Read Online Patricia Rice by Dash of Enchantment - Free Book Online Page A

conclusion than this.”
    A horrifying thought occurred, and he blurted out, “You are
not pregnant, are you?”
    “Of course not!” she answered so innocently that he feared
she had very little concept of what the word meant. Then she lifted a hand
wistfully in a gesture that very nearly broke his heart, had he believed a word
she said. “I do not mind being bored, Wyatt, really I don’t. I’d much rather
live in the country. You would let me have a dog and a horse, wouldn’t you? I
can learn to be very proper.”
    “We are talking marriage, Cassandra, not a romp in the
country,” he said angrily. “We are talking of spending the rest of our lives in
each other’s pockets, sharing meals and beds. Have you given any thought at all
about what it would be like to wake up to my face every morning?”
    Cassandra smiled and caressed his jaw. “Much better yours
than Rupert’s. Marriage is a gamble anyway you look at it, isn’t it? But I
think I prefer the cards you hold to Rupert’s. I’m just sorry you think
Catherine’s is the better hand. I’m willing to wager my life that you’re wrong.”
    Wyatt closed his eyes in exasperation and against the
temptations of her loveliness. The sunset glow of her hair burned against his
lids, and the enticingly fresh scent that was all Cassandra’s own lured him
even without vision. He leaned closer, wanting to know the taste of full
strawberry-tinted lips, wanting the sweet brush of her breath against his
mouth. Any more of this, and he would wonder why he was fighting her.
    As if sensing his capitulation, Cassandra swayed closer. The
warmth of her breath brushed his cheek. He turned his head until her lips
seared across his.
    There was nothing for it but to pull her closer before he
lost his balance. He couldn’t release the ripeness of her innocent mouth. He pulled
her to her knees, and she came without hesitation, her fingers curling against
his chest as he pressed for more, demanding a parting of the soft temptation of
her lips.
    At first, she didn’t seem to know what he wanted. In the
next moment, she was opening fully to him, moaning in surrender and flattening
her hands against his chest while his tongue plundered and stole the innocent
passion she offered.
    Only whores had ever kissed him like that, and not with this
amount of pleasure. Wyatt felt his body hardening in response, and caution fled
with the winds. He gripped her arms tighter, twisting his mouth against hers
until he received the maximum pleasure of their proximity. As her breasts
crushed into him, her tongue tentatively met his, and intense desire dashed all
reason.
    He stroked her back, caressing, learning the fine-bones of
her fragile figure. The satin of her robe slid through his fingers, falling to
the bed. He wanted to pull her hips against his, feel her response to his
arousal, but he wasn’t ready to frighten her yet.
    She was so incredibly responsive. He hadn’t expected this,
had never dreamed such passion was available for just a touch and a kiss. In
the back of his mind, he condemned himself for what he was doing, but such
pleasure did not often come his way.
    Cassandra uttered a soft sound like a purr as Merrick
explored the curve of her breast. The thin cotton of her shift offered no
protection, and he stroked the nipple pressing eagerly into his palm.
    He scarcely heard the first timid knock on the door. He had
the pins from her hair and bent her backward with his kisses so the lush
tresses fell over his arm and his brain was south of his waistcoat.
    A louder knock jarred him back to his senses. Intellectually,
he had known the outcome from the moment she’d thrown away the key. Physically,
he had no desire to release her. His first wife had never allowed such
liberties, and his experience with whores had been unpleasant. Strangely
enough, he was almost exuberant with the freedom that knock and familiar voices
represented.
    With a wry, mocking look, Wyatt sat Cassandra back