Read Online Royally Seduced by Marie Donovan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marie Donovan
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it.
“Of course. Everyone has to make a living.”
Jack nodded. “And times can be hard when you depend solely on the land. Many people here live mostly on what they grow in the garden and hunt in the forests.”
“That’s the trendy thing to do now—eat locally. And you can’t get much more local than your backyard.”
“We French are well-known trendsetters.” He laughed. “And wild rabbits and wild boar are delicious if cooked for several hours in red wine.” He deftly negotiated the narrow cobblestone streets, avoiding pedestrians with a death wish and other cars intent on fulfilling their desires.
“That sounds wonderful. Maybe I could try that this week.”
He shook his head. “Eating locally means eating in season, and those are traditional fall dishes. You would have to be here in October or November when the weather cools.”
“I’ll be long gone by then.”
“Ah, yes.” They both sat in silence as the cars in front of them inched along. “But since you are here now, you get to see the lavender.” He spotted a parking slot and shoehorned the rental car into it. Lily wouldn’t have had the nerve to even try.
“That’s true, but I bet every season has something wonderful to see.”
“I think so, but of course I am a native son.” He turned to smile at her. It was such a sweet smile that impulsively, she grabbed his right hand where it sat on his knee.
His smile faded but he immediately tightened his fingers around hers. “Lily, I am supposed to be a gentleman around you.” His voice was low and gritty. “I would not break a promise to you or Madame Finch.”
“You are a gentleman, but maybe I’m not much of a lady.”
His breath hissed out in anger. “Don’t say that about yourself. You are more of a lady than those born to the title.”
“And how would you know about titled ladies?” she teased, leaning into him.
His amber brown eyes searched her face, his face taut as if he were in the middle of a great conflict. He seemed to come to a decision and sighed.
She was going to ask him if he were all right, but then he closed his eyes and lowered his mouth to hers.
Her breath caught in her throat as their lips touched. Her eyes fluttered shut and she practically swooned at the soft, gentle pressure of his mouth. He lightly pressed a kiss to her and then, realizing her eager response, deepened it so her mouth was open and moist under his.
Jack groaned in satisfaction, murmuring her name. She grew brave enough to flick the tender inner margins of his mouth with her tongue, and his fingers tightened almost painfully on hers.
He caught her tongue and sucked on it, and she cupped the back of his neck to keep him close. Her other hand slid up from where it rested on his knee to massage his thigh, the crisp hair tickling her fingers.
Jack dragged himself backward, his chest heaving. His glance fell to her breasts. Her diamond-hard nipples pressed against her thin bra and T-shirt. He raised his hand to cup her breast and then dropped it to his side as if he’d lost all his strength. “Ah, mon dieu. Lily…”
She muffled his mouth with her palm. “If you are about to apologize…well…” His hot breath against her tender skin made her almost forget what she was going to tell him and she panted a couple times before remembering. “Oh, yeah. Don’t apologize, okay?”
He nodded and she started to pull her hand back, but not before his tongue flicked out to taste her. She yanked her hand back in surprise, not offense, and he gave her a dry smile. “You see, Lily? I am not much of a gentleman after all. You may want to get out of the car before I start the engine and drive us somewhere without an audience.”
She actually wavered. If that was what he could accomplish in the front seat of a miniature car, imagine what he could do with some working room. But was she ready to hop into the backseat with him?
Her hesitation was enough to break the spell. “Get out, Lily.
“Of course. Everyone has to make a living.”
Jack nodded. “And times can be hard when you depend solely on the land. Many people here live mostly on what they grow in the garden and hunt in the forests.”
“That’s the trendy thing to do now—eat locally. And you can’t get much more local than your backyard.”
“We French are well-known trendsetters.” He laughed. “And wild rabbits and wild boar are delicious if cooked for several hours in red wine.” He deftly negotiated the narrow cobblestone streets, avoiding pedestrians with a death wish and other cars intent on fulfilling their desires.
“That sounds wonderful. Maybe I could try that this week.”
He shook his head. “Eating locally means eating in season, and those are traditional fall dishes. You would have to be here in October or November when the weather cools.”
“I’ll be long gone by then.”
“Ah, yes.” They both sat in silence as the cars in front of them inched along. “But since you are here now, you get to see the lavender.” He spotted a parking slot and shoehorned the rental car into it. Lily wouldn’t have had the nerve to even try.
“That’s true, but I bet every season has something wonderful to see.”
“I think so, but of course I am a native son.” He turned to smile at her. It was such a sweet smile that impulsively, she grabbed his right hand where it sat on his knee.
His smile faded but he immediately tightened his fingers around hers. “Lily, I am supposed to be a gentleman around you.” His voice was low and gritty. “I would not break a promise to you or Madame Finch.”
“You are a gentleman, but maybe I’m not much of a lady.”
His breath hissed out in anger. “Don’t say that about yourself. You are more of a lady than those born to the title.”
“And how would you know about titled ladies?” she teased, leaning into him.
His amber brown eyes searched her face, his face taut as if he were in the middle of a great conflict. He seemed to come to a decision and sighed.
She was going to ask him if he were all right, but then he closed his eyes and lowered his mouth to hers.
Her breath caught in her throat as their lips touched. Her eyes fluttered shut and she practically swooned at the soft, gentle pressure of his mouth. He lightly pressed a kiss to her and then, realizing her eager response, deepened it so her mouth was open and moist under his.
Jack groaned in satisfaction, murmuring her name. She grew brave enough to flick the tender inner margins of his mouth with her tongue, and his fingers tightened almost painfully on hers.
He caught her tongue and sucked on it, and she cupped the back of his neck to keep him close. Her other hand slid up from where it rested on his knee to massage his thigh, the crisp hair tickling her fingers.
Jack dragged himself backward, his chest heaving. His glance fell to her breasts. Her diamond-hard nipples pressed against her thin bra and T-shirt. He raised his hand to cup her breast and then dropped it to his side as if he’d lost all his strength. “Ah, mon dieu. Lily…”
She muffled his mouth with her palm. “If you are about to apologize…well…” His hot breath against her tender skin made her almost forget what she was going to tell him and she panted a couple times before remembering. “Oh, yeah. Don’t apologize, okay?”
He nodded and she started to pull her hand back, but not before his tongue flicked out to taste her. She yanked her hand back in surprise, not offense, and he gave her a dry smile. “You see, Lily? I am not much of a gentleman after all. You may want to get out of the car before I start the engine and drive us somewhere without an audience.”
She actually wavered. If that was what he could accomplish in the front seat of a miniature car, imagine what he could do with some working room. But was she ready to hop into the backseat with him?
Her hesitation was enough to break the spell. “Get out, Lily.
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