“Shhh, someone might hear you.” She opened the door wide, waving him inside with an urgent flutter of her hand. After closing the door, she leaned against it demanding, “Now, what do you want?”
He ran one hand through his night-black hair. “I can see that you’re angry with me.”
She folded her arms under her breasts. “I’m not angry.” The last thing she wanted was for him to know that she cared.
“I don’t blame you.” The husky timbre of his voice danced along her spine. “I was out of line.”
“For once we agree,” she said in a quiet voice.
His features grew serious. “But you shouldn’t have been there.”
“Is this an apology?” If it was, it was a reluctant one. “Because, all of sudden it’s starting to sound like something else.”
He heaved a great sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. “No, you’re right. I’m making a mess of this. Let me begin again. Look, I’m sorry I lost my temper, but when I saw you so close to Cecil, so close to that knife. Do you have any idea what Cecil can do with a knife?” Nat shook his head. “No of course you don’t, and that is just my point. You don’t understand the danger. You never have.”
“Of course I understand.” Why did he always speak to her as though she was an idiot? “They kidnapped me, remember?” She drew a long trembling breath. Why was she being so defensive? She hadn’t done it for him — to fulfill his dream of vengeance. She had her own bone to pick with the Everetts. But she wasn’t about to admit it — that she’d become a savage just like him. “Mrs. Beaton needed help,” she said finally. “It was the neighborly thing to do.”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it.” He gave a dark chuckle. “I’m sure you’ve dreamed of holding a gun to Cecil’s head.”
“Perhaps, but I’m not blood thirsty enough to waste three years of my life to do it.”
A shadow passed over his face. “I guess I’m not very forgiving.”
She flushed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I just don’t understand how the Everetts have taken over your whole life.”
“Neither do I.” He flashed a cynical smile. “Some people might call it dedication. I guess you just think I’m stubborn.” He flopped down in the pink toile chair against the wall. Mind if I have a drink?” He lifted the decanter without waiting for an answer. “Do you want one?”
She shook her head, watching him splash two fingers into a glass.
Instead of drinking it, he swirled the whiskey round and round. “You see, I made a promise to my friend Drew to keep his sister safe. I thought marrying Heather would be the best way to do that, but I was wrong. I failed.” He gave a humorless chuckle. “God, I was so young and stupid. I should have listened to my father — let him and Aunt Carolyn find her a suitable match. But it was hard to know who to trust after the war. After what I saw, spying for the Pinkertons, I didn’t trust anyone after that.”
He worked for the Pinkerton’s? She wanted to question him further, but the weary look on his face stalled her. “It wasn’t your fault,” she said softly. “Things happen. We can’t always keep the people we love safe.”
He took a gulp of whiskey. “See, that’s the trouble. I didn’t love her. At least not in the way a husband should love a wife. I cared for her, but I can’t say I ever loved her. Maybe if I had, I wouldn’t have brought her out to California in the first place.”
“Nonsense!” Christie pushed away from the door. “She could have died in the States crossing the street. You’re not responsible for what the Everetts did. I haven’t known you very long, but if anyone asked me about your character, I’d say you are the most dependable man I’ve ever met.”
“You’re just saying that because I rescued you from the Everetts. The truth is,” he said, tipping his glass her way. “I was blistering mad when I found out I had to trade you for Hank.”
Christie grinned. “I know. But you did it anyway. And that’s why I — ” She almost said love you, but that was wrong. She couldn’t possibly love Nat. How could she love someone who didn’t respect her, who thought her a burden — a helpless child to be watched over? “I mean, that’s why I respect you. You do what’s right, even when you don’t want to. You could have killed Billy, but you didn’t.”
“Yah,” Nat gave a harsh laugh. “Well, maybe I should have.”
“Do you really want that on your conscience?”
“I think you’re confusing me with someone else.”
Fresh heat crept into her cheeks, realizing he wasn’t far from the truth. But that was silly. She had never been the sort to spend her life in a tower, waiting for a prince to come along and sweep her off her feet. Well, perhaps for a moment, when she and her father had finally had it out about her marrying Mr. Cavanaugh. But, then, the feeling had passed and she’d taken matters into her own hands. “It wouldn’t have been worth it.”
“You might think so, but pulling that trigger would have given me a great deal of satisfaction.” He took another swig of whiskey.
She drew closer, intent on offering him some comfort. “You don’t know that.”
“Oh, yes I do.” He reached out to capture one of her hands. “I know what satisfaction is, and I’m not feeling it right now.”
Christie’s heart beat wildly in her breast.
His thumb caressed the inside of her palm, sending a delicious thrill from her toes to the surface of her tingling lips.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Nat rubbed his thumb over the silky center of Christie’s palm. “There are different kinds of satisfaction.”
“I know.” She made to pull away. “The safe kind and the dangerous kind.”
It wasn’t like him to play the seducer, but at that moment he wanted her so badly his mind wasn’t listening to the conscience she kept insisting he had. Or maybe he just wanted to prove her wrong. Whatever the reason, he didn’t let go of her hand. Instead he pulled her steadily closer, so that when he came to his feet it was easy to gather her into is arms. “And what am I?”
