by Tamara Gill
The scent of her rose up between them as did the soft sound of his finger working through her wetness.
She gasped as a small spasm shot through her core. “Don’t stop, please.”
“Assassins don’t always get what they want, Kitty. Sometimes, they must go days without satisfaction, despite being a hairsbreadth from their target.”
“Is that so?” She bit her bottom lip.
“It is indeed.” He pulled his hand back.
She scooted even further toward him. “But some assassins, I’m sure, do get the pleasure of achieving their goals. No?”
Alex’s grin grew wider. “True.” He returned his hand to the warmth between her legs.
She inched away but kept her legs parted, made sure her private area remained totally exposed for his gaze.
“Well, then. I guarantee you I will be one of those assassins.” She moved her hand between her thighs.
“You wouldn’t dare,” Alex said, eyes wide.
“Why not? If you are so eager to tease me, Your Royal Highness, then I shall tease you right back.” She paused and stared Alex directly in the eyes.
A ripple of pleasure shot through her. “Oh…my….”
She ground herself against her fingers.
Alex’s mouth gaped.
The carriage came to a jarring holt.
Kitty sucked in a deep breath, then adjusted her gown. “Don’t tease me again, sir.”
A footman opened the door and Kitty was down the steps in a heartbeat.
She prayed to God she never had to be that bold again with her high-handed prince. For if she did, she wasn’t sure Alex would survive.
Nor would she, for that matter.
Chapter Seven
Kitty was going to be the death of him.
Alex exited the carriage, his mind a cluster of warring emotions. Who would have thought his mild-mannered Catherine was a vixen skillfully apt at instilling shock in one’s soul? To say he was astounded by what she’d just done in the carriage wouldn’t even come close to how he felt.
He jabbed his hands into his coat’s pockets.
Edward’s suggestion of proposing a lewd act was indeed out of the question now. For all he knew, Kitty would welcome even the crudest idea he could think up.
His night was not going well at all.
“What is my next lesson?” Kitty asked, a smile on her face as if she were more wallflower than brazen beauty.
“Next?” he responded.
“Yes. I believe the whole secrecy of our trip out here was lesson one. Was it not?”
He had to stop and think.
“You do remember saying the first thing an assassin needed to accept was to expect the unexpected.”
Curse me.
He had indeed said such a thing. “Of course, I remember.” The fact he hadn’t until his beguiling minx just reminded him, was not information he was about to give up. And who could blame him for forgetting? The bulk of what he’d blurted out to Kitty over the last twenty-four hours had been born of sheer frustration. Not even God would expect him to remember it all.
Kitty left his side.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Exploring.”
“Aren’t you worried about bears or fox or some other animal?”
“No.”
Devil take him. “Why not?”
“Bears and fox do not dwell on this side of Countavia.”
Leave it to his Catherine to know her geography. “And where exactly do you believe us to be?” He remained one step behind Kitty, his gaze focused on her delightfully rounded bum outlined under the sheer fabric of her gown.
“You are enjoying the most prized back side in all of Countavia.”
He swallowed. He was indeed doing exactly that. “Isn’t that a bit…vain…despite being fact?”
Kitty stopped and turned around. Her thin nose and plump lips shimmered in the moonlight. “How so? I do not own this estate. Now, had it been you who had made such a comment, I would agree. But it wasn’t.” She paused. “Though, even if you had said such a thing about the more rural back side of Kisswyck Abbey, you would be correct according to the latest value assessed to the property in the land registry last month.”
“I see. You were referring to my estate.”
“Of course I was. What were you referring to?”
Bloody hell. He could not tell the woman his full attention had be consumed by her rear. “The same. Of course.”
A slight grin overtook Kitty’s mouth. She spun around and returned to her fearless walk in the woods. She tugged at her gown, brought the sheer garment tighter around her arse. “Though I do say, the land registry is not privy to record all prized back sides.”
“Am I that easy to read?”
She let her gown return to its former free-flowing state and giggled. “Very, much so, Your Royal Highness.”
He shook his head, then caught up with Kitty and gently reached for her arm.
She stopped mid-stride.
“Why not forget this assassin business,” Alex said. “Leave the job to me.”
“I can’t. Thomas was my brother. It’s my duty to seek justice for him.”
He let out a deep breath. “I’d rather you trade in your winning wager and seek safety. Spend a few days here with me, allow me to tell you everything my team is planning. I will keep you abreast of every detail, even the most minute bit of information, in exchange for you not joining me on hunt.”
“Wouldn’t that be scandalous?”
“How so?”
“Me being here as a member of your team could pass for a respectable reason for my visit. Me being here without a purpose…. Well, that could look as if I was at Kisswyck strictly to warm your bed. No?”
“My team has the utmost discretion.”
“That may be. But Kisswyck is currently inhabited by your team and your servants. And we all know servants talk, regardless of their loyalty.”
He was not going to win this round with Kitty. “I don’t like you putting yourself in danger.”
