Read Online The Widow's Auction by Sabrina Jeffries - Free Book Online

there isn’t a bloody thing wrong with your figure or your female attractions. If this were a different situation, I’d already have you naked in that bed.”
    Her startled gaze swung to him. “What do you mean–a different situation? Even if you started out by trying to protect me–and I do appreciate that–you did win me. And you can tell I’m willing to go through with my end of it. I want to be naked in that bed, so why not take advantage of it?”
    â€œBecause you only think you want it, that’s why! You don’t really want it.”
    She rose from the chair, her eyes bright. “You have no idea what I want!”
    â€œNot a sordid night with a stranger, I’ll wager.” He rose from his chair, too, his blood running hot as he waited, hoping she’d admit that he wasn’t a stranger to her. When she only glanced away, he snapped, “No matter what your foolish reasons for participating in that auction, you couldn’t possibly have known what you were getting yourself into.”
    â€œI knew precisely what I was getting myself into: a night with a man. That’s all I wanted!”
    â€œSomeone who might abuse you or hurt you?” He dropped his voice to a threatening murmur. “You don’t know what men can be like.”
    Her head snapped around, her fierce eyes boring into him. “Then perhaps you should show me!”
    Without warning, she began to unfasten the ties that held her flimsy satin costume together, and all the blood in his body rushed to one inexorable spot.
    She freed the last tie, then shimmied defiantly out of her gown to reveal a chemise so sheer he could see the tips of her breasts straining against the silk. He couldn’t help it–he gaped at them, his mouth going dry at the sight.
    â€œDevil take you, Bella!” His muscles tightened, and the heaviness of his desire settled between his thighs. “You won’t stop this madness until I give you a taste of what you think you want, will you?”
    That seemed to provoke her even further. With a grim, determined smile, she thrust her breasts up for his perusal. That made it even worse, for the loving drape of the silk left nothing to the imagination. They were perfect–as plump and luscious as he’d imagined in his fevered fantasies of her.
    She strode up to him, practically daring him to touch her. “If you want me naked in that bed, Justin, then do something about it. Because no matter what your reasons for bidding, you paid a lot of money for one night with me. So I think it’s time you put your mouth where your money is.”
    When she began to unbutton her chemise, revealing her lovely bare skin inch by inch, all his control snapped. Taking the few steps to meet her, he caught her head in his large hands. Need surged through him as he stared down at the full, tempting lips and the eyes that gleamed mysteriously behind the white satin mask.
    He wanted to shake her. He wanted to kiss her.
    She’d made him desperate to bed her, but it was impossible. Because it wasn’t only Bella he’d be bedding, but Lady Kingsley, too. And though Lady Kingsley seemed to think she wanted this, once she came to her senses, she’d hate him for taking advantage of her whim. She’d never be able to face him across the table at meetings, and their encounter would lie solidly between them until it became an ugly thing they couldn’t get around.
    He wished there could be more between them. But much as he’d teased her about taking her for his mistress, that would never work. Nor could he marry a woman still in love with the gentle Saint Henry. What Justin felt for her wasn’t gentle, and he’d be damned if he’d compete with her late husband for her affections.
    But he could at least make her see the idiocy of what she was doing. “Never say I didn’t warn you,” he growled, then brought his mouth down hard