Read Online More Than Charming by Jomarie Degioia - Free Book Online Page A

of windows looked out into the courtyard. She froze as she spied the romantic figure before her.
    Lord Roberts was turned slightly away from her, his face set as he gazed out over the darkened garden. The moonlight glinted off his jet-black hair and outlined his dashing form. She took a deep breath, opened the glass door, and stepped out onto the stone path.
    He turned, a beautiful smile spreading across his face. “It felt like an eternity to me, Catherine. Waiting, hoping you would appear.”
    “Lord Roberts.” She breathed.
    “You look like a vision, draped in the moonlight.”
    She crossed to him. “That sounds very romantic.”
    He shrugged and took her hands in his. “I’m so pleased you came.”
    She shivered as she felt his warmth through her gloves. “How could I stay away?”
    He pulled her to him, sealing his mouth to hers. She caught his passion and brought her hands up behind his neck, bringing her body so close to his. Moaning softly, he turned and pinned her against the stone wall, pressing intimately against her. She felt him again, felt that insistent hardness against her belly as she had that afternoon. She reached inside of his jacket to stroke his back. He made the most intriguing sound, something between a growl and a moan. Her caresses became bolder and her hands moved lower.
    “Ah, Catherine,” he groaned, burying his face in the crook of her neck.
    He placed teasing kisses on her throat. She leaned her head back and sighed.
    “Lord Roberts . . .”
    He froze, then his shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. Catherine opened her eyes and gazed at him.
    He smiled down at her. “Considering where your hands are, love, I believe you may call me ‘James.’”
    Catherine realized then that her hands were on his firm buttocks. She flushed. “All right,” she said softly. “James.”
    “God, the sound of my name on those rosy lips.” He kissed her again, his tongue sweeping through her mouth. “I want to touch all of you.”
    “Like at your townhouse?”
    “Yes.” His teeth tugged at her bottom lip. “But more.”
    She couldn’t know what he meant, but he sounded almost frantic. “M-more?”
    “I have to stop myself before I pull up the skirt of this beautiful gown and take you on one of these unforgiving stone benches.”
    His words, his hands, his kisses . . . “Oh!”
    He took in a deep, shuddering breath. “Catherine.”
    She opened her eyes and stared up at him, her breath coming fast. “Yes, James?”
    “Your brother is quite angry with me.” He placed little kisses on her nose, her brow. “He believes that I dishonored you.”
    She gasped. “But you didn’t! We’ve never—”
    “Shh,” he soothed, kissing her lightly on her lips.
    “How can Paul think that I would ever do anything to dishonor the family—?”
    “Catherine,” he said again.
    James smiled at her, stopping her tears before they started. She smiled in return.
    She gazed into his beautiful gray eyes, their silver flecks sparkling at her. “Yes, James?”
    “Marry me.”
    She blinked in surprise. “M-marry you?”
    He nodded. “We get along so well. I want you. And I can tell you want me, too.”
    She stiffened. “I don’t know.” She thought of something, something abhorrent, and looked at him sharply. “Did Paul tell you to do this?”
    He shook his head. “I do what I wish to, Catherine.” He stroked her cheek with his finger. “And I want to marry you. Very much.”
    Her heart pounded. She’d nearly married before, and it had turned out badly. How could she risk going through such a debacle again? Her family couldn’t withstand another scandal. Another disgrace. Then again, it was no fault of her own that Waltham had jilted her. But she couldn’t bear it if it happened again. It would mean disaster for her and her family, not to mention that James and her brother would no longer be friends.
    She suddenly felt trapped in his embrace. She couldn’t think about this now, not with him