“I’ll be fine. I have you as my teacher. I’m sure I’ll learn all I need to know in order to keep myself safe during the mission.” Kitty slipped out of his grasp and returned to walking down the path.
Why hadn’t he seen this brazen, fearless side of Kitty before tonight? He knew about her adventurous streak from day one. But this was something bolder than he could have ever imagined. Was there nothing that could stop the woman? Was there nothing she feared?
“Ooh…,” Kitty cried from the near distance. “I just saw the most magnificent bat.”
Obviously, not.
A deep breath escaped him.
No way was he going to let the love of his life get anywhere near the beast who’d murdered Thomas. But Kitty obviously wasn’t about to back down. Which meant he’d have to play along with this ridiculous notion of her joining his team until he and his men could slip away without her noticing.
Which brought him right back to Eddie’s idea. He needed something so bold, so frightening, so horrendous, Kitty would be sure to back down and surrender.
Visions of Kisswyck’s dungeons came to mind. Between the rather grim quarters and the vast array of weapons now stored within the cells, he could insist on giving Kitty a lesson or two on swords in the supposed haunted space.
Of course ghosts and ghouls would probably entice the wanton minx.
As would the dungeons themselves along with the tales of past horrors having been committed there. She’d probably flash those brilliant blue eyes of hers and ask him a slew of questions.
Questions he would not be able to answer because with his luck, she’d pull her gown tight again, and this time it would be over those tempting breasts of hers.
No. The dungeon idea would kill him. He had to go with another plan, but all that came to mind were his dogs.
“You really should be more cautious exploring the grounds surrounding Kisswyck,” he said.
“I have dogs. Very large, Irish Wolfhounds and they are vicious. They have helped me track villains before.”
“Do you let them run free?”
“Well…no…but….” Kitty was never going to let him win.
“Then I don’t see why they should be a problem.” She stepped away from him.
If this continued, bluntness was going to be sole remaining option. And telling Kitty outright that should could not join his team was the last thing he cared to do.
“Oh, my goodness.”
“What now?” He dashed ahead to join Kitty at Kisswyck Abbey’s lake shore.
“I have never seen a lake with this much sandy shore, in person.” Kitty bent down and pulled off her boots.
“What in blazes are you doing?”
“Freeing my feet so I can feel the sand between my toes.”
Only his Kitty would think of frolicking in such a frivolous manner at dawn. “You do realize it’s nearly four in the morning.” He pointed to the light starting to poke through the horizon.
“That’s what makes it extra thrilling.”
He wanted it to be extra frightening.
“Besides,” Kitty said, beaming, “the hour didn’t bother you at Vulcan’s Forge when you stated we would begin my lessons at midnight.”
“But it’s now four hours past that time.”
“I don’t see the problem, sir.”
Of course she wouldn’t.
“Though if you truly are too tired to act as my teacher, I wouldn’t mind taking on the role and instructing you on a thing or two.”
Was he never to have the upper hand with Kitty? “And exactly in what areas do you believe me to be lacking in?”
She flexed her fingers and began ticking off her list, starting with her pinky. “First there is the manner in which you tease.”
He did not need instructions on flirting.
“Then there is that slight irksome fault with the way in which you count.”
“Count?” He was ace with numbers.
“Yes. You’ve brought me eleven bouquets of roses in less than seven days.”
Perhaps he had overdone the whole flower thing.
“And then there is the fact that you….”
“Damn it, Kitty. I am more than perfectly capable of teaching you to be an assassin. But tonight, I am simply worn out.”
Kitty hiked up her gown and wiggled her toes in the sand. “Pity, as I am wide awake. I had a good sleep before coming to fetch you at Weatherback’s. Slept like an infant, to be honest.”
If only he had. But the invasion of one specific little minx into his deepest thoughts, robbed him of what should have been at least a few hours of restful sleep.
The lullaby of the lake’s tide rushing the shore echoed at his ears.
Then it hit him. The lake could very well put an end to everything. “I think you’re right about another lesson before we turn in.”
Kitty dropped her gown and clapped. “What shall it be?”
Alex removed his coat, cravat, waistcoat and shift. “Since there are many streams and lakes, even a good deal of seashore where our killer has possibly been spotted, it is not out of the question that we might need to cross water to catch him.”
“Oh.” A deflated look veiled Kitty’s face. “I hadn’t thought about that. For some reason I just assumed we’d be on dry land the entire time.”
His minx didn’t even bat an eyelash at him now standing half-naked in front of her. He was really going to have to push the frightening depths of his idea. “The lake has a vicious current.”
“Does it, now?”
“Very.” He inched closer to the shore. “It has been known to pull a man down in the past.”
“Well, then…. I suppose one must use utmost caution when entering.”
Finally, he had her. “Absolutely.” Alex smiled to himself as he stood quite close to the water line.
Silence filled the space behind him. “Kitty?”
“I’ve been thinking,” Kitty said as she appeared at his side. “This lesson might be too dangerous for one of us. As swimming in a lake could kill a person if they are not fully prepared for the task.”
