The Bachelor Bargain (Secrets, Scandals, and Spies) by Michaels, Maddison (short books to read TXT) 📕

She seemed able only to nod. His hand skimmed across her breast and he began to circle her nipple with the pad of his thumb.

Satisfaction filled him when she moaned and arched her entire breast fully into his hand. Her hands wound up behind his neck as she pulled his head down to her own.

“Kiss me.” It was a demand and a plea wrapped into one.

Seb wasted no time in giving the lady what she wanted. He drank in her sweet softness, marveling at how much he wanted her and how giving of herself she was to him. Seb hadn’t known exactly what to expect when he kissed her properly. Perhaps some sort of aloofness, but certainly not this warm and passionate woman who was kissing him with equal abandon.

He knew they’d have to stop. Knew they’d most likely be arriving at Livie’s house any moment. But he also knew he’d never wanted another woman more than he wanted her.

But she was a virgin. The thought was enough to stop him cold. And he could tell from her sweet abandonment and eager responses that she wasn’t accustomed to kissing. Her reactions were too genuine, too selfless, for her to be skilled in the art of using kisses to manipulate, as did most other women Seb had had liaisons with in the past.

He’d never taken a virgin to bed before, which is why he knew he shouldn’t and couldn’t get involved with Livie, but somehow he also knew he didn’t think he’d be able to stop himself.

He wanted her to be his.

Reluctantly, he pulled his mouth away from her and took in a deep breath. He was slightly unnerved to realize he was equally as affected by their kiss as she was. “I think we can say that that kiss was more than just passable, yes?”

Livie’s eyes were slightly clouded in a haze of passion before she blinked, and a blush spread over her cheeks. “I’m not certain. You may have to demonstrate such a kiss again, so I can be sure.”

A wry smile of amusement flickered on his face before he could stop it. “You are a saucy little piece of baggage. Definitely not what one would expect when looking at your demure appearance. But I’m glad you enjoyed it so much that you want me to kiss you again.”

She shrugged. “The only other kiss I have to compare it with was a rather wet and sloppy one when I was eighteen. So, yes, it was certainly much improved on that.”

“M-Much improved…” Seb spluttered.

Was the chit teasing him? Sebastian could never remember being teased before. He didn’t know whether he liked it or not.

The one thing she was accomplishing was distracting him for giving her a piece of his mind about her foolhardy escapade tonight. Time to rectify that. “Don’t think all this talk of kissing is going to deter me from giving you a good piece of my mind about your reckless actions this evening.”

“Oh, good Lord, you sound just like my brothers. I thought you’d already given me a piece of your mind.” She sighed, long and drawn out. “And there is no need to lecture me on anything. I am very aware there were risks involved in what I did tonight. But, in my defense, how was I to know there were going to be people shooting at Alice’s maid and me? It was you who didn’t tell me I might be in danger. Though perhaps it is Lady Chilton who is the target. I shall have to warn her.”

“If you do anything so foolhardy again, I will send word to your brothers about what you’re up to,” Seb growled. “Then they can deal with your shenanigans.”

Livie gasped. “You wouldn’t dare! That is blackmail!”

“It would appear you feel you’re well experienced in handling blackmail, my lady. So deal with my edict or face the consequences.” Seb was starting to get all frustrated thinking of the peril she’d placed herself in. “I won’t have you put yourself in danger again.”

She crossed her arms in front of her chest, her spine upright, her chin jutted at just the right angle to give the appearance of supreme haughtiness. “Yes, I’m very aware you have no wish to risk your money if something were to happen to me.”

Seb knew that the risk to his money had nothing to do with the fear he’d felt upon arriving at the cemetery and hearing the gunshots blasting through the air. Knowing she was in there, and not knowing if she was safe or not, had been harrowing. The situation had brought back long-buried memories of when his mother had been taken and he’d been too late to save her.

He knew he was on the precipice of letting the anger, rage, and pure hopelessness he’d felt both from this evening and from years long ago, boil to the surface. He also knew allowing it to do so wouldn’t be fair to Livie, nor entirely deserved. “I’m upset because you put yourself at risk, and in my territory. If I’d known earlier, I could have protected you so you were never in danger.”

Her eyes softened slightly, and she relaxed her rigid posture. “You must understand I did what I did because Alice was like a sister to me, and I’m determined to make whoever ruined her, pay. This is not some sort of lark for me. So, you can threaten to tell my brothers all you like, but that shall not stop me, for I will not rest until I discover the truth of what happened to my friend.”

“Very well. However, I would have your word that you will tell me of any such situation in the future, and in person rather than in a note.”

“Then don’t distract me with kisses,” she pertly replied.

“Agreed. Now tell me again exactly what happened tonight. I feel we are missing something.”

For the next few