Flirting with His Forbidden Lady--A Regency Family is Reunited by Laura Martin (good novels to read txt) 📕

wood and painted white although it looked as though the last coat of paint had been more than a decade ago. It was peeling badly with the bare wood showing through in places and even a few tell-tale cracks and bows. Inside there was a simple wooden bench that ran around the periphery and allowed the occupants to enjoy unrivalled views of the sea.

As Josh stepped up into the summer house Lady Elizabeth took a deep breath in and then reached out and gripped him by the lapels of his jacket. Before he could guess what was happening she was kissing him, long and hard. At first he was too stunned to react but soon his mind caught up with his body and he shifted slightly, pulling her in closer to him. As he moved he felt Lady Elizabeth let out a small sigh and the intensity of the kiss changed. It had been firm and insistent at first, as if she was trying to prove something, but now she abandoned herself to the kiss it was as if their bodies had become one.

Josh trailed his fingers down her back, feeling the curve of her spine and the tantalising hollow just above her buttocks. He’d never wanted a woman as he wanted Lady Elizabeth and, even though he’d spent the last two weeks repeating to himself why any sort of dalliance with her was a bad idea, all he wanted to do was tumble her to the ground and spend the next few hours exploring every inch of her body.

He felt her grip on his lapels intensify and her body brush against his as she moved closer and then, with a low moan, she pulled herself away.

‘What...’ he asked, his hand still lingering on her back ‘...was that?’

Lady Elizabeth didn’t answer him, instead shaking her head and frowning.

‘Not that I’m complaining, but I thought we’d agreed not to do that again.’

She stepped away, turning her back to him and walking to the edge of the summer house. For a moment he thought she was going to leave without another word, but eventually she turned back to face him.

‘I thought I could prove to myself a kiss didn’t mean anything. That I didn’t really feel anything for you.’

‘And what were the results?’

Pressing her lips together, she didn’t answer.

Josh wanted nothing more than to gather her in his arms and kiss her until the frown on her brow disappeared and she thought of nothing but him, but he knew he couldn’t. Two months and he would be returning to India. He didn’t want a wife; he wasn’t made for marriage; the business was his priority. Lady Elizabeth needed to marry someone rich, and although he would be taking over his guardian’s business all the funds had to be reinvested to make it a success. Two very good reasons to keep his hands off her even before they came to the complication of Leo.

With great effort he took a step back and sat down on one of the wooden benches. What he wanted was to have Lady Elizabeth as his lover. To enjoy her for the few weeks he was in England, to spend lazy mornings in bed appreciating her beauty and her body and long nights talking until the sun rose. That was impossible. She was the daughter of an earl. The innocent daughter of an earl, and even he knew you did not even fantasise about a lady in that way.

‘There is another path,’ he said softly, forcing the words out. ‘I like you; you like me.’

‘I will not be your mistress.’

‘I wouldn’t ask that of you.’

‘Then what?’

‘We could be friends.’

‘Friends?’

‘It is better than trying to avoid one another for the next few weeks. We get to spend time together, enjoy one another’s company.’

‘What about...?’ She couldn’t finish her question.

‘The attraction?’ He shrugged. ‘We ignore it. I’m sure you’ve overcome greater challenges in your life, Lady Elizabeth.’

It felt like an eternity as she considered his proposal but eventually she nodded, coming to sit on the bench a respectable distance from him. Josh stopped himself from reaching out and taking her hand, settling on his friendliest smile instead.

‘Beth,’ she said. ‘When we are alone, I would like you to call me Beth.’

‘Beth. It suits you.’

‘Thank you, Josh.’ His name sounded like velvet coming from her lips, smooth and soft and seductive.

‘I think I need to go,’ she said, studying his face for a moment. ‘There will be guests arriving soon and my mother is already irate I missed your arrival. I’d better not miss any more.’

‘Better not.’

For another few seconds she didn’t move, and then, with a swish of skirts, she sped from the summer house without glancing back.

Josh closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the peeling paint.

‘You’re a fool, Joshua Ashburton,’ he muttered to himself. It was a foolish idea, trying to be friends with a woman he couldn’t stop fantasising about. A woman he had now kissed twice. He knew if she kissed him again he wouldn’t be able to push her away, however much he should.

Chapter Eleven

‘You look flushed, Elizabeth. I hope you haven’t been spending too much time in the sun. It is unbecoming for a young lady of good birth to have freckles.’

Beth hadn’t even noticed her mother standing by the wide glass doors in the drawing room, looking out over the garden. Lady Hummingford was as still as a statue, only her eyes moving as she looked through the glass. Even so, normally she would have noticed her, but she was so completely distracted by Josh she hadn’t noticed anyone was in the room.

‘No, Mother.’

‘I don’t want you going off riding for hours on end whilst we have guests.’

‘I won’t. Although I do believe Mr Ashburton is fond of riding. I thought I might suggest a ride and picnic one day.’

At the positive suggestion her mother softened a little and stepped away from the window.

‘Good girl. Perhaps tomorrow. I worry later in