Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
I smacked him hard on the arm.
“Hit me in the face next time. That’s how I like it.”
I almost did. “I’m not naïve. I know how men like you are.”
“And that means…?”
“It’s just one girl after the next. Mistresses. Brothels. Whores. I’m not going to get involved with someone like that. I want what my parents have—a loving marriage.”
“Gotta say…you’re making a lot of assumptions.” He was a foot taller than me, his musculature visible through the tightness of his sleeves. “All you know about me is that I’m incredibly handsome—and I saved you from a horrible fate.”
“You flirt like a playboy.”
“Playboy?” he asked, grinning.
“Come on, don’t play dumb with me.”
He stared at me for a while before he gave a shrug. “Alright, you caught me.”
“And that’s not something I’m interested in.”
“Why not? We could both have a great time. And I promise you, your husband will appreciate having a wife who knows how to please a man.”
“Already know how to do that.”
“Oh, really?” His smile was back. “You’re just making me more intrigued, sweetheart.”
I picked up the empty laundry basket, just to have a barrier between us. “You should go, m’lord.” I crossed my ankles and gave a half-assed curtsy.
He stayed put—as if he had no intention of going anywhere. “I could have looked the other way and allowed Karl to have his way with you. But I didn’t. I did the right thing, and I’d like something in return.”
“You do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do, not because you’re going to get something out of it.”
He gave a shrug. “Guess I’m not a good guy after all.” He continued to wear his smile, like this was all a joke, and the fact that he could pull it off just pissed me off. He was charming, flirtatious, even endearing. “You asked for my dagger—and then turned around and killed one of my men. I could have hanged you for that, but I didn’t. Come on, you gotta feel some gratitude for me.”
“Of course I do.” I knew full well that if he hadn’t been there, my body would have been left in the forest. “And I thanked you.”
“Well, I want you to thank me in a very specific way.”
I smacked him on the arm.
He tapped his fingers against his cheek. “Sweetheart, you missed.”
I didn’t do it—just so I wouldn’t give him what he wanted.
“Now, before you jump to conclusions, my request is very innocent.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked. “Sure, it is.”
He stepped closer to me, his eyes dropping to my lips.
“Forget it.”
“Come on, it’s just a kiss. And then I’ll leave you alone.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I’ve proven that I’m a man of my word.” He stepped even closer.
“I’m not going to kiss you here when my parents could wake up any moment and look out the window.”
“Then come with me.” His hand grabbed mine and tugged me away from the clothesline.
My heart raced because this had become real. His hand was warm as it surrounded mine, and when he took the lead, his large shoulders and height blocked out our route. He pulled me with him until we reached the side of the house. Then he guided me against the wall, my back against the surface, his body pinning mine in place so there was nowhere for me to go.
His face was just inches from mine, and that charming smile was long gone. Now it was just his heated stare on my mouth, like he couldn’t wait to dive down and reap the rewards of his chivalry.
“Just one.”
His eyes flicked to mine again.
I didn’t take a breath when I looked into those green eyes, but I could feel my heart pounding like a drum. I’d shared kisses with men in secret. Felt their hands in my hair. Around my waist. But I’d never felt this level of anticipation, this inability to breathe.
He lowered his head to mine, and with the light contact of a bee on a flower, he gave me a gentle kiss. Our lips came together and stayed that way for a long second. My eyes immediately closed, and I finally drew breath.
His lips moved, pulling my bottom lip between his, giving me another kiss that was more intimate than the first. Then he tilted his head slightly, opening my mouth with his so he could give me a small amount of tongue.
My lips moved with his automatically, my actions second nature, and I let him take the lead.
It started off slow and gentle, our lips coming together and breaking apart, but then his pace increased, his mouth devouring mine. “Sweetheart…” One hand fisted my hair, and he brought our bodies closer together, his hard chest pressing against my breasts.
It was a good kiss…no denying that.
His hand reached behind me and gave my ass a firm squeeze.