An Inconvenient Kiss

by Carole Kimberly

  Simon dumped her on her feet then pulled her against his solid form. Before Georgiana could ask what he was doing, he’d captured her face in his hands and covered her mouth with his own. His kiss was rough and possessive, almost violent in his urgency.

  Georgiana’s heart pounded wildly. He’d been frightened for her, she realized. She could taste the fear on his lips. Fear and something else...something she couldn’t identify. She wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her mouth to him, inviting him to take her, reassuring him that she was all right. Simon made a noise in his throat, and his tongue met hers, fierce and wild. Georgiana gloried in it, wishing it would never end.

  Without warning, Simon broke off the kiss and stepped away from her. Georgiana’s knees nearly buckled. She opened her eyes, only to find her head was swimming. In fact, she was feeling rather muzzy all over, as though she’d had too much champagne.

  “I need a drink,” Simon grumbled.

  Uncorking a bottle from one of the baskets under his workbench, he took a big swig and flopped down on the bench nearest him. Gorgeous green eyes, as dark and hard as emeralds, swept over her, assessing her from head to toe.

  “You look a fright,” he told her.

  His tone was cutting, but Georgiana knew better than to believe it. He cared enough to have been terrified for her. She might have guessed as much based on the way he held her on the top of the embankment, but that kiss gave him away.

  “I imagine most people look rather unkempt after nearly being devoured,” she replied coolly.

  Simon took another healthy slug, not taking his eyes off of her. Georgiana walked over to him and extended her hand.

  “May I?” she asked.

  He grunted but handed over the bottle. Georgiana took a sip, letting the liquid fire burn down her throat. Simon watched her, his expression shuttered. Georgiana suddenly understood what Simon meant when he said he didn’t feel friendly toward her. She didn’t feel friendly toward him either. She felt something else entirely—something heady and powerful and intoxicating.

  Just kiss him, she heard Jane’s words echo in her thoughts. Georgiana took another sip before she carefully set the bottle down. Meeting Simon’s gaze, she closed the gap between them and lowered herself onto his lap. She tangled her arms around his shoulders and let herself melt into the hard planes of his body. If she weren’t mistaken, one of his parts was feeling even harder than the rest.

  “Georgie,” he warned. “Do not toy with me right now.”

  “Don’t call me Georgie,” she murmured, pressing her lips against his.

  She caressed his lips, kissing him softly, willing him to kiss her back. When he didn’t, she nipped his upper lip to express her discontent. Then, just to punish him, she licked his lower lip.

  “Georgiana,” Simon groaned, pulling her closer. He molded the back of her head with his large hands, tangling his fingers in her hair and kissed her ruthlessly. He tasted of whiskey and fear and want, and it made Georgiana tingle in unspeakable places. She arched toward him instinctively, her body asking for something her mind couldn’t put words to.

  Georgiana felt his hand untangle from her hair and run down her back, branding her, leaving a trail of fire wherever his fingers touched. She kissed him harder, wanting to absorb him.

  Simon’s fingers skated along her hip, gripping her, resettling her so that she could feel his arousal beneath her skirts. Rather than mortified, Georgiana found herself feeling wild. She shifted slightly, wanting to deepen the contact, and Simon murmured her name against her mouth.

  A rough hand cupped her breast and Georgiana heard herself whimper. Her breast felt unnaturally heavy and she pressed the weight into his palm, pushing her demand on him. Simon ran a finger across her nipple and all rational thought fled. He did it again and she felt ready to explode. She kissed him desperately, pleading silently for him to end the horrible ache.

  Simon dragged his lips from hers and stared at her, searching her face, her eyes. His own were nearly black. He was breathing heavily, as was she, but whatever he saw in her seemed to satisfy him. He lifted her again, roughly, yanking her skirts to her waist and settling her high on his lap.

  Georgiana was only vaguely aware that she was straddling him, her bare legs dangling, the light fabric of her skirt bunched around her hips. She cupped his chin in her hands and kissed him as ruthlessly as he’d kissed her. Simon gripped her back, his fingers digging into her skin. Georgiana shifted against his arousal, trying to get comfortable, but that only succeeded in making her more frantic.

