Read Online The Lucky One (Brethren Of The Coast #6) by Barbara Devlin - Free Book Online
Authors: Barbara Devlin
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in a bit of cheese.
“Because I enjoy our verbal fencing, Miss Daphne.” Leaning forward, he rested elbows to knees. “And your cheeks manifest a tantalizing shade of red. Perhaps now you will tell me about those shivers I give you?”
“I suppose it is too much to hope you might overlook my less than graceful admission.” She smoothed her skirt and attempted to ignore his devilish expression. “A gentleman would, no doubt, pretend he had not heard the spontaneous and clumsy confession.”
“Not a chance, as I have never claimed to possess such noble characteristics.” He laughed when she frowned. “And I shall never forget your disarming disclosure, as I will carry it to the grave and beyond. So let us not avoid the topic foremost on my mind.”
“I apologize for my brothers’ absence.” She adjusted her sleeve, and her thoughts raced to ascertain an escape. “But they are young and spirited, so I am sure you can relate and forgive any unintended slight.”
“Oh, I understand more than you realize, and I do not think their slight is unintended, but I find it more amusing than insulting.” Dalton shifted his weight. “Now about your shivers—”
“Can we please change the subject?” Once again, quivering in a heady pool of frustration mixed with temptation, Daphne stood and paced before the window. “Diverted by your arrival, I inadvertently made known my unusual affliction, which I had sought to keep secret.”
“But you must know that I am not the sort of man with whom you can share such an enthralling detail and possibly expect me to disregard the obvious implications?” His throaty voice enveloped her, as honey on a hot scone. “So I influence you as no other? Has no one else thus affected you?”
“No.” Wringing her fingers, she turned to discover herself toe-to-toe with the source of her internal unrest, and she shrieked. But when he set his hands to her waist and pulled her close, she swallowed hard. “Sir Dalton, what are you doing?”
“I thought it evident.” He bent his head. “I am going to kiss you.”
The prospect defied the limits of sagacity, and Daphne pondered a hasty retreat, yet she held her position. For several seconds, she savored the warmth of his amber gaze, as he had captured her. When he caressed her bottom lip with his thumb, she shuddered.
“Now that is what I was waiting for, and you did not disappoint me.” Then he covered her mouth with his, her knees buckled, and he groaned and hugged her close.
Again and again, he sashayed his flesh to hers, in a sumptuous massage unlike any she had ever known. Her heart pounded in her chest, fire simmered in her veins, an unfamiliar tension tugged at her belly, and she all but melted against his stalwart frame. Licking and suckling, in a playful but tantalizing frolic, his flirty actions bespoke something she could not quite fathom, until she gasped, and he plunged his tongue between her parted teeth, to forge a new and enticing bond, illicit but enthralling. Then, to her shock, dismay, and silent regret, he set her at arm’s length.
“Did I do something wrong?” To her infinite embarrassment, she trembled violently.
“No, sweetheart.” He drew a handkerchief from his coat pocket and daubed his brow. “Trust me, you did everything right and more than I ever expected.”
“Then why did you stop?” She inhaled a shaky breath.
“Because you test my heretofore-vaunted self control, and I am no longer certain of myself.” Dalton stepped back, affording additional distance, which she rued. “While I am more than willing to assume the blame for my lack of fortitude, I assert that you also are at fault, as you are dangerous, Miss Daphne Harcourt.”
#
The dining table boasted a tattered lace cloth, a hole in his napkin had been mended, and a chip in the china pattern marred his soup bowl. The faded red wallpaper puckered and peeled in random places, and the chandeliers were missing crystal adornments. Never
“Because I enjoy our verbal fencing, Miss Daphne.” Leaning forward, he rested elbows to knees. “And your cheeks manifest a tantalizing shade of red. Perhaps now you will tell me about those shivers I give you?”
“I suppose it is too much to hope you might overlook my less than graceful admission.” She smoothed her skirt and attempted to ignore his devilish expression. “A gentleman would, no doubt, pretend he had not heard the spontaneous and clumsy confession.”
“Not a chance, as I have never claimed to possess such noble characteristics.” He laughed when she frowned. “And I shall never forget your disarming disclosure, as I will carry it to the grave and beyond. So let us not avoid the topic foremost on my mind.”
“I apologize for my brothers’ absence.” She adjusted her sleeve, and her thoughts raced to ascertain an escape. “But they are young and spirited, so I am sure you can relate and forgive any unintended slight.”
“Oh, I understand more than you realize, and I do not think their slight is unintended, but I find it more amusing than insulting.” Dalton shifted his weight. “Now about your shivers—”
“Can we please change the subject?” Once again, quivering in a heady pool of frustration mixed with temptation, Daphne stood and paced before the window. “Diverted by your arrival, I inadvertently made known my unusual affliction, which I had sought to keep secret.”
“But you must know that I am not the sort of man with whom you can share such an enthralling detail and possibly expect me to disregard the obvious implications?” His throaty voice enveloped her, as honey on a hot scone. “So I influence you as no other? Has no one else thus affected you?”
“No.” Wringing her fingers, she turned to discover herself toe-to-toe with the source of her internal unrest, and she shrieked. But when he set his hands to her waist and pulled her close, she swallowed hard. “Sir Dalton, what are you doing?”
“I thought it evident.” He bent his head. “I am going to kiss you.”
The prospect defied the limits of sagacity, and Daphne pondered a hasty retreat, yet she held her position. For several seconds, she savored the warmth of his amber gaze, as he had captured her. When he caressed her bottom lip with his thumb, she shuddered.
“Now that is what I was waiting for, and you did not disappoint me.” Then he covered her mouth with his, her knees buckled, and he groaned and hugged her close.
Again and again, he sashayed his flesh to hers, in a sumptuous massage unlike any she had ever known. Her heart pounded in her chest, fire simmered in her veins, an unfamiliar tension tugged at her belly, and she all but melted against his stalwart frame. Licking and suckling, in a playful but tantalizing frolic, his flirty actions bespoke something she could not quite fathom, until she gasped, and he plunged his tongue between her parted teeth, to forge a new and enticing bond, illicit but enthralling. Then, to her shock, dismay, and silent regret, he set her at arm’s length.
“Did I do something wrong?” To her infinite embarrassment, she trembled violently.
“No, sweetheart.” He drew a handkerchief from his coat pocket and daubed his brow. “Trust me, you did everything right and more than I ever expected.”
“Then why did you stop?” She inhaled a shaky breath.
“Because you test my heretofore-vaunted self control, and I am no longer certain of myself.” Dalton stepped back, affording additional distance, which she rued. “While I am more than willing to assume the blame for my lack of fortitude, I assert that you also are at fault, as you are dangerous, Miss Daphne Harcourt.”
#
The dining table boasted a tattered lace cloth, a hole in his napkin had been mended, and a chip in the china pattern marred his soup bowl. The faded red wallpaper puckered and peeled in random places, and the chandeliers were missing crystal adornments. Never
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