Kimberly Nee - The McKenzie Brothers (18 page)

She hugged the book to her chest. “I certainly hope so,” she murmured, twisting the door handle with her free hand. “I certainly hope so.”

The room’s darkness didn’t trouble her as much as it once had, no doubt because of Garrett. Instead, a pleasant feeling wrapped around her. Happiness. That’s what it was. She was happy.

No longer foreboding, the darkness was friendly, carrying on it the warmth of content that seemed to settle over the entire house like a protective blanket in winter.

A soft tune rose to her lips, becoming a hum as she struck flint to steel to light lit the candelabra on the vanity. Light filled the room and, as she turned away from the bureau, that hum died as if shot.

Impaled into the mahogany vanity, was a dagger, stained red to its hilt. It had been stabbed through a sheet of dirty-looking paper that also had reddish-brown stains upon it.

Bile rose in her throat, and an icy chill stripped away every last one of those wonderful feelings like so much dirt that needed to be washed away.

The evening breeze ruffled the curtains, drawing her attention to the windows. She stared hard at them, as if Sanders was still there and would make himself visible.

“Garrett!” Fear and anger wrestled for prominence in her voice. Fear won, choking anger’s fire with frozen fingers. She was rooted to where she stood, staring in horror at the open window, where the curtains fluttered innocently. Was he still in the house? “Garrett!”

Wood slammed and groaned, and the bedroom door banged wildly into the wall as Garrett burst into the room. “What? What’s the matter?”

Whirling about, she jabbed a forefinger toward the bureau and spat, “That!”

“What the — ?”

“He was here!” Unexpected tears clogged her throat. She didn’t want to cry, but couldn’t help herself. “
Here
!”

Garrett took her in his arms, but she didn’t want comfort. As she fought against his embrace, he tightened his arms about her. “It will be all right, love.” She jerked away from him. “How can you possibly say that? He knows I’m here!”

“Which means he knows
I’m
here as well.”

“And that obviously means nothing to him.” She sank into him, sliding her arms about his waist and let her head come to rest on his chest. ““I don’t want to run again, Garrett. Not again. He’ll only keep hunting me down and finding me no matter where I go. He’s followed me from London! He’ll not stop until he drives me mad. And now…he’s been
here
. In our house. In our
chambers
.”

“You aren’t running again. Not now. And this bastard is going to be sorry he was ever born.”

A chill crept over her, dull but relentless. It set her to trembling, despite Garrett’s arms tight about her. She never felt anything as cold as the terror coursing through her. Katherine pressed deeper into the comforting warmth of his embrace. Resting her head against his chest, she found reassurance in the steady heartbeat beneath her ear. Little by little, her shaking stopped. The fine lawn of his shirt was soft beneath her cheek and his hand stroking her hair was gentle and did much to calm her. “Garrett…”

“Don’t worry, Katherine. I give you my word, he will rue the day he ever set foot in Brunswick.” He pulled away from her, moving to the vanity to snatch the knife from the wood and slam it down. Then, he lifted the paper and read aloud, “‘Say your prayers. Your time will come.’”

Garrett balled up the missive, crushing it in his fist, and hurled it into the fireplace. He leaned forward, his hands braced against the marble mantle, his back rigid, the muscles of his shoulders bunched beneath fine lawn. “Son of a bitch!”

“Garrett — ” She reached for him.

He stormed toward the windows, where the draperies fluttered on a breeze that was no longer nearly as loving as she’d imagined. Wood met wood with a reverberating bang as he slammed the sash down. Fury brewed in his eyes as he stalked by her, leaving her to stare at an empty doorway as he left the room.

Still uneasy, Katherine sat against the head of their bed. As her shock and horror wore off, she opened the windows and although he offered up a long hard stare at her, Garrett said nothing. Nor did he move to close the windows again. Instead, he carried a large wooden box to his desk and opened it to remove two pistols.

And there he sat, head bent over the weapons, his attentions focused solely on his task. There was only one lamp lit, so he sat half in shadow, half in the soft glow of the candle. Even seated, he cut an imposing figure. Did Sanders have any inkling of what kind of enemy he’d created?

Taking a deep breath, she crept up behind him, slipping her arms around his broad shoulders.

He must have sensed her approach, for he did not start, but leaned back into her. “I was wondering how long it would take before watching me bored you.”

She peered over his shoulder. “I am not bored, Garrett. Simply curious. I can hardly see from over there.”

“Sorry, lady, but there is nothing interesting to see.”

“Now
that
all depends on your point of view,” she whispered teasingly, brushing her lips over his ear.

His eyes closed. “Mmmm…I could become quite spoiled by this.”

“As could I.”

“Don’t stop then. Please, continue.”

She brushed her lips down over the rough slope of his neck. He set the pistol on the desk to join its mate, reaching around to slip an arm about her waist.

She didn’t resist as he drew her down onto his lap, turning her so her legs draped over the outsides of his thighs and she faced him.

