High Stakes Chattel (19 page)

He didn’t
want to think of how he’d feel when she left. She’d become very important to him in such a short time. She was a friend, a partner and a lover all rolled into one. With her, he felt free to be himself, both in the bedroom and out. Hell, he couldn’t get through a single day now without wanting her in his bed.

He finished putting up the tent,
and then grabbed his fishing pole. “Mrs. Lotte packed us plenty to eat, but I’d still like to see if I can catch a fish.”

She smiled. “Sounds good. There’s nothing like a trout
cooked over a fire.”

“Do you know how to start a fire?
”

“Of course.” She gave him a chiding glance, then efficiently began to
lie out the wood and strike some flint to the kindling as he walked to the water’s edge. Before long, she had a hot little fire going. Without being asked, she unsaddled the horses and brushed them down.

He grinned to himself as he waited for the fish to bite.
He loved being outdoors, fishing and camping. He couldn’t think of a single woman of his acquaintance who would not only enjoy a trip like this but also make herself so useful. If he’d tried to bring Anna Morgan out here, she’d have demanded a silken pillow to sit on and would have probably complained the entire time of being cold, tired and hungry. 

Within half an hour, he was roasting a large trout over the fire in some wild herbs he’d gathered, while
Samantha cut up the figs and sliced the cheese, ham and bread. She also found some wine in the pack and cups to pour it into. Soon they were eating a delicious feast in front of the fire.

When they were done, they cleaned everything up companionably in the diminishing light, and s
at back down close to the fire. He leaned against a large tree stump, and she rested between his legs, her back against his chest, with a wool blanket wrapped around them both to ward off the chill.

She sighed and relaxed into his embrace, gazing up at the
summer sky. “The stars are so bright tonight.”

He nodded and pressed his face against
the back of her head, enjoying the smell of her soft hair. For a long time they just sat there, quietly, enjoying the stars, but then he started to feel tension growing within her. Several times she seemed as though she was going to say something, only to sigh and nestle tighter into his embrace. Worry grew within him as he pondered all the things that could be troubling her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, cupping her face and angling her head a bit so he could gaze into her eyes, glad for the full moon that lit the clearing
.

Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Nothing.”

“It’s not
nothing,” he chided her softly. “I can’t help you if won’t talk about it. Is it your mother?”

She shook her head.
“No. I feel very relieved that I will be there with her soon.”

“Then what are you
worrying about?”

“Isn’t a g
irl allowed to have a secret?” She smiled in an attempt to tease him, but there were shadows in her eyes.

“Not from me.” He
couldn’t keep the possessiveness out of his voice. He wanted to know everything about her. When she remained silent, cold fear pooled in the pit of his stomach. Christ. Could she be pregnant, even though he’d been so careful?

He tried again.
“Is there something you want to tell me but you are too afraid?”

She looked stunned
, as if he had read her mind. “No, it’s nothing.”

He sighed, his earlier contentment fading into frustration.
“We should really go to bed early so that we can get an early start for home tomorrow.”

He pushed to his feet and took her hand, leading her toward the tent he’d set up earlier. The moonlight had made the clearing nearly bright as day, but it was dark in the tent and he hugged her tightly just inside the flap, waiting for his eyes to adjust.
“Your secret isn’t that you don’t want to make love with me anymore, is it?” He laughed, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

“No.” Her arms tightened around him. “It definitely isn’t that.”

“Good.” Bending down, he gave her a long, deep kiss, which she returned passionately, easing his fears. Samantha fed a need in him that he hadn’t even known was there. He felt it more each time they made love.

He slowly unbuttoned her shirt, tak
ing his time and kissing each inch of soft, bare skin he uncovered. He slid her trousers down over her hips and to the ground. Not to be outdone, she began stripping off his clothes as well. Finally, they were both naked, standing before each other. He moved his hands down to her bottom, gave it a gentle squeeze and pulled her to him, bringing them closer together. His erection pushed up against her and he kissed her hungrily.

Samantha ran her hands over his chest
and the muscles of his abdomen. He moaned against her hair as her hand drifted even lower, wrapping around his cock and stroking firmly.

“I didn’t know it was possible for a woman to be this tempting,” he said as he leaned down to kiss her nipples, gently at first and th
en with little nips to bring both pain and pleasure.

The depth of feeling he had for her frightened him, and he wanted to show her this the only way he knew how.

He brought her down atop their bedrolls, lying on top of her, loving the way she felt beneath him.

“Am I
crushing you?” he asked, urging her to part her thighs so he could press between them.

“No,” she gasped, cupping his face in her hands. “
I love feeling you on top of me.”

He slid his aching hardness
against the damp cleft of her thighs, enjoying the delicious friction. She moved suggestively against him, obviously wanting him inside of her. He bent his head to kiss her nipples once more.

“Tell me
, Sam,” he said, moving against her, resorting to dirty tactics he hoped he had the strength to maintain.

“Tell you what?
” she whispered, blinking up at him in dismay.

“Tell me the sec
ret you’ve been keeping from me.” He pulled back slightly and she clutched at him, trying to anchor him against her.