  Simon growled and fumbled desperately between them, trying to get under her layers of fabric. What he was doing was pleasant but it wasn’t nearly enough. She shifted again, and his fingers accidentally brushed her there. Her breath caught as the shock of it went through her legs like a bolt of lightning. Simon redoubled his efforts.

  In the small corner of her mind that was still working, Georgiana registered a sound behind her. A moment later, she felt Simon tense, though not in the delicious way he had earlier. She heard it again, that sound behind her, and realized someone was clearing his throat. Simon stilled and pulled back before she could even gather her wits.

  “Hell, Simon,” Nath drawled. “I believe I asked you to distract her, not debauch her. Though, I suppose I should admire your enthusiasm for your job.”

  Her brother’s voice was like a bucket of icy water. Simon met her eyes and Georgiana felt the truth of it like a blow to the gut. He’d not been under orders to protect her—no, he’d been instructed to entertain her. Despite his desire for her, his loyalty would always be to Nath. The thought of being little more than a pleasurable obligation to Simon gutted her. He would never see her as anything but his friend’s younger, unruly sister.

  “Don’t blame Simon,” Georgiana called over her shoulder, looking directly into Simon’s eyes. “I was debauching him. He, after all, was only following orders.”

  “Georgiana,” Simon pleaded softly. He looked stricken.

  “We seem to find ourselves in this situation far too often,” she murmured.

  Without waiting for a response, Georgiana bit back her anger and tears and patted his cheek. Then she slipped off his lap, straightened her clothes, smoothed her muddy hair, and turned to face her brother.

  “Hello, Nathaniel,” she said haughtily, ignoring Simon when he rose to stand beside her. “I’d like to say that I am glad to see you, but I think hello will suffice.”

  Nathaniel’s spine stiffened. “Georgiana. How long do you intend to stay?”

  Georgiana shrugged. “I cannot say. We are all quite taken with the diversions here,” she purred, forcing herself to look at Simon, who glowered. “No doubt you’ve heard about some of our more interesting adventures.”

  Nathaniel grimaced. “I’d heard that a crocodile tried to eat you this very afternoon. To my shame I find myself disappointed he did not succeed.”

  “Nath!” Simon hissed. “That was unconscionable.”

  “Your shame, Nath?” Georgiana mused. “Well, one can hope the next crocodile that comes along may be more fortunate.”

  “Indeed,” Nathaniel inclined his head. “Until then, perhaps you might be more circumspect in your attentions. This is a Company job site, after all, not a brothel.”

  Simon positioned himself between the siblings. “Nothing happened, Nath,” he said. “I swear.”

  “Only because I chose to check on the canals before returning to the cantonment,” Nath retorted, glaring at them both. When Simon did not disagree, Nath turned to Georgiana. “I’m hosting a dinner party at the officer’s club two nights hence. It would be my honor for Grandfather and Jane to attend...” he paused a few beats before practically spitting the words, “...and you.”

  Georgiana shrugged. “Is it time for you to air your dirty laundry? Of course I’ll be there.
If that’s all for now, gentlemen, I feel the sudden need to remove some filth.”

  Looking up at Simon she kissed her fingertips then pressed them to his mouth. “Later,” she promised breathily. His jaw tightened and he scowled at her with an odd mixture of longing and anger and regret. But by the look in his eyes Georgiana could tell that he understood her empty promise was simple retribution.

  She carried herself with as much hauteur as the queen herself, despite the fact that she was little more than a mud-covered doxy who had wrestled with not one, not two, but three cold-blooded reptiles in the same afternoon.

  * * *

  “You know, Nath,” Simon said tiredly, flopping into the chair he had just vacated and grabbing the bottle of brandy. “You’re a real bastard sometimes.”

  Nathaniel perched on the edge of the workbench. “I might say the same about you.” He took the bottle from Simon and poured himself a drink. “Tupping my sister in the middle of the day, surrounded by a regiment of Company employees, seems to qualify.”

