Page 64 of The Hidden Heart

Jessica watched as Mrs. Woods once more came into view. She walked to her door, which lay almost directly across from where Richard was hiding. Jessica held her breath, afraid that the woman would glance over and see him.

But she did not, merely went to her door, opened it and walked inside. Richard stood up and hurried the rest of the way down the hall to the alcove. He opened the door and stepped in, flopping onto the bench beside Jessica.

“Thank God,” Jessica said in a low voice. “I thought you were caught.”

“So did I. I was wondering how I was going to explain to Mrs. Woods what I was doing in my own house, hiding behind potted plants and spying on people.”

Jessica smiled. “It does seem somewhat absurd.” She leaned closer, whispering, “But what of Vesey? Did you find him?”

“Yes.” His tone was filled with disgust. “The fellow’s lounging in one of the chairs of my study, drinking my port. Insolent bastard.” He glanced at Jessica. “Beg your pardon.”

“No need,” Jessica replied absently. “It doesn’t seem likely, does it, that he would be there so coolly now if he had been ransacking it in the dark two nights ago.”

“God knows what Vesey would do.” He was silent for a moment, then said softly, “Why were you avoiding me today?”

“What?” Jessica glanced at him, then away. “I was not.”

“Everywhere I went today, you were not there.” Richard had spent much of the day drifting about the house, not even realizing that he was looking for her until he walked into Rachel’s room and his chest had felt suddenly lighter upon seeing Jessica there. Then she had left immediately, scarcely giving him a look.

Jessica looked at him coolly. “I was doing what I am employed to do—instructing Gabriela.”

“I see. Yet that scarcely explains why you would not look at me at supper tonight.” He leaned closer to her, and when Jessica turned to answer him, she found his face only inches from hers.

She froze, unable to move, unable to think, aware of nothing but how intensely she wished he would kiss her. Heat blossomed in her abdomen, just thinking of it. “Please…”

There was a faint tremble to her voice, a vulnerability, that stabbed him with lust even as it made him want to wrap his arms around her and protect her. “Jessica…”

He laid his forefinger against her cheek, slowly sweeping it down over her silken skin. Jessica closed her eyes as pleasure washed through her. She knew she should stop him, should protest, but her tongue seemed stuck, her lips unable to move.

“You are so beautiful.” He spread out his hand, cupping her cheek. “So passionate. The other night, I—”

“No,” Jessica choked out, flushing at his words.

“Please, don’t. I know I was—I am so ashamed that I—”

“No! Don’t say that. Don’t think it. You did nothing wrong,” he said, his voice low and fierce. “I was the one who was wrong. I was a—a cad to act as I did, to kiss you when I had no right. You did nothing wrong. You were lovely…desirable…you were everything a man could want.” His hand slid caressingly back into her hair.

Her curls twined around his fingers, clinging and soft, catching against the rougher surface of his skin, sending desire slithering along his nerves. Jessica looked up at him, her eyes dark pools, and he had trouble remembering the thousand reasons he must not kiss her. All he could think of was how soft her breasts had been in his hands, how delicious her skin had tasted on his tongue, how trustingly she had given herself up to him, dissolving in passion when he had barely begun to pleasure her. He thought of what she would be like when he explored her body fully, when he showed her how much more awaited her, of how she would shake, her skin like fire, and cry out her release.

“Jessica…” His voice was thick with desire as he bent and kissed her.

He heard her little sigh, felt her breath in his mouth, and he shuddered, burying his lips deeper in hers. His hands went to her shoulders, digging in, pulling her to him. Jessica’s arms went around his neck, and she kissed him back, her tongue twining with his. The blood thrummed through her veins, pounding in her head. Her breasts felt fuller and tender, and she knew that she wanted to feel his hands on them. She was aware that she was acting shamelessly, that she must be a horribly wanton woman, but at the moment she did not care. The only thing that mattered was the desire coursing through her.

Her hands caressed his back, exploring the hard muscles beneath his shirt. She slipped her hands over his shoulders and down his chest. She heard his quick indrawn breath of pleasure as her fingers caressed him, and the sound aroused her even further. Jessica remembered his lips on her skin, and suddenly she wanted to taste him the same way, to kiss and caress him. Her fingers went to the top buttons of his shirt, unfastening them, and her hand slipped in under the material, gliding over the bare skin of his chest.

Richard jerked, a low moan escaping him, and Jessica hastily started to withdraw her hand. But he clamped his hand over hers, stopping the movement. “No,” he murmured, his breath coming raggedly. “Don’t stop.”

He kissed her cheek and ear and throat as Jessica explored his chest. Her fingertips slid over the smooth skin, padded by muscle, and dipped down to find the flat masculine nipples. She circled one with her fingertip, pleased by the discovery that it tightened and hardened with desire just as her own did. Her fingers raked through the triangle of curling hairs that centered on his chest and moved lower, following as it narrowed into a single line going down to his stomach. His shirt impeded her movements, and she stopped, frustrated, but he quickly unbuttoned it the rest of the way, allowing her hand to drift farther down.

Richard let out a soft groan as Jessica placed her hands on his stomach and moved them apart, opening the sides of his shirt. She pushed at his chest, and he gave in easily, leaning back until he touched the wall. She moved in, bending over to place her lips lightly against the center of his chest. He made a soft noise, his hands curling into fists, but he did not move away, so Jessica was emboldened to continue. She kissed her way across his chest until she reached his nipple, and there she ran her tongue around it as he had done to her. He dug his hands into her hair, squeezing handfuls of it. Softly Jessica began to suckle. He stiffened, but when Jessica started to lift her head, he held her down.

She smiled against his flesh, aroused by his response to her, and moved to the other side to begin to work on that nipple. She teased him with her tongue, delighting in the way his breath caught and his skin flamed when she touched some point that particularly aroused him. Her hands went around him and up his back under his shirt as her mouth finally fastened onto the nipple. He shuddered, groaning her name, and he reached down, undoing the buttons of her dress and thrusting his hands beneath her chemise, gathering her breasts in them.

Suddenly he pulled her over on his lap so that she straddled him, and he buried his face between her breasts. Cupping the full white orbs in his hands, he feasted on them. Moisture flooded between Jessica’s legs. She could feel the length of his desire pulsing against her through their clothes, and she moved instinctively against him, seeking to ease the ache that grew there, hot and soft and vulnerable. His hands went down to her skirts and moved up under them, gliding up her thighs until they reached the curve of her buttocks, and his fingertips dug into the soft flesh.

It was at that moment that a scream ripped through the air.

CHAPTER 15