by Loyd, Sandy
“Oh? And what might those be? Surely not another night with you.” She turned her mount to start back. “Since there are no questions, I will see you later.”
All of a sudden, she was being lifted off her horse and into his arms. He slid down from his horse, holding her to him all the while.
“I’ll be damned if I’ll let you get away with ignoring me like that. I told you once before, Giselle.” His voice cut like a knife into the air. “Play your games with whomever you want, but don’t play them with me.”
Before she could protest, his lips descended over hers. His tongue and mouth were relentless in demanding her response. Too caught up in a whirlwind of emotions swamping her, she could barely catch her breath as her hands went to his shoulders with the idea of pushing him away. Instead her hands slid around his nape, feeling the silky softness of his hair.
Warmth flooded her system. Simon Harrington knew how to kiss and she melted in his arms. Wanting more, she wrapped her fingers around his neck and pulled him closer. Wave upon wave of pleasure washed over her like the sea lapping the beach, reaching higher with every sweep. Soon, she felt air rush over her skin. A tingling sensation in the form of goose bumps spread everywhere. The idea of his busy hands having her habit open to her waist, displaying her breasts so quickly and effortlessly without her even knowing he’d done so, increased her sense of excitement. All thoughts were extinguished when his hands began stroking her bared breasts. She couldn’t hold back her soft moan, the sound eliciting more sensations as his hand moved lower, cupping her buttocks, pulling her closer, so she felt him through her habit. She sensed he was as aroused as she and for some reason this aroused her more. The idea of where his hardness rubbed seemed so decadent. She fought the temptation to lie with him. No one had ever touched her as he was doing now.
When his mouth softened and he bit her bottom lip, then sucked softly, more desire slammed into her, consuming her with need, making her realize how useless it was to struggle against the want. She fully succumbed to his kiss, letting go with every fiber of her being. No one other than Simon had ever made her feel this alive. All Giselle could do was hold on and let the feelings of bliss wash over her.
~~
The instant Simon felt her total acquiescence, elation surged through him. Never before had one woman’s response meant so much. He wanted her begging him for release and he swore he’d have it before the night was over. His lips trailed over her face to her neck. He spent a few minutes kissing and nibbling before moving to her ear, plunging with his tongue and biting on her lobe.
“Giselle, why do you bait me like you do?” he whispered. “You know I can’t let you get away with it. You’ve sucked me into your trap, but so help me God, I’m taking you with me. Do you understand? We’re going down together.”
Her moan was his only response. Desire for her ravaged his body. He wanted nothing more than to plunge into Giselle’s sweetness and surrender to the longing that had been with him for too many months to count. His lips found hers again, coaxing her into responding further. Giselle plowed one hand’s fingers through his hair, yanking at his head, pulling him even closer while the other boldly stroked his erection.
Sensing the need to stop before he lost total restraint, he lifted his head. He teetered too close to the edge of no return. Too close to taking this sweet, irritating morsel here on the ground like an animal. He’d always exercised more finesse. How was it this bit of a girl brought out some primal urge in him to conquer her? Looking down into passion-filled eyes, he understood fully that he’d skirted closer to the brink than he’d thought. The want and the need reflected in those beautiful round eyes mirrored his own want and need, and did little to slow his desire. He put his chin on her head and closed his eyes, shutting out everything in order to gain the control he held on to by a thread.
Eventually, his breathing slowed and normalcy returned. He glanced down, spotting the exact moment realization set in for her. A horrified, humiliated expression flitted over her face as color infused it. She tried to back away from him but he held her firmly in his grasp, not letting her move. Her look became even more mortified as he helped her dress and slowly began doing up her buttons in a gentle manner, giving her no choice but to stoically stand and allow him to finish.
She wouldn’t meet his eyes as he helped her onto her horse. The two rode back side by side, neither speaking, both absorbed in their own thoughts.
Jake came out of the stable at their approach and waited while Simon dismounted and moved to help her down.
~~
Giselle felt as if she might shatter if he touched her again, so she hurried ahead, hoping to avoid any more contact with him.
What a fool she had been to try to play games with the man, when he was so much more skilled at playing. Despite his subtle challenges to lure her, she should have known better. More importantly, she should have known that he played to win. To him, she probably represented some kind of prize to be wooed, tried, and then put back on the shelf. Yet for her it was becoming much more serious, because her heart was involved.
Simon’s voice stopped her midway to the house.
“Giselle, are you all right?”
She schooled her expression to show none of the emotions hurling inside her when she spun around to answer. “I’m fine. I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Giselle?”
The concern in his voice stopped her again, and turning back to him, she met his searching emerald gaze. The two stood for what seemed like hours, eyeing each other. “Yes?” she finally asked. “What is it?”
“I still expect you to honor your bet.”
She inclined her head and said in a more lighthearted manner than she felt, “Of course you do, monsieur. And I expect to honor it.”
“Baiting me again?” he asked, amusement sliding over his expression.
“I have no idea what you are talking about.” She held her head high.