  Simon shook his head. “It wasn’t like that. It just—” he gestured helplessly. “That monster crocodile scared us all half to death. I simply...lost control. Emotions were running a bit high, and my judgment was clouded.”

  “Indeed,” Nath said coolly. “It’s not entirely your fault, I suppose. No doubt Georgiana worked hard to create just such an opportunity. She constantly courts scandal.”

  “Yes, I’m sure she and the crocodile were in collusion,” Simon bit out.

  Nathaniel studied him for a moment. “Just how clouded is your judgment, I wonder?”

  Simon shook his head. “You misunderstand Georgiana’s intentions. I don’t think she’s planning to disrupt your life. She seems genuinely interested in the people and environs of India, almost to the point of single-mindedness.”

  Nathaniel snorted in disgust. “Please tell me you’re not developing a tendresse for my sister. I don’t think I could stomach watching you grovel at her feet like so many others before you. Georgiana has destroyed too many men precisely because they couldn’t control themselves.”

  “My feelings for your sister are irrelevant,” Simon protested. “And you know me well enough to trust I’d never lose my head over some chit, even the legendary Georgiana Phillips.”

  “I do know you, Simon,” Nath said. “I know you are discreet—usually—and I know you’re not the type of man to let passion overrule your sense. That is precisely why I asked you to distract her.”

  “You asked me to distract Georgiana because you’re afraid she might get in the way of your ambitions,” Simon retorted. “God forbid the pristine Nathaniel Phillips has a smudge on his holier-than-thou record. I’m beginning to wonder why you chose the military and not the church. You seem to be pining for a halo.”

  “I may be joining the church yet if I am unable to stop my sister from destroying my military career,” Nath drawled. “Need I point out, Major, that I’m your commanding officer. If I’m stalled because of my sister, you are too. We could be stuck in the back of beyond for the rest of our miserable lives. We need to keep her in line if either of us hopes to ever climb out of this damned jungle.”

  Simon refused to answer and Nathaniel sat for a moment, chewing his lip much like his sister did when lost in thought. “You know, this may work to our advantage,” he said finally. “The company boys like you, as do the marines. You’ve worked hard and they respect you. If they think you have an outright claim on Georgiana’s affections, most will not dare to do more than stare at her from the periphery. A few of the prouder officers might challenge you, of course. Skeffington and Bitlock, I imagine. Winthrope, perhaps. But they should be managed easily enough.”

  Nath looked up at Simon with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. “You may have just outmaneuvered my sister.”

  “You’re welcome,” Simon said sullenly.

  Nath sneered. “Of course I need you to promise me that you can control yourself in public. If nothing else, I can’t have one of my best men making a cake of himself over my light-skirted sister.”

  Simon recalled the icy glare Georgiana had shot him as she’d pressed her fingers to his lips. No doubt she’d fricassee him if he came too close. “That won’t be a problem,” he quipped.

  “Good,” Nath said, utterly satisfied. “You’ll join us at my dinner party. As my sister’s escort, of course.”

  “As you wish,” Simon said, inclining his head. “Now if you’ll excuse me, Sir, I need to check on the canal.”

  Without waiting to be dismissed, Simon stalked from the tent and verified with an officer that Duffy had returned to the cantonment with Georgiana. Somehow, he forced himself to concentrate on the final details of the canal project. When at last he felt confident that all was again running smoothly, he slipped away to begin the long walk back to his bungalow.

  Rather than clear his head as he’d hoped, the three-mile walk left Simon all alone with his thoughts. He’d been so surprised when Georgiana had kissed him back that at first he thought he was dreaming. He’d been doing so for the better part of the month, after all. Once he’d realized she was truly there in his arms, kissing him freely and eagerly, he’d not wasted another single moment.

  At the memory of those kisses, and of what nearly happened before Nath stumbled along and ruined it, Simon felt himself going hard again.

  Better to think of the crocodile.

