In the Garden of Temptation (19 page)

Catherine felt the old rebellion that
appeared whenever she allowed her misgivings to get the upper hand.
She had made her choice, so why castigate herself over a situation
she wouldn’t change even if she could?

She retrieved the valise and, snapping open
the catch, pulled the nightdress from the bag. Catherine grasped
the garment by the neck and shook it free of wrinkles. It was white
cambric and a touch of lace, sleeveless with a drawstring neck.
Quite simple, really—plain if she were honest. One thing for
certain, no one would mistake it for the alluring gown of a lady
who “entertained” gentlemen friends.

Suddenly, she wished she were more
worldly-wise and less naive. Lord Ashworth would expect a woman who
knew what to expect. From his point of view, her marriage would
have given her an understanding of the carnal side of wedlock.
However, except for that wildly exciting episode in the glen, she
was as untried as a newborn babe. She feared the earl’s tastes
might be sophisticated, a thought that had not occurred to her
until he had made the mistake of telling her about his
mistress.

Catherine could not completely erase the hurt
that had followed Adam’s disclosure of the other woman, although it
came as no surprise. He was youthful, a wealthy aristocrat, and
he’d had a life before he met her. What she refused to acknowledge
was the conclusion of her own romantic journey with him. For every
beginning had an end, and therein lay the pitfall. She must
continue to remind herself that one did not enter into a love
affair with long-term planning.

She donned the homely nightgown then reached
for her valise again, removing her brush. Crossing to the small
vanity that occupied one corner of the chamber, she pulled out the
bench and sat down.

Catherine began removing the pins from her
hair. She started at the crown of her head and drew the brush
through the thick mass, repeating the process until the air around
her crackled with static.

Outside the mad dash of a horse’s hooves on
the cobblestones disturbed the stillness of the night. Someone’s in
a hurry, she thought absently. The ormolu clock on the mantle
chimed the hour, and Catherine glanced at it in curiosity. Eleven
o’clock—he will be here soon. Strangely, it never occurred to her
that he might not come. She smiled serenely and resumed her
brushing.

*****

Adam took the stairs two at a time, his heart
pumping from exertion. He reached the landing and paused to catch
his breath. Sighting the apartment at the end of the corridor, he
moved toward it, his heart turning over in his chest for an
entirely different reason. He placed his hand on the knob as he
drew abreast of the room, but the latch must have been undone, for
the door moved silently inward on its well-oiled hinges. Adam
entered the chamber.

Across the room from him, Catherine sat at a
dressing table brushing her hair. She was not yet aware of him, and
he took the rare moment to observe her when she thought herself
alone.

She bent her head forward, exposing her slim
neck as she pulled her gilded tresses over her shoulder. Closing
her eyes, she hummed tunelessly while continuing the hypnotic
movement of the brush. Adam was captivated by the utter loveliness
of the feminine routine. It occurred to him that he could watch
this delightful ritual every day for the rest of his life if they
were wed. The intensity of the ache that accompanied the wistful
observation surprised him.

*****

“
You should lock the door,
my dear.”

Catherine jerked around. “My lord! I didn’t
know you were there.”

He was leaning against the doorjamb, arms
folded across his chest, looking more handsome in his casual attire
than ever he had before. He stared at her with such intensity she
stood and moved toward him in concern.

“
Is anything amiss, my
lord?”

Adam’s gaze drifted down her figure.

“
My lord?” she ventured
again, suddenly unsure.

His attention continued to linger on the
frumpy gown, and now Catherine knew for certain the garment had
been an uninspired selection. She was thoroughly unnerved when at
last Adam chose to look into her face, his expression avid with
undisguised lust. Perhaps, she thought with sudden insight, it was
not such a bad choice after all.

“
Come here,” he
growled.

Catherine put her hand to her throat and
traveled the short distance that separated them, her emotions a
potent mixture of anxiety and excitement. He continued to watch
her, his nostrils flaring, his respiration visibly
accelerating.

