My Heart's in the Highlands by Angeline Fortin (ebook reader screen TXT) 📕

felt the arousal that alwayslingered on the fringes of her time with him spark and flare withinher.

“Now you know how to get here,” Herowhispered, squeezing his hand as he lifted hers to his lips,pressing an ardent kiss there. He brushed her hand back and forthacross them before kissing her hand once more.

“You should not tease,” he warned in a lowtone, resting his hips back against the iron railing of theterrace.

With a surge of confidence, Hero leanedtoward him and whispered as if imparting a secret, “I do not.”

His brows rose in surprise and his eyesgleamed. He flashed that half smile that never failed to twist ather heart. “Tonight?”

Hero’s heart thudded heavily inside her chestat the thought of meeting him here in this romantic setting alonewith only the darkness surrounding them. He would hold her in hisarms, perhaps press her back against the railing as he was now.They could pick up where they had left off in the music room. Heroquivered with burgeoning desire and exhaled with a shaky sigh, “Oh,yes.”

Ian looked down into Hero’s sparkling eyes,seeing the warmth dancing there as well as anticipation thatmatched his own, and felt lust stab through his heart. He wantednothing more than to strip off her snug riding habit, fling herdainty hat to the winds, and bury himself in her sweet body.

It had been days since he had seen her inprivate, days since he had touched her, and he was overcome by theneed to feel her soft skin beneath his fingers once again. To feelher tremble with desire. Her pulse was fluttering in her neck, andIan gave in to his impulses. Tracing a finger down her neck, hefelt her tense. Hero’s breathing quickened and her cheeks grewflushed, arousing him even more. Charming him more than ever.

Glancing down, he watched her breasts strainagainst her tight bodice with each rapid breath she took and knewshe wanted him as well. He brushed his knuckles over the slope ofher breast, feeling her pert nipple beneath the thin, summery lawn.Hero inhaled sharply and swayed forward, and Ian couldn’t stophimself from capturing her lips in a searing kiss.

There was no tentativeness left in her kiss.She met his lips eagerly, parting hers to welcome him deeper as shewrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him closer. His handuncurled as if by its own free will until he was cupping her breastin his palm, and he felt her softly moan against his lips.

His body surged to life, and his bloodboiled. Hero’s hands slipped inside his coat and under the edge ofhis waistcoat. Even with the linen barrier of his shirt, Ian couldfeel the heat of her flesh there and through the bodice of herhabit. Her nipple hardened and Ian rolled it between his thumb andforefinger, earning a gasp of delight against his lips. She rockedher hips against his, and with a groan of surrender Ian dropped hisfree hand to cup her bottom and pull her closer, letting her feelthe turgid length their passion had inspired.

God, but he could take her right here.

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Sir, you will unhand my daughter!”

Hero leapt away like a cat on fire atBeaumont’s thunderous words, and Ian shifted as guiltily as aschoolboy caught with his hand in the cookie jar and felt anunfamiliar flush creep along his cheeks. In the heat of their lust,he’d completely forgotten about the duke.

And as far as interruptions went, this was byfar the most direct one they had received. Hero was blushingmightily herself, though she began to natter breezily as if nothinghad even happened.

Though the duke often acted similarly, todayhe uncharacteristically stayed on topic. He glared at Ian with hisarms clasped over his chest, looking every bit a duke of the realm.In years past, he must have been an intimidating man, Ian thought.Years past? Ian shook his head. Bugger it, but Beaumont was prettydamned intimidating right now!

“Explain yourself, sir!” The duke’s resonantvoice broke the awkward silence once more, and Ian didn’t knowwhether to laugh or cower. What did one say to a father when he’dbeen caught red-handed with his hand on a daughter’s breast?

“I demand satisfaction, sir!” Beaumontcontinued, pulling off his riding glove.

Hero rushed forward to put herself betweenthem and put a hand on her father’s chest. “Now, Papa, be sensible!You don’t want to hurt Ian, do you?”

“He’s a rogue! A scoundrel! A … A …”

Hero and Ian both held their breath, hopingthat with his loss of words, Beaumont would also lose interest inthe subject, as was his wont. But they weren’t so lucky. “Ascalawag!”

“Your grace,” Ian began, but Hero spokeagain.

“Papa, really! Stop this nonsense right thisinstant!”

“Nonsense?” the duke thundered at her. “Youthink it’s nonsense to protect my daughter’s person and honor froma cad such as this?”

“Yes!” Hero cried, but this time it was Ian’sturn to interrupt with a resounding “No.”

Hero turned to him with wide, disbelievingeyes that quickly turned to pleading. “Ian, you are not helping!He’s serious, you know.”

“I know,” Ian assured her with a tender smilebefore turning to Beaumont. “Your grace, if you would allow me toput this to rights? Instead of a duel for Hero’s honor, perhaps Imight instead ask you for the honor of allowing your daughter tobecome my wife.”

“Ian!” she squeaked in surprise.

Beaumont did not seem to share herastonishment at all. Instead he nodded gravely as if that had beenhis very thought all along. “Just so, Lord Ayr. I knew a man ofyour integrity would do as duty demands.”

“It is no duty, your grace,” Ian answered,waiting to see if there was anything further that Beaumont cared toadd.

The duke only waved his hand impatiently.“Well, get on with it then, lad!”

It was a difficult thing to begin animpromptu proposal not only with an audience but with the subjectof that proposal staring at him as if he had suddenly grown twoheads. Hero was shaking her head at him with a dazed expressionthat denied the turn of events. “You don’t have to do this, Ian.Just because …” She wafted a hand back and forth between themhelplessly.

“No one is forcing