Velvet Embrace

by Nicole Jordan

  Determinedly, Brie dragged two of the wooden chairs across the floor and placed them on either side of the hearth, then removed her sodden coat and draped it over a chair to dry. She was rubbing her arms, trying to generate some warmth, when Dominic entered carrying an armful of firewood. The icy gust of wind that accompanied him nearly took her breath away.

  Dominic slammed the door shut with his heel and strode across the room, dropping his load beside the hearth. As he removed his hat and cloak, he raised an eyebrow at Brie, as if expecting an explanation of her disobedience.

  Brie resisted the urge to squirm under that penetrating gray gaze, telling herself that he had no right to give her orders. "There is only one blanket," she said stiffly, indicating the one on the cot.

  He flashed her an amused grin. "Then we will have to share, won t we:

  "Of course not! I don't plan to share a blanket with you, now or ever."

  "You would rather freeze?"

  When Brie didn't answer, Dominic eyed her in a way that made her want to hit him. There was a dancing gleam in his eyes that showed very plainly he was deriving a perverse kind of pleasure from their predicament. Smoldering, Brie planted her hands on her hips. "I think you are enjoying this! In fact I didn't know better, I would say you planned for us to be stranded here."

  Dominic laughed. "Even I have not such powers over the heavens, my lady."

  The husky sound of his laughter sent an odd shiver up her spine, but she pretended not to notice. "I will not share a blanket with you," she said adamantly. "And I will not undress."

  Dominic took off his jacket and waistcoat and laid them across the chair. "Yes, you will," he replied evenly. "I don't intend to let you catch pneumonia."

  Hearing the soft assurance in his voice, Brie glared at him. But when Dominic stripped off his shirt, she caught herself staring in fascination. She knew she shouldn't be watching him undress, but she found she couldn't look away. Dominic's bronzed skin was sleek and wet, and it glistened in the candlelight. Dark hair furred the wide expanse of his chest, tapering at the waistband of his tight-fitting breeches. His shoulders were broad and well-muscled, and as he turned and bent down to feed the fire, Brie could see powerful sinews flexing in his back. She swallowed, feeling a curling sensation somewhere below her stomach.

  "Why the sudden reserve?" Dominic said casually as he prodded the logs. "I've already seen you without your clothes on."

  Brie felt a blush start at the roots of her hair and flood her face. For a moment, she gazed at him in mute embarrassment. Then angrily she turned her back to him, silently cursing Dominic for being an overbearing, arrogant tyrant. Crossing her arms, she stood staring at the wall.

  She stiffened when he came up behind her, but when he grasped her shoulder, she didn't struggle. She knew from experience she would be unable to break away. She fumed in silence as Dominic removed the pins from her hair.

  He pulled the heavy mass down, combing it with his fingers. When he had wrung some of the moisture from the ends, he bent to whisper in her ear. "I don't plan to ravish your lovely body just yet, ma belle. Now take off your clothes or I shall do it for you." Disregarding her gasp of outrage, he picked up one of the cloths and leisurely began to towel his upper torso dry.

  Brie wanted to tell him to go to the devil, but she realized it would be wiser to capitulate. He was perfectly capable of forcibly undressing her if she didn't comply. "Very well," she muttered at last. "But you don't have to look."

  "Your modesty overwhelms me," Dominic replied sardonically.

  Brie sat in one of the chairs to pull off her riding boots, and when she heard the cot creak, she knew Dominic was doing the same. Deciding it best to ignore him as much as possible, she tried not to notice when he carried his boots to the hearth to dry, but even so, she began to feel uncomfortable. He was clad only in breeches that hugged his muscular legs like a second skin. When he began to remove these as well, Brie gave a gasp and froze. But then he moved away, out of her range of vision. Shakily, she shrugged out of her own breeches and shirt and then stood there shivering in her thin chemise, wondering what to do next.

  A scraping noise behind her made her jump. When Dominic dragged the cot in front of the fire, Brie quickly scurried out of his way. At least he was not totally naked, she thought with relief, seeing that he had wrapped the towel around his narrow hips. It did little to conceal the magnificence of his body, however, and Brie could feel her cheeks becoming heated as she watched him spread the blanket over the straw mattress.

