“You see!” Katie poked Carlisle in the chest. “That is the sort of thing you might have told me in the drawing room.”
“Youwantedto be interrupted?”
“I wanted to be acknowledged!”
“And if I’d told you about the witch’s sister then you would have drawn my nose correctly?”
“No!”
“No? Katie, you are shivering, and this umbrella does not cover my backside. I am soaked through. Tell me what the matter is.”
“How could you go to sleep last night thinking of the witch when all I could think about was what had happened between us and what it meant and what my feelings were for you?” She put her hands to her mouth. She hadn’t meant to say that last part.
“Ah. This is about when I knelt at the er…altar.”
“When youwhat?”
“When I used my mouth on you last night. I should have realized you would want to talk about that. You’ll have to forgive me. I’m not used to dealing with virgins.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You’re not used to—Ugh!” She pushed past him and marched toward Carlisle Hall. Now, not only did she feel neglected, she felt naïve and immature. Clearly, she was making much more out of what had happened between them than was warranted.
Carlisle caught up to her and grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around.
“Let me go.”
“Get under the umbrella. I won’t have you catch your death of cold.”
“Can’t have me dying before I fix your nose, can you?”
A ghost of a smile flickered across his lips. “There’s that, but more importantly, I don’t want anything to happen to you. I care about you, Katie. God’s teeth, my mother is right. Iaman idiot.”
“Yes, you are.” Her teeth were chattering. “What are you an idiot about this time?”
“I’ve said everything wrong and done everything wrong. I should have reassured you when I saw you. I should have realized you would be questioning everything. I’m not used to—”
“If you call me a silly little virgin one more time, it will be more than your nose I disfigure.”
He smiled. “You’re not silly. And you’re not wrong to want more from me. I do like you, Katie. I like you a lot. I liked kneeling at your altar last night.” He moved closer. “I’d like to worship there again, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it all that worshipping I did before I went to bed. In fact, I rather had to take matters into my own hands, because I couldn’t stop thinking about the taste of you and how much I wanted to be inside you.”
Katie raised her brows, and her mouth went dry.
“But after I’d, er—taken myself in hand, so to speak, I was clearer-headed and thought about the witch. So, you see, I was not unaffected by our meeting. And I’m rather gratified to know that you weren’t either. In the future, I’ll interrupt you ceaselessly to recount every moment of our lovemaking. Shall I start now? I think I most enjoyed pushing your skirts up your—”
Katie grabbed the umbrella handle and pulled it close, taking Carlisle with it. He wrapped an arm about her and kissed herhard, pulling her against his warm chest. When they drew apart, each gasping for breath, Carlisle murmured, “I’ll come tonight at one. The library?”
“You just want to look for information about the land in France,” she said, panting.
“That too, but I promise to make the visit worth your while.” He stepped back, leaving the umbrella in her hands. “Now, hurry back. It won’t do for you to be seen returning with me as your escort.”
Katie nodded and started away. Her feet felt as though they were floating an inch above the ground. She was also aware Carlisle stood and watched her the entire time, making sure she made it back safely.
She really would have to fix his nose.
*
At just beforeone in the morning, Katie crept to the library and lit a lamp. She was finally warm again, though it had taken a hot bath and a half-hour before the fire to do the trick. Then she’d been so tired she’d fallen asleep until about twenty minutes ago. She’d woken with a start, afraid she’d missed Carlisle, but she pulled on a wrapper and hurried down just in time. When she drew the drapes back from the window, there he was. She pushed the window open, and he crawled inside, pulling the scent of the night air and danger with him. He didn’t even pause to say hello before pulling her into his arms. His coat was cold, as were his lips, and the contrast against her warm skin was shockingly pleasurable. He stepped back, stripped off his coat, and pulled her into his arms again, pushing her wrap off her shoulders. His hand skimmed down her back, and he inhaled sharply.
“What’s wrong?”
