A Taste of Paradise by Connie Mason Read Free Book Online

long since Sir Oscar had attempted to ravish her.
    One by one Chris released the buttons on her shirt, baring her breasts. He felt a rush of sensation as he stared at the creamy skin of her breasts and stomach. Perfection was the word that came to mind. She arched upward, trying to escape. Pure primal savagery ripped through him at the thought of plunging his aching cock into the woman who had caused him years of anguish. He raised himself slightly and unfastened his breeches. His cock burst free, hard and throbbing and more than ready to impale Sophia Carlisle at long last.
    Chris drew a slow breath, trying to calm his lust. He was a large man and he didn’t want to hurt her.
    â€œIs this your way of punishing me for Desmond’s death?” she cried.
    He went still. “No, Sophia, this is for seven years of living in hell.”
    He kissed her shoulders, her breasts, and then caught a rosy nipple between his lips and suckled her. He heard her sharp intake of breath and smiled. “Your breasts are beautiful, perfect. Don’t fight me; I’m not going to hurt you.”
    He continued to lave her nipples, first one and then the other, as he slowly smoothed his hands up the insides of her thighs. Her eyes were closed, she seemed resigned, a fact for which he was immensely grateful. He had worked up an inexplicable need for the unwelcome stowaway Fate had tossed into his bed.
    With one hand he parted the nest of curls at the apex of her legs; he felt the muscles of her thighs clench in response. When he slid his fingers over the pulsing warmth of her wet cleft, she whimpered. He almost burst out laughing. It didn’t take much for the pretend virgin to turn into an experienced wanton.
    He parted her with his fingers and guided his cock to her entrance. He would have driven himself to the hilt if something in her eyes hadn’t stopped him. Fear? Shock? Disgust?
    Instead, he entered her slowly. She was tight. Too damn tight. He tried to ignore that stunning fact as he pushed deeper, and then his cock reached a barrier he hadn’t expected. Damnation, he had wanted to believe the worst of her! He stared down at her, his mouth agape, eyes narrowed in disbelief. He had been with too many women not to recognize a virgin. The little minx hadn’t lied.
    Cursing violently, he pulled out and lifted himself off of her. She tugged her shirt as far over her legs as it would stretch and scooted off the bed. He tried not to notice the tears streaking her cheeks, or the lips swollen from his rough kisses. He had lost control. That wasn’t like him. It seemed that seven years hadn’t been enough time for him to forget his fascination with Sophia Carlisle.
    Sophia had taught him that women were heartless creatures who valued money over love. Fortunately, he had learned his lesson well. Desmond’s senseless death had made Chris value physical pleasure over emotional attachment. He had vowed to avoid becoming emotionally involved with a woman again, and he meant to live by his rule.
    He glanced at Sophia. She was biting her bottom lip and staring at him as if he were some kind of ogre.
    â€œDon’t worry,” he bit out. “You’re still technically a virgin.”
    â€œI told you, but you didn’t believe me,” Sophia spat. “Now will you turn the ship about and return me to London?”
    Chris laughed. “Not a chance, Sophia. The
Intrepid
is sailing to Jamaica and so are you. It’s time you told me the truth about why you stowed away aboard my ship.”
    Sophia shook her head mutely. At one time Chris had professed to love her, a love Sophia had wholeheartedly returned but hadn’t been free to accept. Lord Desmond had been the wealthy husband her family wanted for her. Though Chris’s brother was an earl, Chris had little money of his own. He was dependent upon his brother for support and thus forbidden to her, or so her father and Rayford had