“Oh, Jace.”
“She begged me to let her bleed, to walk away, to just let her go.” He shook his head. “I stitched her up good as new, then sent her home with her parents. But not before I suggested she find a hobby to occupy her mind.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Three days later, they pulled her body from the Alleghany River.” He lowered his eyes. “She couldn’t overcome the trauma of the accident. She was physically recovered, and yet that accident killed her.”
Maddie swallowed hard. “Now I understand your interest in me.”
“A part of it, yes,” he said. “At first.”
Her aching heart skipped a beat. “And that’s when you left the hospital?”
“Losing Kathy… I needed to understand why.”
“She didn’t have a reason to hope,” Maddie whispered.
“She didn’t have a doctor who knew how to save her.” He shook off his obvious frustration. “It’s the profession I chose, but my inadequacies haunt me.” He lowered his eyes. “I’m my father’s son.”
“But you’re not your father.” Jace’s anguished expression tore her to pieces. “You’re only human, Jace,” she continued.
“I’m a doctor.”
“You’re a man.” She reached to his cheek, tracing the tense line of his jaw. “A good man.”
His lips parted, and he drew a long breath, his chest swelling with restraint and everything that was wound so tightly inside him. Everything she wanted him to release. She stared into his eyes, lured by all that she saw there, all that he was. She drew his face closer, lifting her mouth gently to his.
He stiffened at the contact, his lips wooden and still against hers. His hesitation filled her with dread. She drew back a fraction, steeling her will. Ignoring the reluctance in his troubled blue eyes, she cradled his face in her hands and kissed him again, with a desperate insistence she wouldn’t let him deny.
As he exhaled a groan of surrender, his tense lips finally softened. She parted her lips, kissing him with all she was worth.
And to her utter delight and surprise, he didn’t resist.
Chapter 16
Jace slicked his tongue against Maddie’s, driving into the warmth of her mouth. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she welcomed him with a lingering sigh. His pulse lurched madly. He grasped her waist, pulling her toward him. The crush of her breasts against his chest made the confinement of his bulging erection in his trousers almost too much to bear. His tongue stroked hers, delving deeper.
Since the first time he’d seen her, and every time since, he’d fought this relentless attraction. But today, when he’d watched her on the sideline of the horseshoe game, his resolve had shattered beyond repair. The sound of her laughter, the allure of her smile, the way she looked in this dress…
Kissing her deeply, he cupped the firm roundness of her bottom, then lifted her to his lap. She heaved up her skirts, straddling him, and he feared he might spill on the spot. He pulled her against his hardness. The contact, the blazing heat between her legs, stilled his breath.
She arched her hips closer. Drawing her mouth from his, she gasped for air, tossing back her head. Her parted lips glistened, eyes half closed beneath the fringe of her lashes. Sunlight poured through the treetops, dancing across her flush face. Golden rays framed her features, creating a dreamlike image of a woman’s pleasure. Lovely. Her breasts jutted toward him, inviting his touch.
Running his hands up her sides, he skimmed the silky fabric of her dress, tracing the curve of her waist, the swell of her ribs. He inched his trembling fingers higher. The weight of her breasts filled his palms to perfection. She moaned, arching her back as he cupped and kneaded. Blood spiked in his veins.
Her body’s response drove him wild. Lowering his head to her breast, he nipped through the fabric, lifting her into his mouth. She raked one hand through his hair, clutching his shoulder with the other. Spreading her legs farther, she ground her hips against him. “Mmm, Jace,” she murmured.
His name carried on that breath, filling his ear with a sound he’d dreamt so often of hearing. Sweet Maddie. A brush of guilt stirred his conscience, but he shrugged it away. As Maddie had declared, she was a grown woman. A woman with the guts and fortitude to get what she wanted.
He felt lucky as hell that she wanted him.
He pulled her face toward his and kissed her again. The sweet taste of claret, of her, flooded his senses. Reason flowed away. The feel of her parted thighs flanking his waist, the heat of her pressed to his rock-hard erection pulsed through him as his tongue meshed with hers.