As she drew near, he placed his hands on her
shoulders while pulling her roughly against him. He stared into her
pale features, his own face inches away. At last his gaze dropped
to her parted lips and, slipping his fingers into her hair, he
began to ravage her mouth.

He rained kisses on her eyelids and cheeks
before bringing his tongue to the tender hollow at the base of her
throat. Adam ran his hands down the small of her back to grasp her
buttocks. He pressed her tightly against his pelvis, and a groan
exploded deep in his chest.

Catherine felt overwhelmed by the onslaught
of Adam’s passion and completely unprepared for her own violent
response. “You go too quickly, my lord,” she managed weakly.
“Please…”

He lifted his head. “Adam,” he demanded, his
breathing harsh.

“
Wh-what?”

“
My name is Adam. When you
call me ‘my lord,’ you place a wedge between us I cannot like.” He
lowered his voice to an erotic whisper. “I would have nothing
between us—not even this gown.”

Adam deftly released the string that held the
top of her nightdress together. He ran his thumbs along her
collarbone while easing the thin cotton garment from her
shoulders.

The pulse in her throat began to throb
unbearably, and she crossed her wrists over her breasts,
forestalling his efforts.

Adam frowned. “Are you fearful?” he asked
gently. “I’ve not perceived that as a problem before.”

“
No,” she said, shaking her
head, “uneasy, perhaps. It’s simply that…well, we’ve hardly spoken.
A supper’s been prepared. Aren’t you interested in eating?” She
indicated the small dining table with the covered
dishes.

Adam drew her into his arms again and placed
his mouth next to her ear. “Ah, Catherine,” he ground out, “there
is only one appetite I feel compelled to satisfy. We’ll talk, I
promise. But don’t make me wait. I beg you—it’s been so long.” He
pulled back and, taking her face in his hands, forced her to look
at him. “Love me now, sweeting, lest I splinter into a million
wretched pieces.”

Surely the good Lord had never intended a
flesh and blood woman to resist such an exquisite entreaty. The man
knew about seduction, no doubt about it. A pleasurable heat
unfurled in her belly and radiated throughout her lower body.

Catherine gave the neck of her gown one good
yank, opening it completely. As she dropped her arms to her sides,
it flowed in a wispy rustle down her naked form to pool at her
feet.

Adam went very still, the sudden tenseness
around his eyes and mouth revealing a barely controlled fire. He
did not ogle her, however, instead scooping her up into his arms
and striding toward the bed. He laid her atop the quilted coverlet
with the deference accorded fragile glass. Only then did she see
him take a sidelong glance down her exposed length, lingering
briefly before bringing his burning gaze back to hers.

Leaning over her, he placed his hands on
either side of her body, his expression serious.

“
Before we begin,” he said,
“I think I should tell you something I’ve only recently discovered
for myself.” He paused and drew in a deep breath. “I’m in love with
you, Catherine. What we do here is in honor of that love. I would
have you feel no other way.”

He was wooing her with every wile at his
command, reassuring her of his devotion, yet she detected
vulnerability in his confession. He need not have worried. A sense
of well-being drifted over Catherine, and a caressing warmth seized
her heart, long frozen from disuse and despair.

“
Oh, Adam, I knew anything
was possible in this room.” She threw her arms around his neck and
pulled him into her embrace. “I do perceive one problem, though.”
She bit her lower lip, watching him coyly.

“
What might that be, love?”
he asked, seemingly bemused by her quicksilver
temperament.

“
I think it unfair that you
are overdressed. After all,” she murmured, “I’m more ready to
proceed than you are.”

That provided all the encouragement he
needed. The Earl of Ashworth disrobed in record time, flinging his
garments willy-nilly about the tiny apartment in his haste.

Catherine watched in fascination—and
something more—as his handsome body surfaced from beneath the
layers of discarded clothing.

Adam stripped off his drawers and looked up
just in time to intercept Catherine’s wide-eyed gape of
astonishment as she became aware of the physical results of his
arousal. Her gaze shifted to his face and a pregnant silence filled
the room. A sudden merry twinkle lit her eyes as she noted his
embarrassed expression.

