Chapter Twelve
After leaving Daniel and Kate, Talon went back up on deck, his mind whirling with the ramifications of what he’d seen. What the devil was going on? Kate had touched her husband’s face with such tenderness, with the kind of easy familiarity he associated with true love.
The way he’d imagined she’d touch him if he ever got around to seducing her.
Talon had never thought of himself as a jealous man. But there was no other word to describe the raw emotion that had exploded in his chest when he’d opened the door and saw his brother and Kate together.
Damn it. He wanted to be the one to lay his head in her lap while she gently stroked his hair. He wanted her soft touch and sweet kisses for himself.
Kate had become important to him in a very short time. He’d missed her these last few days, but had managed to stay away. He’d wanted to give her a little time, unwilling to take advantage while she was in such a vulnerable state.
Now it appeared he’d waited too long.
The old Kate had returned. She was no longer lost, no longer vulnerable. She’d gathered her amazing strength around her like a cloak, and it was going to be very difficult to breach her defenses again.
He stood against the rail, staring down into the churning, icy depths of the Atlantic, wishing he could find the answers he sought.
He was so torn. On the one hand, he was glad she’d bounced back, glad to see that determined sparkle in her lovely eyes once again. But the clock was ticking, his men’s lives were still at stake, and he had to make a move soon.
There had never been a woman he couldn’t seduce once he put his mind to it. But Kate Sinclair was a force to be reckoned with, and he was afraid he’d pushed her too far, too fast, that first night after they’d sailed.
Hell, he’d scared her so much she’d turned to Daniel. She’d put her husband between them, using him as a barrier. But the mere fact that she’d done so gave him hope. He’d seen the way she’d looked at his bare chest this afternoon. The attraction was still there and stronger than ever. He just had to give it a little time.
Besides, a few days with Daniel ought to put his charms in a whole new light.
* * * * *
During the next few days, Kate spent most of her time with her husband. He turned out to be a passable chess player and an interesting, if sometimes shocking, conversationalist. He taught her how to play whist, poker and rummy, and they took turns reading to each other.
She grew stronger, bolder, more willing to accept this sudden twist in the fabric of her life. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to live in America.
She imagined she’d have a far easier time continuing her newfound freedom there than she would have in London.
Talon stayed away as much as possible, but when he did join them, she often found him staring at her wistfully. He seemed respectful of the distance she’d imposed between them, but she sensed he’d be all too willing to pick up where they’d left off.
And despite her growing friendship with her husband, her nights were long and lonely, filled with thoughts and dreams of her brother-in- law. His passion and gentleness had changed her, made her believe in the kind of love she’d only read about.
The biggest challenge she’d ever faced would be to restrain her reckless heart for the rest of this journey. She prayed she’d find the strength to do so.
* * * * *
Talon allowed two endless days to go by before he sought Kate out again. He spent some of his time teaching Johnny to read, the rest staring out to sea and trying to come up with a plan to thwart his father.
He’d had no luck, so on the third day, he woke before dawn and stole into Kate’s cabin. He lit a lantern and then stared down at her for a moment. She was unbearably lovely in sleep, her face angelic and innocent, her chest rising and falling in gentle rhythm.
Kneeling on the floor beside her bunk, he tucked a lock of chestnut hair behind her ear, letting his knuckles trail down her cheek. “Kate,” he whispered. “Wake up.”
Her eyes fluttered opened, and a soft smile curved her lips. “Talon. Am I dreaming?”
Her words caused a strange flutter in the vicinity of his heart and a not-so-strange reaction lower. She dreamed about him. He contemplated climbing into that narrow bed and showing her he was flesh and blood, far more potent than any dream.
“You’re not dreaming. I’m here.”
Her eyes widened, and she scrambled to a sitting position, drawing her knees up to her chest. “What are you doing?”
She smelled of warm flannel and sweet, soft woman. Her dark hair hung loose, tumbling over her slim shoulders in a wealth of silky curls. It reached nearly to her waist.
Soon, he promised himself. Soon he’d see her wearing that beautiful hair and nothing else.
