Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
* * *
She laughed softly. “Yes well, you escorted me from your house to mine the other day, and this is the least I can do in return.”
* * *
“You do not have to do a single thing in return. I was glad to. I enjoy your company very much.”
* * *
She nodded. “I know. Yours is quite pleasant as well, I will admit.”
* * *
They both laughed, a little breathlessly. Arthur tucked his hands behind his back and Janice wondered if he was limiting the temptation to touch her. She was certainly quite eager to touch him. In fact, her body tingled with the need for it. She could feel her nipples pique at the thought of his hands on her, and despite the nippy night, she felt quite warm all over.
* * *
She took a step closer to him and lifted her head. “I wanted to ask you a question,” she said softly.
* * *
“Please, go ahead.”
* * *
“Why did you kiss me?”
* * *
He reared back a bit, as if he was startled. “I beg your pardon.”
* * *
“Why did you kiss me?” she said again, her heart racing, wondering if he would storm off or brush her off.
* * *
He took a deep and shaky breath. “Oh…well…” he expelled the breath noisily. “That is not an easy question to answer. Why did I kiss you? Well, I’m sure you’re aware that you’re beautiful and when we first met, you were dressed in breeches which…outlined your body in loving detail. To be blunt, I was immediately aroused by you.”
* * *
“So, it was my clothing that did it?” Janice swallowed her disappointment at his answer.
* * *
“No! Your clothing merely enhanced my awareness of you. And then we spoke and there was…something in the air between us. And you saw me so clearly, I could not hold myself back anymore. I wanted to taste you, to really know that you were real and there and…” He shook his head, dropping his eyes. “And I know I shouldn’t have. I know it was dishonorable to do so with no intention of making an offer for you. I do assure you that I had no ill intentions.”
* * *
“I know.” She put her hands on his arms, rubbing up and down. “You’re a good man, Your Grace, beneath all the angst and suffering.”
* * *
He laughed softly, bitterly. “Doesn’t do anyone much good though, does it?”
* * *
“It does me good. It brightens my day to know that you are in this world.”
* * *
“You are too kind for your own good.”
* * *
Her mouth twisted ruefully, “I’m not kind. Just honest.”
* * *
He looked up and met her eyes. “Why did you ask me that?” he asked softly.
* * *
She took another step closer, “Because,” she whispered, “I wanted to do it again.”
* * *
She held his gaze, mouth slightly open, and moist, hopeful.
* * *
“Why?” he whispered even as his lips came closer.
* * *
“Because I need to know it was real. Because my lips have tingled in remembrance, wanting to feel you-”
* * *
His mouth was on hers, stopping her words, his lips pressing frantically upon hers, hands like steel bars around her waist. She lifted her hands onto his shoulders and held on as he took her bottom lip into his mouth and suckled before nipping and sucking and then plunging his tongue in her mouth, tangling it with her own. He groaned into her mouth, lifting her slightly off the ground as he kissed her with abandon. She was glad of it because her knees had gone weak.
* * *
This was everything she remembered and more. She rubbed herself firmly against him, wanting nothing more than to have his skin on hers, in every place she could.
* * *
Suddenly, he broke away, putting her away from him, his breath heaving like a steam engine. “I must go,” he mumbled and stumbled clumsily into his carriage as if it pained him to walk.
* * *
He hit the roof of the carriage once with his fist, not looking at her even once, and drove away. She stood there, bosom heaving, mind swirling with confusion and desire.
* * *
“Oh God. What is happening?” she whispered to no one.
CHAPTER 16
“I want you all to pair up so that Rhys is forced to sit next to me,” Anne said as they put the finishing touches to their gowns on the way to the church. It had rained earlier but thankfully the rain had stopped just in time for them to leave for the play.
* * *
“Oh hush. I am sure he would be happy to sit next to you without all these machinations,” Janice whispered impatiently.
* * *
“Then why doesn’t he?”
* * *
“Because you’re very young Anne, and he cannot begin courting you anyway before Emily and I are married.”