The unwelcome sound of the others in the distance echoed through the woods.
Maddie stilled, pulling back, eyes wide. “They’re heading this way.”
He ground out a curse as she swung her leg over his, shifting off him. She plopped next to him on the moss, her skirts a tangled heap around her thighs. Straightening the layers over her legs, she adjusted the bodice of her dress into place, then scampered to her feet.
Jace remained seated, spewing a succession of curses and trying to get his bearings. He was still in a state of slightly dazed arousal.
“We mustn’t dawdle too long, or people will talk,” she said, breathlessly. He choked out a rumbling laugh in response.
“I believe you misunderstand the definition of ‘dawdling’ if you think that’s the activity we were just engaged in,” he said with a cheeky grin as he shoved to his feet. He received a playful shove in response.
“How do I look?” she asked, adjusting the slant of her hat.
With surprisingly little effort she’d managed to pull herself together quite neatly. Jace was impressed and a tad wary of her efficiency. Just how practiced was she in escaping compromising positions? Her cheeks were still flush with desire, her lips moist with his kiss. Blowing out a long breath, he resisted the urge to wrestle her back down on the moss and finish what they’d started. “Beautiful,” he answered, honestly.
Rising on her toes, she planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
She scooped up her basket, and they headed back toward the others. They all returned to the picnic grove, where Jim and Abigail collected their prize for winning the scavenger hunt. After settling back on their blankets, the guests enjoyed more claret accompanied by watermelon and strawberries.
Jace couldn’t think about eating. He could think of nothing, save the lust burning inside him. Every glance at Maddie enflamed his desire and tightened the knot in the pit of his stomach.
He watched enthralled while she ate from her plate of fruit. Placing a plump strawberry between her lips, she bit, sucking slowly before finally slipping the juicy morsel into her mouth. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.
She glanced at him, then swept her tongue across her lips, smiling as she chewed. By the time tea was served, Jace was beyond want. This was madness. He had to have her. He waited until she finished her tea, then said, “Since I have to check on Daniel later, we’d better head back now.”
“May we stop at your office before you drive me home? I believe I left my shawl there the other day.” Glancing up from her plate, she said, “Grandfather won’t be expecting me until well after dark.” She smiled, a wicked smile that sparked through his blood like a wildfire. “It won’t matter much if we must dawdle a bit in town…”
Jace smiled like a fool. He stood, extending his hand to her. She took it, and he pulled her to her feet, practically dragging her along. She laughed behind him as they hurried toward their hosts. They made their excruciatingly long good-byes to Amelia and Lester, waving farewells to Caroline, David, and a forlorn-looking Philip, before finally boarding the buggy and heading down the road toward Misty Lake.
The ride for Jace seemed endless as he sat next to Maddie. The buggy rolled along at an even pace, but it would take another thirty minutes at least before they arrived at his office. The setting sun glowed on the horizon, draping the mountains in a blanket of pink. With each descendin
g inch of the sun, Jace’s sensibilities rose higher.
“It would be better if I drove you home,” he said, solely because he felt he should.
She regarded him skeptically. “Better for whom?”
He frowned at her veiled challenge. “Maddie, think about it—”
“I have thought about it,” she said, shifting in her seat. “And I’m tired of merely thinking about it.” She placed a hand on his knee. “Aren’t you?”
He stared down at her fingers caressing his thigh and conceded defeat. “And I have nothing to add to this discussion?”
Her brown eyes gleamed with determination. Desire. “Nothing I care to hear.”
He smiled in spite of himself. She was beguiling in her honesty. And her touch on his thigh was intoxicating. The hell with chivalry, ethics, and everything else. She’d rendered him powerless.
When they reached the office, Jace parked the buggy in the drive instead of leaving it on the street where the neighbors would spot it. “Go on in through the back door while I see to the horse,” he said.
With a nod, she disappeared inside.
