Page 25 of The Pirate and the Pagan
Ruark’s eyes widened at the sight of her. It was dusk, yet it was as if she were surrounded by her own light. She is Summer, he thought, dazed. She was mounted upon an expensive piece of horseflesh which he knew was a black Barbary. She wore an elegantly cut riding dress in a ridiculously impractical shade of primrose yellow, and he had never seen a lovelier vision in his life.
“You are shocked because I’m not in mourning,” she said.
He shook his head. “Nothing you could ever do would shock me,” he assured her.
It will … I promise you … it will, she thought wildly. “Well, I cannot be a hypocrite; I do not mourn him,” she said, putting an end to the matter.
He tried to envision her as he had seen her at dawn, but he could not. This young woman was as elegant as if she had been riding in St. James Park. “I’m so glad you came,” he said, moving to the horse’s side and holding up his arms to her.
“I came as a supplicant,” she said solemnly.
As his strong arms lifted her down to him his heart slammed inside his chest and it was not from exertion. “Anything,” he murmured.
“I’m having the stables refurbished. I vow they are so dilapidated, a strong gust of wind would collapse them. Could I trouble you to stable Ebony until the work is finished?” When she coupled a lie with the truth, her conscience bothered her not at all.
“It is no trouble,” he assured her, happy that he would see her more often now.
As they walked to the stables she embroidered her tale. “Don’t be alarmed if there is a steady parade of wagons coming and going, they will just be workmen.”
Inside the large, airy stables Ruark led Ebony into a loose box so he would have freedom without being tethered. He unsaddled the Barbary and took the bridle and bit from him as well. “He’s a beautiful animal,” he said with admiration, running his eyes down the glossy flanks.
“I’m particularly partial to him,” she said in a throaty, provocative drawl.
The scent of hay and leather drifted in the air and Ruark’s arousal was instant and pronounced. He wanted to pull her down into the hay and romp and roll until they were both naked and he had her pinned between his thighs. His eyes licked over her like a candle flame and he realized the impossibility of such wanton behavior. Her primrose habit was spotless, her coiffure the very latest style known as ‘heartbreak.’ He must remember she was a lady … and an innocent one at that.
Reluctantly he summoned a groom. “Lady St. Catherine will be stabling her mount here for a few weeks. See that he receives the very best of care.”
As they walked from the stables, she said softly, “How can I ever repay you, Lord Helford? Each day I seem to be more and more in your debt.”
“Come and have a drink with me. Let me show off the hall to you,” It didn’t sound like a request.
She shook her head regretfully. “You know I cannot,” she said softly. “Show me the gardens.”
“It is dark,” he half protested.
“The moon is rising,” she assured him.
“Smuggler’s moon,” he murmured, and she shuddered involuntarily.
The intoxicating fragrance of the night-scented blooms stole to them as they crossed the velvety lawn separating the house from the formal rose garden. They passed beneath an arch clustered with heavy, dew-drenched blooms and Ruark’s keen eyes searched the darkness until he found what he sought. He left her side for a moment and returned with an armful of cream blossoms. “I think I shall always give you cream-colored roses,” he promised. They moved on to the eerie yew walks in deep, black shadow. “You aren’t afraid?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Not with you beside me,” she answered him.
As they walked side by side he reached for her hand. Her fingers curled into his and he wished he could stay handclasped with her until dawn. “These yew walks are reputed to be haunted,” he said, then stopped and looked down at her. “You haunt me,” he said huskily. The moonlight hardly penetrated the tall yew walk where they stood. As she gazed up at him his face was all shadowed planes and stark cheekbones. His eyes were half closed and she saw the black smudge of thick lashes which concealed the desire she knew smoldered there. The slant of his jaw emphasized the arrogance of his mouth which could give a fierce curse or an unbelievably heartrending kiss.
He cupped her face in gentle hands and dipped his head to capture her mouth. The moment he tasted her, the kiss changed, becoming hot and sensual. His hands left her face to crush her against him. She could feel something hard as marble against her belly and dimly realized it must be his shaft.
He could feel the tremors flowing through her body and his strong brown hand came up to brush against her breast. She shuddered with pleasure. She could no longer deny the great attraction she felt for Ruark Helford. His sensual masculine appeal made her weak with yearning. Her defenses against him were crumbling and she realized her feelings for this man could undermine all her plans. She desperately wanted to believe that he was different from other men. She longed to trust him, hoping he would always be loving and generous toward her. She wished he would fall in love with her and ask her to marry him so that she would be safe with such a strong protector. She dared to hope that he was beginning to care deeply about her, for she realized she could begin to care for him. But she knew if she gave herself to him before he had made a definite commitment to her, he would not value her.
She tried to push his hand away and with a ragged moan cried, “Ruark, please.”
He lifted his head momentarily, but didn’t think he could stop.
“I will trust you implicitly. … I will let you set the pace, Ruark,” she said softly, knowing they were the only words to stop him.
He groaned. He knew she was virgin. The sweet trust in her voice made him curse. “Dammit, Summer, you shouldn’t trust me. You mustn’t trust me! I want to be alone with you … I want to make love to you. Go … go now, run before I take your maidenhead!”
She laughed prettily. “I won’t run from you, Ruark. I know you will protect me with your life,” she said simply.
