Vistaria Has Fallen (The Vistaria Affair/Vistaria Has Fallen #1)(22)

“Nick…” She spoke his name in warning…and in pleading. They walked upon treacherous ground now.

His hand on her shoulder slid, with a whisper of a caress, down to cup her breast. She gasped. The material of the dress was so fine and light it felt as if he held her naked breast. His hand was hot. Large against her skin and delicious. She could feel the details of his fingers, the swell of flesh, the joints, the tips, searing her skin.

“God, Nick, please....” she moaned, her head falling against his shoulder. Her shoulders pulled back, thrusting her breast into his hand.

“You plead for me to stop, or for more?” His voice was hoarse with pent-up emotion.

Calli clenched her jaw, determined not to speak aloud the rabid need she had for him. She cared not at all about their public place, that Peter might come looking for her at any moment, that anyone glancing in the window would see them and see his hand at her breast. She wanted more, much more. She felt a ravening need to coax him by words and movements to take her right now.

He kissed her neck, by the corner of her jaw. His lips were hot. “I see your jaw ripple. Ah, you are strong, Calli. Do you know how much your strength is a goad, driving me to breach that strength, to have you whimper in my arms?” His voice by her ear sent another shiver through her. His heady, spicy and masculine scent enveloped her. She moaned, the soft noise slipping from her.

“Tell me what is in your mind to make you utter that sound,” he whispered.

“Your hand. I dreamed of your hand on my breast.” Her voice was throaty, distorted by raw animal wanting. “I couldn’t feel it in the dream, Now you touch me as you did then, and it feels so good.”

She heard him swallow, the little ragged sound of his breath. “God help me, you are driving me out of my mind. The look on your face, your voice... Do you know how easy it would be for me to tear this dress from you, lower you to the floor and take you right now? Here?”

“I would not stop you,” she whispered.

His hand on her hip moved down to stroke her thigh beneath the dress, the little finger slipping between her legs. He didn’t slide it higher. It fluttered against the sensitive skin of her inner thighs, stroking with delicate caresses. When his fingers discovered the lacy tops of her stockings, he made a noise that was half groan, half growl.

“Tell me you can still think of taking another man to bed,” he rasped in her ear.

The truth spilled from her. “Not in a million years.”

His arms came around her waist. “Then we are even.”

She took a deep breath so she could speak properly again. “I am to be tortured by what I cannot have, while you slake your need with whoever you please. You are being unfair, Nick.”

His lips came down upon her neck. “You misinterpret me. I have simply brought you to the point where I have been for two long nights.”

She grew still. “You mean...?”

“Yes, Calli. I have not been able to touch another woman since I met you.” His tone became dry. “Although I have tried.”

She closed her eyes. “Why me?” she asked. “Why, of all the women you have met? I know what I am. I’m a discarded economics tutor. I even have two cats at home.”

His voice came right by her ear again and she could feel his breath against her shoulder. “There was a moment, in the holding cell, when I first stepped in. You had not seen me, yet I saw you. You looked out the window, with your hands on the bars. I had just spent an hour sorting out the true story from the men in the hospital and the arresting officers and the liaison your uncle called. When I saw you, I had already looked into the matter. I knew you rushed to Vistaria when your uncle phoned asking for your help for the summer, with little warning or preparation. Because he asked, you came. Within an hour of landing in a country where you didn’t speak the language, you were put in a situation that would tax the nerves of most men. I did not see a petrified, cowed woman standing at that window, though. When you turned to face me, you did not plead or beg or whine. I saw your spirit and knew it could not be crushed. That strength is so very rare.”

She absorbed his words with difficulty. “Oh, Nick, you’re so wrong. I have been crushed. Ask Minnie. She will tell you I haven’t yet dragged myself back to anything like normal.”

“No.” He shook his head. “You guard yourself now, that is all. The woman last night that looked me in the eye and planted that last barb, just to even the score...she was not defeated.”

“Must I now guard myself against you?”

“I would never hurt you.” Total conviction rang in his voice.

“Just standing here places me, both of us, in danger.”

Again, she felt him draw a large breath. Bracing himself. As abruptly as she had been drawn to him, she was freed. She shivered as cool air touched the skin at her back and turned to face him.

He stared out the window again. “You should go,” he said, without looking at her.

“Calli?” Peter’s voice.

She turned to see Peter emerging from the dining room. “Sorry, I got caught up,” she told him.

“Have you seen the view from here?” Nicolás added.

Peter climbed up to the landing and looked. He gave a low whistle. “No, I’ve never been up here before,” he confessed. “Quite a view, huh?”