Read Online A Lady's Wish by Katharine Ashe - Free Book Online Page A

quite unevenly.
    “I fear, my sweet Isolde, that I have lost my heart to you.” His vibrant gaze sought hers. “But how is it with you? Can you learn to love a man with no fortune, no prospects, nothing at all to speak of? A man who no longer even possesses his own heart?”
    Her cheeks were flushed with heat, but she knew her eyes must sparkle for she saw the same bright hope in his.
    “I believe I can. But I am not certain whether that man speaks to me now in jest or with sincerity.”
    “I have never spoken words more sincere.”
    “How can I know that?”
    “Tell me your direction and I will call upon you tomorrow.”
    “Oh, I cannot. Papa and Mama would wish to know how we came to be acquainted and I would be obliged to tell them, and they will certainly like you less for it. But I cannot lie to my parents.”
    “Then I will leave it in your hands to decide, as a gentleman must.” He looked quite like it was the most difficult thing he had ever said.
    “But I do not know how it can be done!”
    “Meet me tomorrow morning at the Maypole at ten o’clock,” he said swiftly. “Bring a chaperone. Your maid. Your mother. Your entire family! Meet me tomorrow, sweet Isolde,” he leaned in close to her, “and allow me to make your acquaintance properly so that I may then court you properly.”
    She trembled all over. “You will truly court me?”
    “But not for too long, if you do not mind it.”
    She snatched her hands away. “Whatever can you mean, sir?”
    He caught them again and pressed them to his chest. “That I do not wish to delay. For today fate has been infinitely generous to finally show me my life’s course.”
    “And what is it?”
    “To make you happy for the remainder of your days.” He drew her close. “I vow to do so, my Isolde, if only you will consent to give me your heart.”
    “It seems improbable. Impossible. But . . .”
    “But?” His voice was very low.
    She whispered, “I think you know.”
    His chest rose in rough breaths. She could feel them upon her brow, then her cheeks as he bent his head ever so slowly and she, unsure, lifted hers. There was the warmth and scent of skin, the heady closeness, the unreality of it. For a moment, all suspended, neither moved, not fully trusting in the perfection of mutual feeling, the bliss of need and possibility. Then they submitted to the desire to be touching.
    She had never kissed a man. He made it the most natural thing in the world.
    He touched his lips to hers, their breaths trembling together. His hands came around her face, surrounding her in strength. He tilted her chin up, and he kissed her again, this time more certain, the sensation of his mouth over hers sublime, unreal, perfect . She reached for his arms and felt him beneath his coat sleeves, the unyielding muscle of a man, and it made her wild inside. Upon a sigh, her lips parted.
    “Oh, my,” she whispered, swept into sweet sensation. His hands tightened and he caught her mouth anew, and she wanted to move hers against his so she did. It felt good. Better than good. Like heaven. She opened her lips. She could taste him! His skin and lips, the lightest rasp of whiskers on his jaw. He tasted delicious. It filled her head, her body, with such pleasure, she sighed again.
    His hands sank into her hair, drawing her closer, and their bodies brushed. His mouth covered hers fully, asking for more from her. She happily gave it, letting him kiss her as he wished, feeling him with her mouth and hands and then, daringly, pressing her body against his.
    She had been astoundingly naïve. She felt him with everything and it was beyond pleasure. Beyond dreaming and reality entwined. She awoke completely, vibrantly alive, filled with feelings she had never before dared imagine. She could hardly bear such pleasure.
    His hand swept down her back and he held her to him, and the tip of his tongue slipped along her lips, urging. She opened willingly, her hands sliding up his arms to his