Page 45 of Duke in Shining Armor
“I wondered at Lady Jane. I must say she endeavored to command all your attention at the dining table.”
“Did you find so?” James said with a touch of amusement in his voice.
“I did. Have you ever courted her?” Catherine asked, staring ahead.
Although James appeared amused, he replied seriously, as they approached a maze. “I can assure you, Catherine, I have not.”
Catherine stared, for the maze was most unusual, being seven feet tall, and it was pristine in the trimming. It was made of Leylandii trees, and the paths were of small cobblestones. She imagined it would take quite some time to maintain for it to be this immaculate.
“You have an interesting maze in your garden. How novel. I must say it is very refined.”
“I thought you may like it.”
“I suspect your gardener must spend a great deal of time here.”
“Jimmy says it takes nigh on a day to trim the edges. Would you like to explore it?” James asked.
Delight sizzled through her. Most London gardens did not boast a maze. “I would, Your Grace.”
“Very well; I will allow you to go in a few paces ahead of me, and then I will come to find you.” James had a mischievous look in his eyes.
“Whatever will the chaperone think when she is unable to see us? It would be scandalous.”
“Do you trust me, Catherine?”
“Yes.”
“Well, there you have it. I shall give you twenty paces, and then I shall find you. Be off then.”
Catherine loved a challenge, and she entered the maze with the intention of not being found.
CHAPTER15
James waited, knowing he would find her. Catherine did not know his secret. He knew the sound of one’s steps on the cobblestone in the maze, no matter how light. He’d often played here as a child with his sister, and he would lie on the ground and place his ears to it, just so that he could tell where she was. He had grown quite proficient at finding her, but she never understood how. He smiled at the memory before proceeding through the maze.
James advanced and then stilled. As he listened, he thought that Warwick’s plan to make Catherine jealous, while showering her with attention, seemed to work. Lady Jane was not in her favor, and Catherine appeared to bite her tongue, trying to be measured during the conversation at dinner. James chuckled under his breath, for he thought Catherine did quite well. He knew her tongue could be sharp, and while he wished to irritate her, he did not wish to unleash her in full force onto Lady Jane.
James pictured the maze in his mind and calculated the shortest way to get to her before making his way. Catherine came around a corner and slammed into his chest. James put his arms around her to prevent her from collapsing in a heap.
“James, you startled me,” Catherine said breathlessly for she had been walking at a brisk pace. “How the devil did you manage to come upon me so soon?”
James laughed. “I cannot tell you my secret.”
He realized that he was still holding Catherine. He looked down at her, and she gazed deep into his eyes. He was transfixed. The laughter left his body, and it was replaced by something else. He felt his body grow rigid with tension, and there was a stirring in his trousers. He knew that she felt it, too, for her tongue darted out to lick her lips and her eyes grew wide.
But she is not pulling away.
James could no longer control himself. It had been far too long … so long, and he had to taste her. He lowered his head and kissed her with such intensity that he felt he could not breathe. He broke the kiss.
“My Catherine, I have missed you so; you do not know how much.”
He lowered his head and kissed her again, with all the pent-up passion that he felt. He did not think it was possible to pull her any closer than she already was, but he did. Catherine placed her hands around his neck and returned his kiss with ardor. Her lips parted and their tongues sensually glided against each other for several beats. It was as if they were both starved, and a vast feast had been placed in front of them. James wanted it all. He kissed her neck and ears before finding her bodice. He dared not remove her breasts, but it was enough for him to gently kiss them through the fabric of her gown. He found her mouth again and kissed her deeply.
He could hear her ragged breathing as he found the soft spot between her legs. She was already wet there, and he placed his fingers on her sex, and gently massaged it while he kissed her deeply. Catherine began to move her hips against his hands, and it took all his restraint not to lay her on the cobblestones. He slipped his finger into her softness while he massaged her, and she gasped with pleasure. He increased the tempo while he felt her pulling at his shoulders, as she grew closer to gaining her fulfillment. He kissed her harder, and she screamed his name, which came out as a muffled sound in his mouth.
They were both panting as he withdrew his fingers and held her close to him.
“Catherine, I am sorry for anything that I said which may have upset you. I can assure you that it was not my intention. After our first intimate moment, it was my intention to offer for you.”
