Read Online Pure Temptation by Connie Mason - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Connie Mason
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beautiful ward underfoot when I bring her home as my bride.”
“I’ll get by,” Moira returned.
“I don’t doubt it. I want the truth, Moira. What were you doing out the night my carriage ran you down?”
Moira turned away, unwilling to divulge the truth for fear of ending up in Newgate. Much to her dismay, she realized she needed Jack’s protection. Since he seemed inclined to believe her earlier lies, she decided to invent another. “Very well. I was meeting my—my lover. I told him that my employers were letting me go because their son fancied me.” Almost true. “I begged my lover to marry me, and he became angry because I had lost my source of income. He broke off our relationship. I was running after him, to beg him to reconsider, when your carriage hit me.” There, she hoped the lie would please him and he would stop hounding her.
“I thought so,” Jack said with a hint of disappointment. He had hoped—ah, well, he should have known better. A beauty like Moira was bound to have lovers. He wondered if Moira had deliberately enticed her employer’s son. “Your choice of lovers leaves much to be desired.”
Moira had no answer.
“No matter.” Jack shrugged. “Needless to say, were I your lover I wouldn’t be so inconsiderate.”
He grasped her chin, raising her face so he could look into her eyes. “Forget the past, Moira. Think only of the future. You’re bright enough to convince any man you’re an innocent virgin. You almost had me convinced.” His smile did not quite reach his eyes.
A flash of pain dimmed Moira’s golden eyes as she stared back at Jack. She didn’t deserve his scorn, yet that was exactly what she got. A man as roguishly handsome and virile as Jackson Graystoke could have any woman he wanted. Why should she believe his interest in her was other than what he’d claimed? Jack felt a certain responsibility for her, nothing more.
“What are you thinking, Moira?” Jack drawled when he saw her eyes turn dark. “Are you wondering if I’m a better lover than your last one?” His hand dropped away from her chin, landing on her shoulder before trailing down to her breast. Jack knew he was treading on dangerous ground but couldn’t help himself. Moira might be experienced, but she had a look of sweet innocence about her that intrigued him. Sweet innocence and pure temptation—what an explosive combination!
Moira held her breath as she felt the heated path of his gaze follow his hand. Her breasts tingled beneath the intensity of his look and intimate caress, and a spark of desire settled in her center and began to grow as she reacted to his touch. She felt her nipple harden against his palm and drew back in alarm.
“Stop it!”
Jack sighed regretfully and removed his hand. “You’re right. As much as I’d like to continue this, I fear you’re not up to it yet. Besides, I’d rather not get involved intimately. ’Tis best we keep this on a purely impersonal level. At least until we find you a husband. After you’re safely wed, we can explore this attraction we have for one another more fully.”
“You think I’d be unfaithful?” Moira gasped in outrage.
“What I think doesn’t matter.”
“I’m not attracted to you. You’re a profligate rake and scoundrel. I find little about you to admire.”
“Don’t you?” he drawled lazily.
Jack couldn’t ignore the challenge. Reaching out, hepulled her close and kissed her long and thoroughly, thrusting his tongue past her open lips, plunging her into sweet perdition. He tasted spicy and hot and delicious. Before she realized what she was doing, she began kissing him back.
Jack was enjoying the kiss too much. He pulled away with effort. The pure wonder of Moira’s response inflamed him beyond repair. Mesmerized, he watched the pulse throbbing in her white throat and fought the urge to place his lips there.
“I didn’t mean for that to happen.” His voice held a strange hoarseness and he cleared his
“I’ll get by,” Moira returned.
“I don’t doubt it. I want the truth, Moira. What were you doing out the night my carriage ran you down?”
Moira turned away, unwilling to divulge the truth for fear of ending up in Newgate. Much to her dismay, she realized she needed Jack’s protection. Since he seemed inclined to believe her earlier lies, she decided to invent another. “Very well. I was meeting my—my lover. I told him that my employers were letting me go because their son fancied me.” Almost true. “I begged my lover to marry me, and he became angry because I had lost my source of income. He broke off our relationship. I was running after him, to beg him to reconsider, when your carriage hit me.” There, she hoped the lie would please him and he would stop hounding her.
“I thought so,” Jack said with a hint of disappointment. He had hoped—ah, well, he should have known better. A beauty like Moira was bound to have lovers. He wondered if Moira had deliberately enticed her employer’s son. “Your choice of lovers leaves much to be desired.”
Moira had no answer.
“No matter.” Jack shrugged. “Needless to say, were I your lover I wouldn’t be so inconsiderate.”
He grasped her chin, raising her face so he could look into her eyes. “Forget the past, Moira. Think only of the future. You’re bright enough to convince any man you’re an innocent virgin. You almost had me convinced.” His smile did not quite reach his eyes.
A flash of pain dimmed Moira’s golden eyes as she stared back at Jack. She didn’t deserve his scorn, yet that was exactly what she got. A man as roguishly handsome and virile as Jackson Graystoke could have any woman he wanted. Why should she believe his interest in her was other than what he’d claimed? Jack felt a certain responsibility for her, nothing more.
“What are you thinking, Moira?” Jack drawled when he saw her eyes turn dark. “Are you wondering if I’m a better lover than your last one?” His hand dropped away from her chin, landing on her shoulder before trailing down to her breast. Jack knew he was treading on dangerous ground but couldn’t help himself. Moira might be experienced, but she had a look of sweet innocence about her that intrigued him. Sweet innocence and pure temptation—what an explosive combination!
Moira held her breath as she felt the heated path of his gaze follow his hand. Her breasts tingled beneath the intensity of his look and intimate caress, and a spark of desire settled in her center and began to grow as she reacted to his touch. She felt her nipple harden against his palm and drew back in alarm.
“Stop it!”
Jack sighed regretfully and removed his hand. “You’re right. As much as I’d like to continue this, I fear you’re not up to it yet. Besides, I’d rather not get involved intimately. ’Tis best we keep this on a purely impersonal level. At least until we find you a husband. After you’re safely wed, we can explore this attraction we have for one another more fully.”
“You think I’d be unfaithful?” Moira gasped in outrage.
“What I think doesn’t matter.”
“I’m not attracted to you. You’re a profligate rake and scoundrel. I find little about you to admire.”
“Don’t you?” he drawled lazily.
Jack couldn’t ignore the challenge. Reaching out, hepulled her close and kissed her long and thoroughly, thrusting his tongue past her open lips, plunging her into sweet perdition. He tasted spicy and hot and delicious. Before she realized what she was doing, she began kissing him back.
Jack was enjoying the kiss too much. He pulled away with effort. The pure wonder of Moira’s response inflamed him beyond repair. Mesmerized, he watched the pulse throbbing in her white throat and fought the urge to place his lips there.
“I didn’t mean for that to happen.” His voice held a strange hoarseness and he cleared his
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