But Victoria suddenly
remembered the way he had defended her
in the alley. Impulsively she touched his
sleeve.
I know I am deeply indebted to you, my
lord, but I must tell you quite truthfully
that up until the moment the crowd turned
violent, I was having a fine time. I cannot
remember when I have enjoyed an outing
more." She took a deep breath when there
was no response and rushed on." I would
also have you know, my lord, that I
thought you were quite wonderful. Very
cool under fire, as they say. You got us
free of the mob and I assure you I shall
never forget the way you handled those
two footpads in the alley. For that, my
thanks."
Your thanks," he repeated in a consider
ing tone." I am not certain that is sufficient
reward under the circumstances."
Victoria looked up at him, suddenly
aware that Aunt Cleo's botanical garden
was a very dark and lonely place at this
hour of the night. She wondered for one
awful moment if stone vale was going to
lose his grip on the reins of his temper,
and then she started wondering what she
should do if he did. Belatedly she took a
step back.
My lord?"
No," he said, as if having reached a
conclusion." Your paltry thanks are not
enough for what I have been through and
what I undoubtedly have yet to endure."
Without any warning Lucas's hands
closed around her shoulders, and in one
smooth, swift motion he backed her up
against the garden wall.
Before Victoria could react, Lucas moved
in close, so close that the hard, unforgiving
length of his body pressed against her much
softer frame.
Lucas's booted foot slid between her
legs. Victoria froze for an instant, held
still by the shock of his muscled thigh
alongside her own leg. Her eyes widened
in the moonlight as she looked up into
stone vale's starkly etched face.
You are a hotheaded, reckless hoyden; a
little shrew who is badly in need of taming
before she lands in serious trouble. If I had
any sense, I would end this here and now,"
Lucas rasped.
Victoria licked her dry lips." End what,
my lord?"
This." His mouth came down on hers
with a fierce, plundering heat that made
her fully aware, at last, of the true extent
of his dangerous mood.
She had been prepared for his anger but
nothing could have readied her for the
masculine arousal that poured over her in
a searing conflagration.
stone vale wanted her.
Victoria was momentarily stunned by the
sensual assault. She had been kissed a few
times by daring or desperate suitors and
once or twice because her own curiosity
had gotten the better of her. But she had
never known anything like the rough, deep,
demanding kiss that held her now.
She trembled and her fingers clenched
around Lucas's upper arms. He responded
with a husky groan and then he was
crushing her into the ivy, his thigh forcing
her legs further apart. Victoria felt the small
jabs of the vines and inhaled the fragrance
of crumpled leaves and the musky scent of
Lucas's body. Her head spun as if she were
being whirled about on a dance floor.
When she felt Lucas's tongue slide along
her lower lip, she opened her mouth for
him in the same instinctive, unquestioning
manner in which she had earlier followed
him to safety.
She flinched when his hands circled her
waist, but she did not struggle as she knew
she should, not even when she felt his
thumbs glide up to rest just under the
weight of her small breasts.
My lord," she managed in a ragged
voice as he freed her mouth to catch the
lobe of her ear between his teeth." My lord,
I don't know that is, you ought not to be
doing this."
I want you to have good cause to
remember me, Victoria," Lucas whispered.
Victoria swallowed hard, trying to collect
herself" I assure you, I am not likely to
forget you."
Excellent."
His teeth grazed her tender earlobe,
causing no real pain but leaving her with a
disquieting sensation of vulnerability. The
odd caress left Victoria
remembered the way he had defended her
in the alley. Impulsively she touched his
sleeve.
I know I am deeply indebted to you, my
lord, but I must tell you quite truthfully
that up until the moment the crowd turned
violent, I was having a fine time. I cannot
remember when I have enjoyed an outing
more." She took a deep breath when there
was no response and rushed on." I would
also have you know, my lord, that I
thought you were quite wonderful. Very
cool under fire, as they say. You got us
free of the mob and I assure you I shall
never forget the way you handled those
two footpads in the alley. For that, my
thanks."
Your thanks," he repeated in a consider
ing tone." I am not certain that is sufficient
reward under the circumstances."
Victoria looked up at him, suddenly
aware that Aunt Cleo's botanical garden
was a very dark and lonely place at this
hour of the night. She wondered for one
awful moment if stone vale was going to
lose his grip on the reins of his temper,
and then she started wondering what she
should do if he did. Belatedly she took a
step back.
My lord?"
No," he said, as if having reached a
conclusion." Your paltry thanks are not
enough for what I have been through and
what I undoubtedly have yet to endure."
Without any warning Lucas's hands
closed around her shoulders, and in one
smooth, swift motion he backed her up
against the garden wall.
Before Victoria could react, Lucas moved
in close, so close that the hard, unforgiving
length of his body pressed against her much
softer frame.
Lucas's booted foot slid between her
legs. Victoria froze for an instant, held
still by the shock of his muscled thigh
alongside her own leg. Her eyes widened
in the moonlight as she looked up into
stone vale's starkly etched face.
You are a hotheaded, reckless hoyden; a
little shrew who is badly in need of taming
before she lands in serious trouble. If I had
any sense, I would end this here and now,"
Lucas rasped.
Victoria licked her dry lips." End what,
my lord?"
This." His mouth came down on hers
with a fierce, plundering heat that made
her fully aware, at last, of the true extent
of his dangerous mood.
She had been prepared for his anger but
nothing could have readied her for the
masculine arousal that poured over her in
a searing conflagration.
stone vale wanted her.
Victoria was momentarily stunned by the
sensual assault. She had been kissed a few
times by daring or desperate suitors and
once or twice because her own curiosity
had gotten the better of her. But she had
never known anything like the rough, deep,
demanding kiss that held her now.
She trembled and her fingers clenched
around Lucas's upper arms. He responded
with a husky groan and then he was
crushing her into the ivy, his thigh forcing
her legs further apart. Victoria felt the small
jabs of the vines and inhaled the fragrance
of crumpled leaves and the musky scent of
Lucas's body. Her head spun as if she were
being whirled about on a dance floor.
When she felt Lucas's tongue slide along
her lower lip, she opened her mouth for
him in the same instinctive, unquestioning
manner in which she had earlier followed
him to safety.
She flinched when his hands circled her
waist, but she did not struggle as she knew
she should, not even when she felt his
thumbs glide up to rest just under the
weight of her small breasts.
My lord," she managed in a ragged
voice as he freed her mouth to catch the
lobe of her ear between his teeth." My lord,
I don't know that is, you ought not to be
doing this."
I want you to have good cause to
remember me, Victoria," Lucas whispered.
Victoria swallowed hard, trying to collect
herself" I assure you, I am not likely to
forget you."
Excellent."
His teeth grazed her tender earlobe,
causing no real pain but leaving her with a
disquieting sensation of vulnerability. The
odd caress left Victoria
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