Jace stabled and fed the horse quickly, then hurried into the house. The floorboards creaked as he walked down the hall through the moonlight and shadows. Maddie sat in the parlor wrapped in a blanket. Her dress lay sprawled on the sofa beside her. Her ploy to ensure he’d not change his mind was more than effective.
The thrill of anticipation paralyzed him. He swallowed hard as she stood. “Are you sure?” he whispered through the thick air of longing between them.
Without a word, she released the blanket, and it slipped slowly to the floor. She stood in the moonlight, dressed only in her chemise and stockings. He drew in a sharp breath. Her simmering gaze held his as she stepped from the pool of wool at her feet, and he had his answer.
* * * *
In one swift move, Jace scooped her into his arms and carried her through the house. She floated in his strong arms as they moved toward the bed. Her heart pounded. Thoughts breezed through her head, her life as it was, as it had been since the accident, as it would be forever. No guilt, no doubts marred the moment, for she’d allow nothing to hinder her bliss. Instead, she would take what she could. She would cling to this night and this man—this man who’d made her forget how hopeless and lonely she’d been.
Jace placed her gently on the pillows, staring down at her. Her chest heaved with excitement. He peeled off his coat, then tossed it aside.
The mattress slumped with his weight as he joined her on the bed. She reached for him with such need it frightened her. It felt as if she’d waited a lifetime for this—for him. She couldn’t stop herself now if she wanted to; but, oh, she didn’t want to. She might never again have this chance.
His mouth found hers in the dimness of the room, setting her ablaze. He pulled her over his body. His hardness against her thigh set her flesh tingling. With an arch of her hips, she centered herself on that pulsing hardness.
Groaning, he deepened the kiss. His tongue slid against hers, rousing pleasure in every direction. The sound of his raspy desire filled her ears as he rolled her to her side, then covered her body with his.
She squirmed beneath the weight and the heat of him, heart pounding. She felt his hand on her trembling knee, his fingers sliding under her chemise. Cool air kissed her skin before the scorch of his hand. She closed her eyes, writhing at his touch, the heat, the pressure. His hand trailed higher, taking the fabric with it. He sat back, drawing her upright. He lifted the garment over her hips, and she raised her arms with a shiver as he slipped it over her head, then tossed it aside.
His eyes settled on hers, stilling her heart. She could barely breathe in the warmth and intensity searing her soul. Something passed between them, something she’d never felt nor could describe—something fateful, and more intimate than sitting naked in his bed. She closed her eyes to blink the feeling away, to blink back her tears.
She felt his hands on her breasts, and she tossed back her head, lost in pleasure once again. “Jace,” she whispered into the darkness. His hot mouth covered her breast, and she all but screamed. Biting her lip, she raked her hand through his hair, arching her back as his tongue circled and teased.
Drawing away, Jace sat back on his haunches to remove his shirt. She rose up to help, working the buttons in a frantic pace. She tugged the shirt from his trousers, and he tossed it aside. She stared, excited beyond reason at his glorious chest. She reached to touch him, and he drew in a breath. Each movement of her hands on his warm flesh, the soft patch of curls between his nipples, incited her ardor. Her touch incited his, too. She felt the rising need in his rigid pose, saw it on his handsome face.
Lowering her focus, she unfastened his trousers. Within moments he was naked and on top of her. Her flesh burned against his, the contact blazing through her body. He rained hot kisses down her neck and throat. Tension wound from the pit of her stomach, stretching through her limbs. She tossed her head from side to side as pleasure pulled her toward something unknown, something waiting. The tingle between her thighs grew stronger, and she parted her legs in response.
Jace shifted between her damp thighs, spreading her legs. His hardness pressed against her, stirring sensations that were too good to bear. Her bottom rose toward him, her hips writhing for more. He eased inside her, and she flinched, startled by the pain. Grumbling a curse, he drew back. He inhaled a long breath, as if struggling for control. The warmth of his breath fanned her cheek as he pressed a soft kiss to her temple. The sweet gesture, his tender regard for her comfort, relaxed her tense limbs, and the pain began to subside. She ran her hands down his back, over his firm buttocks, urging him on.
