Drumming his fingersagainst the table, he stared at the stairs visible through thedining room door. The stairs she’d ascended. She would be in herroom, working. Her hair would be scraped back but perhaps a wisp ortwo would have fallen, and her distraction would make it so shehadn’t noticed. A faint flush would colour her cheeks, a reminderof the proposal she’d made him, and though her expression would becalm, her pulse would flutter wildly, betraying heremotion….
Abandoning his breakfast,he loped up the stairs. Her voice called out permission to enter athis knock, and she seemed startled to see him, a delicate colourstaining her pale skin. He devoured her with his gaze, and it wereonly when he opened his mouth to tell her he agreed to her proposalhe realised someone else were in the room.
The Black woman Hope hadhired to be her secretary watched him with interest, a knowingsmirk on her face. His own cheeks heated, and the fire that haddriven him to Hope’s side diminished somewhat. “Miss Margaret,” hesaid, feeling awkward as hell.
“Mr Wade. Isee you’ve returned and you’re wanting to speak with Miss McElroy.I’ll just step into the hall a moment, shall I?” she said witharched brow.
“Thank you.”Hell, he wished he had his hat so he had something to do with hishands.
As she passed him, shemurmured, “Only a moment, mind,” and her pointed look left no doubtshe knew how bad he wanted Hope.
He nodded tightly,forgetting her the instant the door closed.
Hope stood opposite him,uncertainty in her posture. “Was there something else we needed todiscuss, Mr Wade?”
“Yes.” Hecrossed the room so he stood barely a breath from her. He inhaled,the scent that was her teasing him. Washing powder, clean skin,and…something fresh and sweet, he weren’t sure what. But he woulddedicate himself to discovering it. “I agree.”
Her throat moved as sheswallowed. “You do?”
Slowly, he inclined hishead, holding her gaze. Her pupils were dilated. Christ. “I surelydo, darlin’.”
“MrWade—”
“Jake,” heinterrupted. “If we’re going to be sleeping together, I think it isyou should call me by the name my mama gave me.”
“MrWade—Jake,” she said thickly. “Please do not look at meso.”
“How am Ilooking at you, darlin’?” he said softly.
She swallowed. “As if youwould like to devour me.”
“Well….” Heleant closer. Hunger licked at him, his hands desperate to fillthemselves with her. He denied himself because she felt it too, herchest rising and falling rapidly, a flush rising from the collar ofher gown. “That’s because I do.”
Pale eyes turned glassyas he traced a thumb along her cheek, the pulse in her neckfluttering wildly.
“Theparticulars and the whyfors are these,” he continued, his tonestill soft. “We’ll ease into this, darlin’, good and slow. Youbeing a novice means we’ll take our time, explore what makes yougasp, what makes you moan. We’ll make it so you won’t know whatit’s like to be in want of me, of my touch, and every inch of yourskin will be branded with my fingers and my tongue. And then, whenyou’re used to the slow, we’ll do it all again. Fast. Hard. Rough.Do you agree?” he finished, his voice rough.
She noddeddrunkenly.
Ignoring how goddamn hardhe was, he dropped his hand from her. “I’ll see youtonight.”
He felt her gaze on himlike a brand as he sauntered from the room, pretending he weren’ton fire for her. Miss Margaret was on the other side of the door,her arms crossed and her look arch. He tipped his hat at her, andshe shook her head as she returned to the room, closing the doorbehind her.
For the longest time, hestood on the landing, rubbing his jaw and willing his body tosomething approaching calm. Abandoning it as a lost cause, he madehis way back to his breakfast, his thoughts occupied by what,exactly, he would do to Miss Hope McElroy once nightcame.
ChapterTwelve
HOPE STARED AT THE report before her. The words swam inand out of focus, and she couldn’t concentrate, one thoughtrepeating again and again and again. She had propositioned Mr Wade.And he hadagreed.
That morning, Margarethad arrived shortly after the clock had struck seven and Hope hadgone down to collect her mail to begin their working day. As she’ddescended the stairs, her gaze had strayed to the dining room andher breath had strangled in her throat. Mr Wade sat at one of thetables, his own gaze on the breakfast before him.
At the sight of him, anintense joy had filled her, an overwhelming gladness that he hadreturned, that she could speak with him, that he was near. Beforeshe’d known she’d made the decision, she’d turned her step towardhim, her mail forgotten. When she’d reached him, he’d looked at herwith his dark eyes and every thought had promptly flown from herhead. To cover, she’d asked about his journey and what he’ddiscovered, and he’d barely had time to form a sentence before shewas blurting out her idiotic plan for them to bed eachother.
He’d blinked, and hisface had slackened. Embarrassment had assaulted her, but she’d beenunable to stop, outlining parameters and conditions. As she’dbabbled, his expression had cleared and a kind of heat darkened hiseyes, his gaze holding hers and making her heart race.
She’d left before hecould answer, the beat of her heart loud in her ears. Somehow,she’d made it up the stairs and to her room, ignoring Margaret’ssurprised greeting. Then, Mr Wade had come to her door. He’dentered, and all she could see was him, his dark eyes, the smirkthat was both wild and a careful caress. He’d called her Hope, inthat low, gravelly voice that did strange things to her.Goosepimples had risen, her nipples had tightened, and somethinghad clenched low in her belly. Hope, he’d said, and her mouth haddried. And then, Mr Wade had agreed.
No, Jake had agreed. He’dsaid to call him Jake.