“Dangerous.”
He chuckled. “Why do you say that?”
“You make me want to do things I shouldn’t.” Her brandy eyes darkened as she lifted her arms around his neck. “Like this.”
“Mmmm, I like that.” Her hair smelled fresh and clean, like rain. The column of her throat felt silky smooth where he placed feather-like kisses.
She sighed, melting closer until he could feel the firm peaks of her nipples pressing against his chest.
When he reached inside the silk folds of her nightrail to cup one breast, her sighs turned to gasps. The sound of her desire triggered memories of the first time they’d made love. His blood heated. “My God, you’re beautiful.”
The next thing he knew, her lips had found his.
The hunger he’d been holding inside from the moment he saw her standing in the doorway, looking sleep-tossed and fresh from her dreams came unleashed. And suddenly the sweet flicks of her tongue against his turned his seduction upside down.
“So are you,” she breathed against his neck.
He gazed down into her warm eyes to find tiny green sparks flashing like hot emeralds. “And you call me dangerous.” Before she could protest, he scooped her up in his arms to carry her to the bedchamber. “I think you could give me a lesson or two.”
When he set her down on the edge of the bed, she braced her hands beside her and smiled a shy smile. When he began to undress, she watched with keen interest — lips half parted, head tilted curiously to one side, not saying a thing.
By the time he shed his coat and unbuttoned his shirt, the excitement was too much to bear. It was damn difficult to unbutton his pants. When she licked her tongue across her top lip, he felt like the opening act in a traveling dance hall show. Every part of his body tightened. His palms be
gan to sweat.
The fact that she seemed to have no idea what she was doing made it all the more erotic.
His voice came low and hoarse, “I don’t think it’s fair unless we both take off our clothes.”
“You’re right.” Her voice sounded breathless and husky. She sprang to her feet to untie her silk wrapper. It slid to the floor in a blue pool around her feet. She grabbed the bottom of her gauzy linen shift to pull it over her head. Instead of shielding herself or quickly scurrying into bed as Heather would do, she stared right back at him with smoldering eyes.
He took a step forward, needing to touch her, but she was already coming to him. He reached out to stroke her cheek with the back of his hand. “Why is it that I can’t keep my hands off you?”
“I don’t know.” Her hands trembled as she ran them down the length of his chest to his belly, but she looked him straight in the eye. “I like touching you, too.”
Blood raced through his veins in a hot gush. He’d never met a woman so innocent, yet bold. He crushed his mouth against her lips, and she returned his kiss with such gusto, he began to wonder who she’d been practicing on. The thought of her kissing another man tightened his gut. All of Christopher’s insinuations came flooding back. If he found out Christopher had touched her, he’d kill him.
Nat pushed the thought aside, deepening his kiss, running his hands over her full perfect breasts, down the gentle curve of her hips. As he backed her slowly toward the bed, he found himself quivering from the inside out, yearning to feel her lovely body next to his, to get into her soul the way she’d gotten into his.
His mind said wait — take it slow. But the sight of all those glossy waves spread across the pillow drove him over the edge. He couldn’t wait.
When he thrust into her, she was ready — hot and slick and tight. His heart beat hard and fast. She met his every thrust, gasping against his ear, clawing at his back, pushing him ever deeper.
He held back as long as he could, with all of his strength. Then, just as his began to lose control, as the reins began to slip, she cried out. He groaned in blissful release as he burst over the finish line in sweet victory. His pulse thundered in his ears, his whole body shuddered, every molecule of his being cheered.
He wanted to stay like that forever — listening to her heart beat fast — feeling her breath rasp against his cheek.
Christie!
Sweet, sweet Christie!
What was she doing to him?
He rolled over, collapsing against the pillow.
Lord have mercy!
What had he gotten himself into?
This woman was driving him mad.
If he had any sense at all, he’d jump out of bed and run like hell.
Before his life was turned upside down.
• • •
A firm, persistent knock roused Christie from her dreams.
Mercy!
Who could that be this time of night? She rolled over onto her side. The light filtering through the cabin window told her that night had fled. Morning had come fast and furious on the blissful heels of sleep.
She eased herself from the bed, not wanting to disturb Nat. If he did wake, hopefully he’d have the sense to stay put. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined having to hide a lover in her room. But neither had she dreamed she’d meet a man like Nat.
Leigh never entered her bedchamber if the door was closed. She’d just have to sneak Nat out after Leigh went to sleep.
After pulling on her shift and securing her wrapper around her waist, she crept out the bedchamber door.
She opened the cabin door to discover Captain Jackson’s smiling face. “Good morning, Miss Wallace. I came to inquire after your health, and of course to see if you’ve located your money?”
Christie blinked. She’d almost forgotten about the theft. Nat had a way of doing that — making her forget everything but him. “That’s very kind of you.”
