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

tension peaked, sending her soaring into a realm of pleasure she’d never, ever known.
    A cry erupted from her mouth. . . his name, over and over. That seemed to encourage him further. He went on fondling her until she peaked again more fiercely, her hands tearing at his shirt, her throat hoarse from her cries.
    Only when her knees buckled did he stop, drawing his hands from beneath her chemise to steady her. His mouth left her breast, and his eyes shone with need as he gazed up at her. She reveled in it. Who would have ever guessed that Lord Warbrooke was capable of such intensity? Or that he could show a woman such pleasures?
    She cupped his face, fumbling for words to express how wonderful it had been and how eagerly she anticipated the rest, but he jerked away from her touch.
    Her heart caught in her throat as he rose slowly to his feet. To her shock, he pulled the chemise back up to cover her breasts. Reaching for the ties, he began to fasten them again, and she caught his hand. “Stop that! What are you doing?”
    He stepped back from her, his breath coming in unsteady gasps. “You’ve had your taste. That ought to be enough.”
    â€œBut. . . but we’re not finished!” She knew enough about lovemaking to know that , for pity’s sake.
    His eyes glittered in the stark hunger of his face. “Yes, we are. That’s as much as you’re getting from me tonight, Bella.”
    She blinked. It took a few seconds for his words to register, but when they did, her heart dropped into her stomach.
    How could he make her want him, then turn around and refuse her so cruelly? She’d begun to believe he wasn’t the man she’d thought, that he wasn’t at all the calculating creature eager for power that she’d assumed.
    But perhaps she’d been wrong to trust all his kind words and sweet attentions.
    â€œWhy?” she whispered. An awful possibility suddenly occurred to her. “Is it because I did something wrong? I failed to excite you?”
    â€œGod preserve me from stupid women!” He threaded his fingers through his hair in clear frustration. “I can hardly stay on my feet for the weight of my arousal, and you can ask such a bloody foolish thing?”
    Her gaze shot to his trousers, which did seem to be rather. . . filled out. “Then why not satisfy your urges? And mine?”
    Hot, wanton need flared in his face. “Good God, woman, don’t you understand? Any satisfaction of your ‘urges,’ any pleasure you might feel if we make love, won’t last beyond tonight. Not for a woman like you.”
    A chill went through her. A woman like her? Could he have guessed that she was Lady Kingsley? Could all of this be just his way of tormenting her?
    No, how could that be? Surely if he’d guessed, he would have said something by now. Lord Warbrooke would never have kept silent on such a subject. And the way he’d kissed her and caressed her. . . well, she couldn’t imagine Lord Warbrooke taking such liberties with a woman he’d always seemed to dislike.
    Still, to be safe. . . “What kind of woman do you think I am? What could you possibly know about me, aside from the fact that I’m a masked widow who participated in a scandalous auction?”
    He averted his gaze from her. “I don’t have to know–I can easily guess it. You’re a lady of breeding. It’s in your speech, your bearing, your superior attitude.” Striding over to a tray of brandy and glasses, he poured himself a generous portion. “I’ll wager you spent your childhood at a country estate under your father’s tender protection, then went straight to London for your coming out, where you met your ‘amiable’ man who never lifted a hand to you a day in his life.”
    He gulped down some brandy, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “And after the man