“I’m glad you see it that way. Maybe you need to think about that a bit more before committing fully to the team.”
She covered her mouth in what he guessed was an attempt to stifle the most feminine of laughs. “You thought I meant me?”
He fisted his hands on his hips. “Of course I thought you meant you.”
Kitty stepped closer and reached for the fall of his trousers. “I’m an expert swimmer, Alex. In fact, I have even taken delight in occasionally swimming in the sea, thanks to the Pirate named Trunbull. Several times he’d leant Thomas use of his ship so my brother could teach me to swim.”
Damn Trunbull. And despite not liking to think it, damn Thomas, too.
Kitty undid the buttons on his trousers’ fall.
“What are you up to?” he asked, unable to take his gaze off her beautiful fingers.
“I will not stand idly by while you swim fully dressed. You could drown.”
“I am not fully dressed.”
“You’re not fully undressed. Now if you could just kick off your Hessians….”
He slapped at her wrists. “Stop it.”
Kitty backed away. “Really, Alex, you mustn’t so quick to get irritated. Nerves can kill you. Now, if you wish me to undress first, you only need to say so. Calmly.” She lifted the skirt of her gown.
“No!” He grabbed Kitty’s hands. “I do not wish you to undress. Nor do I wish to undress.”
“Are you certain about that?” She glanced at his hard cock now jutting up from his opened trousers.
“For the love of God, Catherine.” He inched back, adjusted himself, which was no comfortable feat, and rebuttoned his damn pants. “In slightly more than twenty-four hours you have managed to outsmart, outwit, outdo, out-sleep, and completely undo, Countavia’s number one covert operator. And he has now had enough.”
“Well, I know that. You said three hours ago you had had enough for one night. And you proved it by falling asleep during the carriage ride over.”
“I will not stand for this, Kitty. I. Will. Not.”
“I think you need a few hours sleep, Your Royal Highness.” She took his hand. “Come. I’ll make sure you’re tucked in safe and sound and that no one, not even your valet or your team members, disturb you. I’ll man the helm while you rest.”
Disbelief didn’t even begin to describe the thoughts hammering his head.
Upon arriving at Kisswyck, he thought Kitty would be the death of him. But now he realized that assumption was an errant one.
He was already dead.
And living in Hell.
And not just your average brimstone and fire Hell. No, that would be too easy for him.
He was in a Hell unique only to him.
For where else would he find an existence where Miss Catherine Culpepper had wrangled in not one or even two or even ten of his demons, but every bloody one of them?
And she had managed to so with a skill that would put even Lilith to shame.
Alex sighed.
At least he knew his night couldn’t get any worse.
Chapter Eight
Apparently, being in bed was not the solution to Alex finally getting the peace he so desperately craved.
Between the scent of Kitty’s rose perfume lingering on his trousers that he’d tossed over the chair next to the bed and floating over to tease his nose every damn time he took a breath, to the other side of the mattress that sat cold, vacant and tempting him to go fetch the woman every time he rolled over, he didn’t stand a chance in Hell at getting a bloody second of sleep this morning.
Morning.
He stared at the ray of sunlight coming in through the crack between the drapes.
Bloody hell.
How could one woman rob him of two days of
his life?
He tossed aside the sheets.
At least he was in his private domain where he could freely stare up at the painted ceiling, his glorious nakedness fully exposed for the wicked cherubs that were having far more enjoyment in their debauched, frozen poses than was he in his living, breathing existence.
He glanced down at his rigid cock.
The thought of a cold bath enticed him. Rogers always filled the brass tub for him when he knew he would be arriving at Kisswyck. And by now, the water should be practically frozen.
Of course that would entail getting out of bed and venturing to the dressing room. Which would also mean, depending on what side of the bed he’d chose to leave from, he’d have to either step closer to those damn rose smelling trousers or pass the door leading to the connecting room where he stupidly had agreed to put up Kitty.
Or he could just put an end to his agony and sate himself. Though with Kitty in the room next door, the thought gave him no interest. In fact, if he were to be truthful with himself, it disgusted him a tad.
He swung his arm up and pounded his fist against the headboard.
Of all the women in Countavia, he had to go and find the one who got under skin even when she wasn’t right next to him.
Confounded little minx.
He closed his eyes.
This was so not what he had expected two nights ago when he entered Vulcan’s Forge. How the hell could he have ended up in this position?
The soft click of an unlatching lock snapped through the room.
Rogers.
“Leave me be, Rogers. I have no desire to take my meal or anything else you have thought to bring me. The post can wait, as can any business the team cares to deal with. I’ll be down later.”
No response came.
“Rogers?”
A warm breath fanned his penis.
He opened his eyes and bolted upright. “What the bloody hell?”
“I figured you were in distress when you pounded against the wall,” Kitty said, straightening as she stood at the side of the bed. “Now I see I was definitely correct. Though I do wish you would have just called for me rather than banging like a beast, as it would have put a heck of a lot less fright into me.” She climbed onto the mattress. “I came as fast as I could dress.”