Charming a Spy (16 page)

She didn’t protest, not even a word and only stared at him, setting his loins on fire. Kat wanted this as much as he did. That knowledge made it hotter. He leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips, softly pressing his mouth against hers, intending to go slowly. They were, after all, standing up in the forest.

Kat held the sides of his face and pulled him into her mouth in a rough and impatient kiss. Apparently she had no intention of
slow
. She clung to his shoulders and pushed her bosom against his chest. He knew what she wanted…she was full of desperate need and far be it from him to deny her. Geoff wasn’t surprised at her reaction. He now knew Katherine had incredible passion built up inside her. Their previous interludes had opened the floodgates; she couldn’t wait any longer.

He took one breast in his hand and started kneading her nipple between his fingers. Her skin was as soft as silk beneath his rough hand. She pulled her gown down so he had full access to her naked chest. Slipping one nipple in his mouth, he sucked. She gasped and arched into him.

Returning to her mouth again, he pushed himself against her, letting her feel the full length of his erection. She gasped, his sweet innocent Kat, but then she started grinding her hips against him. As naïve as she was, without knowing what she was doing, her actions worked them both into a lust so urgent neither would last long. She was following a primal instinct, letting her body be her guide.

“Oh Geoff,” she whispered. He couldn’t wait any longer, pushing her away to take off his jacket and place it on the ground. He lay on it, took her hand, pulling her down on top of him. She straddled him, her skirts falling to the sides, her pert naked breasts in the air.

She leaned down to kiss him and he held her breasts again, this time the position putting the fullness of her entirely in his hands. He was in heaven.

Within a few moments, she stopped and sat up with the most curious expression on her face.

“What is it?” he asked, worried she’d heard someone coming. But she wasn’t searching for intruders. She was staring at his trousers.

“Is it later?” Kat asked.

He knew what she meant. He’d promised her another time he would show her how to please him and now she wanted that.

“Yes, it can be later,” he answered, starting to unbutton his trousers, but she pushed his hands away and took over the job herself. She was emboldened, sitting on top of him. His brave Katherine.

When he sprung free, she froze and stared at his member, drinking in the length of him with her eyes. Once she finally touched him, it took everything in his power not to lose himself right then.

He struggled to lie perfectly still, to let her explore his body for the first time even though it felt like torture. She ran her fingertips up and down his length. “It’s so soft,” she said, sounding surprised. “And so very hard at the same time.” Again, circling her fingers around his cock, she smiled. Geoff put his hand around hers and showed her the gently stroking rhythm making his blood boil.

“Do you like this?” she whispered.

“Kat, you have no idea. I like this too much. You need to stop soon or I will lose myself now.”

“I want you to. I want to make you feel what you did to me,” Kat said, stroking him now with firm, sure strokes.

“We can both have our pleasure together,” he said. She didn’t say anything, but nodded her answer. She was brave and shy, wanting things her body knew, even though she didn’t know how to express it.

He pushed the fabric of her skirts up and parted the many layers until he found the slit in her drawers. Placing his thumb there, he touched her soft folds wrapping around him. She was wet, moistened by their play. He rubbed her with one hand and with the other, guided her hand back around him again.

“Do you see? Together…” But she already did. Her hips were rocking back and forth, working herself against his thumb while pumping his erection. He wasn’t going to last long at this rate, but thankfully she was already starting to find her climax. Kat’s head fell backward, her eyes closed, letting their bodies instinctively do the work.

“Yes, Kat, that’s it.” He coaxed her with his eyes. Watching her get so hot was driving him insane. “Go there, love. Let yourself have it,” he said. She tensed around him. Her thighs quivered on either side of his legs, and he took his own advice, going over the edge of ecstasy. For a perfect moment the world exploded into light… and then nothingness.

Geoff didn’t even realize his eyes were closed or that he was breathing until Kat laid her head on his shoulder. He brushed her hair away and kissed her forehead.

“I like together,” she said softly into his chest.

God help him. This wasn’t going to end well.

‡

T
he next day
was endless. At least it seemed that way. The men were out on a hunt and the women were left to occupy themselves. Kat ate breakfast, went for a walk around the grounds, worked on her embroidery, went for another walk, drank tea and still it was only noontime. She longed for the night. Dark, delicious night when Geoff might sneak into her room again and do naughty things to her. If only the dratted sun would set.

She tried to read. Kat could always lose time in a book. She went to the library and hunkered down in a chair by the fire with her novel. Several paragraphs later, she realized she had absolutely no idea what she’d read. Starting again, this time she managed a whole page and a half before realizing she still didn’t retain a single word. It was no use. Her mind was currently about as capable as scrambled eggs.

Eventually, she gave up and passed the interminable minutes making a list in her head of things she wanted to ask Geoff. What was his plan for figuring out if Luke was still alive? Would he launch an official military investigation? Interview survivors from Corunna? Travel to Spain or France?

Maybe Geoff could talk to Rafe Grier about her brother. She hadn’t gained any information from asking him questions about Luke and had no desire to ever speak to the infuriating man again. But he was the only person who’d seen her brother the day he disappeared. Plus, he wasn’t likely to try and kiss Geoff, so he’d be safer than she was asking questions.

