The Runner's Enticement (Men of Circumstance Book 2) (11 page)

Chapter 20

“Don’t you think so Anna, dear?”

At the sound of her name, Anna raised her eyes from the food she’d been pushing around her plate. Her mind locked on Nate’s absence, she had to ask her father to repeat his question and while doing so, she ignored the inquisitive look Evie sent from across the table.

Her father gave a quick laugh before answering, “It is usually myself who needs to be reminded to respond within a conversation. Is something on your mind?”

Now there was a perfectly logical question with a not-so-logical answer. After wanting little more than to be rid of Nate, Anna couldn’t quite understand why his nonappearance bothered her. She feared it had nothing to do with the possibility of him furthering his case and more of her becoming accustomed to his company. A possibility entirely
not
acceptable.

Setting aside Evie’s curiosity, Anna returned her eyes to her food. After her confession that morning, her friend might detect everything Anna wasn’t willing to admit . . . even to herself.

“Not at all, Papa. Simply tired after a long day,” she finally replied.

It wasn’t untruthful. To keep a barrier between her and Nate, Evie had directed countless school issues Anna’s way. All items Evie would typically have handled.

During their talk on the way to the school, Evie herself had thought of the scheme. Pleased with how successful it had been, on several occasions Anna had to swallow her delight as Nate’s irritation had started to show through his nonchalant countenance.

“You do too much, dear,” her father injected with a look of concern that wounded Anna like an arrow to the chest.

How had her plans for the school gotten so out of control that she was willing to betray her own father? More importantly, how would she mend the situation? Despite how deep she had dug herself with Mr. Rollins, there had to be a way out. She simply needed to find it.

“Because I agree, I will take my leave.” Evie pushed her chair back and rose from the table.

Anna wanted to plead with her friend to stay longer, perhaps even take up residence here so she would have a constant shield against Nate. Thank goodness common sense prevailed. Instead, she wished Evie a good evening and sent her a silent look of gratitude for all she’d done.

Alone with her father, the events of the day caught up with Anna. “I think I’ll retire, Papa.”

“Good idea. I do worry about you,” he answered with a frown creasing his forehead.

To ease his concern, she rounded the table and placed a light kiss on his wrinkled brow. “There is no need to worry. ‘Night, Papa.”

Tears at her falsehood choked her and she didn’t pause to hear his reply. Free of the room, she wasted no time hurrying to her chamber. The only place she would be safe from Nate and his suspicions—whatever they might be.

The moment she crossed the threshold and closed the door with a soft click, she realized she’d miscalculated.

Her confidence that she would be safe in the privacy of her chambers was based on one erroneous fact. A fact she quickly amended as she studied the man invading her personal sanctuary, lounging in the chair by the open window.

Nathaniel Frederickson obviously had no concept of decorum.

“What are you doing here?” The breathlessness in her voice infuriated her.

Why did this man and his presence fail to incite a proper response in her? Instead of flaying him with her scorn, her mind fixated on him reclining less than ten feet from her bed—which only led to her recollection of his stirring kisses.

“Did you think you could avoid me forever?” The grin he wore set off a round of heart-flutters in her chest.
Dratted man.

He was entirely too handsome for his own good—and for her own wellbeing.

“I presumed your chaperone would have to leave eventually,” he stated. The single candle on the table nearest his chair emphasized the spark of resolve that entered his eyes and transformed him from rakish flirt to unwavering Runner. “Your reprieve, my dear princess, has come to an end.”

She
should
flee. Run, escape. But then what? She couldn’t spend the remainder of her life avoiding Nate and his questions. Anna doubted Evie’s friendship included being Anna’s personal shield for eternity.

Nate was right. Her reckoning had come. If only she knew which one of her various sins he’d discovered.

“Very well,” she sighed. “What is so important you felt the need to cross every conceivable boundary of respectability and enter my chamber?” With no way to avoid him, the faster he concluded whatever this was, the sooner she’d be able to collect the pieces of her life and push on.

His eyes narrowed as he held her steady gaze, clearly unprepared for her cooperation. She reaped a small victory.

As he continued to study her, whatever poise she’d retained, wavered. She might have become accustomed to dealing with this particular man, but men in general remained a foreign concept to her. Having a very captivating specimen relaxing so comfortably next to her bed was something she had never thought to prepare for.

In all fairness, how did she go about preparing for the day when a man, who was not her husband, would appear uninvited in her bedchamber?

His smooth voice interrupted her thoughts. “You surprise me. I thought for sure I’d have to tie you to the bed to keep you from escaping your own chamber.”

Her eyes widened at the vision he conjured in her mind. The man certainly had no principles.

