Read Online Once an Heiress by Elizabeth Boyce - Free Book Online
Authors: Elizabeth Boyce
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an insipid remark to win her regard.
That
was something to recommend him, even if his manners left much to be desired.
His eyes roamed her face, then traveled down to her décolletage.
Lily felt her breasts tighten in response to his scrutiny. She inhaled sharply.
“Are you warm?” he asked, a knowing glint in his eyes.
How could eyes such a cool blue hold so much heat, she wondered.
“A little,” she admitted.
As a turn in the waltz brought them near the French doors opening onto the balcony, he pulled her out of the pattern of dancers and drew her out into the night.
The fresh air cooled Lily’s addled senses. “Just a moment, Lord Thorburn, was it?” She laid a hand on his bicep, and immediately wished she hadn’t. His arm was solid. How could living flesh be so firm? She found herself wondering what his bare arms looked like, what it would feel like to touch them.
“Are you quite all right?” His voice held a teasing note.
He
knew
what he was doing to her, the insufferable man — he was probably doing it on purpose. She lifted her chin and met his hot gaze with a cool one of her own. “I did not consent to accompany you anywhere,” she said imperiously.
There
.
His lips quirked in amusement. “Have I abducted you against your will?”
“Well … no,” she faltered.
He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and strolled toward the stairs. “I’d be happy to return you to your group of admirers, if you’d prefer their company.”
The thought of going back to that lot was nauseating. She made a sound that expressed her feelings. Thorburn chuckled, a throaty, wicked laugh. It crawled over her skin and sent a shiver up and down her spine.
She made no further protests as they descended into the garden. They strolled past other couples and exchanged greetings with acquaintances. It was all very respectable.
Why, then, Lily wondered, did she feel that stepping into the night with this man was an act of rebellion?
Why did her heart pound so as he led her farther away from the house?
And why was he moving around the hedge and pulling her into a shadowed alcove?
Alarms sounded in her mind. “My lord — ” she started.
He gripped her waist and swung her around so her back was to the tall hedge.
She couldn’t see the house at all now. Only the faintest wisps of music and laughter filtered to their secluded hiding place. His features melted into the darkness, rendering his face a study of shadow-on-shadow. There was only his overwhelming nearness and the warmth of his hands on her waist.
Her heart hammered madly. She had to get out of here. This wasn’t a good idea. In fact, her overwrought mind pointed out, this was a very
bad
idea. She’d have been better off discussing the various, precise attributes of the musicians with her swarm of fortune hunters, rather than allow herself to get carried away by Lord Thorburn’s many charms.
Her throat was dry. She swallowed. That didn’t help — her mouth was dry, too. “My lord — ”
Then his mouth was on hers, extinguishing her voice like a snuffer on a flame.
The contact shocked her. Her eyes went wide.
His lips were soft, yet exerted firm, insistent pressure. Strong arms snaked around her back and drew her against his hard length.
No!
her mind protested.
He didn’t ask, I didn’t say he could …
She placed her left hand on his shoulder and pushed herself away. At the same instant, she brought her right hand swinging up.
His hand clamped around her wrist like a vise before she made contact with his face.
“That’s rather uncalled for, isn’t it?” he asked, his voice full of mirth.
He was
laughing
at her — again! Never had she known someone who laughed at her as much as he did. It was lowering in the extreme. “I didn’t give you permission to do
that
,” she said.
His hand slid from her wrist to cover hers. His thumb traced small circles on her palm. Tiny convulsions of pleasure shot up her arm and her eyes
That
was something to recommend him, even if his manners left much to be desired.
His eyes roamed her face, then traveled down to her décolletage.
Lily felt her breasts tighten in response to his scrutiny. She inhaled sharply.
“Are you warm?” he asked, a knowing glint in his eyes.
How could eyes such a cool blue hold so much heat, she wondered.
“A little,” she admitted.
As a turn in the waltz brought them near the French doors opening onto the balcony, he pulled her out of the pattern of dancers and drew her out into the night.
The fresh air cooled Lily’s addled senses. “Just a moment, Lord Thorburn, was it?” She laid a hand on his bicep, and immediately wished she hadn’t. His arm was solid. How could living flesh be so firm? She found herself wondering what his bare arms looked like, what it would feel like to touch them.
“Are you quite all right?” His voice held a teasing note.
He
knew
what he was doing to her, the insufferable man — he was probably doing it on purpose. She lifted her chin and met his hot gaze with a cool one of her own. “I did not consent to accompany you anywhere,” she said imperiously.
There
.
His lips quirked in amusement. “Have I abducted you against your will?”
“Well … no,” she faltered.
He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and strolled toward the stairs. “I’d be happy to return you to your group of admirers, if you’d prefer their company.”
The thought of going back to that lot was nauseating. She made a sound that expressed her feelings. Thorburn chuckled, a throaty, wicked laugh. It crawled over her skin and sent a shiver up and down her spine.
She made no further protests as they descended into the garden. They strolled past other couples and exchanged greetings with acquaintances. It was all very respectable.
Why, then, Lily wondered, did she feel that stepping into the night with this man was an act of rebellion?
Why did her heart pound so as he led her farther away from the house?
And why was he moving around the hedge and pulling her into a shadowed alcove?
Alarms sounded in her mind. “My lord — ” she started.
He gripped her waist and swung her around so her back was to the tall hedge.
She couldn’t see the house at all now. Only the faintest wisps of music and laughter filtered to their secluded hiding place. His features melted into the darkness, rendering his face a study of shadow-on-shadow. There was only his overwhelming nearness and the warmth of his hands on her waist.
Her heart hammered madly. She had to get out of here. This wasn’t a good idea. In fact, her overwrought mind pointed out, this was a very
bad
idea. She’d have been better off discussing the various, precise attributes of the musicians with her swarm of fortune hunters, rather than allow herself to get carried away by Lord Thorburn’s many charms.
Her throat was dry. She swallowed. That didn’t help — her mouth was dry, too. “My lord — ”
Then his mouth was on hers, extinguishing her voice like a snuffer on a flame.
The contact shocked her. Her eyes went wide.
His lips were soft, yet exerted firm, insistent pressure. Strong arms snaked around her back and drew her against his hard length.
No!
her mind protested.
He didn’t ask, I didn’t say he could …
She placed her left hand on his shoulder and pushed herself away. At the same instant, she brought her right hand swinging up.
His hand clamped around her wrist like a vise before she made contact with his face.
“That’s rather uncalled for, isn’t it?” he asked, his voice full of mirth.
He was
laughing
at her — again! Never had she known someone who laughed at her as much as he did. It was lowering in the extreme. “I didn’t give you permission to do
that
,” she said.
His hand slid from her wrist to cover hers. His thumb traced small circles on her palm. Tiny convulsions of pleasure shot up her arm and her eyes
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