[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

than stay and help douse the flames, he dragged me away to  safety . A tradesman gave
us a lift in his wagon to another inn off the main road.
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Elayne S. Venton
 Edmund lost his favorite steed in that fire.
 Oh God. No wonder he wanted to find George. A man prized his horse above all
else.
 After the fire, there were no mounts for hire for miles around. Edmund told me to
go on without him, but I could not abandon him. I felt certain we would find you
again. Holding her hand tight, Philip linked her arm through his.  I knew I must. He
drew her closer to his side.  The entire county was looking for George by then. It was
only a matter of time before someone nabbed the coward. I sent a message to your
father to that effect. Philip stared into the flames, his jaw set.  He knows I will fight to
the death to keep you safe.
God s teeth, she loved him. Not like the giddy, secretive affection she d felt around
George. Lord, she hadn t known George at all. He d been a horrible fraud, a monster
indeed, most inconstant in love, whereas Philip had been the epitome of constancy.
The depth of her affection for Philip expanded threefold.
I love you too. Saying it out loud was still too scary for her. What if it was too late?
 You said&  She cleared her scratchy throat.  An honorable man would not need
to elope.
He regarded her steadily.  I did.
 I think of you as an honorable man, Philip.
 I would like to believe so too, he said solemnly.
 Even if you, and the woman you love, celebrated the nuptials early&  She
stopped to study him closely. He didn t flinch. That was a good omen.  There would be
time to read the banns before her condition showed.
 Plenty of time. The flicker of hope in his eyes grew brighter.
 Early births are not uncommon.
 Precisely. Elopements are for the underaged and cowards.
 Perhaps then, she said, slipping her other hand into his warm palm,  you would
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Constant in Love
like to speak with my father?
The flow of emotions through Philip s expression amazed her. Relief. Joy. A little
disbelief? A grateful smile instantly changed into a teasing grin.
 To ease his mind that I am not interested in marrying you for your money or
holding you for ransom?
 Are you?
He snorted.  The only thing held hostage is my heart.
She felt like crying.  I love you, Philip.
He breathed a shaky sigh and pulled her into a gentle embrace.  I love you too,
Cassie. Ever so much. He kissed her eyelids, which soothed her eyes burning with
unshed tears. He kissed her cheek. His fingers splayed into her damp hair and he kissed
her mouth with tenderness and love. So much love.
It all happened slowly, losing her grip on the coverlet, her dress slinking to the
floor, her shift whispering over her head, his big warm palms caressing her cool breasts.
She barely noticed any of it while he gently nibbled on her lips and made love to her
mouth.
She felt more than heard his soft exclamation when her cool hands tunneled
beneath his shirt and explored the hard contours of his chest and belly. Her fingertips
skimmed over the puckered nubs rising from the soft crinkly curls of hair on his chest
and she understood the reason his fingers tightened in her hair. She had the same
reaction when he rolled her pink peaks between his finger and thumb.
She wanted him in the bed. On top of her. Completely naked.
Her hands fumbled at the buttons on his breeches.
Without breaking his drugging kisses, he helped her, stripping quickly and
efficiently as only a man can do. Clothes flew everywhere. His neckcloth landed on the
hearth and caught fire. Engaged in removing his boot while standing on one foot, Philip
simply kicked the flaming cloth into the burning coals.
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Elayne S. Venton
And then he was unclothed. Standing before her like an Olympic god, his muscles
rippling in the firelight, his thick erection rising from the dark nest of curls at his groin.
All she could do was smile.
He laughed at her, scooped her up behind the knees and walked over to the bed.
The sheets were cool where the blaze had warmed her backside.
Philip climbed up onto the mattress and straddled her on all fours. After a long,
sensuous kiss on the lips, he dragged his tongue down the column of her neck. Goose
bumps popped up all over her body. Her nipples tightened, rising for attention. While
he caressed her breasts with his hands, his mouth laid siege on the pale globes with
long strokes of his tongue punctuated by decadent draws on her flesh with his lips.
As he dragged his wet mouth down her body, her skin flushed with heat. Her belly
quivered beneath his kisses. She spread her legs, inviting him in.
 You smell like rain, he said softly as he kissed around the hair clustered on her
mons. He pushed her knees into the air and kissed the inside of her thigh.  And the
damp earth in spring right before planting.
She knew exactly what he intended to plant in her wet, prepared soil.
She was wrong. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]