Before she finished processing the image of herself—bound and at his mercy—Nate’s regard turned predatory and his next words only increased the heat enveloping the room. “Make no mistake, I would have done it and enjoyed every moment.”

The man hadn’t so much as shifted in his chair but Anna felt him surround her. Somewhere between his words and the desire burning in his eyes, he’d managed to pull a sensual response from deep inside of her. The worst of it, she was afraid she never wanted it to end.

How could she conceive the feelings Nate provoked in her? Passion and desire were two things she hadn’t foreseen in her future. Instead, she’d become resigned to someday sharing a cordial and hopefully friendly companionship with her husband—if she managed to acquire a spouse at all.

Now she longed to further examine that passion and desire. And not with simply anyone. With the very man fueling the flames within her.

Either receptive of her struggle, or oblivious to it, Nate stood. Without breaking the connection between their gazes, he eliminated the space between them.

“The way I see it, there are three ways this can go.” He spoke low and unhurried, as if concerned he’d startle her.

Only when he was close enough for her to feel his body’s heat sink into her, did he continue. “Option one, I can pursue my original course and ask the questions you’ve been dodging, which will essentially return us to adversaries.”

He paused to give her a moment to contemplate the choice she had no desire to accept. Not because she was afraid of what his questions were and what he’d do with the answers, but because she wasn’t ready for them to be at odds again.

Without waiting for an answer, he outlined her second alternative. “Option two, you can once again dismiss all insolence on my part and explain to me my purpose and place here. In effect severing any connection and giving me no alternative but to uphold my duties, forcing me to evoke the first option.”

He broke off only long enough to close the final distance, until mere inches separated their bodies, all the while keeping his hands at his side. “Or option three. My personal favorite. You forget every reason why I shouldn’t be here and I’ll forget your privileged tendencies and we simply enjoy the moment . . . and each other.”

Oh, dear heavens!
How was it she hadn’t melted into a heap at his feet?

His options explained—in rather exquisite detail—Nate fell silent, waiting. She knew he wouldn’t force a decision on her. It only made her want what she shouldn’t all the more.

She understood which option she
should
pick, yet feelings she’d never experienced, coming from places she’d never heeded before, pulled her in a different direction. Decision made, Anna slowly raised her hand to skim her fingers over the scarce whiskers along his jaw.

And accepted the fact of knowing, even though she’d chosen a few moments of bliss, he’d eventually get the answers he craved.

Alas, the moment she slid her hand to the back of his head and tugged his lips closer, she couldn’t find it within herself to care.

Chapter 21

Nate might have yearned for her to pick the more pleasurable of options. Might have desired it with every shred of his being . . . but he never believed it possible. The moment her tender lips caressed his, she proved him delightfully wrong.

The question now, where to proceed from here? She was an innocent, and her decision to enjoy the moment didn’t mean her loss of virtue would be a forgone conclusion. As her sweet tongue darted out and danced with his, he could easily have forgotten why that was.

Allowing his hands free rein to trace over her delicate curves, until they came to rest on her backside, hadn’t been his intention when he’d stolen into her room. His only focus had been to learn the identity of the man from the garden and what he’d been doing on Brodford’s land. Regrettably, no matter what option she’d chosen, he would still need those answers. Soon.

Until then, he wasn’t above bestowing limitless pleasure on her . . . Well, perhaps not limitless. He would most likely not be finding
his
release tonight.

Instead, he would focus his attentions on her.

Foolish as it might be, before he could continue he needed to gain her explicit permission. Her actions might scream she'd decided on a moment of indulgence. But with her limited experience, he would ensure she understood what it all entailed.

He bestowed another deep kiss before he eased away a bit, leaving their bodies touching from chest to hip. “Princess, look at me.” Her eyes fluttered open and he sucked in a breath at the depth of desire mixed with the blue-green. It took all of his will to keep from tumbling her to the floor.

“Sweet mercy, Anna, you are going to be the death of me.”

Instead of his deep growl clearing her desire, her lips curled upward, proving she was pleased with her ability to unman him.

Powerless, he descended and pulled a long, hard kiss from her lips. Her moan swamped his senses.

Who could blame him if he took the sweet friction of her body rubbing against his as encouragement? But he hadn’t yet heard an agreement from her own lips.

Unfortunately, his momma had taught him right and he’d never proceeded without indisputable permission. Particularly not with a lady of Anna’s caliber.

This time when he ended their kiss and her gaze met his, he somehow found the strength to stay his course. “If at any time you wish to stop, say the word. Understand?”

With a lusty haze consuming her eyes and her small nod, there was no mistaking her involvement. Her trust in him filled Nate with something more profound than desire.

