Chapter 8
During her nighttime worrying and through her one-sided debate while dressing, Kate had forgotten one simple fact . . . Jackson called to her in a way she’d never felt.
When he scooped her into his arms, unconcerned with the water lapping at his pristine boots, and placed her on the bench of the wooden boat, her heart skipped a beat.
Thoughts of being the dutiful daughter soared from her mind. She simply wanted to be Kate, a woman who enjoyed the company of a man with no expectations.
Though, she doubted Jackson had no expectations. She simply chose to bypass what they might be since she had no intention of falling for them.
The small craft dipped precariously and she grabbed each side, sighing in relief as it adjusted upright after Jackson took his seat.
The stillness of the morning surrounded her and with the fog encasing them, Kate felt as if they were the world’s only inhabitants.
He’d been correct when he’d said it was too early for others to be about. Her maid had probably thought Kate mad when she’d rung for help in dressing, a full three hours earlier than on a typical morning. Kate just hoped her father wouldn’t notice her absence. She still had to sneak back into the house.
As Jackson took up the oars and freed the boat from the muck-thick bottom of the pond, she allowed herself a moment to enjoy the scenery.
Which happened to include the dangerously handsome man sitting across from her.
As with the last two days, he had foregone wearing a hat. Since it allowed her to study the slight wave to his dark hair, she approved of his aversion to headwear. The ends brushed against the collar of his deep blue coat. The crisp white of his cravat highlighted the bronze of his skin. The man clearly appreciated the outdoors.
Given how his coat sleeves bunched with the effort of coaxing the vessel into deeper waters—and the strength of his arms as he’d held her—she doubted he spent his time outside idly.
“I wish I could read your mind,” he said, as he maneuvered the boat. “I have a feeling I would approve of your thoughts.”
Fully prepared this time, she lowered her head so the brim of her bonnet hid the heat in her cheeks. She really must stop blushing around him.
“Remove your bonnet.”
Her head snapped up. “I beg your pardon?”
“I want to see you. Remove your bonnet,” he demanded, quite arrogantly she thought.
Frowning, she crossed her arms over her bosom. “I think not.”
Undeterred, his laugh traveled over the water like the tinny ripples drifting from the moving oars. “We are alone. What is the harm?”
“I am a lady.”
“A detail that has not gone unnoticed.”
Kate didn’t require years of experience to understand the emotion flaring in Jackson’s eyes as they swept her body. The cool morning breeze did nothing to diffuse the heat his simple gesture ignited within her.
His eyes held hers. “Kate, I know you wish to be rid of it. To feel the air move unhindered against your face.”
Having lost the ability to form words as his deep voice encased her, she wordlessly gave her bonnet ribbon a gentle tug. Her regard fixed on him, she pulled it off before placing it on the bench.
The deed complete, she felt exposed. But lingering behind that, a sense of freedom. With Jackson, she wasn’t bound by duty or forced to be a partial version of herself.
Jackson’s trickery might be underhanded, with the potential to ruin her, but he’d never asked her to be anyone other than herself. To the world, it might be a minor detail. To Kate . . . everything.
“You are beautiful,” Jackson whispered, the words as soft as the birds chattering in the trees.
Today wasn’t the first time she’d heard the sentiment, but something about Jackson’s tenderly issued compliment touched her deeper, as if he meant it in a way that went beyond her physical appearance.
As he lifted the oars and rested them along the sides of the boat, Kate realized they’d reached the center of the pond. Away from the shore and surrounded by the crystal water, it felt as if they were a world away from reality. A notion dangerous to her future. She mustn’t forget why she was here.
Clearing her mind of all the inviting thoughts Jackson incited, she forced strength into her words. “I need to return home soon. I shouldn’t even be here.”
Her eyes on anything but him, the sudden rocking of the boat startled her.
Jackson had left his seat to kneel at her feet.
Frantically reaching for something to steady the jarring movement, her hands flew to his solid shoulders . . . the same moment his large hands grasped her waist.
Even with her gloves and layers of clothing barring the feel of his skin against her fingers, she felt his heat, his strength. Her gaze flicked to his face, positioned mere inches from hers.
