He raised a finger. “You can’t ask again what you’ve only asked once.” Then he gave her a devilish smile. “And your sister Juliet requested our help in finding her cat.”
A gasp tore from Adrianna’s lips. “That scheming little witch.” Suddenly the details of lasts night’s conversation and this morning’s behavior clicked into place. Juliet’s cat likely wasn’t lost at all. This was all a ruse to interact with the men again before they left Seabridge Gate forever. Clearly, Juliet needed no help after all.
“I beg your pardon?” he asked.
She cocked a hand on one hip. “Let me ask you something. Was she speaking loudly? Gesturing wildly with her hands?”
His eyes grew a bit wider as his brow lifted. “As a matter of fact, yes.”
“Acting.” Her other hand cut through the air. “She’s an over-actor. Always has been.” When they’d put on plays for their mother and father as children, Juliet had always been the loudest, most effusive of them all.
“So the cat?”
“Likely fine,” Adrianna said. “But Juliet is sure to meet with a terrible accident when I find her.”
He frowned, shifting in the sand. “But why would she fake her cat getting lost?”
Adrianna fiddled with the ribbons under her chin as she glanced down at the beach. “I’m not certain she’s ready for you and your friends to depart our company.”
“Such treachery from a woman who appears so innocent,” he said, his voice hardening. “Not that I should expect any less. Most women will do the same.”
Her head snapped up. She could insult Juliet, but he was not allowed. Besides, she was fairly certain he’d just insulted her too and all womankind for that matter. “That isn’t fair. Lost cats are harmless enough.”
“And if I miss my boat?” he asked, straightening up.
Adrianna gave a small shrug. “My father will see you get passage on another.”
“It will be too late by then.”
“Too late for what?” she asked, looking up into his eyes then, irritation surely making them crinkle. “Your land deal?” Somehow that reminded her all the reasons she didn’t want this man here to begin with. He was a liar, for starters. “And how dare you speak of my sister that way when you were so obviously lying? What moral high ground have you got to stand upon, my lord?”
He stepped closer, closing the distance between them. “Lying? How can you say that?” But she noted his wince. They both understood that she’d just bested him.
“Oh please,” she said as she rolled her eyes. “A deal in an unspecified location sure to bring in an unnamed product from a lot of an undisclosed size. My father is too trusting by half. It’s always been his Achilles heel.”
“And what is yours?” Crestwood’s voice dropped low as their gazes tangled together.
She shivered, reminded of her wish to kiss this man right before he’d arrived. He made her so angry but also…he brought out her spirit, her fire, and she found herself entranced by the blue of his eyes. “I’m too sharp-tongued. What’s yours? Is lying your worst sin or do you have several more?”
“More,” he answered, moving even closer. “I’d name them all, but you’re not ready to hear them, so I’ll tell you the one I’m most likely to be guilty of in the next several seconds.”
“What’s that?” she asked, her gaze not breaking from his. Perhaps she should be scared, but she remembered the way his body had felt against hers the night before and only excitement pulsed through her. She’d never been less frightened of anyone.
“I’m going to teach an innocent lady how to kiss,” he said in a low, deep baritone that shook her insides to her core.
Chapter Six
Luke waited a full five seconds before he slowly lowered his head. He wanted her to have every opportunity to back up if she wished. This was a seduction. But his little minx didn’t back up at all. In fact, he was relatively certain, she leaned in closer. His body thrummed in response.
“How do you know I need a lesson? Perhaps I am an expert kisser already?” But her breath came out in short gasps and her lips had parted in invitation. Even her pupils had dilated as she tilted her chin up toward his.
Who did she think she was fooling?
As a rake, he understood perfectly when a woman wanted his touch. It was the first and most important skill he possessed.
Luke allowed a ghost of a smile to touch his lips. He loved that even as her body responded to his, her mind kept sparring. Some men might not like a little fight in their passion and he’d never considered himself that sort before, but he found the trait intoxicating in her. It fueled his desire and…there was something so honest about her barbs. She was not going to deceive him when she was telling him exactly how awful he was.