“I want to give this to you. Share this time with you, but I won’t breach any walls we both know aren’t mine to break.”

Her response reminded him of the no-nonsense way she employed with the students. “As intoxicating as your charms may be, I’m not so far gone I don’t know what I’m doing. Unless you aspire
to
change
my mind, do be quiet and kiss me.”

Through with being chivalrous, he murmured against her mouth, “Whatever you say, sweet.”

His longing set free, his fingers and lips took the lead. Years of practice gave him the ability to keep their kiss intense yet unhurried as he slowly guided her to the bed.

Her low sigh mingled with his groan, urging him to do away with her clothes. Thoughts of removing her garments brought a moment of clarity to his mind.

“Will your maid be coming to attend you?”

Showing a boldness he’d never expected upon meeting her, she tugged his head back to hers and whispered her answer against his lips. “Not until I call for her.”

“To be safe,” he murmured, then slipping from her arms, he strode to the door and turned the lock. Before she could issue a complaint or question, he returned to the bed, and her warmth.

“Now this will stay between you and me,” he issued with a brush of his lips along hers.

Propriety concluded, he eased her around to loosen the fastenings running up her back. The moment his hands touched the top hook, she tilted her head and exposed the creamy skin of her neck. Drawn to the movement, he placed a kiss on the curve of her shoulder and flicked his tongue against the sweetness of her skin.

She tasted of things he’d never thought to hold—especially with a lady of the
ton
. Goodness. Innocence. And something that shook him to his core.

Acceptance.

All their dealings in the last few days had made one thing very clear. Anna didn’t care for his presence in her world. But he was beginning to understand it had nothing to do with his base origins. He sensed that even if he carried his brother’s title, she would hold the same aversion.

He couldn’t be sure where they would be tomorrow—friends or enemies—but at the moment, as he slid her dress down her arms and over her rounded hips, her soft whimper proved it didn’t matter who he was or who’d sired him.

His
touch had enflamed her desire.

Anna refused to acknowledge she stood nearly naked before the man who had the power to ruin her—and not just in the physical sense. Instead, she opted to focus on the feelings only Nate roused. From the very first day, he’d elicited responses that both aggravated and excited her.

The moment he freed her of her remaining garments and lifted her onto the bed, his strong body, poised above hers, became her only focus.

Her skin tingled at the sensual glint in his eyes as his gaze roamed over her nakedness. An answering heat rose in her cheeks.

“Even more perfect than I’d imagined,” he whispered.

Knowing this self-assured man wanted her was too much to absorb. There was nothing trivial or tiresome about Nate. She would never be in danger of succumbing to boredom with him.

Reclined against the pillows, she melted into their softness when his warm breath grazed her breast. The sensations only multiplied with the flick of his tongue, closely followed by him drawing her sensitive bud into his mouth. As he swirled his tongue over the tip, she arched into his caress.

Oh, my.

Her breath hitched when his light stubble grazed the side of her breast as his mouth swept across her torso to focus on the opposite bud.

“So sweet.” His words moved against her skin, making her crave the taste of his lips.

Unfamiliar with the rules of bed play, she could only moan his name. “Nate,” and pray he comprehended her overwhelming need.

A low growl burst from his lips. “I’ve dreamed of my name on your lips but never had I imagined what the simple sound would do to me.”

Enthralled with what he could be doing to
her,
she trailed her fingers up his sleeve, resenting the linen keeping her from touching his bare skin, until her hand came to rest on his nape.

This time there was no tentativeness or holding back on his part when she coaxed his kiss. Be it the strength of his possession or the deep plunder of his tongue, she sensed the change in him. He gave her everything.

As his hand grazed her knee and slowly trailed over her hip, she sighed into their kiss and tugged his shirt free of his breeches. And shuddered when his hand breached the curls between her legs.

Oh, dear heavens.

Rational thought vanished as he explored further, setting off radiating sparks in her body. The touch of his finger as it slid over her wetness made her gasp for breath.

Breaking off their kiss, he brushed gentle lips along the curve of her jaw before tracing down the column of her neck. Her breasts tingled with the need to once again feel his mouth move over the tips.

“Please, Nate.”

His lips vibrated against the skin when he spoke. “Tell me what you need.”

Unfamiliar with what her body craved, she answered with the only thing she knew. “More.”

Instead of mocking her ignorance, his lips skimmed the swell of her breast as he whispered, “More of this?” before his mouth consumed the aching peak.

The tug on her breast heightened the passion building from the way his thumb swirled against her flesh, and her hips instinctively lifted to increase the pressure. Immersed in him, her body was more than ready when he slipped a single finger into her heat.

“Oh . . . Please . . . Nate . . .”