Simon snorted. “Yes, you do. I would have thought one lesson would be enough.” Imitating her earlier gesture, his eyebrows shot up. He stood, holding her in place with his gaze. Then he smiled. “Well, I’m waiting.”
“If you will excuse me, Simon,” she said with a sneer, “I promised the children I would read them a story before dinner.”
She then turned abruptly and stalked toward the house with the sound of his laughter mocking her every step. Her face burned with shame. How had he so easily enticed her to act like some doxy on the docks? All he had to do was touch her and she fell right into his hands, melting all over him.
Oh, how she’d love to see the infuriating man hung up by his bootstraps. She stormed into her room and slammed the door on her way to her bed. That this was becoming habit was not lost on her as she plopped down and hid her eyes behind her arm in an effort to halt the rushing tears. But the action did nothing. Once started, they wouldn’t stop.
Simon Harrington was the most maddening man she had ever met, nothing but trouble, and she rued the day she first spied him. Though, if she were to be honest with herself, she had to admit he was also the most exciting man she had ever met. She sniffed. Her tears increased.
“How am I going to get through this evening without losing myself in the process?” she muttered. “How can I protect my heart, which is his already?”
When had it ceased being a game? The outcome of their encounter tonight could only mean heartache for her. She should stay far, far away from Simon Harrington. She got up and paced the length of her room as the thought of reneging on her bet passed briefly through her mind. The excitement of the new experience suddenly did not appear to be worth the price she’d have to eventually pay.
“What have I done?” she whispered, still pacing. She already craved more of his kisses. If she played his game tonight, she most likely would be left yearning for him after he was gone. And he would be gone…soon…as soon as his case was finished.
She was always the one who left them yearning. When had the tables t
urned on her? Her thoughts then flashed to all those men she had had at her feet. How many of her admirers felt as she did now? That thought made her cry harder as she sat on the edge of the bed with her head in her hands, remembering. How could she have caused such pain? Until this moment, she’d never understood what others had tried to tell her. It truly had been a game to her, making her feel pretty low. In the process of her game-playing, she was sure she’d stepped on countless men’s hearts without a care.
She wiped the tears off her face and rose from the bed. There was no use in crying over something she couldn’t change.
While dressing for dinner, she resolved to change how she dealt with men in the future, especially Bradford Tyler. She would also have her night with Simon, despite how painful it would be to see him go. Once gone, she would turn to Bradford, if he still wanted her. He wasn’t Simon, but he was a good man and he loved her. She would try hard to love him back.
Giselle spent an hour reading to the children before making her way downstairs to dinner in better spirits. She sensed Simon’s focus as she strolled over to Minnie and Maizie and gave them both a kiss on the cheek.
“I trust you had a pleasant day,” she said, sitting down next to him.
Simon eyed her with speculation, then met her smile with a grin of his own. “Yes. It’s been nice so far, thanks to an exhilarating ride I had earlier. And it looks to be an even better evening.”
“That is nice,” she murmured, not rising to his attempt to rattle her. “You know, Simon, I was just wondering. It seems we really know so little about you. Where do you live when you are not catching criminals?”
He set his fork down and cleared his throat. “Why would you want to know?”
“I would like to know more about you.”
“Why?” He viewed her guardedly, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“Because you interest me,” she stated. “Why can you not tell me where you’re from? Do you have something to hide? Like a wife and family somewhere?”
He laughed. “No, that I can tell you, I don’t have.”
When he didn’t elaborate, Giselle prodded. “So, is where you are from a secret, too? I just love a man of mystery.”
~~
Her teasing caused Simon to look closely at her. Her grin was engaging—not flirtatious—as if he genuinely amused her. This Giselle was somewhat different from the one he was used to, and he wasn’t quite sure what to make of the change. Her manner seemed so uncontrived and carefree tonight. He’d barely gotten used to the siren who kissed him so passionately and stormed into the house earlier, and here she showed but another side. “You’re not going to let up until I tell you, are you?”
“Non. I can be tenacious when I want to know something. So you might as well tell me.” She looked over at Minnie and Maizie. “You would like to know where he comes from, n’est-ce pas?”
“Yes, we are always interested in where our guests come from,” Maizie answered. “But dear, if he doesn’t want to tell us, we shouldn’t pry.”
Simon nodded. “See. She’s the perfect hostess. Never pushy. And she doesn’t ask personal questions. You could learn a lot from her.”
Giselle offered an unladylike grunt. “I do not care to be the perfect hostess, and if I am pushy and ask personal questions, it is because I want to know the answer. ‘Methinks thou doth protest too much,’ Simon. Do not tell me you have no home.”
He couldn’t hold on to his chuckle. “I have a small estate just over the river from Washington, DC, in Alexandria, Virginia. My parents live farther south in Richmond. I have two sisters and one brother all living in the Richmond area. Anything else you’d like to know?”
“You have family?” Giselle asked enthusiastically. “I did not know.”
“It’s not something I bandy about. But yes, like everyone I have a mother and a father.”
“I hear Washington is a nice city.” Her smile turned wistful.
He hesitated. “It’s home and I like it.”
“It is hard to imagine you having a home, like normal people.”