Fingers tightening on her waist, he finally spoke. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“You didn’t,” she lied, hearing the breathlessness in her voice. She doubted he would have believed her, even without her sturdy grip on his shoulders.
“Sweet, you almost had both of us taking a morning swim,” he retorted.
“Entirely your fault. Whatever possessed you to do acrobatics in a floating vessel?”
His laughter once again held her spellbound. “First, kneeling is hardly an acrobatic feat. Secondly, I believe most boats float.”
His mockery didn’t concern her. Not when his fingers continued to twitch around her waist and the movement of his mouth had her wanting to sway closer.
“Still, you should give warning. You could have capsized this wooden death-trap.”
He moved closer, blocking out the morning sun. “I would have rescued you.”
“Having learned to swim years ago, your gallant efforts are not needed.” Without conscious thought, her fingers traced up his neck and wove through the thick strands of his hair.
“Kate, you are always safe with me. I won’t let anything hurt you.”
Their lips hovered a breath apart. “What if I need saving from you?”
“Even me,” he vowed as his mouth settled over hers in a kiss so deep it felt as if the bottom of the boat had fallen away, sinking her into the water. With each caress of his lips she floated further, until only Jackson and his kiss remained.
~ ~ ~
Jackson wasted no time pulling Kate forward and anchoring her to him as he deepened the kiss. Her surprised gasp opened her mouth just enough to grant him entry. The moment her adventurous tongue tangled with his, heady lust broke free.
He pulled back to mutter against her lips, “What have you done to me? I can’t get enough of you.”
Not waiting for her answer, he plunged into more kisses. Intense kisses. Her small hands tugged on his hair, revealing all he needed to know . . . the mystical force pulling them together held her equally captive.
Despite his desire roaring for him to pull her to the floor of the boat and make her his, he knew he had to keep his head. When he’d enacted his ruse, seduction hadn’t been his intention. Factors, namely her station and impending nuptials, prevented him from bedding Kate. As wicked as he might be, deflowering an innocent before her marriage wasn’t part of his bag of tricks.
More importantly, his stance on marriage hadn’t changed. Whatever fueled him to make senseless decisions regarding Kate, it wasn’t a wish to wed her.
Yet he couldn’t find the strength to pull away—or to keep his hands from splaying across her back, tugging her tighter against his chest.
In danger of becoming breathless and tipsy on more than just her intoxicating allure, his lips released hers. Trailing light kisses over her cheek, he paused at the delicate skin behind her ear and nuzzled there.
“Jackson.” The single word feathered over the air but he heard the plea tangled within.
Though he sensed her body craved more, it was clear she still held tight to some doubts. Nonetheless he meant what he’d said; he would always protect her . . . even from him.
Regretful, Jackson brushed a final kiss against her lips and breathed her in. Pulling away, his hands were slower to comply as they brushed along the sides of her breasts.
As if she too wanted to linger, Kate caressed his jaw, one last time. Her warm brown eyes studied his face as she shuffled back on her seat and clasped her hands on her lap, signaling the end to their interlude.
It was when she spoke that she truly sent his head spinning. “Why me? You could clearly have anyone. Why come into my life when I’m about to obtain everything I ever wished for?”
Having no clear answer, he wanted to ignore her question. Given her steady gaze, he surmised she wouldn’t be forgiving of such action, so he resumed his seat across from her and strove for all the honesty he could muster. “I have no explanation other than some part of me needs to be with you. As much as I try to convince myself to stay away because you are promised to Blackthorn, I’m powerless against it.”
He held her shocked gaze. “You pull me. My body craves yours but I’m starting to think it isn’t simple desire leading me. You intrigue me. As wrong as it is, all I think about is spending time with you.”
Silence fell after his impromptu admission. Would she deny experiencing the same connection? She wouldn’t be here if she didn’t.
He may have lured her with her ring but they both knew with a single word, he would have returned it. He wasn’t a villain.
“Jackson, I can’t.” Her voice broke, echoing the same emotional sting he suffered.
His future rested away from England—and Kate—yet he couldn’t deny his disappointment in not knowing this woman intimately. Jackson didn’t have the fortitude to send her away and discourage further torment by releasing her from her promise. She owed him two days.
Perhaps by then he’d manage to remove her from his every thought.