She squirmed, and reached down to guide him into her.

“No,” he growled, grabbing her hands and holding them up above her head.

He
pressed forward, then withdrew, until she was panting and writhing beneath him.

“Nico, please
. Please make love to me. I can’t take it anymore,” she finally sobbed desperately.

“Not until you tell
me your secret.” He stared down at her, sweat breaking out across his brow as he struggled to keep from giving in and thrusting deep within her.

“I…” S
he hesitated.

“Yes? Finish the rest of it.”
He thrust inside of her a few inches, and then slowly pulled back out, tempting her to the breaking point.

“I love you,” she sobbed, finally relenting. “I love you, alright?” She looked at him defiantly. “Now make love to me, you bastard.”

Her words unleashed something primal and untapped deep within him and he surged forward, burying himself to the hilt, leaning forward to take her mouth in a
passionate kiss. He wanted to brand her as his for all eternity.

Their
tent became very hot as she met him thrust for thrust, until the power of it overwhelmed him and he lost himself deep inside her.

Sam and Nico made good time on the way home. Yesterday, they had taken their time, talking and enjoying the scenery. Today, Nico seemed in a rush, distracted and quiet. Sam rode beside him, thinking about last night. Nico hadn’t said anything after he’d gotten her to admit her love for him.

After they’d made love, he’d simply pulled her into his arms and fallen asleep. He woke her before dawn, told her they needed to start breaking camp, then silently
and efficiently went about doing so.

As the day wore on, Sam’s emotions ran the gamut between sadness and anger. Above all, her thoughtless declaration embarrassed her. Those words had given him so much power over her. She’d known telling him wasn’t a good idea and couldn’t believe she’d let him destroy her resolve with passion.

He hadn’t returned the sentiment, so she could only assume he didn’t feel the same way about her. At first this made her sad, but gradually anger burned away the sadness. Who did he think he was? Her love was not something she gave away freely. He could have at least acknowledged it. 

When they arrived, John was there to greet them and unpack the horses. Sam stared at Nico for a long moment after they dismounted, hoping he’d say something
about meeting later, but after he exchanged a few words with John he turned and strode toward the house, leaving her in the barn with John. Obviously, she had once more become nothing more than the hired help.

With a
soft sigh of dismay, she started unsaddling the horses and brushing them down. She supposed she could hardly be angry that he expected her to do her job. That’s what he was paying her for, after all.

John seemed to be just as upset as she was, working silently beside her but saying nothing. Their last conversation played itself over in her mind. Perhaps he’d been right, and she shouldn’t have gone on this trip with Nico, but deep in
her heart she couldn’t regret it, no matter how hurt and angry she was now. Up until the moment that she’d said she loved him, the trip had been one of the best days of her whole life.

Why
didn’t Nico feel the same way about her that she felt for him? She leaned her face against the bay’s shoulder, as emotion welled up inside her, spilling out in a disgraceful sting of tears. She brushed them angrily away, but it was too late, John was looking at her with sadness and pity.

“Ah, Sam,” he murmured, stepping forward and pulling her into his arms. “Are you all right?”

His concern only made her cry harder. For months she’d been trying so hard to keep everything together, and now her entire life seemed to be coming unraveled at once. Her mother was dying, she was leaving Nico, and he didn’t love her.

“He's not for you
, dear.” John patted her back a bit awkwardly. “He's obsessed with his work and has little feeling for the living. You’re a beautiful young woman with a lot of choices in front of you. Your two years of mourning is almost finished. Soon you can start going to some country dances and find someone who can love you and value all that you are.”

She shook her head, not wanting to even consider a future without
Nico. “I thought he did value me. I know it's stupid, but I really lost my head.”

“H
e doesn't want to be married. He's married to his work. And you're too good to be anybody's mistress. Don't you want children?”

“Yes
, I do, but I want him too.” Fresh tears welled in her eyes. “I'm ruined now in every possible way.”

“No
, you're not. No one will know about this. Besides, you're a widow, not a young maiden. There’s a little leeway.” He hesitated and pulled back so he could meet her gaze as he brushed away her tears with his fingertip. His blue eyes were filled with compassion…and desire. Something she wished she hadn’t seen.

“Samantha, I'm selfishly happy
you won't be carrying on with Lord Chattel anymore.”

“Why?”
she asked, hoping that she was imagining the longing in his eyes.

“Isn't it obvious that I want you for myse
lf?” He reached down and took her hands in his, squeezing them, his heart in his eyes. “From the minute you walked in here, determined to win that silly game, I've wanted you. Not like him, not out of lust, but out of love and admiration. I want to take care of you.”

“Oh
, John, I don't know what to say.” She blinked and let go of his hand. “It's too soon. I'm angry and sad and more than a little confused right now. When I go home today, I’ll have a lot to think about.”

“Yes
. I just wanted you to know I have feelings for you. When you’re ready, I would like to see you again.” He brushed a lock of blond hair out of his eyes and gave her a charming smile. “I come highly recommended, Samantha. I make a good living. I’m strong, young and kind to animals.”