“I would never judge you, Cate. I love you too much for that.”
She blinked up at him, her gloved hand snaking between their bodies as she hesitantly cupped his face. “You do?”
“Aye, lass. I think I have for months now. I’ve loved you from when we first met but, lord, I could never look so high upon one such as you…”
The assembly room doors banged open. Many cried out. John grabbed Cate’s hand and pulled her away to the beach. The tide was out, leaving behind rocks and bits of sand as he dragged her away from the crowd. The outcrop of rock which curved downward offered a small slice of a wall to hide behind, and a fraction of privacy. He backed Cate against the wall and shielded her from the noise and the rain.
“Aye,” he repeated, “I’ve loved you ever since your first kind act toward me, but I only realized when we’ve been here together—you and I…”
Cate wrapped herself around him, her mouth seeking out his. Gratefully, John started to kiss her, running his hands over her dress, driven wilder by the danger of discovery.
Chapter Four
There was stilla good deal Cate knew that she needed to tell John. Her own feelings would have been a good place to start. What precisely had occurred between Mr. Hepworth and herself at that house party was insignificant now. Living with her father was so terrible that it was worth the risk. She might have also told him what had made her so nervous in the assembly rooms. But frankly, she couldn’t think when John touched her in such a manner.
His hands explored her body, exciting her. All of what she had been hoping and praying for, his breath in her ear, his tongue on her skin, was finally happening.
When John pressed against her, Cate could only hear the thudding beat of her own heart. She needed his hands on her skin. Enough words had been spoken. Such trivialities could wait. All that mattered was that he continued.
That was her last thought before he felt her up beneath the hem of her dress and stroked her leg as she clung to his shoulders. She arched her back into the rocky alcove and prayed that he would touch her between her legs, as she imagined him doing countless times.
Her muttering caused him to chuckle. His fingertips were so close to her core that Cate could have screamed. When he kissed and nibbled her neck, Cate dug her fingers into his dress coat, urging him on. She was long past caring.
“You like this?” His accent was stronger and deeper as he stroked her drawers, easing his fingers between the opening and parting her curls.
“More than you could ever imagine,” Cate swooned.
“That’s good.” His smile seemed almost wicked in the moonlight, titillating as he pressed his body more fully against hers. He slid his finger inside, circling the point of her that made Cate gasp.
Cate glanced up and beheld him as he caressed her. The rocks behind her were cold, but there was no escaping John’s intensity as he pressed, stroked, and enticed her further. Cate gasped, her legs weakening as her body reacted to his fingers, craving more. More of everything. Especially him. He made her feel better about life, the world, and herself because he made her feel safe.
“Please.” She could barely recognize her own voice. It sounded coarse, but she didn’t care. There was a tension within her that she needed to release, but she could not master it herself. Every lift and press of her own body simply drove her madder. She needed him and wanted him, and continued to moan, desperately wishing he’d help her find the release she sought.
He gently brushed her curls, exciting her. She shivered as she clung to him with a wave of colors and pleasures. Cate cried and gasped into John’s arms. All the while, he made soft, soothing, and wondrous noises, kissing her face and forehead, holding her as she unwound.
Despite the darkness and the distant noise of revelers, Cate hummed with pleasure. Her body felt fresh and reclaimed. She became the wanton her father had proclaimed her to be. Yes, but only for her husband.
She snuggled into his arms.
Overhead and along the walkway, footsteps echoed. Cate and John smiled at each other as the ignorant passersby hurried on.
Perhaps they would have stayed there a few more minutes, secure and safe, loved and quiet, were it not for the series of voices that intruded upon their privacy. They were masculine and harsh, cutting through the sanctity of their alcove.
“…it ain’t visible yet…”
“No, no laddie. Won’t be down here, but along the front…”
“Did you tell the others?”
“You know I did.” There was a cockiness in his reply.
The other man laughed. “Wouldn’t do for any of us pinners to miss such a hoard.” His tone betrayed eager greed. Everything Cate had feared reared its ugly head.Surely not, she thought.Surely it was too early for the men to be out already scouring the beaches on the make.
They could hear more footsteps over their hiding spot. Evidently, a dozen more men joined them. They still muttered, despite Cate’s dearest wish that they would all vanish.
“Nah, you’re right. Our lady wouldn’t like that. She wouldn’t want us to miss out on a delivery.”
Next to Cate, John froze. She watched his face. The moonlight revealed his calculating expression. He glanced down at her, horror playing over his features, as he worked out what they were hearing. They were smugglers planning a delivery this very night. Their activities were masked by the ball. When he looked down at her, John noticed Cate’s lack of surprise.