  In truth, when he’d heard Georgiana’s voice calling to Baljit to get out of the water, his heart had dropped to his toes. Georgiana was not the type of woman to lose her head, so hearing fear, genuine fear, in her tone made his teeth hurt. He’d reached the top of the embankment before he realized he’d started running. Once the screaming started, however, everything became a blur.

  He must have bellowed an order for the men to grab their weapons but to hold fire, though he only vaguely remembered doing so. When he’d looked over the edge to see that damned beast come close to nipping off Baljit’s foot, he’d nearly plowed down the slope after them. Somehow reason had overtaken him, thank God, because flinging himself down that narrow channel likely would have resulted in pushing one or both of them right into the croc’s waiting jaws.

  Looking down and seeing Georgiana sliding closer to the toothy giant had almost unmanned him. His stomach still churned just thinking about it, about how close she’d come to being devoured, and he found himself shuddering at the memory. He’d felt so helpless, knowing he couldn’t get to her in time.

  Of all the danger and death he’d experienced during the war, of all the atrocities he’d witnessed both home and abroad, nothing compared to the gut-wrenching fear and utter helplessness of seeing Georgiana Phillips devoured by a crocodile.

  Nathaniel had been right about one thing; he’d made a fool of himself over her. Once he had her safely in his arms, he didn’t think he could ever let go.

  It wasn’t a feeling Simon wished to explore.

  He reached the cantonment and strode along the row of neatly lined bungalows, hating what he was about to do but unable to stop himself. He rapped at Sir Jon’s door, silently chastising himself for the overwhelming need to see her, but impatient to do exactly that. Once he saw her, once he knew she was all right, he could go home and forget all about this afternoon. Probably.

  Mrs. Kettle opened the door, her pinched face looking even tighter than usual. She nodded to him to step inside. “I’ll fetch them,” she said brusquely.

  Jane appeared shortly, her lovely face still pale. Simon knew by her expression that Georgiana wasn’t coming to the door. His chest felt hollow at the thought.

  Jane took Simon’s hands in hers and managed a watery smile. “I don’t know how we can ever thank you for rescuing Georgiana, Mr. Ashford.”

  Simon shook his head. “There is no need to thank me, Mrs. Fairmonte. Miss Phillips saved herse
lf. And Baljit.” He looked past Jane and asked, “May I see her?”

  Jane told him tightly, “My cousin is indisposed, I’m afraid.”

  He knew it was coming and yet it still stung. For an instant he actually considered just barging in and breaking down the door to her room. Reining in his temper, he said, “Please tell her that I’ll fetch her tomorrow morning for our final visit to the weaver,” Simon said.

  Jane looked as though she had swallowed something bitter. “Georgiana asked me to extend her gratitude for your time and assistance with our scholarship, but she doesn’t wish to monopolize your attention when you still have so much work. She insisted she will not return to market until after the canals are finished.”

  Simon bit back the frustration that churned inside him. That Georgiana was snubbing him hurt far greater than he wished to admit. Worse was the knowledge that she believed he’d seduced her under Nath’s orders.

  Still, there was nothing he could do for it at the moment. Bowing to Jane, he managed to keep his voice level. “I appreciate your cousin’s consideration of my work, Mrs. Fairmonte. I shall look forward to escorting you both to Nathaniel’s soiree the day after next.”

  “Actually, Mr. Ashford, Lieutenant Tolley has asked to be my escort, and I have accepted,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “But I know Georgiana will be delighted to accept your kind invitation.”

  Simon considered this unexpected bit of news. “Tolley is a lucky man, Mrs. Fairmonte,” he said sincerely. “I hope he is deserving of your attention.”

  At that, Jane smiled. “And you are a good man, sir,” she said. “I have no doubt that my cousin will be reminded of that, several times, in the upcoming days.”

  “I’ll take whatever help I can get,” he told her, thankful to have this charming woman’s support.

  The first thing Simon did upon returning to his bungalow was ask about Baljit. The boy had been bathed and fed, though Geeta noted that for the first time in a year there was actually food left over. Apparently Baljit had crawled into bed shortly after eating and fallen asleep without argument, another first in the housekeeper’s estimation.