“He wants to get his oxen inside the lean-to. They’re out in the fields. He said if this keeps up, he can wait for a break in the storm at an old hunting structure in the fields. If he corrals the oxen in there, he’ll be warm enough.” Carlisle moved to the fire, dripping water across the floor. “We can wait for a break in the storm here. Mrs. Murray must be in fits with worry.”
Katie closed her eyes. “I haven’t even thought about her. She will have my neck. I’ll not be able to leave her sight after this.”
“It would be worse if she knew you were alone with me.” His gaze met hers, and Katie looked down. She noticed the pool of water at his boots and the way he shivered.
“Carlisle, you’re soaked to the bone. Take your coat off and hang it to dry.” She helped him remove it and realized she hadn’t exaggerated when she’d said he was soaked to the bone. His coat and shirt were drenched, as were his trousers. She ordered him to strip down and gave him a blanket to use for modesty. Then she built the fire up, waiting until he gave her the word that he was decent again.
Except when she turned to look, he wasn’t decent. He had the blanket wrapped around his waist, but his chest was bare. She couldn’t help allowing her eyes to linger on that chest.
“Stop looking at me that way, or we’ll both be in trouble.”
“We’re already in trouble,” she said. “We’re here alone, and you’re not dressed.”
“No one but Robins knows we’re here alone. And he doesn’t know I’m undressed.”
“I wishIdidn’t know you were undressed,” she said, eyeing the blanket. “Maybe I should stay over here, and you over there.” She pointed toward the hearth.
“Good idea, except that the fire is here. The temperature outside has dropped with that wind. You’ll be cold over there.”
“I’ll be fine.”
But twenty minutes later, she was cold, even in her cloak, and made her way back to the hearth. Carlisle moved closer too, sitting on the floor. After a few minutes, Katie sat beside him. This was fine. She would look at the fire, not him. She wouldn’t think about how he was practically naked. She would think about painting. She would imagine painting the fire, how the red and orange flames would come to life on a canvas. Especially if she painted Carlisle before them.
Lying naked…
Katie closed her eyes. She had to think of something else. She shifted, putting her hand down on the floor for balance. It brushed Carlisle’s warm hand. Katie pulled away quickly, glancing at the duke. He raised his brows. “I think I can restrain myself if all we do is hold hands.”
Katie didn’t know if she could restrain herself, but she smiled and held out her hand. With a flourish, he took it. She shivered as cold drops of water dripped down her neck. She’d been so preoccupied withnotthinking about Carlisle, she hadn’t realized her hair was wet and dripping. Now the cold droplets made her shiver. She released his hand and removed the pins, letting the hair fall over her cloak, where it wouldn’t touch her skin and would dry more quickly.
She felt for Carlisle’s hand again. When she didn’t find it, she glanced at him, and her breath caught at the look in his eyes. “I have a confession,” he said.
Her mouth was dry, and all she could do was nod for him to go on.
“I can’t restrain myself. I’m trying, but all I can think about is how I want to kiss your neck.”
Katie swallowed. Gooseflesh covered her skin at the thought of his lips on her.
“I want to push you down on the floor and strip you bare so I can see the firelight on your skin.”
Katie’s lips parted as a surge of heat shot through her.
Carlisle’s eyes were bright and lovely. “Tell me to go stand on the other side of the room. Lock me outside.”
She licked her lips and tried to speak. “I-I don’t want to do that.”
“I don’t want to ruin you. I don’t want to marry you.”
“Then go outside,” she said without any conviction. “Go stand over there.” She slid her cloak off her shoulders and laid it on the floor before the hearth. “Walk away from me.” She unfastened the buttons at her throat. “Say goodbye.”
He rose to his knees. She could feel the heat of his gaze on her as he stared at her fingers. “God’s teeth, but I can’t.” His voice was ragged, as though it cost him to admit he couldn’t leave her. He held out a hand, and Katie noted that it trembled. When she put her hand in his, it felt warm and steady, though. With a gentle tug, she was pressed against him, and he wrapped his other arm about her waist, drawing her close. He looked down at her, and she might have melted at the heat in his eyes. “Last chance to escape a lifetime of matrimony to me.”
“I’m not running away,” she said, pushing his hair off his forehead and smiling at him.
“I have very little money, possess only a crumbling castle most likely not fit for habitation, a witch has cursed me, and I must constantly fight the urge to lose myself in a game of chance every single day. I’m a dreadful prospect for a husband.”
“You’re perfect,” she said, “because I love you.”
He winced. “Don’t say that.”