He grasped her cheek with his palm, lightly stroking her neck with his fingertips. Despite the rising passion between them, he reminded himself she was a tender virgin, raised in this far more wholesome place and he needed to take his time with her. “Expert?” he whispered just above her lips. He let the air from his lips tickle over hers. “Careful, lest another lie be exposed.”
She gasped and he knew she’d drawn in his breath. How was that so intimate? He’d done all sorts of depraved acts in the last five years. Why did simply sharing air seem so…special? Why was slow so much sexier than rushing headlong into passion? He wasn’t certain but he found he enjoyed this prolonged prelude. It was…more exciting than he’d ever imagined.
“I’ll have you know that I’ve kissed…” But she didn’t finish as he lightly brushed his lips against hers. They were achingly soft and so warm from the sun. Her body, just a few inches from his, radiated heat. Part of him wanted to pull her close but another part liked the fact that only their lips had touched as though they were savoring every place their skin came together.
“Don’t lie to me, sweetheart,” he said as he lifted his lips. “Your honesty is one of my favorite things about you.”
“Oh,” she whispered, blinking up at him, her gaze unfocused, her cheeks flushed.
Had he rendered her speechless? His chest swelled with pride. Perhaps he should do so again. And he lowered his mouth giving hers another light brush.
Her breath rushed out and he drew it in, noting the hints of cinnamon and spice that only added to her violet scent. Was everything about this woman appealing? But he forgot to answer his own question as her gloved palms pressed against his chest and slid up to his collarbone.
“I’ve never kissed anyone before today,” she said as he lifted his mouth.
A possessive pride and a surge of desire coursed through him. Why did it matter that he was the only man to ever touch her lips? Rather than say so, he kissed her again, more firmly pressing his mouth to hers.
She swayed closer and he slid his hands down her neck, over her arms, and around her back to draw her in closer still. He considered slanting her mouth open and touching his tongue to hers but didn’t. He normally never showed such reserve but he wanted this to be… He nearly choked. He wanted the kiss to be wholesome. A special little memory of a man who didn’t take too much, just gave her a perfect first kiss. Bloody hell, he was doing this for her not himself.
With that in mind, he lifted his head, even as he still held her close. “You were right. There is no land deal. Just a party that I hoped to attend.” That he still hoped to attend, didn’t he?
Adrianna looked up at him, still pressed to his body as her hands circled about his neck. “A party so important, you’d lie to my father about a possible contract?”
Guilt and shame made his insides twist. “I thought it was terribly important.” But now he wasn’t so certain. All the pleasures he’d hoped to experience had been trumped with one chaste kiss.
Which scared the hell out of him. His stomach churned even as he held her closer.
She nodded. Her small frame pressed to his from chest to hip and he gave her waist a light squeeze drawing her closer still. “And now?” she asked, h
er head cocking to the side.
He sighed, half hating the answer that came to his lips. A day ago, he’d been so sure of who he was and what he wanted from life. Now? At this moment he didn’t know anything. Whether to stay or to go, to kiss Adrianna again or leave before either of them got hurt. “Now, I think finding Mittens is the most important task of them all.”
Something surged deep inside her at his answer. Fear? Excitement? She wasn’t entirely certain, but she tried to pull back just a little, hoping to examine her feelings. He held firm. “You don’t mean that,” she said, her voice high and tight.
He shrugged. “I might.” Then he shook his head. “I might not.”
She slid her hands back down his chest and gently pushed to create some distance. “Well then, we’ll continue our search for Mittens, but we’ll look toward the village. You’ve only got a half hour to make it to the boat.”
His mouth pressed into a hard line but he stepped back, holding out his elbow. “Should we keep searching the beach?”
“I don’t think so.” She slid her hand into the crook, digging her fingers into hard muscles. “I checked our hideout in the rocks. It’s the one place Mittens might go on the beach. She wasn’t there.”
