A Woman of Passion by Virginia Henley Read Free Book Online Page A

prevent her.
    Cavendish wore a short, rakish cloak, which he unfastened from his shoulders and spread on the grass in a patch of sunshine. “Be at ease, sweeting.”
    She accepted his invitation and sat down upon the cloak. He knelt beside her. “The real reason for wearing green is so that the grass stains won't show,” he murmured intimately.
    “Rogue Cavendish, you are far too experienced for my liking!” she said bluntly, and made as if she would arise and leave him.
    “And you are far too innocent for mine,” he said, taking possession of her hand to keep her beside him.
    Her dark eyes were enormous. “Liar,” she whispered softly. “My innocence excites you.”
    He groaned. “Oh, Christ, you speak the truth; I don't know what to do to you first.”
    “Oh, you rogue!” she gasped. Then she looked straight into his eyes. “Will you always be so honest with me?”
    He nodded. “If my honesty excites you.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and ran the tip of his tongue acrossher palm, then placed his lips upon her wrist to feel her rapid pulsebeat.
    Bess watched him avidly as he began to toy with her fingers, tracing their delicate length, then he separated them and slipped one into his mouth. She gasped as he began to suck on it. She experienced a tiny pulsebeat between her legs, and she saw that he was so wise in the ways of women, he knew what had happened to her. She snatched away her hand and heard his deep chuckle.
    When Cavendish raised his hand toward her face, Bess drew back slightly. “I promised not to ravish you, but I do intend to awaken you a little.”
    She considered for a moment and decided to let him take a few liberties. It was time to dispel some of her ignorance about the things that happened between men and women. Bess had heard endless gossip about sexual matters but had no firsthand experience. She had chosen him for her tutor, so why not let him commence his lesson?
    When he brushed the backs of his fingers across her cheek, the corners of her mouth lifted. “You are so un-earthly fair.” He pulled off her snood and caught her silken hair as it tumbled into his hands. The sight of the red-gold mass took his breath away. His fingers splayed through it sensuously. “Bess, you have the most glorious hair I've ever seen.”
    “Why does my hair fascinate you? Is it the color?”
    “Aye, it's like flames. I could warm my hands at the blaze, and it marks you as special; you make blondes and brunettes seem commonplace.”
    “ 'Tis said it is the mark of a hot temper, and in my case it is true,” she confided.
    “That in itself is exciting. What man can resist the urge to tame a hellcat?”
    She laughed with delight. “Tell me more.”
    “Do you want the truth?”
    She looked into his eyes. “Always.”
    “It's a constant reminder that the curls between your legs must be red too.”
    “Oh!” Her lips parted in genuine shock. “Is that what men think about?”
    “A thousand times a day,” he said solemnly.
    She decided he was teasing her unmercifully. “Damned rogue.”
    “A truthful rogue.” His hands left her hair to cup her face, then slowly, with great reverence, he lifted her mouth to meet his.
    Bess closed her eyes so that her other senses became heightened. His male scent enveloped her, his touch and taste intoxicated her. She opened her lips and kissed him back. “Ooh, I've wondered so long what a kiss would be like. It's such a relief to know I like it excessively!”
    “Have you never been kissed before?” he asked, stunned.
    Her dark eyes were luminous, her lips trembled. He reached out to trace the outline of her mouth, and her body was taken by a great shudder. Suddenly she grabbed his hand and bit down on the fleshy part of his thumb, then looked appalled.
    “You shouldn't have done that, Bess.”
    She stared at him with enormous dark eyes.
    “It reveals far too much about you, sweeting.”
    She managed a breath when she saw his amusement.
    “It tells me