Page 3 of Invitation to Pleasure
She raised a face filled with alarm but also desire. He could read it easily in her expressive eyes. “Now then,” he said smiling, “a kiss is a thing to be shared, not given nor rushed.” Tipping her chin up, he gazed into those wide, luminous eyes and more than simple desire began to unfold—possessiveness—a sensation foreign to him where a woman was concerned. He felt, for a moment, as if he was gazing into the eyes of an angel, and he touched her smooth cheek with reverence.
“Have you any idea,” he murmured softly, “how enchanting you are? Tell me your name.”
The wayhe spoke those words, combined with his touch and the kindness he’d done her this evening, had the seductive impact Georgiana had dreaded from the moment she’d looked into his handsome face.
When he’d lain atop her, all hard muscle and withheld strength, she felt as if she were beginning to melt and float inside. As his head bent and his lips drew near, she couldn’t pull her gaze from his hypnotic green eyes, and worse still, she didn’t want to try.
“Georgiana,” she answered breathlessly as his lips drew closer.
When his lips took hers in a kiss, she knew that it was going to be nothing at all like the chaste kisses she’d experienced hidden behind the potted plants at countless balls. At twenty she’d experienced her fair share of innocent kisses. His mouth slanted over hers with fierce tenderness, while his hand curved round her nape, his fingers stroking her sensitive skin along the collar of her shirt, and his other arm encircled her waist pulling her tightly against his hard, hot, body.
Lost in a sea of pure sensation, Georgiana slid her hands up his muscular chest to wrap her arms around his neck, clinging to him as if her world depended on her staying as close to him as she could. Desire unfurled deep within her at the feel of his erection and she clung tighter to him, sliding her hands down his back to his firm buttocks.
He kissed her long and lingeringly, both gentle and persuasive. So when he touched his tongue to her trembling lips, this time coaxing them to part, insisting actually, she eagerly admitted him. His tongue slid between her open lips filling her mouth. His hand shifted from her waist sliding upward toward her breasts.
He tasted of everything forbidden and everything she wanted.
She barely noted the moan of encouragement that escaped her, above the pounding of her heart. Never had she let a man take such liberties and never had she wanted to let him. She hoped the kiss would never end.
Just as she silently made her wish, Daniel’s hands left her body and he fell sideways, out cold on the cobblestones.
“You were right, Baron. She didn’t come alone, however, I didn’t expect to have to save her from a kiss. A kiss she looked as if she was enjoying.”
Georgiana chose to ignore Billy’s chastisement. She peered down at Daniel’s prone form. “He will be all right won’t he?”
“Aye, he’ll have a sore head when he wakes so best we take our leave before he rouses. No chance of getting the colt then?”
She bent down and reached out to touch Daniel’s face. He looked so young and less sure of himself as he lay on the ground, knocked out cold. She hoped he wouldn’t hate her. He was the first man she’d ever felt an ounce of grudging respect for.
“No, the groom took him” she answered sadly. “We will have to find another way to retrieve the colt. He knows who I am and why I’m here.”
As Georgiana and Billy, her groom, slipped quietly away through the outbuildings, to find the horses they had tethered several miles east of the Earl of Hascombe’s estate, she thought over how her plan had gone so badly wrong. As she mounted Black Devil for the ride back to her father’s estate, she tried not to let her despair cloud her head.
She would get Apollo back, and now that she’d met Baron de Winter, she realized he was the perfect foil in her new plan.
She prayed that next time her idea wouldn’t go so horribly wrong, as she would pay a much higher price than just a kiss.Just a kiss!Daniel’s kiss made her dream of sandalwood and spice—all things wanton and terribly nice.
Chapter 2
It tookthree days for Daniel to get his good humor back and for his pounding head to stop hurting. Christmas was creeping nearer and he had yet to do any shopping, but Rheda refused to let him get up until the doctor had approved.
His pride was now hurting more than his head. The embarrassment of a young lady getting the drop on him was at least his secret for now. He had a mind to call on Lady Georgiana Marsh and—what exactly? He didn’t want to get her in trouble or put her reputation at risk. Rheda’s reputation had suffered and it had almost cost her life. He just couldn’t do that to another woman.
He’d just finished a wonderful ham and egg breakfast when Rufus strode into the dining room and asked, “I wondered if you’d want to accompany me to Newmarket? It’s the last few days of the foals and yearlings sales, we could both pick up some much needed stock.”
He could almost kiss Rufus. He was about to accept gleefully when Rheda added, “Only if you take the carriage. The doctor says no riding for at least another week.”
Rufus’s chuckle inflamed his anger. “I am not going to Newmarket in a carriage like an old woman. If I go I shall ride.” He stood up from the breakfast table almost pushing his chair over.
Rheda also rose to her feet, eyes exactly like his flashing in anger, and to his horror, fear. “Please, Daniel. It is only a few more days before you can ride again, and I love you too much to see you permanently damaged. The doctor warned you. You have had so many concussions from falling from horses you need to be careful. You can come in the carriage with me. I promised you a Christmas present of horseflesh. We shall go and select you a new horse.” She flashed her husband a warning look. “We will all go in the carriage.”
Rufus looked about to argue but one stern look from his wife had him shrug his shoulders at Daniel. “I’ll get the carriage readied. I want to leave within half an hour.” With that he left the room.
“I know you think I’m fussing but what that horse thief did to you… You could have died from that blow to the head. I don’t want to lose my little brother.” Daniel moved to hug his sister when he saw the tears forming in her eyes. Why did women always overreact?
He had not told anyone who had attacked him. He would work out how to get Lady Georgiana back in his own way. In a way that would have her groveling at his feet. “I suppose I can give up my joy of riding for a few more days if it keeps you happy.”
She laid her head on his chest. “Your niece and nephew would miss you too if you’d been... I wished you lived closer. Sir Bacon’s estate, about ten miles from Newmarket is for sale. You could sell Tumbury Cliff Manor and move your horse breeding business here.”
