Read Online A Common Scandal by Amanda Weaver - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Amanda Weaver
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reckless.
“Ah, yes, you’re quite the proper little lady now, aren’t you?”
Amelia bristled, her hands curling in so tightly she could feel her fingernails cutting through the fine thin leather of her opera gloves. Well, there went another pair.
“You’re as much a phony as I am. Look at you in your fine suit and your fine manners. What are you about anyway?”
“Are you implying I don’t belong here?” His voice had dropped to a low, dangerous growl. When an animal made that sound, a sensible person took a step back to preserve their safety. Sensibility had never been her strong suit.
“Oh, no, you belong all too well. I thought you were just putting on an act for these toffs, like me. But I can see now, you’ve been domesticated through and through. I bet I could still beat you climbing to the top of the mast, couldn’t I?”
“A fine suit of clothes hasn’t taken the edge off me. I could best you at that race. And a great many other things, as well.”
Oh. That proclamation made several parts of her body suddenly come to life and sit up at attention. She drew in a great shuddering breath. It would be wise to back down now, end this argument and return to the safety of the ballroom. But backing down from a scrap had never been her style.
“Really? You look as tame as they come now. A veritable lap cat for Lady Julia to cuddle.”
“Be careful, Amelia. I’m no lap cat.”
“Aren’t you?”
His eyes narrowed and his lips thinned, one corner curling up into a smile like a slash through his face. A sweep of unruly blond hair fell across his forehead. In an instant, the sophisticated gentleman in neatly pressed evening wear was gone and in his place...a pirate. “Do you really want to find out?”
Amelia’s eyes widened as she felt the electric air coalesce and condense around them. It was so thick she could barely draw a breath. Her entire body trembled, anticipation and trepidation dancing a waltz down her limbs, but she forced out a careless scoff. “You might have changed, but I don’t believe for a second you’d ever be a danger to me.”
“There’s more than one kind of danger.”
Her throat constricted with nerves, and her hands fisted. “Quite a lot of talk from such an elegant gentleman.”
His voice was a gritty growl, forced out between clenched teeth. “I may have learned to slip in alongside them, but I have never—not once—claimed to be a gentleman.”
One long arm shot out to wrap around her waist, pulling her up tight against his chest. Her lips parted in shock, but before she could utter a single word, his mouth came down on hers.
Good God, what was he doing? Certainly not thinking. He was quite sure there hadn’t been a single rational thought at work when he reached out for Amelia and kissed her. Immediately, he knew he’d crossed a line and should let her go. But when she was pressed up against him—every delicious curve of her—he found it impossible to let go right away.
And then she did the unthinkable. She kissed him back.
What did he expect from the hellion he’d been sparring with for the past quarter of an hour? How could he think she would back down in the face of a little lust?
Not a little lust, it turned out. He was drowning in a veritable sea of it. His hand was on her waist, wrapping nearly halfway around its tiny span. His other hand held her head, the almost fragile curve of her neck. Her hands slipped from his shoulders up to his hair, her fingers curling in and tugging until it almost hurt. He groaned as it caused an unexpected reaction farther down, his body roaring to be set loose. Her kiss was inexperienced but enthusiastic, and any lack of nuance ceased to matter when he opened his lips over hers and she responded in kind and without hesitation. Not thinking, not questioning, his tongue swept in and found hers. A tiny, breathy moan slid from her mouth into his and he swallowed it down.
Her breasts were pressed against his chest,
“Ah, yes, you’re quite the proper little lady now, aren’t you?”
Amelia bristled, her hands curling in so tightly she could feel her fingernails cutting through the fine thin leather of her opera gloves. Well, there went another pair.
“You’re as much a phony as I am. Look at you in your fine suit and your fine manners. What are you about anyway?”
“Are you implying I don’t belong here?” His voice had dropped to a low, dangerous growl. When an animal made that sound, a sensible person took a step back to preserve their safety. Sensibility had never been her strong suit.
“Oh, no, you belong all too well. I thought you were just putting on an act for these toffs, like me. But I can see now, you’ve been domesticated through and through. I bet I could still beat you climbing to the top of the mast, couldn’t I?”
“A fine suit of clothes hasn’t taken the edge off me. I could best you at that race. And a great many other things, as well.”
Oh. That proclamation made several parts of her body suddenly come to life and sit up at attention. She drew in a great shuddering breath. It would be wise to back down now, end this argument and return to the safety of the ballroom. But backing down from a scrap had never been her style.
“Really? You look as tame as they come now. A veritable lap cat for Lady Julia to cuddle.”
“Be careful, Amelia. I’m no lap cat.”
“Aren’t you?”
His eyes narrowed and his lips thinned, one corner curling up into a smile like a slash through his face. A sweep of unruly blond hair fell across his forehead. In an instant, the sophisticated gentleman in neatly pressed evening wear was gone and in his place...a pirate. “Do you really want to find out?”
Amelia’s eyes widened as she felt the electric air coalesce and condense around them. It was so thick she could barely draw a breath. Her entire body trembled, anticipation and trepidation dancing a waltz down her limbs, but she forced out a careless scoff. “You might have changed, but I don’t believe for a second you’d ever be a danger to me.”
“There’s more than one kind of danger.”
Her throat constricted with nerves, and her hands fisted. “Quite a lot of talk from such an elegant gentleman.”
His voice was a gritty growl, forced out between clenched teeth. “I may have learned to slip in alongside them, but I have never—not once—claimed to be a gentleman.”
One long arm shot out to wrap around her waist, pulling her up tight against his chest. Her lips parted in shock, but before she could utter a single word, his mouth came down on hers.
Good God, what was he doing? Certainly not thinking. He was quite sure there hadn’t been a single rational thought at work when he reached out for Amelia and kissed her. Immediately, he knew he’d crossed a line and should let her go. But when she was pressed up against him—every delicious curve of her—he found it impossible to let go right away.
And then she did the unthinkable. She kissed him back.
What did he expect from the hellion he’d been sparring with for the past quarter of an hour? How could he think she would back down in the face of a little lust?
Not a little lust, it turned out. He was drowning in a veritable sea of it. His hand was on her waist, wrapping nearly halfway around its tiny span. His other hand held her head, the almost fragile curve of her neck. Her hands slipped from his shoulders up to his hair, her fingers curling in and tugging until it almost hurt. He groaned as it caused an unexpected reaction farther down, his body roaring to be set loose. Her kiss was inexperienced but enthusiastic, and any lack of nuance ceased to matter when he opened his lips over hers and she responded in kind and without hesitation. Not thinking, not questioning, his tongue swept in and found hers. A tiny, breathy moan slid from her mouth into his and he swallowed it down.
Her breasts were pressed against his chest,
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