Indecipherable words fell from her lips. When a second finger joined the first, she had no power left but to savor the fullness. Needing to touch him, her greedy hand burrowed beneath his shirt. Smooth heat greeted her palm, shooting tingles up her arm.

Intoxicated from her newly discovered boldness, she spoke her demand before contemplating it. “Remove your shirt.”

Wordlessly, he sat on his knees and pulled his shirt free of his buckskin breeches. His rush to obey sent a surge of power through her.

The moment he discarded his shirt and the flickering candlelight outlined his chest, all other thoughts faded.

The dips and curves of his defined physique fascinated her, inviting her fingertips to trace each line of muscle. All the way down to the band of his breeches. The slight tremble of his body, when her fingers brazenly dipped below the fabric, drew her eyes to his face.

Gone was his confident smirk, and in its place, a heated yearning had emerged. Every facet of his expression reflected it. In the intense blue of his eyes. His tense jaw and flushed cheeks. All responses she’d provoked.

Her fingers still trapped in the waist of his breeches, his hand brushed hers when he reached to release the buttons. Instead of shying away, she kept her eyes steady on his and her hand where it was.

As the last button unfastened and his falls opened, she knew there would be no turning back. Her body craved him despite all else.

She wasn’t a blind fool to think the feelings Nate encouraged were love. She determinately prepared to follow wherever their passions led.

He scrambled her thoughts as he kicked free of his boots, then tugged his breeches over his lean hips. He only paused slightly before shoving down the bunched material, revealing his hardened length.

Words failed her. His powerful appendage, jutting from a patch of hair as light in color as what adorned his head, mesmerized her. She wondered if the smooth skin would feel as soft as it appeared, in contrast to such hard strength. She longed to explore further. And her fascination with the organ had obviously caught his attention as his easy chuckle hit her ears.

“I can see your mind working, princess.” He pushed his breeches past his knees. “I’m at your mercy.”

Free to study and learn, Anna froze. It was one thing to
want
to touch it. It was completely different to
actually
do so.

“I’m not sure . . .”

As she wrestled with herself, Nate took care of the decision. He scooted closer and snared her hand, gently wrapping her fingers around his flesh. His sharp inhale encouraged her to make her own foray along his shaft.

Captivated by how it grew even further beneath her touch, she wasn’t focused on Nate when his hand returned to her body. The easy slip of his finger into her center sent a wave of such intense pleasure through her, she clenched him in her palm.

“Easy, sweet,” he purred. “It may feel sturdy but it can be rather delicate.”

Her fist eased but refused to relinquish him. As she learned the intricacies of his shaft, his strong fingers continued their intimate probe. Before long, she lost the power to focus on the stroke of her hand, as his caress seemed to push her body toward some lofty summit.

“Oh, Nate . . . please . . .”

“Just feel, sweetheart. I want to watch you lose control.”

The pressure of his hand between her legs increased. The deep plunge of his fingers filled her, yet left her craving more. When his thumb joined the pursuit and pressed in a secret place, swirling waves of endless sensation finally crashed through every muscle she possessed.

Lights danced behind her eyelids as Nate slowed his movements, extracting every last quiver from her. When he eased his hand from her body, it took a moment before she realized he’d left the bed without a word.

Fear she’d done something wrong—that she’d reacted erroneously—clenched at Anna’s heart. She struggled between wanting to crawl under the covers in shame, and demanding he never leave her side.

Her desire, still simmering within her body, made her brazen. She sat up in the bed, prepared to beg him to stay, when she noticed he wasn’t fleeing in disgust. Rather, he’d removed his breeches completely, leaving nothing between his naked perfection and her eyes.

Quickly he returned to the bed, stretching his muscular frame along hers, fusing their bare skin from torso to knee.

“I see you thinking again,” he murmured, his lips so close to hers, the words vibrated on her tongue.

“I don’t think I’m capable of creating a useful thought at the moment.”

The rakish twinkle returned to his eyes. “That is the point. To feel such rapture the world melts away.”

He was right. Even the heat of his warm body stirred her.

“What of you?”

A grin so wicked she felt it to her toes floated along his lips. “Oh, don’t worry about me. We are far from done.”

Nate knew she agreed when her low moan trembled against his chest. Earlier, when her virginal cries of completion had filled his ears, he’d nearly lost all reason, crawled between her legs, and pushed into her warmth. Back in control, he was ready to dedicate the time needed to make tonight perfect for her.

All possibility of leaving her virginity intact had evaporated when she’d slain him with deep need shining from her eyes, a plea impossible to ignore.

He closed the distance between their lips and became lost in the taste of her. An avid pupil, she swept her tongue into his mouth, arousing him more than he could ever recall.