  When he had arranged the cot, Dominic picked up the other towel and turned to Brie, intending to help her dry off. He took only two steps, though, before he halted abruptly, sucking in his breath. Brie made an alluring sight, with her damp hair hanging about her shoulders in curling tendrils, her skin gleaming like pale gold in the candlelight. The wisp of linen she was wearing left little to the imagination. The shift covered her buttocks, but every curve of her body was provocatively revealed by the wet fabric. Dominic's eyes darkened as he took in the fetching sight. Her coral nipples were clearly visible as they strained against the delicate fabric, and when she wrapped her arms about her to ward off the cold, her thrusting breasts threatened to spill over the meager bodice. Dominie's gaze roamed lower, touching on the gently rounded hips and slender legs. Then it lifted again, locking with Brie's.

  She met his heated glance and shuddered violently, although her reaction had nothing to do with the cold. The lust she saw in Dominic's gray eyes frightened her. Her fiancé had looked at her that way just before he had attacked her. Alarmed, Brie took a step backwards, her hand stealing to her throat.

  Dominic could see her sudden fear. Even though he wasn't sure what caused it, he knew better than to make any abrupt movements. Clamping down on his primitive urges, he gave Brie a soft smile that was meant to convey reassurance and moved toward her slowly.

  Brie waited, trembling, unable to move. It was only when Dominic began rubbing her arms briskly with the towel that she realized he didn't mean to harm her. Brie stood quite still under his ministrations, more in nervous relief than in obedience. Yet she was very much aware of Dominic's nearness, and conscious of how bronzed and muscular his arms looked next to her smooth white limbs.

  He bent to dry the backs of her legs, running the cloth quickly over her slender thighs and calves. When he commanded her to turn, Brie obeyed mechanically. She felt his hands move up her legs, then pause when they reached her inner thigh. Brie looked down, experiencing a shock when she saw his ebony head so close. Realizing he was staring at the dark triangle between her legs, she flushed a bright crimson.

  The same shock affected Dominic. Feeling himself break out in a cold sweat, he stood up and flicked the hem of Brie's chemise. "This is wet," he said in a strained voice. "You should take it off as well."

  Hot with embarrassment, Brie shook her head. She remained mute until Dominic started to wipe her face. Then she snatched the towel away and hastily began blotting at the front of her damp shift. "I can dry myself, thank you," she muttered.

  Pretending indifference, Dominic shrugged and turned away. When he had stretched himself out on the cot and pulled the woolen blanket up to his chest, he propped his head up with his hand and watched Brie as if he were prepared to treat her stubbornness with undeserved patience. Brie glared back at him, determined to freeze before she yielded to him. With a movement that was very much like a flounce, she went to sit before the fire.

  She was dismayed to see how feeble the flames were. The damp wood had not caught well yet and smoke spiraled up the chimney in spasmodic spurts. Shivering, Brie drew her knees up under her chin and wrapped her arms around her bare legs as she stared angrily at the struggling fire. If only the wrath that burned in her breast or the scorching gleam in Dominic's gray eyes could heat her chilled body. Then she would be more than warm enough.

  Behind her, Dominic studied her proud, slender back, trying not to notice that her chemise barely covered her hips and h
ow the damp fabric molded to her slim curves. He was truly puzzled by Brie's fear of him. In spite of his reputation, Dominic had always been particularly selective of the women he made love to. Few, if any, had rejected his advances or refused what he offered. Certainly none had ever been afraid of him, at least not in bed. He had not expected Brie to fall willingly into his arms, of course, not after their singular beginning. But neither had he foreseen that his attempts to charm her would be so unsuccessful.

  She had dealt his pride a severe blow, Dominic admitted with a grimace of self-mockery. He was supposed to be an expert at dalliance, a master of the game. But Brie wasn't adhering to the prescribed rituals. Far from acting as if she enjoyed such games, she seemed not even to understand the rules. He knew her to be somewhat experienced, though, and her pretense of offended innocence was starting to wear on his patience.

