The Unquiet - J. D. Robb [60]
“You are pretending,” she said without much conviction.
“I am not. You saw me almost pass out from the pain. You had to help me in here.”
“Perhaps you dislocated your shoulder. Yes, that must be it.”
“And kissing you caused it to pop back into place? I have seen it done before, and one screams with the pain of it. Our kiss exceeded all my expectations, though I will say that it ended too soon, but even that fine a kiss could not distract me so much I would not feel my shoulder right itself.”
Chase could see Lydia’s cheeks grow pink, and she did not look at him as she spoke. “Could the vodka have deadened the pain enough that you did not feel it?”
“Whatever the reason, the pain is virtually gone.”
He took the scissors sitting on the table closest and cut the coat from wrist to elbow.
Lydia gasped.
“One coat is easily replaced.”
“But it is such fine fabric, Mr. Chase. What a waste.”
“Of course you would think the fabric not worth my curiosity.” As he spoke he pulled back his shirtsleeve. “My apologies for being so impulsive.”
His arm was bruised a vicious dark purple. He touched the spot and grimaced. “I will have a fine bruise but nothing that will even slow me down. I suppose it was not broken.”
Lydia stood up and Chase did as well. She folded her hands at her waist and might as well have shouted, Do not come any closer!
With the slightest encouragement he would have taken her on this cot and been sure that she enjoyed it as much as he did. But he was a patient man with a prize worth waiting for. He wanted more than the luscious body before him. A lifetime of experience had taught him that lovemaking was best shared with body, spirit, and mind.
Chase bowed, to assure her that he could take a hint, but was not willing to lie. “I would never wish to give offense, Mrs. Chernov, but I find I cannot apologize for that kiss, as forward as it was.”
“Then I will be honest as well,” she said, her stern mouth softening, even if she did not actually smile. Curtsying, she went on, “You had best leave, Mr. Chase.”
Aha, so she was tempted more than she wanted to admit. He tried not to grin and moved promptly to the back door. “I am going to check on Nesbitt.”
“Do not go alone!”
“I will not, if only to make sure you do not worry. I want to know if he’s doing exactly as I ordered and I would very much want him to see that my arm is not at all injured.”
“Pride goeth before a fall, Mr. Chase.”
“Well, in this case the fall came before the pride, so I should be all right, don’t you think?”
She shook her head at his joke but smiled a little. Soon he could have her laughing, he was sure of it. It would be something to which he would look forward. “I will continue with the guards for a night or two.”
“Oh please, I hate to think of men and boys denied their sleep because of me.”
“They have plenty of time to sleep during the day. They think it an adventure, especially the boys.”
“I’ve thought more than once that you are a bit of a bully yourself, Mr. Chase.”
“I prefer to think of myself as thorough, though perhaps just a bit stubborn.” Not wanting to see her smile disappear, he bowed again. “Good night, Mrs. Chernov. Whether it was the kiss or the vodka or some other magic, I thank you for your ministrations this evening.”
He opened the door and stepped out into the early-morning light, waiting to hear her lock the door from the inside.
Lydia leaned her head against the locked door. It was ridiculous, but she was more upset by the kiss than by Nesbitt’s attempt at breaking into the shop. Not the kiss so much as the temptation, the longing, the desperate need to give more and take as much as he wanted to give. Not even with Alexei had she felt so wanton. She stood without thought and then realized the difference between Alexei and Mr. Chase.
Alexei had seduced her, hardly giving her time to think before he swept her up into his world of love and family. Alexei had made it impossible to refuse.
Mr. Chase charmed her. He flirted but he never once pressed her