“Perhaps I could assist in the search.” He peered past her into the cabin. “Often we overlook things when we’re distressed, even if they’re staring us in the face.”
“No!” The thought of Captain Jackson striding into her bedchamber, to find Nat asleep under the covers, sent heat rushing to her cheeks. “I mean, that isn’t necessary. You see it was all a big misunderstanding. My cousin borrowed the money without bothering to tell me. I’m sorry to have put you to so much trouble.”
“No trouble, no trouble at all. I couldn’t bear the thought of you being destitute.” His tone grew earnest, his gaze searching. “I’d like to offer you whatever financial support you need.”
“Oh no,” she started to say, then it struck her that she might be destitute after all. Leigh could have lost the money. In all the excitement, she hadn’t had the chance to bring him to task over it. For all she knew, he’d gambled away every last cent. She might not have enough for passage back to Sacramento, let alone a train ticket home. “I mean, I couldn’t accept any money from you, unless you considered it a loan.”
“Of course,” he said with an obliging smile. “If that would make you feel better.”
“That won’t be necessary, Christopher,” Nat drawled over the Captain’s head.
Christie gave a sharp gasp. She turned to stare at the bedchamber door, then back at Nat. He must have crawled out the cabin window. But how had he dressed so fast?
“Let’s not talk in the corridor,” Nat said, pushing his way through the door forcing Christopher to take a quick step back or be trampled under his feet.
Captain Jackson scowled at Nat under a darkening brow.
Nat didn’t look too happy either. The tender stranger had disappeared to be replaced by the insolent ruffian she knew so well.
“Where have you been?” the captain demanded after shutting the door. “Holt and I have been waiting for you in the dining room for over an hour.”
“I bumped into an old friend last night.” Nat shrugged. “We got to talking and before I knew it, well, one thing led to another and here I am.”
Christie’s cheeks suffused with heat. “Please excuse me gentleman, but I need to get dressed.” She hastened to her bedchamber, eager to escape the crackling tension in the room.
Unfortunately, the walls were a tad thin.
“So, who was this mysterious woman you met up with last night?” The captain demanded as she yanked her shift off over her head.
“No one you know,” Nat said in velvety tones. “An old acquaintance.”
Christie snatched her emerald silk gown from the wardrobe. Was that the best he could come up with — an old acquaintance?
The captain’s voice held disbelief. “She must be more than an acquaintance to spend the entire night in her cabin.”
“It’s not what you think.” The lie seemed to roll off Nat’s tongue. “It was completely innocent. She’s the daughter of an old friend — rather homely, and to be honest, as frigid as the day is long.”
Christie gasped.
Homely!
She rolled on her white, silk stockings with furious speed. Wait until she got her hands on him.
Frigid indeed!
If she was frigid, Flossie was a saint!
By the time she flung open the bedchamber door the Captain had fled. “Frigid?” she huffed. “I don’t remember any complaints.”
“No complaints.” He flashed a heart-stopping smile. I mean it was good, but — ”
She gasped. “But what?” Was he saying she imagined his pleasure last night? “And to think I wasted my time offering you comfort last night!”
“Comfort?” He laughed. “You were as hot as a whore in a one man town.”
“Ohhh!” She couldn’t believe her ears. “That is a terrible thing to say. After relieving me of my virtue, seducing me
— in a barn no less.”
“Don’t you dare pin this on me!” His smile faded, and she realized he’d been teasing her all along. “I didn’t drag you to bed last night. If you didn’t want it to happen, you should have run like hell when I told you to the first time.”
“Oh, very well,” she conceded with ill grace. “You’re right. I did want it to happen, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I don’t regret it and I never shall. There, are you happy?”
He flashed a wolfish smile. “Not as happy as I was last night.” He made to take her in his arms.
She twirled away. “Hence your glowing report to Captain Jackson.”
He raised a brow. “Would you rather I told him the woman I made love to last night was in her bedchamber getting dressed.”
“No! Of course not.” She didn’t know what she wanted him to say — something. Oh yes she did. She wanted him to say she was the most desirable woman he’d ever made love to — that last night meant something — that he felt the same connection to her that she felt to him. But she couldn’t very well come right out and say that. Instead she said, “But must you to go to such lengths to degrade my character?”
“I was protecting you.” He folded his arms across his chest, giving her a long look. “I think you know that.”
“Yes.” She couldn’t help but smile.
“Good.” He strode for the door. “Oh,” He paused with his hand on the knob, “And the next time you’re in need of cash, come to me. At least you’ll know I won’t be expecting anything in return.” He winked. “Except, maybe a little comfort now and then.”
Christie stared at the closed door, mouth flapped wide in outrage.
Ohh!
Come to him indeed?
Arrogant devil!
She might better poke out an eye and start begging on the streets. Of course she couldn’t take money from him — not unless it was a loan. Taking money from a man who wasn’t a relative would make her no better than Flossie.
Of course, had she been Flossie, she might have pointed a gun at Leigh’s head and demanded her money right back.
Time After Time Page 139
