Read Online A Regency Christmas Pact Collection by Ava Stone, Catherine Gayle, Jerrica Knight-Catania, Julie Johnstone, Jane Charles, Aileen Fish - Free Book Online
Authors: Ava Stone, Catherine Gayle, Jerrica Knight-Catania, Julie Johnstone, Jane Charles, Aileen Fish
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his brown eyes was enough to melt the ice he stood upon, at least to Tessie’s way of thinking. He gestured towards a bench not far away. “Do you need help with your skates?”
Lord Harrison released his hold on Tessie, said his farewell, and started in the direction of the south lawn; but she paid the man very little attention. It was impossible to do so. She could hardly do anything other than gulp with the way the marquess was looking at her.
“The—uh—bench, Miss Birkin.” He gestured once more to the bench not far away from where she stood.
Oh! Right, the bench, the skates dangling over her arm. Heavens, he could muddle her mind. “Y-yes, of course.” Tessie pulled her gaze from Lord Berkswell and started for the bench.
Just as soon as she sat, he was on his knees before her. “Give me your foot,” he said as he retrieved the skates from her lap.
And then he lifted the edge of her skirt and began to strap the skates to the bottom of her boots. His touch on her ankles made tingles shoot from her foot, and desire pooled in her belly. Heavens, this was a bad idea. She had to look away or she was certain he would read her thoughts. He did, after all, know what kind of woman she was.
After Lord Berkswell made quick work of strapping the skates to both of her feet, he rose back to his full height and offered her his hand.
Berks pulled Miss Birkin to her feet and was, at once, lost in the depths of her blue-green gaze. A wintry wind tossed her flaxen tendrils and, for a moment, he felt as though he were floating in the heavens right alongside her. The memory of his dream from the night before flashed in his mind. Dear God, what he wouldn’t give to have her in just her chemise right now. “A kiss,” he said before he realized the words were out of his mouth.
Miss Birkin’s eyes grew wide. “I beg your pardon?”
Well, it was too late to take the words back now. Besides, Berks found he didn’t want to take them back. He really did want to kiss her. Most likely more than once, and in many different places. “When I win today, that’s what I want, Miss Birkin. I want to kiss you.” And see where that led them.
She swallowed nervously and her gaze settled on his lips. The movement of the muscles in her throat made his cock stir to life.
“I don’t believe that’s a very good idea, my lord,” she replied, her voice soft and airy, making him want things he shouldn’t want, making him forget that he had always been, if nothing else, a true gentleman.
But despite her protestations, it was a good idea. In fact, it might just be the very best idea Berks had ever had. And she knew it too, or she wouldn’t still be looking at his lips and she wouldn’t have that breathy quality to her voice.
“And yet I want it just the same.” Berks tucked one of her stray tendrils the wind had caught behind her ear. He let his hand stay against her cheek longer than he should have, longer than was proper, that was for sure.
Miss Birkin sucked in a breath and took a slight, unsteady step backwards, apparently forgetting she had skates strapped to her boots. But she recovered her balance nicely and stood proudly before him. “You said you know what kind of woman I am, Lord Berkswell. Careful. That’s what I am now. I can’t afford to be otherwise.”
Careful was good. Careful would be best for both of them. Berks sent her his most charming smile. “We can be careful, my dear. Discreet even. No one but the two of us ever has to know anything that occurs between us.”
The color drained from her face and she stumbled backwards to the bench behind her. Miss Birkin dropped to the seat. Briefly, her gaze stayed on her lap, but then she bent forward and began unstrapping the skates from her boots.
Damn it all. He’d offended her. Berks clenched his fists in frustration. “I—um—Miss Birkin, please.”
“I don’t feel like skating today, after all, my lord. I am sorry. Please accept my apology.” She
Lord Harrison released his hold on Tessie, said his farewell, and started in the direction of the south lawn; but she paid the man very little attention. It was impossible to do so. She could hardly do anything other than gulp with the way the marquess was looking at her.
“The—uh—bench, Miss Birkin.” He gestured once more to the bench not far away from where she stood.
Oh! Right, the bench, the skates dangling over her arm. Heavens, he could muddle her mind. “Y-yes, of course.” Tessie pulled her gaze from Lord Berkswell and started for the bench.
Just as soon as she sat, he was on his knees before her. “Give me your foot,” he said as he retrieved the skates from her lap.
And then he lifted the edge of her skirt and began to strap the skates to the bottom of her boots. His touch on her ankles made tingles shoot from her foot, and desire pooled in her belly. Heavens, this was a bad idea. She had to look away or she was certain he would read her thoughts. He did, after all, know what kind of woman she was.
After Lord Berkswell made quick work of strapping the skates to both of her feet, he rose back to his full height and offered her his hand.
Berks pulled Miss Birkin to her feet and was, at once, lost in the depths of her blue-green gaze. A wintry wind tossed her flaxen tendrils and, for a moment, he felt as though he were floating in the heavens right alongside her. The memory of his dream from the night before flashed in his mind. Dear God, what he wouldn’t give to have her in just her chemise right now. “A kiss,” he said before he realized the words were out of his mouth.
Miss Birkin’s eyes grew wide. “I beg your pardon?”
Well, it was too late to take the words back now. Besides, Berks found he didn’t want to take them back. He really did want to kiss her. Most likely more than once, and in many different places. “When I win today, that’s what I want, Miss Birkin. I want to kiss you.” And see where that led them.
She swallowed nervously and her gaze settled on his lips. The movement of the muscles in her throat made his cock stir to life.
“I don’t believe that’s a very good idea, my lord,” she replied, her voice soft and airy, making him want things he shouldn’t want, making him forget that he had always been, if nothing else, a true gentleman.
But despite her protestations, it was a good idea. In fact, it might just be the very best idea Berks had ever had. And she knew it too, or she wouldn’t still be looking at his lips and she wouldn’t have that breathy quality to her voice.
“And yet I want it just the same.” Berks tucked one of her stray tendrils the wind had caught behind her ear. He let his hand stay against her cheek longer than he should have, longer than was proper, that was for sure.
Miss Birkin sucked in a breath and took a slight, unsteady step backwards, apparently forgetting she had skates strapped to her boots. But she recovered her balance nicely and stood proudly before him. “You said you know what kind of woman I am, Lord Berkswell. Careful. That’s what I am now. I can’t afford to be otherwise.”
Careful was good. Careful would be best for both of them. Berks sent her his most charming smile. “We can be careful, my dear. Discreet even. No one but the two of us ever has to know anything that occurs between us.”
The color drained from her face and she stumbled backwards to the bench behind her. Miss Birkin dropped to the seat. Briefly, her gaze stayed on her lap, but then she bent forward and began unstrapping the skates from her boots.
Damn it all. He’d offended her. Berks clenched his fists in frustration. “I—um—Miss Birkin, please.”
“I don’t feel like skating today, after all, my lord. I am sorry. Please accept my apology.” She
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