Page 39 of To Steal a Kiss

Alice gave an incredulous and very unladylike guffaw of laughter at that. The very idea of Nathaniel Hunt, meek as a lamb, was preposterous.

“Meek as a lion with a thorn in his paw, maybe,” she replied with great scepticism.

Nate grinned, turning her face towards him. “Perhaps,” he conceded. “So, come and kiss my wound better.” He kissed her again, deep and tender, one hand cupping her cheek as the other drew her closer.

“That’s not your paw,” she said, amused as she drew back a little, gasping for air.

“We’ll get there,” he chuckled, a wicked sound that made her heart skip about in the most peculiar fashion. “When do you need to be home, love? Will anyone have missed you?”

She shook her head. “I was with the Peculiar Ladies this morning—”

“The what?” he asked, laughing.

Alice pursed her lips, putting up her chin and pretending to look affronted. “The Peculiar Ladies Book Club. Surely Matilda has mentioned it?”

He gave another bark of laughter, for which she returned a reproving look.

“She did mention a book club,” he admitted. “But I can see why she left that detail out. Why on earth the Peculiar Ladies?”

Alice shrugged, thinking that ought to be patently obvious. “Because we are,” she said simply. “We are the misfits and the rejects, the ones there is no place for, so we made one of our own.”

“You never belonged there, Alice,” he said, growing serious now. “And I have the perfect place for you.” He took her hand and guided it to his chest, covering his heart. The steady thud beneath her fingers made Alice feel rather breathless. “Right here,” he said.

Alice’s breathing hitched and she looked away from him, the moment too intense. Good Lord, but he was…. She sighed.

“And th-then,” she stammered, trying to get the conversation back on track, “I was going to Matilda’s for the afternoon. So, my parents won’t expect me before five. Only Matilda changed it and said I should come for dinner so I could speak with you.”

Nate smiled at that. “She did? That was good of her.”

“Only I couldn’t wait that long,” she admitted.

Alice reached out and dared to trail a finger down his cheek, entranced by the rasp of whiskers beneath her touch. To her surprise he shivered, his eyes growing dark.

“I’m glad,” he said, as she replaced her finger with her palm, stroking his cheek, captivated by the feel of him, rough and soft all at once. “I was in despair. I’d have been nothing more than a puddle of misery by this evening.”

“I’m so sorry, Nate,” she whispered, hanging her head. “Your sister was rather cross with me too, for hurting you,” she said, meeting his eyes. “Forgive me.”

Nate shook his head, smiling. “There’s nothing to forgive. It doesn’t matter now.”

Alice looked away from him, a little overwhelmed by the look in his eyes. Instead, she turned her attention to the room. She’d not taken stock of her surroundings before, too consumed with seeing Nate. Now, she did.

It was a sumptuous room. Thick rugs covered the floor and huge gilt paintings dominated the walls. The subject matter was rather risqué, but she supposed that was to be expected in such a place. Scantily clothed beauties dallied with angels, who appeared to be taking liberties, but rather than making her feel shocked, the paintings only made her smile. A large desk took pride of place, heavy with ledgers and stacks of receipts. Nate had sat her on his lap, his long limbs sprawled on a comfortable and capacious settee. She suspected he’d slept on it. Two sturdy, masculine leather chairs flanked an ornate fireplace.

“So, this is your office,” she said, smiling a little. “Will you show me the rest of it?”

“Would you like to see?” he asked, surprised.

“Of course!” Alice shook her head at him. “I’ve never seen such a place in my life. I’m dying to know what it’s like.”

He grinned at her and then his smile faltered, an anxious look entering his eyes.

“Alice, what I said earlier. Before… before you came in.”

Alice raised an eyebrow at him. “About having syphilis?” She’d known from his tone when he’d said it that he was making it up for some reason, though why she couldn’t fathom. It had shocked her all the same.

He nodded, looking rather mortified, which was the most adorable thing she’d ever seen in her life.

“It wasn’t true,” he said in a rush. “I know my reputation is… is… not good,” he added, rubbing the back of his neck. “But at least half of it is nonsense, and I only said that because I thought you… were someone else.”