Read Online A Most Dangerous Profession by Karen Hawkins - Free Book Online Page A

“See?”
    The long robe belted about her narrow waist, her hair wrapped in a towel, she sauntered across the room to take the settee next to him.
    She had no shame. Nothing but the thin silk of the robe separated her from him, a maddening thought.
    As if she knew, she tucked her legs beside herinto the settee, the movement tugging the robe open so that the deep cleavage between her breasts was revealed. The thin robe clung to her damp skin and her nipples were clearly outlined.
    No other woman he knew was so comfortable being nearly nude before a male. Not the opera singer he’d sponsored for a year, not the ballet dancer, nor the actress. Or the many others he’d bedded.
    Only Moira.
    “Enough of this,” he snapped. “I can see you’re not going to be honest about your connection to Aniston. There is another reason I came here. There’s no need to visit Ross tomorrow, as you were instructed. That onyx box will be mine.”
    Her lashes flickered, then she shrugged. “Perhaps.”
    “
Ma chère,
I’m doing you a favor—there’s no need for you to waste your time. If I see you in the highlands, I will personally tie you up, put you in my coach, and have you delivered to the Home Office to face the charges of treason which still await.”
    She leaned back, sleek and elegant. “Am I to suppose that you’ve already found a way to acquire the box?”
    “Ross and I have already agreed upon a price. I have but to deliver the funds and it is mine.”
    Robert saw the fleeting disappointment in her eyes.
Good. That’s all I need.
He stood. “I believe I’ve been quite clear. You’ll inform Aniston that the onyx box is not available to him.”
    “And if I can’t?”
    “Tell him now or tell him later, after you have failed to fetch the box. It doesn’t matter.”
    Very real fear crossed her face, surprising him.
What in the hell is she hiding?
Moira was no coward, so if she feared Aniston, then she had good reason.
    Robert grasped her wrist and hauled her to her feet, the scent of lavender tickling his nose, her body pressed to his. His temperature rose, his breath quickening as his body reacted to her.
This is
not
why I pulled her into my arms.
    He held her away from him and gave her a little shake. “Damn it, stop being so stubborn. Tell me what hold that fool has over you.”
    Her gaze went to his and held it. “Why do you care?”
    He didn’t know why. He only knew that when he saw the fear in her eyes, he was overcome with the need to act, to take charge, to protect her.
    Which was entirely foolish.
    A look of amazement arose in her gaze. Then, before he knew what she was about, she slipped anarm about his neck, lifted onto her toes, and kissed him.
    The kiss was bold, like Moira herself. She made full use of her curves, pressing against him as she pulled one of his hands to her hip.
    Robert’s resolve fled. God, she drove him mad with desire. He still wanted her, desired her, dreamed of her—he’d never stopped.
    He wrapped himself around her, deepening the kiss, molding her to him, the thin silk urging him on.
    She moaned, her thigh rubbing his rigid cock. Robert cupped her rounded ass and lifted her, carrying her to the bed, where he joined her on the coverlet, his hands roaming over her body like a starved man gorging himself. God, how he’d longed to have her like this. How he’d
dreamed
of it.
    No other woman could inflame his passions as quickly as this one. She knew just where to touch, how to stroke; even her kisses were more intoxicating than any others.
    He ran his hands up to her breasts and impatiently pushed aside her robe. Her creamy breasts were revealed, the dusky rose-colored nipples begging for attention. She didn’t have the overly large breasts some men craved; hers were more delicate in size, fitting the palm of his hand perfectly.
    He bent and captured one of her nipples between his lips, teasing her to gasping moans, his body aflame as she tugged at his trousers, releasing his