Read Online A Dangerous Game by Julia Templeton - Free Book Online
Authors: Julia Templeton
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on our way.” Without another word, he stepped outside.
Chapter Five
“How many lovers have you had, Nicolette?” Darian asked, a dark brow lifted in question. “How many have you had?”
He smiled. “I asked you first.”
She stared at him, wondering why it was women flocked to him in droves. It had to be the money and the title, because he was the most conceited man on the planet. For the past ten minutes she had listened while he droned on about his crops in Virginia, and then the expensive ring he had purchased while in London the week before. Nicolette glanced at Salvatore who rode ahead of them, his shoulders ramrod straight. He stayed within hearing distance, she knew that much.
Her body still burned from where Salvatore had touched her earlier. If only Darian had not arrived, she would have made love to Salvatore.
“I do not count my conquests.”
Apparently that was not the answer he was looking for, because he frowned. “So, you have had many?”
She shrugged. “Does that bother you?”
“Perhaps.” To make amends, he quickly added, “I did not mean to offend you.”
She laughed under her breath. “Oh, yes you did. You would never speak to another woman in such a way, but I am not every other woman, now am I?”
“No, you are not like any other woman I have met.” He looked ahead to Salvatore, and brought his horse closer. “Why did you not come to me last night? I waited for you.”
“I fell asleep.”
“Liar.”
She laughed then. “There are eyes everywhere, Kedgwick. I know that you have to be most careful, especially since your betrothed is underfoot.”
At the mention of Elizabeth, Darian rolled his eyes. “If only I did not have to marry that woman.” He released a heavy sigh. “What I would give to marry you instead. How I would rush to the altar.”
“You can’t marry me. I do not have blue enough blood.”
His gaze shifted from hers, to her chest. “True, you cannot be my wife, but you could be my mistress.”
Feeling as though she’d been slapped, Nicolette lifted her chin. “I would never be a kept woman.”
Disappointment flashed in his eyes. “I would give you anything you desired. A home, jewels, gowns. You would never have to play again.”
“I would never stop playing the piano, particularly for a man. Music is my life, my passion.”
She could tell by the way he clenched his jaw, that he had not expected such a revelation. He seemed infuriated. “I want you, Nicolette, and I believe you want me as well. I do not want to argue with you.”
The need in his voice made her increasingly uncomfortable. “I thought you were different, Kedgwick. But I can plainly see you are not.” Without another word, she put her knees to the horse’s sides and sped forward, past Salvatore.
Darian raced after and she could hear him catching up. A moment later he reached out, ripped the reins from her, and pulled her close. Before she could blink, his lips captured hers in a kiss that was not at all gentle, his teeth pressing hard against her upper lip.
Disgusted, Nicolette pulled away.
Darian’s eyes were wild. “I did not mean to offend you.”
How she yearned to slap him. “Yes, you did.”
“This is not over between us...we will finish this,” he said, his voice low and husky.
Thankfully she was saved from replying when Salvatore approached, reining in beside Nicolette.
“Did the horse throw a shoe?” Salvatore asked, his gaze searching her face. He looked...angry. Her heart gave a jolt. Was he jealous? She had her answer when his eyes locked on her lips, which were no doubt swollen from Darian’s kiss.
She smiled inwardly. He was jealous!
“No, it was just a rock lodged in the hoof,” Darian said before Nicolette could form a reply.
*****
Salvatore remained silent during dinner. Sitting directly across from Nicolette, he made small talk with his dinner companions, Charlotte managing her usual place at his side. Nicolette wondered if she
Chapter Five
“How many lovers have you had, Nicolette?” Darian asked, a dark brow lifted in question. “How many have you had?”
He smiled. “I asked you first.”
She stared at him, wondering why it was women flocked to him in droves. It had to be the money and the title, because he was the most conceited man on the planet. For the past ten minutes she had listened while he droned on about his crops in Virginia, and then the expensive ring he had purchased while in London the week before. Nicolette glanced at Salvatore who rode ahead of them, his shoulders ramrod straight. He stayed within hearing distance, she knew that much.
Her body still burned from where Salvatore had touched her earlier. If only Darian had not arrived, she would have made love to Salvatore.
“I do not count my conquests.”
Apparently that was not the answer he was looking for, because he frowned. “So, you have had many?”
She shrugged. “Does that bother you?”
“Perhaps.” To make amends, he quickly added, “I did not mean to offend you.”
She laughed under her breath. “Oh, yes you did. You would never speak to another woman in such a way, but I am not every other woman, now am I?”
“No, you are not like any other woman I have met.” He looked ahead to Salvatore, and brought his horse closer. “Why did you not come to me last night? I waited for you.”
“I fell asleep.”
“Liar.”
She laughed then. “There are eyes everywhere, Kedgwick. I know that you have to be most careful, especially since your betrothed is underfoot.”
At the mention of Elizabeth, Darian rolled his eyes. “If only I did not have to marry that woman.” He released a heavy sigh. “What I would give to marry you instead. How I would rush to the altar.”
“You can’t marry me. I do not have blue enough blood.”
His gaze shifted from hers, to her chest. “True, you cannot be my wife, but you could be my mistress.”
Feeling as though she’d been slapped, Nicolette lifted her chin. “I would never be a kept woman.”
Disappointment flashed in his eyes. “I would give you anything you desired. A home, jewels, gowns. You would never have to play again.”
“I would never stop playing the piano, particularly for a man. Music is my life, my passion.”
She could tell by the way he clenched his jaw, that he had not expected such a revelation. He seemed infuriated. “I want you, Nicolette, and I believe you want me as well. I do not want to argue with you.”
The need in his voice made her increasingly uncomfortable. “I thought you were different, Kedgwick. But I can plainly see you are not.” Without another word, she put her knees to the horse’s sides and sped forward, past Salvatore.
Darian raced after and she could hear him catching up. A moment later he reached out, ripped the reins from her, and pulled her close. Before she could blink, his lips captured hers in a kiss that was not at all gentle, his teeth pressing hard against her upper lip.
Disgusted, Nicolette pulled away.
Darian’s eyes were wild. “I did not mean to offend you.”
How she yearned to slap him. “Yes, you did.”
“This is not over between us...we will finish this,” he said, his voice low and husky.
Thankfully she was saved from replying when Salvatore approached, reining in beside Nicolette.
“Did the horse throw a shoe?” Salvatore asked, his gaze searching her face. He looked...angry. Her heart gave a jolt. Was he jealous? She had her answer when his eyes locked on her lips, which were no doubt swollen from Darian’s kiss.
She smiled inwardly. He was jealous!
“No, it was just a rock lodged in the hoof,” Darian said before Nicolette could form a reply.
*****
Salvatore remained silent during dinner. Sitting directly across from Nicolette, he made small talk with his dinner companions, Charlotte managing her usual place at his side. Nicolette wondered if she
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