Tempting a Gentleman by Smith, Ann (bearly read books .txt) 📕

“Minx. I’ll not take you until you agree.”

She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “Ye call me stubborn. Yer the most obstinate man I know.”

“Why, that is one of the highest compliments I’ve ever received, given you know my brother.”

“Pfft.” Her traitorous hand ran down his chest, and desire pooled between her legs. His manhood twitched beneath the taut material of his breeches. “What if we don’t rub together right? Perhaps we should wait to discuss until after…”

“Hmmm… You have a point. To agree to a lifelong commitment before you know if you can experience pleasure at my hands would be rather risky on your part.” He twisted, and Emma found herself the one lying on her back and him straddled across her thighs. He took in his fill of her body. “Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.” He leaned forward. The inside of his wrists grazed the sides of her breasts as he planted his hands on either side of her. Ducking his head down, he kissed and suckled her breast before trailing his tongue across her chest to repeat the same delicious, torturous treatment to her other sensitive globe. Christopher emitted a low, feral growl. He kissed his way down the center of her body as he rested back on his haunches—hands trailing down her sides. Every inch of her body yearned for his touch.

Christopher sat up, a devilish smile on his fine features. She shivered. Whatever he had in store for her, she was sure it would remain forever burned in her memory.

He raised onto his knees and then moved to stand beside the bed. “Turn over and rest your head upon the pillows.”

For once in her life, she didn’t question. She did as he bid and rolled onto her stomach. Her cheek rested against cool, soft cotton pillows. A far cry from the lumpy pillow she slept on.

Instead of lying next to her upon the bed, Christopher padded over to a connecting room. He returned with a dark glass bottle in his hand. As he neared the bed, he removed the stopper and poured a liquid onto his hand. Her nose twitched at the aroma of roses. Scented oil. Her pulse increased with anticipation. He placed the open bottle and cap next to the candle. The bed slanted as he kneeled upon the bed, and Emma closed her eyes. She heard him blowing on his hands as he rubbed them together. Warm, slippery hands rested on her lower back, and then Christopher swept his hands up her back to massage the knots in her shoulders.

“Close your eyes and try to relax.” He slowly kneaded his way down her back, dispelling each knot along the way.

She moaned as each muscle loosened and became lax.

He leaned down to whisper in her ear, “Do you recall my terms, my love?”

She nodded and mumbled, “Aye.” She yawned and let her eyes close. She trusted this man for some odd reason that her mind couldn’t fully comprehend. As his hands massaged down her back and along her thighs, she smiled. The heady sensation of being desired and treasured engulfed her and sent her heart soaring. And if he could pleasure her like this every eve, she’d willingly agree to marry him, but she wasn’t ready to admit it just yet.

Chapter Sixteen

Christopher’s thumb rubbed over the rounded curve of Emma’s bare shoulder. He’d normally be up and mentally preparing for the day. Except he couldn’t focus on anything but the naked woman snuggled against his side, who was making soft chortles. He’d never invited a woman to his bed before, always preferring to leave women sated in their own beds. But Emma made him want to linger. His lips curved into a smile as he imagined waking up next to Emma each morn. Instead of focusing on the challenges the day might bring, as was his usual habit, Christopher began to envision days filled with adventures. For a life with Emma would be a far cry from boring.

Emma’s eyes moved beneath her pale eyelids. What was she dreaming of? He wished she could read her mind. His intuition told him Emma hadn’t merely arrived in the dead of night to seek out legal advice. She could have sought out Bronwyn’s assistance, but she came to him. A spark of hope that Emma wanted him flared in his heart.

The faint streaks of sunlight filtering through his dark curtains marked the end of his time alone with his future wife. He’d not been surprised that Emma fell fast asleep as he massaged the knots from her beautiful body, but he hadn’t expected her to sleep straight through the night. Ignoring the prickling sensation settling into his arm, he remained still and drank in her beauty. Emma was clearly exhausted, but if he was to sneak her out without detection, he’d have to rouse her and soon. He had locked the door as a precaution. His valet was rarely up before the sun, but Cannon had an uncanny ability to appear as soon as Christopher began to rise.

Reaching over with his free hand, he cupped Emma’s rosy cheek. “Pet, it’s time to wake. We need to get you home.”

“Hmm…” Emma rolled over, pulling the bedlinens with her. In the struggle to free herself of the tangled sheet, her bare bottom nudged his hip. Shooting up to a sitting position, Emma blinked and looked about the room until her gaze fell upon him. “Blimey, wot time is it?”

A pretty pink blush colored her cheeks. His breath caught in his chest. Resisting the temptation to reach out and remove the blasted cotton sheet himself, he massaged his arm that tingled with pain. Blood rushed back into his fingertips, and his gaze wandered back to Emma.

She tugged the sheet up to her chin and stared back at him. “Is it still early morn?” The corner of her mouth twitched as her gaze raked over