His eyes caught hers, holding them as he drew his forefinger over her collarbone and down along the edge of the cotton gown. “Now this is something I could most definitely become spoiled by.”

A tiny shiver raced up her spine. “Really now?”

He gave her a devilish grin, catching one side of the wrap between his fingers. “Really.”

Her blood warmed at that inviting grin. He was still dressed, but had opened his white lawn shirt in deference to the ever-present heat. She took advantage of the situation to mimic his move, trailing her fingers down his chest.

His hands slid up along her neck to cradle her face. He pulled her down, his lips capturing hers in a soft kiss.

She slid her arms about his midsection, her hands inching beneath the fine lawn. His back was hot and damp, but goose bumps rose as her fingernails traced over him.

Her lips parted, accepting the sensual velvety warmth of his tongue. He probed gently, teasing her the entire time, drawing her tongue back into his mouth. His fingers twisted in her hair, freeing it from its moorings before his hands slipped back to the neckline of her wrap.

He parted the cotton easily, slipping it from her shoulders and letting it pool about her elbows. Pulling away, he let his eyes slowly roam over her. Her hair shielded her, tumbling over her shoulders and hiding her breasts from his view.

“God, you are beautiful.” His hands fell to her hips and gripped them to bring her into direct contact with his arousal. She leaned forward to lace her fingers through his hair, nuzzling her cheek against it as his fingers crept past her ribcage, dancing over her overheated flesh.

His lips continued to caress the sensitive flesh of her left breast, his tongue swirling sensually about her nipple, causing her to clench her fingers.

He lifted his lips from her breast, looking up to meet her gaze. He didn’t say a word, just gazed up at her with a mixture of wonder and delight.

His gaze never wavered, but there was no mistaking the heat in his eyes. The pupils widened, his irises darkened to molten gold, and she shivered at the sensual fire in those eyes.

“What is it?” She brushed a finger down his smooth cheek.

“You.” His gaze slowly roamed down the curve of her neck to the rise of her breasts, over her belly, and then coming up once more. “You take my breath away, sweetheart.”

She didn’t know how to respond. His words filled her with pleasure to chase away any discomfort caused by his stare.

Garrett reached up to cup her cheek with one hand. “Come here.” He was all seriousness now, pushing her hair back over her shoulders, his sleepy, hooded eyes closed as he leaned into her. She gasped as his lips again closed about one pebbled nipple, his tongue picking up where it had left off.

Her entire body demanded that she explore him as well as he explored her. His lips still scorched her breast, while his hands had begun roaming over her entire body. But when she moved to touch him, he pulled away. “No, no…”

He rose against her and she shivered against the forged steel of his entire body in that one part of him. Sparks erupted from that little place just below the pit of her stomach, bouncing about in all directions.

Garrett still wouldn’t let her touch him. Every time she tried, he pushed her hands away. “I think not, lady.”

He held her on his lap, one hand slipping down between her thighs, into the curls at their apex. Her eyes closed at the rush of heat filling her as he gently thrust those skilled fingers inside her. Forcing them open, a soft moan slipped out before she could stop it. “Garrett.”

A sleepy smile came to his lips. “Shh. Love, simply enjoy yourself.”

She whimpered, her head falling forward into the curve of his shoulder. Unable to resist that urge to touch him, her lips swept up the side of his neck, her teeth catching at his earlobe and her fingers sliding into his hair, twisted and held on tight.

The delicious, sensuous heat began to grow, to spread, until she was positive she was going to go up in flames. Every nerve in her body sprang to life, from the top of her scalp to the soles of her feet.

“Don’t misunderstand this, love.”

She could barely fathom what he was saying, her head spinning madly from his attentions. Then, it became all too clear as she heard him unfasten his trousers.

His hands were on her hips, lifting her easily. Her breath
whooshed
from her lungs as he let go and suddenly, there was that wonderful fullness inside her.

She froze, not knowing what he expected, not knowing what he wanted her to do. Her gaze met his and she was rewarded with a husky laugh.

“Do whatever feels good,” he whispered, his fingers curving about her hips. “Take control of me, lady, and do to me what you will. I am yours, love. Completely at your mercy.”

Another shudder tore through her. “I don’t wish to hurt you, Garrett.”

His fingertips grazed her sensitive skin. “You aren’t about to hurt me, lady. Don’t worry yourself.” His fingers pressed urgently into her hips, inching her forward.

She gasped once more as he began rocking her. Sensations ripped through her body with the force of a tornado. It took only moments for her to find her instincts and take over.

He sank into the chair, his hands guiding her at first, but then caressing her, lazily skimming up the curve of her waist, down over the ridge of her hips. All the while, his gaze held hers, alive with desire.

At first, his heated topaz stare unnerved her, but as it held hers, her discomfort faded fast. She could not stop, could not even slow down. It felt far too wonderful to even consider it. Besides, that fullness demanded her complete attention.