He folded his hands behind his back and gave a solemn nod. “I’ve heard of that. Quite popular with the little ones, from what I understand.” Another idiotic thing to say. When had he turned into such an idiot?
“It’s her favorite.” Erienne stood there for a moment, as though casting about for something more to say, then seemed to decide the conversation was over and started for the door.
“Erienne, wait.”
She stopped, but didn’t turn to him. She stood facing the door, her back ramrod straight.
“Do you want me to leave?” he asked quietly.
She heaved a sigh. “Do you want to go?”
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“If anyone should go, it’s me. I’m a servant. You’re a part of the family.”
“Lucy wouldn’t like it if I ran off her new governess.”
“Derek wouldn’t like it if I ran off his brother,” she replied evenly.
Collin chuckled and felt himself relax a little. “Perhaps we’re both being unreasonable. What if we agree to a truce? We’ll both stay and try to act like civilized human beings to one another. It doesn’t need to be difficult.”
Erienne turned to face him. “Agreed,” she said with the hint of a smile. “It can all be quite simple.” She made her way to the desk in the corner and set the book atop it. Then, in a methodical fashion, she pulled a piece of paper out of the top drawer, ripped off a small bit, and grabbed the quill from the inkpot. She scribbled something quickly and waved the paper in the air to dry it. Then, picking up the book again, she walked over to him, handed him the slip, and marched out of the room.
Collin watched her go. The door closed behind her before he allowed his attention to drop to the paper in his hand.
Come to my bedchamber tonight.
Chapter Sixteen
Erienne paced her bedchamber floor in her shift. It was well after midnight, and she was vibrating with nerves, jumping at any noise. She hadn’t seen Collin the rest of the day. She’d remained in the nursery with the children, took her dinner there with Anna, and then retired early, not long after the children went to sleep.
Had she made an awful mistake giving that note to Collin? She hadn’t stayed to see his reaction, but for all she knew, he thought it was completely inappropriate. Or perhaps he’d been tempted, but had no intention of actually arriving at her door tonight. Hadn’t he just finished telling her they could both act like civilized human beings around each other? Hadn’t he been the one to stop what had happened at the creek? The truth was she didn’t want to act like a civilized human being around him. She hadn’t wanted to stop what happened at the creek. She wanted to rip off the man’s clothes and make love to him all night.
She’d spent last night tossing and turning, and finally decided what she wanted: one night with Collin. Perhaps if they spent the night together, she would be able to forget about him once and for all. Perhaps she’d be able to banish him from her thoughts and heart for good.
She’d remained a virgin all these years. Didn’t she deserve one night of passion? It wasn’t as if she was saving herself for marriage. That dream had vanished long ago. On the contrary, she intended to live the rest of her life as a spinster and a governess. What did her virginity matter any longer? She might as well give it to the man to whom it had belonged all along. The only man she’d ever loved.
A soft knock on the door made her jump. She pressed a hand to her pounding heart and forced herself to slowly cross the room and open it, her bare feet sliding along the thick rug.
When she swung open the door, Collin stood there, a small bouquet of purple and white wildflowers in his fist. She couldn’t help her smile.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” she breathed.
“I’ve yet to miss a challenge.”
She stood back to allow him to enter the room. “I suppose that’s true,” she told him, “but I wasn’t certain you’d want to participate in this one.”
She shut the door behind him, took the flowers from his hand, and pressed them to her nose. Their soft, cool petals tickled her, their scent fresh and sweet. “Thank you.”
Collin reached out and traced a fingertip along her cheek. “Why wouldn’t I come, Erienne?”
She took a deep breath and forced herself to meet his eyes. “We aren’t children anymore. I invited you here to do more than just kiss me.”
His eyes flashed green fire. “And I accepted for the same purpose.”
She made her way over to the bed and laid the flowers on the nightstand. Then, sensing he had more to say, she turned to look at him.
“I thought ...” He shook his head and seemed to gather his thoughts. “At the creek, I thought you were overcome by what had happened. Nearly drowning, I mean.”
“I was,” she agreed, “but that didn’t mean I didn’t want you. I’ve always wanted you.”
At her soft admission, he seemed to melt a little. His defenses. All the armor hiding his emotions. Pain crossed his features and he closed his eyes and drew in a breath. When he opened them, he stalked across the room to meet her and pulled her into his arms. “Are you certain this is what you want, Erienne?”
“I’ve never been more certain.” Of course, she had no intention of telling him this was all she wanted. One night. One night to remember forever. “Kiss me,” she breathed.
He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her softly at first. But then the passion too long suppressed surged between them, and he claimed her lips with a possessiveness that brought her to her toes.
Her arms slid around his neck, and he wasted no time pulling off her shift in a single, upward sweep that left her hair wild and curling around her face and shoulders.
Together, they worked with frantic haste to divest Collin of his clothing. He stopped momentarily to sit on the edge of the mattress and shuck his boots, which hit the floor none-too-gently, thudding out his intentions.
When at last they were both naked—him unashamed, his gaze hungrily skimming every inch of her, and Erienne shivering with part shyness, part delight and trepidation—he drew her down onto the mattress, where they could gaze at each other in wonder and revel in the feel of each other’s naked skin.
“You’re beautiful.” She traced a trembling finger along the fine musculature of his chest.
He chuckled. “I believe that’s what I’m supposed to say to you.” His gaze darkened as it flickered down her body. “You are, by the way, beyond beautiful.”
He lowered himself atop her. His dark head moved to her nipple, and he bit it gently and let his tongue toy with it before sucking it into the sweet heat of his mouth. She moaned and arched her back. “Collin,” she whispered.
When she was squirming with delight, he shifted his attention lower, a slow, sinful trajectory, pausing at her belly to shower kisses on the tender skin and dip his tongue into her navel, which seemed as explicit an act as any Erienne had shared with him before tonight.
Until Collin’s mouth found the aching place between her legs.
She stared down at him in a haze of lust, not entirely certain what he was doing, only that it involved his lips, his tongue … and she never wanted him to stop.
His soft hair brushed her inner thighs as he gently nudged and probed with his tongue to find that perfect spot. When she let out a gasp, she felt him smile against her flesh, and then his insistent tongue wreaked havoc on her senses, the building pleasure sending her body to seek and follow the hot touch of his mouth.
“You taste so sweet, Erienne,” he breathed against her skin.