  He watched Brie as she sat there huddled before the hearth, wondering if she were playing some deep game of her own. He had never claimed to understand the singular workings of a woman's mind; he had never even made the effort except in the line of duty. But then he had been dealing with creatures who were tediously predictable. Brie was quite different. She kept him off balance with her outspokeness and fiery temper, and he never quite knew what she would do next. She had a uniqueness that was intriguing, even exciting. But something had bridled the passionate nature that he had so tantalizingly glimpsed. Her fear had been quite genuine, he would have staked his life on it.

  Seeing her uncontrollable shudders, he was conscious of an odd feeling of protectiveness, a feeling that was distinctly disturbing. He was not in the habit of experiencing such tender emotions, nor did he care to examine them too closely. Protectiveness was not the only thing he felt, either; he was also growing angry with her continued defiance. "For God's sake, come here, you foolish girl," he said cajolingly. "You're trembling enough to shake the roof down."

  "I am not foolish," Brie replied stiffly, her teeth chattering. She felt almost numb with cold, but her pride wouldn't allow her to give in to him.

  "I've already told you that you have no reason to fear me."

  "I'm not afraid of you. I just don't like to be humiliated, as you are so fond of doing."

  "I promise to stop," he said in exasperation. "Now come here before you catch your death."

  Brie cast an uncertain glance over her shoulder. Sharing a bed with her tormentor was the last thing she wanted, but the promise of warmth was tempting. Her hands and feet were aching with cold, and she could feel her lips turning blue. It did seem rather idiotic to be sitting there, half frozen, when she could be sharing the blanket. But could she trust Stanton not to take advantage of the situation?

  Brie searched Dominic's face for any sign of passionate intent, but she could find none. His grave expression held only concern.

  She gave a last look at the fire. The blaze, though braver than before, still sparked and sputtered. With a small sigh, Brie gave up her frozen throne by the hearth and went to Dominic, crawling in beside him when he held the blanket up invitingly.

  They were both grateful for her decision—Brie for the searing warmth that enveloped her as soon as Dominic pulled her, unresisting, into his arms, and Dominic for governing his impatience. In another moment he would have damned his decision not to force her and dragged her physically to the narrow cot.

  Turning her so that her back was against his chest, Dominic drew his leg up to cover hers. "Your skin is like ice," he murmured as he roughly massaged her chilled arms.

  Brie submitted wordlessly to his stroking hands. Too cold to be embarrassed by the intimate contact, she lay there with her head cradled on Dominic's arm, savoring the vibrant heat from his body.

  She thawed out gradually, and her trembles finally subsided. When feeling began to flow in her limbs once more, she suddenly became very aware of Dominic's hard length molded against her back and the heaviness of his iron-thewed thigh as it rested on her bare legs. She could even feel his breath stirring the soft hairs on the top of her head.

  When his hand moved to rest lightly on the curve of her hip, Brie tensed. His knuckles brushed her hip, then slid down to stroke her bare thigh. But it was an idle caress. There was no urgency in his movements.

  Brie relaxed against him, beginning to enjoy the solid strength of his embrace. It seemed natural somehow for her to be in his arms. She lay there, lazily watching the fire and feeling oddly content as she listened to the rain pound against the roof. The flames in the hearth began to courageously attack the stubborn tinder until gradually the fire grew into a crackling blaze. The warmth made Brie drowsy, and after a while, she closed her eyes.

  Dominic was lost in his own thoughts, but when a log broke apart in the grate sometime later, he snapped out of his reverie. Lifting his head, he gazed down at Brie. She had fallen asleep, he realized with a rueful grin.

  Obviously she couldn't be too worried, for she was slumbering with the confidence of a child. Her soft lips were parted slightly and her breathing was quiet and rhythmic. She looked so lovely with her long lashes fanning her cheeks like dark crescents. Cautiously, Dominic reached up to brush aside a damp curl from her brow. Her skin felt like velvet beneath his fingertips, and he ached to do more than touch her.

