Enticing the Earl by Christie Kelley Read Free Book Online

mind. She knew marrying him purely for the protection his name could bring her was wrong. Yet, she felt she had no choice. No other man had ever tried to shield her from harm, save her father. Every other man had used her. She didn’t see how Hart could possibly be using her. Most people would believe she was using him.
    And perhaps she was.
    He was certainly a handsome man and she had never heard of him hurting another person. She might come to love him.
    But was might enough?
    “Hart,” she started slowly, “I don’t believe this question of marriage is fair to you.”
    “How so?”
    Mia stared at her hands. “I am not in love with you.”
    “I know that.”
    She glanced up at his smiling face and cocked her head. “But shouldn’t that be an important part of marriage?”
    He laughed and took her hand in his. “If I married a lady from London, do you think I would love her? It would be a marriage to make her parents and my mother happy. A chance for a woman to increase her parents’ position in Society. Or for another peer to boast that his daughter caught an earl. Nothing more. I wouldn’t love her.”
    “Do you believe in love?” She hadn’t thought it possible that Hart was a cynical man who didn’t believe in such a fanciful idea as love.
    “Yes,” he said, nodding. “I have been in love before.”
    “What happened?”
    “She...” his voice trailed off as he looked out toward the window. “She didn’t know I existed.”
    “That is dreadfully sad,” Mia whispered.
    “Yes.” He turned his head back to her with a smile that took her breath away. “Now, back to the question at hand, do we kiss today?”
    Her heart started to pound fiercely against her chest. She had nothing to fear from him. Nothing. He wasn’t the type of man who beat women. When his mother was ill, he’d done everything he could to help save her. He was a good man. “Yes,” she whispered. “Now.”
    “Very well.” He stood and then sat down on the edge of the bed.
    The scent of sandalwood wafted around her. How had she never noticed the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled or laughed? She had known him all her life. He rarely left the estate over the past few years. She should know everything about him... and yet, she didn’t.
    She watched as his face slowly came closer to her. Until she could feel the heat of his breath on her cheek. When lips finally touched hers, it was the barest of kisses, scarcely a touch at all. He was being deliberately gentle for her. And suddenly her heart skipped a beat with the thought that a man would take care of her for a change.
    Mia lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck. Ignoring the ache in her side, she wanted only to have a proper kiss from him. To feel the spark of excitement as his tongue touched hers. To feel her breasts crushed against his hard chest.
    How could she want him after all she’d been through recently? But his gentle kiss proved he would protect her and keep her safe from all harm. He was a good man and that only made him more desirable. Still, she wanted mutual passion with him.
    She wanted a real kiss.
    Before she could open her mouth and kiss him fully, he pulled away slowly, purposefully. Damn him for sensing her response and leaving her wanting more. Staring up at him, she smiled shyly. He had agreed to all her conditions but had that kiss proved their marriage would not be in name only?
    “Have I met your conditions? Shall I obtain the special license?”
    “Were you deliberately being gentle, Hart?”
    He looked taken aback by her question. “What do you mean?”
    God, she couldn’t say this and look at him. “I just want to make sure we will suit in bed. That kiss was very... well... tame.”
    “Only days ago, you were beaten until you were bruised and battered both physically and mentally. Of course, I treated you gently.” He rose from the bed. “Good day, Mia. I will check on you later.” He started to walk toward the door.
    “Hart,