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impressive. I am very glad you turned up when you did, sir. I would never have found my
marker if you had not suspected the globe was a secret safe. It seems to me it all turned
out for the best and we should both be thankful the thing is over."
"Do you really believe I am going to let the matter rest there?"
Augusta drew herself up proudly. "I will, of course, understand completely if you feel
my actions tonight have put me beyond the pale. If you feel you cannot possibly tolerate
the notion of marrying me, my original offer still stands. I shall be quite willing to cry off
and free you from this engagement."
"Free me, Augusta?" Harry reached out to catch hold of her wrist. "I fear that is
impossible now. I have come to the conclusion that I shall never be free of you. You are
going to bedevil me for the rest of my life and if that is to be my fate, I may as well take
what consolation I can for what I shall be obliged to endure."
Before Augusta had time to realize what he intended, Harry had yanked her across the
short distance between them. An instant later she found herself lying across his strong
thighs. She clung to his shoulders as his mouth came down on hers.
7
« ^ »
"Harry."
Augusta's startled cry was stifled under the fierce, exciting pressure of Harry's mouth.
He took command of her senses in a single instant. Her stunned amazement dissolved
into a shimmering excitement, just as it had that first time on the floor of his library.
Augusta wound her arms slowly around Harry's neck as she recovered from the initial
shock. He was demanding entrance into her mouth and she obediently parted her lips.
The instant she did so, he was inside, claiming her warmth. Augusta shivered.
Her body was reacting so quickly she could not think clearly. Part of her was aware of
the sway and jostle of the vehicle, the rattle of the wheels, and the ring of the horses'
hooves on stone. But here in the carriage, locked in Harry's arms, she was in another
world.
It was a world to which she had secretly longed to return ever since that first time
Harry had held her like this. The hours she had spent reliving those intimacies in her
imagination paled now as reality took its place. A euphoric sensation unfolded within her
as she realized she was going to have another opportunity to experience the wonder of
Harry's kisses.
Obviously he had forgiven her for the unpleasant business involving Lovejoy and her
debt, Augusta thought happily. Surely Harry would not be kissing her like this if he were
still angry with her. She clutched at him, her fingers sinking deeply into the heavy fabric
of his black greatcoat.
"Good God, Augusta." Harry raised his head slightly, his eyes gleaming in the
shadow. "You are going to drive me mad. One minute I could cheerfully shake you and
the next you make me want to drag you into the nearest bed."
She touched the side of his face and smiled wistfully. "Will you please kiss me again,
Harry? I do so like it when you kiss me."
With a muffled oath, Harry's mouth came back down on hers. She was aware of his
hand gliding over her shoulder, stroking gently, and she froze for an instant when his
fingers touched her breast through the fabric of her shirt. But she did not pull away.
"Do you like that, my reckless little hoyden?" Harry's voice was husky as he began to
unfasten her shirt.
"Yes," she breathed. "I want you to kiss me and go on kissing me forever. I vow it is
the most fascinating experience, my lord."
"I am very glad you find it so."
Then his hand was sliding inside the open shirt and cupping her bare breast. Augusta
closed her eyes and sucked in her breath as Harry's thumb circled her nipple.
"My God," Harry whispered thickly. "Like the sweetest of ripe fruit."
Then he lowered his head to take the rosy bud into his mouth and Augusta moaned in
response.
"Hush, love," he muttered, his hand moving down to the fastening of her trousers.
Dimly Augusta realized they were in a carriage somewhere on a busy street and that
Scruggs was only a few feet away, blissfully unaware of what was happening inside the
cab. She knew she should keep silent, but she could not swallow each tiny gasp of
surprise Harry's touch made her body sing with pleasure. An unbearable eagerness was
rippling through her, creating a tension that was too new and too strange to deal with in
complete silence. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]