Ada broke the locked gaze and turned toward Will with a smile. “Good morning, Dr. Leonard. How nice of you to join us.”
The flash across the rebel’s face was hardly warm. Will ignored it.
“Of course, you know I couldn’t stay away.” He walked up and kissed the back of her hand. He gave the Confederate a nod. “Good morning, sir. Trust you have no dire pains from last night’s escapade.”
“None are noticeable, doctor.” The man watched him warily. He couldn’t blame him. Being in Yankeeland and with a Union surgeon here, the ex-prisoner knew his luck could change. Will appreciated that.
“Will, will you have a bite?” Ada asked as the servant handed him a cup of coffee.
Will inhaled the caffeinated drink. “You never know just how much you miss a good cup of this stuff until you’re stuck at the front.” He grinned and took a sip. Over the edge of the cup, he could see a slight impatience in her, which intrigued him. Particularly when he saw a similar, though colder, reflection on the rebel. What was going on here? As to the invitation to join them, he finally responded, “As to partaking of this fine repast with you, I must decline. I’ve had breakfast and still have errands to attend. I just needed a few things.”
“Are you leaving?” She sounded a bit panicked.
“My leave wasn’t granted for the length of yours. Waxler is a tyrant, one that doesn’t rejoice in the holidays, even directing us from his own enforced leave.” He snorted as he put the empty cup down. “But I am curious if you’ll be at the Amherst soiree tonight. My last hurrah, so to speak, before returning to the drudgery of ill and grumpy patients.”
“Amherst’s? No, I hadn’t thought so—”
“Reginald Amherst? The shipping king?” the Confederate piped in.
Will frowned at him. “You know who he is?”
The southerner gave him a lazy smile. “Old family acquaintance.”
“Yes, well, you are correct. They have a holiday soiree tonight. Light dancing, games and festivities.” He turned to Ada and pleaded, “Please tell me you’ll come.”
She chewed her bottom lip, a reaction that always held his attention, because he wanted to soothe it from the scraping her teeth gave it…. the mere reaction made him mentally shake. Despite all the years he’d known her, he could never grab her attention the way he desired. No, instead she wasted her time on that lowlife scoundrel, Peregoy.
“I had not sent a reply. It may be considered too late,” she finally answered.
Will beat back the disappointment that threatened. He needed her to attend. “I’m sure a simply failure of the post to deliver would be understandable, considering the current state of affairs. Besides, it’s a rather large event.”
“If it would not be considered rude, yes, I’ll go.” She gave him a smile. “What time will I expect you to pick me up?”
“I think we all will go about seven.”
“All?” Her eyes widened and he caught the rebel’s eyebrows inch higher.
“Of course. You can’t leave your prisoner alone,” he smirked. He reached for a pastry off the buffet, adding, “Until tonight, adieu!” And he left the room with a chuckle, for mimicking the rebel’s French accent and for getting what he wanted.
He’d told her in the beginning he’d find a way to erase the Confederate’s escape and he had discovered one. Their attending tonight was a win for him and his plan and that made him wash away the silent glances on their faces. Affection could not be happening, he reassured himself, because Fontaine stood for everything she despised about the South. She could never be falling for him…
Ada sat in the library, reading the mail Will had brought for her, but she couldn’t concentrate. Instead, her mind kept returning to last night.
She lay on the mattress, inhaling deeply, still heated from their lovemaking. Never in her life had she thought she’d be in a bed, panting like an animal, hot and glistening from mating. Nothing had prepared her for this.
A male chuckle rose and the mattress crumbled as he turned toward her, propping his head up on his arm. “You are beautiful.”
The compliment was simple and one he’d already uttered to her at the ball. But now, she wasn’t in an elegant gown, all powdered and coiffured for a night of dancing. Now she wore nothing but her stockings and a layer of him.
“You are very free with that compliment, sir.”
“Ah, but it is true.” He bent forward and suckled on her exposed, still hardened nipple. His teeth scathed the tender skin, washed in his saliva. The motion set off a flurry of pulses through her body, branching from her breast down to her core.
“We should get up,” she murmured, suddenly feeling very self-conscious of being naked next to him. She braced her palms down to push up when his arm snaked around her middle and scooping her closer to him.
“Maybe.” He nipped at her neck, upping her heat level again.
“You’re not tired?” she asked, when his now hardened cock nudged against her hip. “Is your ankle sore?”
“Mais, non,” he whispered into her ear, nuzzling against her skin.
“Your French accent is more pronounced now.”
“Perhaps you bring out the animal in me.”
“Animals talk in French?”
He laughed. “You talk too much.” And he flipped her onto her back. He separated her thighs with his knee and wedged himself between them, lifting her hips with his hands and slid right into her inviting core. She couldn’t help the mewl that escaped her lips when he filled her.
Neither said another word but panted and moaned as they reached higher and higher. She swore he touched her womb and she exploded like a volcano erupting, stars bursting inside her head as he gave that final thrust with a groan, his seed filling her core.
She’d fallen asleep in his arms, still silent like him. But when the sun had barely peeked above the horizon, he’d awakened her with tiny kisses, waking every nerve inside her. Tipping her
