Read Online Samantha James by The Seduction of an Unknown Lady - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: The Seduction of an Unknown Lady
Ads: Link
in the words; she was on the verge of tears, he suspected. “I just have a monstrous headache all of a sudden. And I’m tired. So tired.”
No wonder, given the hours she kept! But he decided against voicing this particular censure,for something unexpectedly twisted in his chest at the sight of her holding her head in her hands thus. It struck him that she looked…rather lonely. Even a little forlorn.
And he knew with every certainty that the brandy had gone to her head when he eased her up against him, tucking them both into the corner of the settee. Her eyes fluttered, then closed. She nestled against him, already limp and relaxed. With a tremulous little sigh, she curled her fist against his chest.
Aidan had to force himself to relax. He held himself very still, tempering the desire that churned and clamored in his chest, twisting and turning restlessly. He was still shocked by it, by its strength, its persistence, for it grew more rousing with every moment spent with her. He discovered himself embroiled in a rare conflict—he, the man who had always prided himself on his decisiveness.
He wanted her. That had already been established. But the point in question was whether or not he should act on that desire, potent as it was.
And tantamount to all was the fact that he’d not yet decided whether or not to pursue Miss Fionna Hawkes.
He thought of her mouth. Small. Delectable.
Lord, maybe Alec was right. Maybe a woman was all he needed to cleanse his soul. This woman. But maybe he need take it no further than a flirtation. A dalliance. A kiss. She would allow him that. He could be charming when he wished. Perhaps that would suffice.
Well, maybe two kisses. A little seduction…perhaps even a forbidden caress…
His mind turned. If he decided this was what he wanted, instinct warned that he must proceed with careful, cautious precision where the fractious Miss Hawkes was concerned. She would not be stormed. She would not be led onto a path she did not want or share.
Her fingers twitched. She shifted her head ever so slightly, her lips parted, her mouth upturned. Her breath was warm upon his throat.
Aidan swallowed. Desire churned. His heart thundered. Heat raced through his veins. His cock was hard as stone. His body urged him to spread her thighs wide and take her here and now, to seat himself hard and tight and deep inside her and yield to the fire that seared his every nerve.
His arms tightened. Tensed. Her chest was full against his. Her breast was plump and ripe against his chest. She would never even know. All he need do was stretch out his fingers and…
She stirred. “I was foolish to scream,” she mumbled against his shoulder. “You…you just startled me. That’s all. That’s all it was. Really.”
Aidan froze. Christ, what the hell was he thinking? What the hell was he doing? He could havegroaned aloud his frustration. He’d already decided to pursue the lady—he’d made the decision this instant!
But this was not the time to begin.
Somehow he held himself in check, willing away the tension strung throughout his form. Releasing a sigh, he kissed her knuckles, then rested his chin against her temple, inhaling the beguiling scent of lilies, aware of the silky little tendrils of hair that brushed his mouth.
It brought a surprising peace to his soul.
Fionna woke, her eyelids heavy, her vision adjusting slowly to the dark. She knew exactly where she was. In Aidan’s house, in Aidan’s arms, tucked against the crook of his shoulder. His heart beat a rhythmic drum directly beneath her cheek, steady and reassuring. At some point she’d been divested of her mantle; it had been replaced with a warm, fuzzy blanket.
After several minutes came a whisper. “Awake now?”
She stared into the fading embers of the fire. “Yes,” she whispered back. “It’s late, isn’t it?”
“Mmmm. Half past three.”
Not so very late to her, she thought vaguely. “I must go.” Her limbs felt
No wonder, given the hours she kept! But he decided against voicing this particular censure,for something unexpectedly twisted in his chest at the sight of her holding her head in her hands thus. It struck him that she looked…rather lonely. Even a little forlorn.
And he knew with every certainty that the brandy had gone to her head when he eased her up against him, tucking them both into the corner of the settee. Her eyes fluttered, then closed. She nestled against him, already limp and relaxed. With a tremulous little sigh, she curled her fist against his chest.
Aidan had to force himself to relax. He held himself very still, tempering the desire that churned and clamored in his chest, twisting and turning restlessly. He was still shocked by it, by its strength, its persistence, for it grew more rousing with every moment spent with her. He discovered himself embroiled in a rare conflict—he, the man who had always prided himself on his decisiveness.
He wanted her. That had already been established. But the point in question was whether or not he should act on that desire, potent as it was.
And tantamount to all was the fact that he’d not yet decided whether or not to pursue Miss Fionna Hawkes.
He thought of her mouth. Small. Delectable.
Lord, maybe Alec was right. Maybe a woman was all he needed to cleanse his soul. This woman. But maybe he need take it no further than a flirtation. A dalliance. A kiss. She would allow him that. He could be charming when he wished. Perhaps that would suffice.
Well, maybe two kisses. A little seduction…perhaps even a forbidden caress…
His mind turned. If he decided this was what he wanted, instinct warned that he must proceed with careful, cautious precision where the fractious Miss Hawkes was concerned. She would not be stormed. She would not be led onto a path she did not want or share.
Her fingers twitched. She shifted her head ever so slightly, her lips parted, her mouth upturned. Her breath was warm upon his throat.
Aidan swallowed. Desire churned. His heart thundered. Heat raced through his veins. His cock was hard as stone. His body urged him to spread her thighs wide and take her here and now, to seat himself hard and tight and deep inside her and yield to the fire that seared his every nerve.
His arms tightened. Tensed. Her chest was full against his. Her breast was plump and ripe against his chest. She would never even know. All he need do was stretch out his fingers and…
She stirred. “I was foolish to scream,” she mumbled against his shoulder. “You…you just startled me. That’s all. That’s all it was. Really.”
Aidan froze. Christ, what the hell was he thinking? What the hell was he doing? He could havegroaned aloud his frustration. He’d already decided to pursue the lady—he’d made the decision this instant!
But this was not the time to begin.
Somehow he held himself in check, willing away the tension strung throughout his form. Releasing a sigh, he kissed her knuckles, then rested his chin against her temple, inhaling the beguiling scent of lilies, aware of the silky little tendrils of hair that brushed his mouth.
It brought a surprising peace to his soul.
Fionna woke, her eyelids heavy, her vision adjusting slowly to the dark. She knew exactly where she was. In Aidan’s house, in Aidan’s arms, tucked against the crook of his shoulder. His heart beat a rhythmic drum directly beneath her cheek, steady and reassuring. At some point she’d been divested of her mantle; it had been replaced with a warm, fuzzy blanket.
After several minutes came a whisper. “Awake now?”
She stared into the fading embers of the fire. “Yes,” she whispered back. “It’s late, isn’t it?”
“Mmmm. Half past three.”
Not so very late to her, she thought vaguely. “I must go.” Her limbs felt
Similar Books