  Lifting a silken tress of her hair, he watched it gleam richly in the firelight as it curled around his fingers. The beguiling fragrance stirred his blood, and Dominic closed his eyes, almost groaning out loud. Having Brie's slender body pressed so intimately against him was an exquisite torment. He wanted to take her there and then, while she slept. . . . But remembering her fear, Dominic told himself that he had to move slowly.

  Brie required careful cultivation; she ws far too tempting a morsel for him to risk with precipitate action. Exercising patience would be difficult, though. Already his arousal was painful.

  He was grateful when the fire began to die down, for at least it gave him something else to occupy his thoughts. Slowly he eased his arm from beneath Brie's head. She stirred, but didn't waken, and he quietly rose from the cot and went to the fireplace. After throwing another log on the fire, he knelt to stir the coals, staying there for a time, staring thoughtfully at the flames.

  It wasn't long before Brie started to shiver. She tried to bury herself more deeply beneath the blanket, missing Dominic's warmth, but when she couldn't find it, she opened her eyes. Seeing Dominic, Brie decided she must be dreaming. A towel no longer draped his hips and his entire body was exposed to her fascinated view. His body looked lean and hard, with long sinewy muscles rippling beneath the bronzed skin. And he was so very dark. He was tanned all over, even his powerful flanks.

  "So dark," Brie whispered. She didn't realize she had spoken the words out loud until Dominic responded.

  "I like to swim," he said as if in answer to her question.

  "You swim naked?" When she heard Dominic's soft chuckle, Brie felt a fiery blush flood her face. She was grateful that his attention remained on the fire.

  "I do when the sun is hot enough," he replied, sounding amused. "I have a small plantation in the West Indies with a private beach. I was there until a few months ago and my tan hasn't left me yet. Perhaps some day I might take you there."

  He rose then, and turned to look at her, cocking his head at an angle and regarding her with a quizzical expression.

  Brie stared at him, shocked by his boldness. Beneath Dominic's hard, flat belly was full proof of his masculinity, standing proud and erect. She was amazed that he could be so casual about his nudity, but oddly she felt longing as well as fear curl in the pit of her stomach.

  Hastily averting her gaze from that enormous swelling, Brie buried her face in the mattress. "Have you no decency?" she exclaimed, her words sounding muffled.

  Dominic's mouth twisted sardonically. "I am only human, chérie. I cannot control my body, even if I can manage to keep my desires in check. You do have a certain effect on a man."

  Not answering, Brie held herself rigidly still
, hoping he would go away. But Dominic only moved closer. She felt the cot sag as he sat beside her. Brie tensed, feeling his hand gently brush aside her hair, exposing the nape of her neck.

  His warm fingers began massaging the sensitive area. Then he bent to whisper in her ear, his voice holding a hint of steel. "Your pretense of virginal innocence, chérie, is not very believable. This is not the first time you have been with a man."

  Brie was startled that he could have learned her deepest secret. Dismayed, she turned to look up at him. "How did you know?"

  Dominic was conscious of a sharp twinge of jealously. "No woman kisses a man as you did, my sweet, without having had some experience. Have there been many others besides me?"

  Brie stared at him speechlessly, his insinuation making her furious. She had only had that one experience—and that had been when she was a foolish, love-stricken girl. She hadn't given Stanton any reason to think she would be receptive to his advances, either. Or perhaps she had, Brie amended, remembering that night at the lodge. But just because she had almost fallen for his seduction, didn't mean she would let it happen again, or that he could say such insulting things to her.

  She was so angry that her words sounded strangled. "How dare you?" she sputtered. "I am not a . . . a common doxy. There was only one man and it happened but once!"

  "Only once?" Dominic murmured. His doubtful gaze held Brie's as his fingers toyed absently with a russet curl. "Well, whoever he was, he must have been a fool to let you get away."

  Brie's eyes flashed fire. "He was more than a fool! He was a blackguard and a knave."

  Dominic smiled lazily, drawing a finger along her cheekbone. "A knave, is it? Would that he were here so that I could run him through with my sword."