Read Online An Exception to His Rule by Lindsay Armstrong - Free Book Online Page A

fingers.
    ‘If it’s nice for you, you only need to nod,’ he said huskily. ‘Believe me—’ he moved his fingers across her nipples ‘—it’s sensational for me.’
    Harriet’s lips parted and she unclenched her fists and grasped his wrists instead. She didn’t nod but she did say, ‘You have a way of doing that—that’s breathtaking but—’
    ‘You’d rather I didn’t?’ he suggested, narrowing his eyes suddenly.
    Harriet closed her eyes briefly. ‘I’d much rather fly to the moon with you, Damien Wyatt,’ she said barely audibly, ‘but I can’t help knowing I’d regret it sooner or later.’
    ‘Another incendiary statement.’
    She bit her lip. ‘I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.’ And there were tears in her eyes.
    He hesitated for a long moment then he withdrew his hands and smoothed her top down. ‘You win,’ he drawled.
    Harriet flicked away the tears on her cheeks and steeled herself for more mockery. It didn’t come, not in the spoken form, anyway.
    He turned away and sprawled out in one of the chairs at the table. ‘Actually—’ he ran a hand through his hair ‘—you’re right, Ms Livingstone.’
    But being right, Harriet discovered, didn’t prevent him from subjecting her to a dark gaze full of dry amusement as he looked her up and down and mentally dispensed of all her clothes.
    She bore that sardonic scrutiny and mental undressing for as long as she could, determined not to turn away and thereby give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d upset her, but was just about to protest when he spoke.
    ‘Do you ride?’
    Harriet blinked. ‘Horses?’
    ‘Well, I don’t mean camels.’
    ‘I have, as a kid,’ she said cautiously.
    He drummed his fingers on the table. ‘Did you enjoy it?’
    ‘Yes,’ she replied but equally as cautiously as she wondered what was coming.
    ‘Just tell me this, Harriet. Would it be purgatory for you if I suggested we get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to take advantage of the low tide and go for a gallop down the beach? Tottie, I know, would love it.’
    ‘If I could ride Sprite...’ She paused and looked uncomfortable.
    She saw him process this. ‘So,’ he murmured, ‘you have a way with horses as well as dogs?’
    Harriet spread her hands. ‘Oh, I don’t know.’
    He raised an eyebrow. ‘Sounds as if you’ve been chatting Sprite up already.’
    ‘I suppose I have,’ Harriet conceded ruefully.
    ‘Then—are we on for tomorrow morning, about five?’
    ‘I...’ Harriet swallowed but nothing could stop the flow of images running through her mind of a dawn gallop followed by a swim then a huge breakfast. ‘Yes,’ she said.
    ‘Good.’ He stood up. ‘Not—’ he eyed her with a glint of pure devilry in his dark eyes ‘—that there’ll be anything good about how to get to sleep tonight.’
    * * *
    It was no consolation to Harriet to reflect, as she tossed and turned in bed after Damien had gone, on one victory, one small victory perhaps, but all the same...
    She’d successfully withstood the sensual onslaught Damien could inflict on her, although inflict wasn’t the right word for it at all. But she had withstood the power of his masculine appeal, she’d tacitly told him to do his worst when he’d mentally undressed her—and then she’d gone and wrecked it all by agreeing to go riding with him.
    ‘Damn!’ She sat up in bed. ‘I must be mad. Apart from anything else, I know he’s only going to lead me to fresh heartache—I should be running for my life!’
    * * *
    At five o’clock the next morning she felt heavy-eyed and in an uneven frame of mind as she pulled on jeans, a jumper and sand shoes.
    Twenty minutes later, trotting down the track from the stables to the beach on the slightly fizzy Sprite, she was feeling marginally better, although only marginally, she assured herself.
    By the time they reached the beach, the sun was turning the sky into a symphony of apricot as it hovered below the horizon and the placid