“Giselle, I am normal. I’m just an average man.”
In a teasing manner, Giselle cocked her eyebrows an inch and her gaze took a slow journey up and down his body. “Non, Simon, I see nothing average about you.”
Amused, Simon smiled, but continued eating without responding.
“How is your case going,” Giselle asked awhile later.
Another smile tugged at his mouth. “It’s stalled at the moment. I have lots of questions and no definite answers to them. Plus I have several directions in which to go.”
“That is too bad.”
“That’s how it is a lot of the time,” he said with a shrug. “I usually have to pursue many leads before I have a clear-cut trail to follow. It takes skill and a little luck, but I’ll figure it out at some point.”
“What are you investigating? Or is that another secret?”
Simon broke down and laughed. “My, we’re nosy tonight.”
Giselle shook her head. “Not nosy, interested. Are you going to tell me or not?”
“It’s no big secret. Just some incidents with the new racetrack and a few thoroughbreds’ deaths.”
“Was that why Colin went to Louisville?” Giselle took a bite, chewed, and swallowed. “Libby said they were having some problems with the track.”
“Yes, it’s all part of the same.” Simon picked up his water glass. While sipping, he kept his focus on her.
“Sounds intriguing and exciting.” She met his gaze without blinking. After countless seconds flew by, a hint of pink stole up her cheeks and she cleared her throat, tearing her gaze away to study her water glass intently. She took a deep breath and sighed it out slowly. “How I would love to be part of it all,” she said wistfully.
“What I do is dangerous and not a game,” he said in a serious tone. “You could get yourself killed in a heartbeat, honey.”
“Men who think they are the only ones who can do anything are usually idiots.” Her voice portrayed irritation. “Women make great spies.”
“I happen to be a US marshal, not a spy,” Simon stated firmly.
“You are close to one,” Giselle challenged.
“How do you figure?”
“How many people know that you are investigating this case?”
“A few.”
“Ha!” She gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “I would venture to say very few. You are here undercover and that makes you a spy. And for your information, women do make good spies. There were several in the Revolutionary War and in the War between the States.”
“You’ve made your point,” Simon conceded before taking a few bites of food and chewing thoughtfully. “Still doesn’t change the fact that it is a dangerous business,” he added with conviction once he swallowed. “One that women should stay out of.”
“Your pompous attitude is something I should have expected,” Giselle snapped, spearing her food as if she needed to kill it first.
“Simon makes sense, dear,” Minnie interjected. “I would just as soon leave the spying to the men. It does sound dangerous.”
“You are right, of course,” Giselle said, composing herself and smiling good-naturedly at Minnie. Then turning to Simon, she whispered, “Do you want to know why those women made good spies, Simon?”
Looking into her expressive eyes, he noticed her mischievous glint was back. “I’m sure you’re dying to enlighten me,” he whispered back.
She nodded solemnly. “Love. All the women were good at making men fall head over heels in love with them. After the men lost their hearts, the women stole their secrets.” Her grin was infectious when she added conspiratorially, “I would make a great spy. I bet I could learn your secrets, Simon.”
He laughed. “You can certainly try. But first you’d have to steal my heart, and I’ve been told I don’t have one.”
Her smile vanished and she turned her attention to her food.
“Tell
us a little about your work, Simon,” Minnie said, interrupting the silence before it became awkward. “Giselle’s right. It does sound intriguing and interesting. Surely you can tell us about your previous cases.”
For the next little while, Simon regaled the ladies with stories about some of his past escapades. When he finished telling one story, both Minnie and Maizie erupted into gales of laughter. Glancing at Giselle, he detected her distraction. She seemed absorbed in thought, not really listening to what was being said at the table.
“You’re awfully quiet, Giselle,” he said. When she didn’t answer, he prodded gently, “Giselle?”
She peered up at him, her soulful brown gaze drawing his focus. “I am sorry. I was not paying attention.”
“I said, you’re suddenly too quiet. Did I offend you in some way?”
“Non, Simon.” She sighed while shaking her head. “I was just thinking.”
Simon grasped her hand and gave a gentle squeeze. He turned her palm up, kissed her wrist. “I hope you don’t have those thoughts often. You seem very sad all of a sudden and I like you better when you’re baiting me.”
His admission caused her eyes to tear up. She stood abruptly, pulling her hand away. “Please forgive me. I need to be excused.”
Then she rushed from the room.
Minnie glanced at Maizie, who tsked-tsked. “Oh my,” she said. “What do you suppose is wrong with the dear?”
“I haven’t a clue, sister,” Maizie said, her expression bemused. “She seemed so happy a few minutes ago. Should I go talk to her?”
“I think she may want to be alone,” Minnie answered. She looked to Simon. “I can’t imagine what’s gotten into her. She’s not usually like this.”
She then turned to her sister, asking Maizie a question.
The two conversed for the rest of the meal while Simon listened with half an ear, wondering at Giselle’s hasty departure. Her mood seemed to change lightning quick, and it seemed as if somehow he’d had a hand in it. But as much as he tried, he couldn’t determine what he’d done or said. The woman was an enigma and he was truly puzzled.