Biting her lip, she waited, anticipating more pain. He pushed forward again. Slowly. So slowly that discomfort was minor. Moving gently, he inched deeper and deeper until the pain disappeared and the pleasure returned.
She wrapped her legs tightly around him. He stilled, staring into her eyes. His strained expression softened to a look of relief. He kissed her, a long, lingering kiss that freed his reluctance and sent her reeling.
His hips moved faster. She moaned, arching to meet each thrust, eager to ease the unbearable tension. Her body spun in the wonderful chaos. His soft lips on her neck, his hot breath in her ear. His hard shaft sliding in and out of her. He lifted her bottom, driving deeper. A gust of pleasure overtook her, sent her hurtling over the edge. Clutching his shoulders, she shuddered, panting wildly as the sensations pulsed through her.
With a groan, Jace withdrew from her body, his own trembling with pleasure. His labored breath filled her ear as he pressed ragged kisses to her temple. The warmth of his release on her thigh reminded her of the risk they had taken. Maddie knew enough about such matters to know that precision was imperative in avoiding pregnancy. Her fleeting qualms faded. Jace was nothing, if not precise.
Several long moments passed as they lay there, naked bodies entwined. Pressing her cheek to his neck, she closed her misty eyes, inhaling the scent of him. This moment. And then she heard it. Rising through the haze of her bliss, ringing beneath the pounding pulse in her ears, one lone thought resounded in her head.
She loved him.
* * * *
Jace nestled Maddie against his chest. Stroking her silky hair, he stared at the ceiling, his heart thundering, his thoughts a bouncing jumble in his head. Despite his euphoria, he couldn’t help feeling he’d taken advantage of the situation. Of her.
“Don’t have regrets, Jace,” she said, as if reading his mind. Shifting to her side, she rose on her elbow. Her fingers roamed the hair on his chest, and his breath hitched in response. “I couldn’t bear that.”
Her honesty never ceased to amaze him. She never ceased to amaze him. He brushed a curl from her beautiful face.
“You’ve done nothing unethical here. We are not doctor and patient,” she said.
While this was true, he was having trouble determining jus
t what exactly they were to each other. He’d taken her virginity, for Christ’s sake. Something no other man could claim. Why was a part of him gratified by this? Despite his confusion, he was sure of one thing. “I regret nothing,” he said quietly. “Not for myself, at least.”
“You took nothing I was unwilling to give. I will never marry anyway.”
“You don’t know that. One day you may—”
“No.” She shook her head firmly. “To echo your sentiment of this morning, marriage wouldn’t suit me.” She touched his face, tracing a path to his jaw. “Rest easy, Jace, please. I expect nothing from you except what you’ve promised. To help make these people accept me again.” She smiled. “Thank you for today, by the way,” she said, nudging him playfully.
He smiled too. “Thank you for tonight.”
She laughed as he pressed a kiss to her temple.
“You’re a good friend,” she said. “And I want you to know that no matter what happens at Amelia’s wedding, no matter the outcome of our charade, success or failure, I will remember your kindness—and this night—for as long as I live.”
The words touched a place deep in his core, stirring a response he was too cowardly to voice. So will I.
Chapter 17
Jace took Maddie home, then drove back toward town. Moonlight provided excellent visibility as the buggy rolled along, but he was too distracted by other thoughts to appreciate the favorable traveling conditions.
It was well past ten, and Jace hoped Maddie was correct about her grandfather’s intention to retire early. The idea of Maddie having to face the gallant old man now—tonight—gripped Jace in guilt.
But even the possibility of an awkward encounter between Mr. Sutter and his granddaughter wasn’t enough to tear Jace away from reliving the evening’s passion in his imagination. The more Jace tried to concentrate on the road, the more his mind’s eye flashed to images of Maddie’s silken skin, the feel of her thighs wrapped around his waist, the warmth deep inside her…
The Lady Who Lived Again Page 15