(Click the title to go back to Chapter One)
by Brenda Williamson
(A Free Read ~ A Work in Progress)
Copyright 2011
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Chapter Twenty Eight
Nathan’s desire to bed the beautiful Valentina seemed all too overpowering. He had an urge to resist, and another to continue. The struggle with confusion agitated him. He stroked his hand over the back of her head as he tried to decide if he wanted to give into her seduction. Following the flow of her silky black hair, he stopped when he touched the buttons at the back of her dress. He rubbed over them thinking how easily he could undo them. How quickly he could peel away her clothes.
They had danced around the idea of sex over the last couple days, exploring and teasing each other with intimacy. Yet, to commit to the ultimate debauchery of the woman alluded him. Decency? Not really. He hadn’t showed that kind of restraint. What was it about her that held him back?
Nathan held her away at arm’s length. He examined her facial features. Her willingness was clear, so why did he fight the moment?
He opened his hands, releasing this grip on her arms. "Go change into something dry. I’ll see you downstairs."
When she didn’t move, he turned her and guided her out into the hallway. He imagined devastation in her stare, though in all honesty, he had trouble reading her expression. Her dark gaze worked at luring him into changing his mind. In defense, he turned his back to her. But tempting the loss of control, he wheeled around and discovered her gone. He hadn’t heard a single sound that would indicate she walked away, yet she had marked her time there by the rose scent of her perfume.
Valentina rushed to her room. She didn’t know which was worse, the mortifying way she threw herself at Nathan or the disappointment of him not wanting her.
Upset by his rejection, she took all day and all night to get her thoughts beyond the hurt she felt. When she forced herself to venture downstairs, she had settled her mind to thinking only of what she really needed from him—his escort to Salem. That had to remain the focus of her attention.
“Is there anything I can get for you, Miss Valentina?” Mary emerged from the parlor carrying her favorite crystal vase.
“No, nothing. Where are the wild flowers had in that vase?”
“Mr. Hawks through them out the door, Miss. He said they had attracted gnats, and the bugs were landing in his cup of coffee.”
“Did he ask about me?”
“No, miss. But being that he is supposed to be a gentlemen, he would know not to question how long you took to make an appearance this morning.” She resumed her walk to the kitchen.
“I suppose you’re correct.” Though, after her lack of appearance since yesterday morning, she expected him to inquire of her health, if nothing more.
She smoothed over her hair, adjusted her breasts with a slight boost to her bodice, and held her head high, ready to follow Mary’s advice and keep a respectable distance from Nathan. He had initiated many of their kisses by way of her mental influence. She now had to use whatever power she had in that area to get him to agree to her accompanying him when he left.
She strolled into the parlor pretending to show her indifference to his presence. However, Nathan wasn’t in the room. She turned at the sound from behind and found Mary holding the crystal vase filled with red roses from the garden.
“How beautiful.” Valentina touched one bloom and took a deep breath of the beautiful scent. “Where’s Mr. Hawks?”
"After gulping down his coffee, he said something about going to the stable. He did return ten minutes later with these.”
“Mr. Hawks brought these in from the garden?”
“He did, and he told me to thank you for your kind hospitality."
"He’s not leaving, is he?" Valentina felt panic sinking into her.
They had discussed books, took meals together and had their strolls in the garden. They had grown closer over that time. But not enough? She thought he’d at least tell her good-bye, and give her the chance to convince him to take her with him.
"He didn’t say," Mary replied.
Valentina ran to the front door.
“Miss Valentina!” Mary’s raised voice stopped her. “You’re not dressed to go out in the sunlight”
Valentina looked at her hand on the doorknob. “Mary, run and fetch Harold. I need to speak to him immediately.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Valentina opened the door and hid behind it from the sunlight. Once Mary left, she raced upstairs to her room. She grabbed her hat and gloves from the dresser. Waiting for Harold would take too much time. He’d know how long ago Nathan left and whether she could catch up to him.
They had danced around the idea of sex over the last couple days, exploring and teasing each other with intimacy. Yet, to commit to the ultimate debauchery of the woman alluded him. Decency? Not really. He hadn’t showed that kind of restraint. What was it about her that held him back?
Nathan held her away at arm’s length. He examined her facial features. Her willingness was clear, so why did he fight the moment?
He opened his hands, releasing this grip on her arms. "Go change into something dry. I’ll see you downstairs."
When she didn’t move, he turned her and guided her out into the hallway. He imagined devastation in her stare, though in all honesty, he had trouble reading her expression. Her dark gaze worked at luring him into changing his mind. In defense, he turned his back to her. But tempting the loss of control, he wheeled around and discovered her gone. He hadn’t heard a single sound that would indicate she walked away, yet she had marked her time there by the rose scent of her perfume.
*
Valentina rushed to her room. She didn’t know which was worse, the mortifying way she threw herself at Nathan or the disappointment of him not wanting her.
Upset by his rejection, she took all day and all night to get her thoughts beyond the hurt she felt. When she forced herself to venture downstairs, she had settled her mind to thinking only of what she really needed from him—his escort to Salem. That had to remain the focus of her attention.
“Is there anything I can get for you, Miss Valentina?” Mary emerged from the parlor carrying her favorite crystal vase.
“No, nothing. Where are the wild flowers had in that vase?”
“Mr. Hawks through them out the door, Miss. He said they had attracted gnats, and the bugs were landing in his cup of coffee.”
“Did he ask about me?”
“No, miss. But being that he is supposed to be a gentlemen, he would know not to question how long you took to make an appearance this morning.” She resumed her walk to the kitchen.
“I suppose you’re correct.” Though, after her lack of appearance since yesterday morning, she expected him to inquire of her health, if nothing more.
She smoothed over her hair, adjusted her breasts with a slight boost to her bodice, and held her head high, ready to follow Mary’s advice and keep a respectable distance from Nathan. He had initiated many of their kisses by way of her mental influence. She now had to use whatever power she had in that area to get him to agree to her accompanying him when he left.
She strolled into the parlor pretending to show her indifference to his presence. However, Nathan wasn’t in the room. She turned at the sound from behind and found Mary holding the crystal vase filled with red roses from the garden.
“How beautiful.” Valentina touched one bloom and took a deep breath of the beautiful scent. “Where’s Mr. Hawks?”
"After gulping down his coffee, he said something about going to the stable. He did return ten minutes later with these.”
“Mr. Hawks brought these in from the garden?”
“He did, and he told me to thank you for your kind hospitality."
"He’s not leaving, is he?" Valentina felt panic sinking into her.
They had discussed books, took meals together and had their strolls in the garden. They had grown closer over that time. But not enough? She thought he’d at least tell her good-bye, and give her the chance to convince him to take her with him.
"He didn’t say," Mary replied.
Valentina ran to the front door.
“Miss Valentina!” Mary’s raised voice stopped her. “You’re not dressed to go out in the sunlight”
Valentina looked at her hand on the doorknob. “Mary, run and fetch Harold. I need to speak to him immediately.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Valentina opened the door and hid behind it from the sunlight. Once Mary left, she raced upstairs to her room. She grabbed her hat and gloves from the dresser. Waiting for Harold would take too much time. He’d know how long ago Nathan left and whether she could catch up to him.
..............Read more in Chapter 29
Brenda
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