“Hideout?” he asked. “How interesting.”
She grinned then. “It is actually. Sheltered by the wind, hidden from view. Ophelia and His Grace had a picnic there last night. It’s why they didn’t attend dinner.”
“Picnic?” His brows went up. “Alone?”
Adrianna gave him a sparkling grin. “Papa thought she was in bed with a headache. But the Duke of Rathmore wished to propose and give Ophelia her romantic fantasy while he did so.” Adrianna let out a soft sigh.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Rathmore is good. I’ll give him that. How far is the spot from here?”
“Not more than five minutes, but you’ll never make your boat if we go there.”
He grimaced. “To the path then.” And then they began walking toward the steep path that wound up the rockface to their home and the village.
Silence settled between them as they began picking their way up the path of the rocky cliff. She’d done the climb a thousand or more times in her life, but she had to confess, this particular time, she liked the hand that came to her waist often as she went.
Finally reaching the top, she looked back down at the beach where they’d just stood. “Thank you for that kiss,” she said, still staring below. She was surprised at her own sincerity but she’d meant the words. Adrianna had dreamed of that kiss all night and the reality had been so much better. “I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.” And that was the honest truth. It had been beautiful. Absolutely perfect.
“You’re welcome.” He brushed her cheek with his hand again. “It’s the part I’ve always been good at. I’m glad I gave you the experience you hoped for.”
Something in his words held an unexpected sadness and she looked at him then, noting the dark blue of his now-crinkled eyes. “The part you’ve always—” But she stopped. Cocking her head, she heard the soft meow of what sounded like a kitten. “Did you hear that?”
He looked to the side, training his ear toward the sound as another meow called from the rocks. “Is that a cat?”
“Drat,” she muttered, stepping closer to the rock face. “It must be in one of those clusters of rocks.” And she pointed to a group that was about a third of the way down the cliff. The rock cluster had a narrow ledge to access it. She’d safely traversed the path a number of times and knew all the footings, but it had been a long time since she’d attempted the task. It wasn’t the safest. “The wind is carrying the sound up to us.”
He shook his head. “You’ve got to be kidding me. We’ll never get the cats there.”
But she started back down toward the ledge, jumping over rocks as she nimbly traversed the path. “I’ve been to that cluster more times than I care to admit. You go. Get on your boat, my lord. I’ll be fine.”
“First of all, my name is Luke.” He crossed his arms as she stopped to look up at him again.
“Luke?” She held her skirts in her hands, lifted them so that she might see her feet as she moved.
“Lucas,” he gritted out, starting to follow her as she continued down the path. “But my older brother came up with the nickname, Luke, and I always preferred it.”
Adrianna stopped, pivoting toward him. “Older brother? But you hold the title?”
His jaw hardened. “For the past two years.”
Her skirts dropped into place and suddenly she wasn’t moving down the path any longer but toward him. Without a word, she reached out her hand and he slipped her fingers into his. His long fingers were large and strong, but he clearly needed comfort now. “I’m so sorry, Luke. How terrible to have lost your brother.”
Chapter Seven
Luke stared at Adrianna’s beautiful face, from her large blue eyes, to her perfect little nose, to those delightfully pouty lips, all her features etched in sympathy. Other than the solicitor, not one person had uttered those words to him.
In defense of his friends, he hadn’t spoken of it to anyone. The only other person he’d discussed Marcus’s death with was his former lover and his brother’s wife, Miranda. Worst conversation of his life. “Thank you,” he bit out, turning away from her as he let go of her hand and moved around her to reach the outcropping of rocks. The meowing grew louder and he was more certain that was where the cats were.
“How did it happen?” she asked, falling in step behind him. “Watch your step there, those rocks are loose.”
“Disease of the lung,” he answered, not looking at Adrianna. She’d surely see the pain still tightening his features.