“
Should I be afraid?” she
asked.

“
Witch!” He laughed, the
sound bouncing off the walls and dancing over their heads. He
fairly leapt upon Catherine as he joined her on the bed. Wrapping
his arms around her, he rolled on his back, pulling her on top of
him.

Catherine gazed down at him, heavy tresses
trailing over her shoulders and onto his chest. Her cheeks felt
flushed as she watched him, and a slow smile touched her lips.

“
My God, you’re ravishing!”
He spoke in hushed tones.

She was acutely aware of the taut masculinity
of his nakedness where she lay pressed against him, and her
breathing intensified. Leaning forward, she set her mouth to his
and ever so slightly touched her tongue to his bottom lip.

It was as though she released the cork on a
bottle of champagne. Adam’s rigidly controlled emotions erupted,
spewing forth to overwhelm them both. And, like the uncorked wine,
there would be no turning back.

Adam grasped the back of her head, pressing
her face firmly against his own, so her lips parted beneath the
urgency of his kiss. Grabbing Catherine around the waist, he
brought her onto her back, covering her with his body.

“
Look at me!” he
rasped.

She glanced at him, only to be riveted by the
passionate frenzy transforming his face. His dark eyes flashed
wildly with unchecked desire. At that moment he took her, and
Catherine was sucked into a maelstrom of exquisite sensation. She
felt no pain this time, just burgeoning arousal promising the
ecstasy of release.

Adam pushed into her, penetrating the slick,
tight passage completely. He paused at once, clearly shaken as
though he fought to stave off a climax that came dangerously close
before he was anywhere near to being ready. He inhaled a quivering
breath, seeming to steady himself, and chanced the thrusting again.
He withdrew then plunged deeply, shuddering.

Catherine reveled in his passion, a passion
she sensed had gone nearly out of control. This time she knew what
he sought and she wanted it, too. She wanted to be closer to him,
to intensify the sensation. All she could think of was where his
body was joined to hers—the hypnotic motion, the pressure.

Mindless now and panting breathlessly, she
wrapped her legs around his hips. Straining hard against him, her
movements became as intense and frantic as his. That was all it
took. She came immediately, her gratification so violent she opened
her mouth in a silent scream.

At that moment, Adam slipped his hands
beneath her hips and, drawing her even tighter to him, he buried
himself in her one last time. Rearing up, a low, guttural rumble
tore from his throat. He rocked back and forth, as though wringing
the last of the feeling from his climax. Then he slumped,
exhausted, on top of her. He groaned into the heated flesh of her
neck.

“
I’m sorry. I left you
behind. I swear I’m not usually so selfish.”

Catherine cradled his damp brow next to her
breast. “I was with you every moment.”

Adam raised his head, sudden hope lighting
his gaze. “Are you certain? You are not just trying to console
me?”

She pursed her lips, considering the weighty
matter. “No, no. I’m fairly certain,” she said, amusement tingeing
her words. “It’s a difficult thing to mistake, you see.”

The earl chuckled. “True, true…”

She hesitated then, suddenly shy. “There’s
something I forgot to mention.” As he hovered over her, Catherine
traced a pattern on his chest with her finger before looking at him
through her lashes.

“
Yes?” he encouraged her
gently.

“
I love you as
well.”

The Earl of Ashworth was plainly undone, the
emotion flooding his features revealing how much her confession
meant to him. Easing off her onto his side, he pulled Catherine
into his arms with her back to him. His touch was no longer sexual,
instead tender as if seeking something else, something he had not
even known he needed.

“
I should be leaving,” she
mumbled, her voice drowsy.

Adam drew her closer. “Stay with me awhile,
sweeting,” he implored her. “I cannot bear the thought of you
leaving me so soon.”

Catherine nestled deeper into his embrace and
allowed herself to be persuaded. Within moments, she slept.