Read Online Lady Harriet's Unusual Reward by Em Taylor - Free Book Online Page A

protection.”
    “Are these not the things a lover needs?”
    “Perhaps.”
    He lowered his head so their lips were but an inch apart.
    “And what does Harriet need?”
    He heard her swallow hard, but she looked up into his eyes and her lips parted slightly. He was torn between pushing her away and enveloping her in his embrace. How had he got himself into such a situation?
    “Help. With William and Mary. And not just for a week.”
    “Do you still want me to marry you?”
    “Yes.” Her voice was a whisper.
    “And what about when I come to take my conjugal rights, Harriet?”
    Another swallow. Then that pretty pink tongue darted out to wet her red lips. He felt his breeches tighten. Damn, this was dangerous territory.
    “There is nothing to fear. Every woman must accept a man into her bed at some point. Some even enjoy it.”
    “And would you enjoy it, Harriet? My hands roaming all over your bare flesh, the weight of my body atop yours, my sweat dripping onto you as I rut above you, my lips crushing yours?”
    He placed his hand on the back of her head, expecting her to pull away but she did not.
    When he captured her lips roughly, she grabbed his shoulders. Pushing his tongue into her mouth, he claimed her, moving her against a tree for support. He angled her head, his fingers digging though her neat coiffure to position her the way he wanted her, as his tongue rasped along hers, his lips giving her no quarter. A muffled gasp as she tried to comprehend his roughness, a movement of her breasts against his chest as she lifted herself to meet him more fully. Good God, despite his manhandling, she was enjoying this.
    He cupped her breast, hoping it would make her see sense. When his thumb flicked over the distended peak hidden under layers of clothing, she made a little noise of pleasure in the back of her throat. A beautiful throat that was now extended and needing to be kissed. He pressed light kisses down the narrow column, towards her chest, then back up before he travelled into very dangerous territory. Along her jaw line he peppered little kisses before capturing her mouth, this time tenderly, the way he should have done the first time. The way a lady should be kissed.
    She melted into him, both arms around his neck, kissing him back as if her very life depended on it, her tongue matching his, stroke for stroke, tentatively at first, then more boldly.
    One of her hands moved over off his shoulder and under his coat, exploring. Her gloved palm rested on his waistcoat over his heart which appeared to be trying to leap out of his chest. He moved his head, kissing her deeper still, eliciting another little pleasure noise from her. He wondered what noises she would make when his tongue moved over her… But no! She was an innocent and this was already too far.
    He tried to draw away but her hand held his head in place as she continued her tongue’s explorations. He could not bring himself to wrench himself away from her. When her hand on his chest moved lower, around his waist on onto his arse, he nearly stopped breathing. Harriet was delightfully innocent and wonderfully curious. She had no understanding of the power of her own sexuality, just as Sarah had not in the beginning. Thoughts of Sarah made him more determined to pull away from the embrace this time. Sarah had been the last woman he had kissed and the last woman he had made love to.
    He turned his head slightly and Harriet’s lips grazed the side of his mouth, then his cheek. A little whine of displeasure came from her and he moved her head onto his chest, trying not to reject her out of hand but to cool the heat of their passionate embrace.
    “Harriet, we are at a ton entertainment. Anyone could catch us.”
    “Oh!”
    He pressed his lips to the top of her head. He no more wanted to end this encounter than Harriet did. It had been six years since he’d had a woman in his arms. He had forgotten how right it felt—how necessary. He barely went out into