“Obviously your father is gone. Mother?” she asked, easily keeping up with him on the narrow ledge that led to the outcropping. The woman was part mountain goat.
“Also deceased,” he answered tightly. “The only family I have is one sister-in-law who I—” He didn’t finish. Was he actually considering telling her about Miranda?
“Stop.” She grabbed his arm. “This section crumbles.” He did as she commanded. “Honestly, if you’re truly set on going with me, you should allow me to lead the way.”
He turned to look back at her. “Seriously?” Then he scrubbed his hand through his hair. “I consider myself a rather masculine man and yet you’ve had to rescue me on a balcony and now you want to lead the way on a dangerous cliff edge?”
Adrianna gave him a wide smile. “I’m not your average sort of girl.”
Now that was an understatement. “You can’t get by me, anyhow. The ledge isn’t wide enough.”
“Lean against the rock and hold onto me, would you?”
He did as she commanded and sure enough, her lithe body slid across his, causing all sorts of his muscles to clench. “That was easier than I thought.”
“Stay here. I’ll pass the cats to you.” She winked then, hopping over a loose section and made her way to the outcropping. He followed, mimicking her steps until they’d reached the cluster of rocks from where the meows originated. “Mittens,” she cooed, leaning down into the rocks. “What are you doing here?” The sound of her voice made his insides twist and ache. He could almost picture his head in her lap as she stroked his hair, making those same sweet noises for him.
A meow was her only answer and Luke watched as she scooped two kittens into her arms. “Here,” she said, crossing back to him and dropping the little bundles of fur into his hands. Automatically, he curled them into his body. “The larger grey one is Jinx. And the little black and white girl is Socks.”
The soft little fur balls meowed, looking up at him with large, frightened eyes. One, the black and white, started pawing at his shirt and before he knew it, was climbing his chest. He plucked the thing back into his hand and it gave a pathetic cry. Automatically, he lifted the tiny ball of warm fur and damn it if the thing didn’t lick his face and then burrow into his cheek. “I haven’t held a k
itten in years.”
Adrianna leaned up from the rock face again, holding a third kitten and a larger cat in her arms. “Mittens. What are you doing down here?” Then her eyes narrowed. “Is that a bowl in the outcropping with you?” She tsked. “Naughty Juliet. Don’t worry, Mittens. I’ll make her pay for what she’s done.” Then she kissed the cat. “Weren’t you a good mama, staying with your babies?”
His chest tightened. She’d make an excellent mother, he’d guess. He thought of his fantasy just moments before when he’d pictured her nurturing him. She’d be a wonderful wife too. He snuggled the two cats he held closer. “Let’s get off this ledge, shall we?”
She nodded, her mouth turning down. “I’m sorry you missed your boat.”
He let out a sigh. He had no appetite for Balstead’s den of sin. “I don’t think I am. The longer I am in Seabridge Gate, the more I think I might have been on the wrong path. The question I still don’t understand is which path I should actually be on.”
He’d been going through the motions of life for some time. For the first time in a long time, he felt awake and alive. He’d like to stay in Seabridge Gate and see if this place held the answers.
“Well for right this moment, there is only one. The one off this cliff.” She gave him a small smile. “Do you want me to go first?”
He shook his head. “I don’t dare risk you going around me with your hands full. I’ll go slow. You direct me.” The warm little bodies of the kittens snuggled into his chest as Adrianna stood close to his back. He’d like to wrap them all up in a warm hug. When was the last time he’d done anything in tandem like this?
“All right,” she answered. “Now, back to our discussion. You said that you don’t know your path. What path have you been on?”
“Not a very moral one,” he answered. “But I tried the more virtuous route in my youth and it didn’t fit me either.” The one kitten at his face had burrowed in his neck. How had he not realized how snuggly these damn creatures could be? The little thing began to purr, gentle vibrations filling his chest and causing him to relax despite the rocky cliff’s edge. He actually liked holding this cat.
Romancing the Rake: Seven Regency Romances Page 13
