Chapter Five

“I…I do not know.” Her brows furrowed and a look of honest distraught took over her normally composed face. “All I ever call her is Najja. It is all we ever call her.” She blushed and regained her composure. “Najja is fine.”

He merely nodded and sipped some coffee. “Very well. I will see that a doctor is summoned.”

“Thank you, Mr. Faulkner. Excuse me, I shall go sit with my husband.”

He stood when she did and watched her walk out. With a groan, he ate a few more bites then swallowed the rest of his coffee and headed for the door. He left a message for the doctor to be called to the house and headed for his study.

“Good morning, Mr. Faulkner.”

He glanced up and saw the youngest Adrys coming down the staircase. She wore a lavender day dress. He bowed.

“Miss Adrys.”

She came to the step which put them eye to eye. Her large blue gaze held some worry but this was no coquettish miss.

“Have you seen Najja?”

That pang which seemed to coincide with the name Najja came again to his midsection. Ignoring the stirring thoughts that Najja gave him, he shook his head. “No. I am sorry.” Recalling what Lady Adrys said, he opened his mouth to share the information but she was already talking.

“I bet she went to the stable.” Jo flashed a smile which quickly faded into a frown. “Drat. Mama will not like me going out in this.” She stepped around him and headed for the breakfast room, all the while muttering about how horrid England was and how she longed to return to Africa.

He found himself watching her with amusement. Seconds later, he had been helped into his great coat and dashed to the stables, waving off the footman who tried to hold an umbrella for him.

Shaking his head upon entering the stable he noticed that Tim, one of the lads who worked there, stared at him with confusion. He gave him a slight smile.

“Did you need your horse readied, sir?”

“No, I am actually--” He snapped his mouth shut when he saw his quarry step out then back into a stall. “I found her.”

“Yes, sir.” Tim vanished and Colin strode to the back, seemingly alone other than the snorting and stomping horses.

Najja was in the last stall on the left. He leaned against the half-door. She wore a dress, the same hue of blue she wore last night. It fit tight to her, showcasing a body he’d only dreamt she’d have. Her small waist he wanted to span with his hands. When she moved the fabric allowed him an amazing view of the curve of her ass. His thoughts immediately went to something carnal. He wanted to do things to her which polite society would deem uncivilized.

He didn’t care. Hell, right now he was imagining taking her in the stable, against a wall, upon the sweet smelling hay…

His shaft stiffened and he tore his hungry gaze from her to the equine beside her.

Holy hell the beast was magnificent. A coal black Arabian stallion. Where did they get such an animal?

“Good morning, Mr. Faulkner.”

Her voice glided along his skin like crushed velvet. His hair stood on end and it felt like lightning coursed through him. And that was just with four simple words.

“Miss Najja,” he said, loving the way her name slipped off his tongue. “Good morning.” Look at me.

She rubbed the stallion’s head beneath the shiny forelock and turned to stare at him. Her eyes roamed over him from top to bottom. He expected some kind of feminine approval; lowering of eyes, flushed skin, anything. What he got…nothing. Her hooded gaze remained remarkably impassive.

“He is a beautiful animal,” he commented, opting to keep to a safe subject.

Her entire countenance softened for a half second but it was enough to show him another layer. While all emotion faded away from her face, she continued to stroke the equine’s head.

“Yes, he is.” She murmured something to the animal and stepped to the door of the stall.

He inhaled sharply, her evocative scent filling him. After a pause he moved back and she exited the stall. Then she left without a single word. He leaned against the door and watched her. Grace yet strength embedded each step taken.

The urge to take a woman hadn’t been so strong since he’d first left the Royal Navy and had fancied himself in love. He frowned at the bitter--unwanted--memory of Francesca. She’d left him for a man much higher up the status ladder. A titled man.

He cast a final glance at the horse. Damn thing seemed to stare down his nose at him. Colin headed back out into the deluge and saw another carriage arrive at the house. The doctor.

Good. She’s taking up too much of my thoughts. It never registered until he stood in the entrance hall dripping on the marble floors that it had been only Najja who he’d been thinking of.

Striding to his study, he paused and changed direction at the last minute and headed for the library. There were some books on Africa he wanted to peruse. Once in he noticed a fire already burned and the air smelled like…like…

Turning his head he found her. Curled up on a chaise by the window, a book in her hand. Najja.

Their gazes met and his heart pounded. What was it about this woman? There was no simpering, no fluttering of lashes. No coy looks. And yet…he was drawn with a ferocity he’d never experienced before.

“I beg your pardon,” she said closing the book and began to rise.

He didn’t want her to leave. “Stay.” She hesitated before lowering herself back down. “There is plenty of room in here for both of us.” Especially if we are on top of one another.

The gown she wore teased him with barely any hints of her flesh. Her fingers were long and graceful where they curled around the book. He faced a far shelf and fought to regain his out of control reaction to her. The titles didn’t register for all he could see was laying her back on the chaise, sliding his hands beneath her skirts and…

He shook his head and grabbed a book from the shelf. One deep breath and he turned. She had her attention on the book before her, but he believed her to be as aware of him as he her. Settling into a chair which allowed him a direct view of her, he opened the tome. Najja looked comfortable there. The gray rain-filled morning behind her in the window. The muted light didn’t cast a pallor over her; she seemed to add her own glow.

“Did you find something interesting to read?” he asked wanting her eyes on him.

Ever so slowly those large, beautiful eyes she had rose to his. Not in a flirtatious way, more like she loathed to stop reading.

“I did, thank you.” She dropped her gaze back to the page.

He scowled but allowed the silence. The pages before him made as much sense to him as had they been written in ancient Greek. He couldn’t seem to keep his eyes from straying to Najja.

Her lips were full and luscious. How would she taste? How would her breasts feel in his hands? He squeezed his eyes shut with a groan. Her eyes were on him when he opened them.

“Are you alright, Mr. Faulkner?”

Colin! Damn it. I want my first name on your lips. And there is nothing wrong with me that you could not fix, luv.

“Fine. What are you reading?”

She held it up and he was more than a little amazed to see her reading one of his naval history books. It wasn’t one he’d bet any other of the women he knew would read. They tended toward Byron, if they would read at all.

Travelling from the book to her gaze, he held it. Seconds passed and the air charged with heightening intimacy. She dampened her lips and he felt the hit right in his groin. His own book wobbled in his hands and he began to rise, needing to touch her when…

“Najja, there you are!” Jo came barreling into the rom.

There was no jump, no flush of embarrassment from Najja. But it were as if he watched a door close around her emotions for any remnants of what he saw--and knew to be desire--vanished.

“Miss Adrys,” he said, gaining his feet.

Her smile encompassed them both. “I hope I am not interrupting.” She made her way to Najja’s side and sat next to her all the while chattering in a language he didn’t understand.

“Not at all.” He forced himself to speak those words all the while his libido railed against him. Pinning Najja with his gaze, he allowed her to see his hunger for her. It didn’t intimidate her for she looked at him then focused on Jo.