‘Dan?’ Her voice seemed scarcely recognisable. ‘Dan, please…’
Since the bitter experiences of her Season, her belief that marriage was not for her had never been challenged. She had felt no temptation to change her mind. But with Dan, everything was different. She understood at last what women whispered about and longed for. His kisses, his caresses, his obvious and urgent need for her, were like fireworks, fizzing through her bloodstream to set up a sensual onslaught on her most vulnerable places, making her want something she had never dreamed she could desire so badly.
Oh God, this was dangerous, and the most dangerous thing of all was that she just didn’t care what the consequences might be. She didn’t care, and she welcomed the way that he was lowering her to that wooden bench again, with his coat spread across it so it cushioned her. She loved it as he knelt at her side, pressed his lips once more to hers, then eased one strong hand under her skirts and stroked his way up to the cleft between her thighs.
She was lost. A delicious surge of heat was warming her blood and melting her insides. She knew she should feel embarrassed, should protest perhaps, as a lady ought to, but she wasn’t a young debutante anymore, and this was Dan. She closed her eyes, revelling in the delicious languor that was stealing throughher and instinctively rising to meet him as his clever fingers stole up and down that slick, most secret part of her, creating a delight so intense that she stopped thinking altogether. He had found the very heart of her, where he was probing gently but wickedly with his fingers, and then—then his mouth was somehow on one exposed breast and he was sucking at it.
A piercing rush of need flooded her body. It was so exquisite it was almost unbearable, only suddenly it wasn’t, because sharp, soft waves of indescribable pleasure were washing over her, and she heard herself crying out his name as he steadily caressed her into ecstasy.
Through it all she clung to him as if she were drowning. She felt herself trembling even as the pleasure slowly receded, like the waves on the beach, but leaving her changed for ever.
Slowly she opened her eyes and looked up to see that his hooded gaze was unreadable. She was still in his arms, still dizzy from that unspeakable delight, but what was he thinking? And what about his own desires? Surely he too required some form of release? She longed to kiss him back and give him pleasure too, but she didn’t know where to begin or what to say. Then all of a sudden, the peace was shattered by a muffled clamour that was growing nearer and nearer.
She sat up abruptly because she could hear the sound of bells tinkling and children shouting in glee, together with a strange braying noise. Dan was on his feet. ‘What the hell is that din?’
‘I know that sound. It’s the donkeys that the children love to ride!’ Kate couldn’t help it, she wanted to giggle. ‘I never realised they came this far along the beach.’
Dan had gone to peer out through the rickety canvas door. ‘Good God, you’re right. There are donkeys, at least a dozen of them, and they’re heading this way. We must get out of here.’
She was already smoothing down her frock and trying to tidy her hair ‘If we meet anyone, I hope to goodness nobody notices how damp my skirt and shoes are. And… Oh, heavens!’
She had just realised that her bodice was unlaced, revealing far too much of her breasts where he had kissed her. Where he had—Really, Kate?She felt that secret little smile return to her lips, with the slow heat of remembered desire. Especially when the man who had awakened her to such pleasure drew closer to her so she could see his smile too as he reached to deftly lace her up again, but let his fingers caress her there just one more time.
‘Delectable,’ he said softly. ‘Quite delectable. You look very pink and very pretty, Miss Kate Summerby. But we need to get away from here and we mustn’t be seen together. If you meet anyone you know, you shall have to pretend your high colour is because of the fresh sea air. Now, you must go first and I’ll make my escape a few minutes afterwards.’
She reached up to touch his cheek. ‘Dan. Before we leave here, I just want you to know I don’t regret this, and never will. Any of it.’
He nodded and pressed her hand swiftly to his lips. ‘We’ll get a chance to talk soon, I promise. But right now, we need to get away from here and we mustn’t be seen together. You must leave first and set off back towards the crowds.’
She left the cabin to head along the beach, but there was no avoiding the donkeys and their riders, followed by several anxious parents. Trying to ignore them, she walked on steadily. But suddenly she heard a child call out excitedly, ‘Look! Look, everyone! It’s Aunt Kate!’
CHAPTER TWELVE
Kate pulled up instantly, because that voice was familiar—too familiar. Looking around, she saw that a young boy had jumped off his donkey and was racing along the pebbly beach towards her.
‘Elijah!’ Kate exclaimed. ‘What on earth are you doing here?’
Her sister’s boy was beaming and out of breath. ‘I was riding a donkey. Only the silly creature wouldn’t do what I wanted, then I saw you and jumped off.’
‘Yes. I gathered that.’ Kate looked at all the sand and grit on Elijah’s clothes. ‘But I mean, what are you doing here in Brighton?’
‘We’re here to see you, of course! Mama said we are to visit your house this afternoon. I think she wants to scold you. She said to Papa that you were becoming a dis…a dis…’
‘A disgrace?’
‘That’s it.’ Elijah kicked a few nearby pebbles then looked around. ‘Oh!’ He pointed at the abandoned bathing cabin. ‘There’s a funny old hut on wheels. I wonder what’s inside? I’ve decided donkeys are boring. I’m going to explore.’
Kate gazed rather desperately at the cabin, praying that Dan had already left. But then she spun round again because someone else was calling her name. ‘Katherine!’
Oh, no.Monica was hurrying towards her now, dressed in a fussily trimmed frock and a huge sun bonnet. Edward and Rosie followed, and Kate muttered an unladylike word under her breath. If her sister had seen Dan, she was in real trouble.
She stepped forward to meet her doom. ‘Monica,’ she said. ‘This is a surprise.’
‘Well, it shouldn’t be,’ her sister replied. ‘Didn’t I write to tell you we were coming?’
‘I suppose so. But I didn’t quite expect—’
She broke off, aware that Edward was already mentally undressing her with his horrid, lecherous eyes. ‘You’re looking good, Kate,’ he murmured. ‘Maybe the ugly duckling is turning into a swan.’