And when could they do that
together
thing again? She liked it. A lot.

Thankfully night did eventually come, although it sure did take its time. Again, Kat was seated at the far end of the dining table, this time next to Mrs. Trannen, who talked incessantly about her roses winning first prize in the spring show. The woman was sweet, and normally Kat would be interested in learning about her accomplishments, but tonight she didn’t hear a word. To be fair, there could have been ten marching bands rehearsing in the next room and Kat doubted she would notice. The thoughts in her mind drowned out anything else.

What if, after last night, Geoff changed his mind? Now he’d gotten what he wanted, maybe he would renege on his side of the bargain. Aunt Ellie warned her about this once, something about giving away free milk when she could charge to be a cow. Kat didn’t remember the phrase exactly, but she did remember the sentiment. A young unmarried lady should keep her virtue, else the man would not give her what she wanted.

Unfortunately, Kat had clearly thrown her advantage out the window last night about the time Geoff’s hands eased between her legs. Then she’d put her hands between his. She was on top of him, riding him and touching him all at once. Oops. Kat remembered where she was.

“My dear, are you all right?” Mrs. Trannen inquired.

“Quite,” Kat lied.

“You’ve just turned three shades of red. Are you sure you are feeling okay?”

“I must be parched,” Kat said quickly grabbing for her water glass and taking a long drink. She set the glass down and looked up to find Geoff staring at her. Actually, it was more than a stare. More accurately, he was burning a hole through her flesh with his eyes. He’d seen her flush and guessed at the cause.

The expression he flashed in her direction was not empathetic. It was not a look saying he had any intentions of reneging on their bargain either. Truthfully, the smirk on his face was not appropriate for a dinner party. Desire. Heat. Longing.

Good. He still wanted her. Only this time she would be sure to get some answers from him first before giving away her cow for free or whatever the silly saying was. From now on, Geoff was going to have to work for his milk. Kat made a mental note to start asking tough questions directly after dinner.

Unfortunately Geoff had other plans and did not enter the drawing room with the other men after they took their port. Kat was not the only one who noticed their host’s absence. Without the duke, the debutantes had no trophy to compete for and the men did not have to challenge him for the women’s attention. It wasn’t any fun. The energy seemed to leave the party entirely. Some went to their rooms right away while others lounged listlessly in the drawing room, chatting in small groups or half-heartedly playing Whist for coins.

Kat sat with Maribel, Trig, and Sage reliving the day’s hunt. She was doing her best to look enthralled, but probably putting on a very poor show. “I couldn’t believe I didn’t bag a single pheasant,” Sage said to Kat. “The forest was practically overflowing with them and yet I returned without any. It’s embarrassing. And this one,” he said, pointing to Trig, “he came home with three. Insult to injury, I tell you.”

“Trig has always been a brilliant hunter,” Maribel said. Trig beamed at her compliment. Kat noticed since last night’s musicale rescue, Maribel’s attitude had been warmer towards Trig. They would make a brilliant couple. Their parents were great friends, family property bordered one another and they’d known each other for years. Plus, neither one had propositioned the other with intimate acts in exchange for investigative work. She was jealous at the pure lack of complication in their budding relationship.

But Kat knew there was no use being jealous, hoping for things to be different than they were was pointless. She’d spent the last two years wishing for Luke to be home and he wasn’t. Also, she couldn’t change the circumstances of her relationship with Geoff. Things were what they were. Her relationship with the duke was professional and always would be. She was using his power and he was using her body. An even exchange. Or at least it would be as soon as she got him to start investigating in earnest.

“I believe I will stop by the library to get a book and then retire to my room for the evening,” Kat said, making her excuses to leave and go look for Geoff.

“So early?” Maribel asked. She knew her friend was not ready for the night to end.

“I’m afraid so,” Kat answered. “But please, don’t feel any obligation to break up the party on my behalf.” She offered Maribel her most discreet wink. Maribel blushed.

“Would you like me to accompany you to the library?” Sage asked with a tint of hopefulness in his voice.

“Oh, no, thank you, Mr. Townsey. I will really be stopping only for a moment and then hopping off to sleep. Thank you for your thoughtfulness,” she said sincerely. She liked Sage. He was a good man and he made her laugh. She wondered if the past few weeks had not happened if she would have accepted Sage’s escort to the library and seen what transpired from there. But now only one man set her pulse racing every time he was near. She left the drawing room and followed the passageway. Perhaps Geoff would be in the library again.

‡

T
he library was
empty when Kat arrived, but candles were burning and a fire glowed in the fireplace. She did not think it possible, but this library was actually bigger than the duke’s in London. Despite its vast size, it still had the same wonderful smell and cozy feel.

Kat left the novel in her room so she pulled another book off the shelf called, “The Case of the Missing Pendant” and read the first several pages to pass the time. Not that she was waiting per se.

Geoff could be anywhere. Maybe he was talking with one of the guests, or working in his office, or maybe he retired early after his late night with her. She hoped he didn’t have a late night with someone else. It’s not as though she had any right to wish anything about him, much less that he was alone. She held no particular claim over him. But still, Kat prayed.