her—to slow her down. But as his gaze dropped to her sweet, inviting lips, an unusual tenderness struck him, and his kiss wasn’t the onslaught he’d intended.
No, he tasted, gently nipping at the corner of her mouth before claiming it.
The second his lips touched hers, she came to life.
Eager for more, in an attempt to be even closer, Natalie twisted her body toward him.
As she did so, her hip pressed into his arousal.
Garrett winced as he tried to not only control himself but her as well.
Was this going to backfire on him? Most likely.
Her tongue danced freely with his, encouraging him to deepen their kiss. The uninhibited enthusiasm of her welcome aroused him in a way that the most skilled courtesan could never match. And she responded as though she had been waiting for this moment her entire life.
Needs ignited, and Garrett began to forget himself.
Momentarily succumbing to desire, his hand explored her waist, her abdomen, and then the undersides of her breasts.
Their seeking mouths mingled mint and whiskey.
She trembled, pulled her mouth away, and buried her face in his neck.
He gave her a moment to catch her breath. She was gasping.
His own chest rose and fell quickly as well. He traced a path down the side of her neck to her shoulder. Garrett felt his self-control slipping away.
He need not have worried.
In another inspired effort to be closer to him, Natalie made to turn her body to straddle him. Lacking experience in these matters, however, she misjudged the width of the chair, and the point of her knee struck Garrett’s person in a most catastrophic location.
Her knee, like a piston, became the deadliest of weapons and slammed into his full arousal with unfortunate accuracy.
The red haze of desire he’d been fighting vanished and was replaced with a white-hot flash of agony.
Unthinking, Garrett shoved her off his lap onto the carpet and doubled over in excruciating pain.
“What is it? What is the matter?” she asked, crawling over to him. He put a hand out as though to stave her off. Breath hissed between his clenched teeth. His motion was enough to stop her from coming any closer.
“Dear God, what have I done?” she implored.
He took a few deep but labored breaths. “A moment, please.”
He waited for the pain to recede before addressing his attacker again.
But, once able to look back at her, his breath caught.
Her lips were swollen from their kiss, and her hair fell disheveled around her face.
On her knees, in nightclothes, she looked at him in deep concern.
If Lady Natalie Spencer, dressed and pressed for a ball, was beautiful, then this Natalie, sultry and awakened, was the most gorgeous woman he’d ever beheld.
Was he going mad?
“What happened?” she asked, sounding impatient. Exasperation replaced her concern.
“You kneed me.”
She looked at him in obvious confusion. “Well, I realize I am a bit…wanton, but I don’t need you. I like you, though.” She tilted her head and smiled hesitantly.
He raised his brows at her. “Your knee, you struck me with it.” He would not spell this out for her. Good Lord, she had brothers; she must have some understanding as to the sensitivity of the male anatomy.
Awareness dawned. “Oh.”
He knew precisely what she was going to say next.
“Blast.” And then she added, “I’m, er, sorry?”
Garrett grunted. His most vulnerable parts were still throbbing.
“Did I…damage you?” she asked.
“For now, yes, thank you very much.” He forced himself to stand and tied the belt around his waist more securely.
Protecting himself from any sudden move she might make, he somehow managed to present his hand to her so she could stand as well.
He didn’t think he could suffer any more of her surprises.
“And it’s off to your own room now. I believe I have kept my part of our bargain.
I’d appreciate it if you would keep yours. ”
She stared at his outstretched hand in consternation and then allowed him to pull her to her feet.
With his hand on her back, Garrett steered her toward the door.
He did so cautiously, all the while prepared to defend himself from another “attack.” Mindful of her reputation, he peeked out to ascertain the corridor was empty and then pushed her into the hall. “Good night, then.”
She placed her hand on the doorframe, effectively keeping him from closing the door. “You are not angry with me? Are you? Remember, that is why I came here in the first place.”
“I am not angry with you, but I will be if you do not leave quietly.”
She blinked once, then again, before leaning in and placing a quick kiss on his cheek. “Good night,” she whispered. With no further ado, she twirled around and disappeared into her own room.
Wincing, Garrett closed the door behind him and hobbled back to the chair to collapse—not before reaching for the bell pull to summon Marcus, though, for he was going to need some ice.