Honor by Lindsay Chase Read Free Book Online Page B

satin cape to rustle softly. “Not really.”
    “Why not? These are your friends.”
    “They are not my friends; they are people I know. There is a difference.” Honor looked out the carriage window at the deserted streets and dark, silent houses. “I know that most people in the world out there are narrow-minded and prejudiced against anyone who is different.” She smiled wanly. “This evening just brought their pettiness home, that’s all.”
    She turned to Robert. “Was Amos impressed enough to offer you a position with Cutter, Bailey and Rye by evening’s end?”
    Robert laughed. “Hardly. He informed me they only invite Harvard men to join the firm.”
    Honor noticed the bitterness in his voice. “They were all rather horrible to you, weren’t they?” Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment. “I’m so, so sorry. Aunt Theo warned me this would happen.”
    “It wasn’t your fault.”
    “What did they say?”
    “Nothing worth repeating.” Judging by the resentful set of his jaw, he was lying to spare his own considerable pride.
    “Damn them! I feel like going back there and giving them all a piece of my mind.”
    Honor looked at Robert helplessly, overwhelmed with feelings of protectiveness. She wanted to make up to him for this disastrous evening. She needed his forgiveness.
    Honor gathered her cape and maneuvered herself over onto the seat next to him. He turned toward her, surprise written on the planes of his face.
    She placed her gloved fingertips against his hard cheek. “I’m sorry.” She brushed her lips tentatively against his own, then pulled away, suddenly uncertain.
    It was all the invitation he needed. He reached for her, drawing her against him with a welcoming sigh. She could feel the heat of his body through their clothes, and even by the dim light of the carriage lamps, she saw desire turn his eyes into twin glittering emeralds.
    He cupped her face in his hand and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “You don’t have to be sorry for anything,” he whispered hoarsely, just before his mouth came down on hers.
    Honor closed her eyes and savored the smooth, warm pressure of his lips coaxing pleasure into full bloom. She reveled in the heady warmth singing through her blood, the way her sense of touch and taste blossomed like wild tropical flowers after an unexpected rain.
    When she felt his lips part and his tongue press against her teeth, making his intention clear, she jerked away in confusion, her face flushed with betrayal.
    Breathing hard, Robert held her fast and placed a gentling hand on her burning cheek. “Let me kiss you the way lovers kiss,” he whispered. “Please.”
    Lovers.
    The tantalizing unknown beckoned, and Honor followed. She placed her lips against his, and felt his fingers curl around the nape of her neck, holding her fast. Still tasting faintly of after-dinner coffee, his tongue possessed her mouth with shocking intimacy. Honor felt an answering jolt of heat rage deep in her belly, then spread throughout her body like wildfire until she couldn’t breathe and her last coherent thought melted away. She craved…what? She was still too new at this to know.
    Robert withdrew, panting, and Honor barely felt his fingers at the collar of her evening cloak, deftly undoing the topmost buttons, until the garment parted and she felt the sting of cold night air against her hot flesh. She knew what Robert was going to do next, and she felt powerless to stop him.

Chapter Four
    So this is what it feels like, Honor thought, to be seduced.
    Robert’s soft, sensuous lips moved down the side of her neck in a slow, enthralling dance, trailing fire that warmed Honor’s skin and sent shivers skittering down her arms. Her heartbeat quickened, and an involuntary gasp escaped her lips when she felt Robert’s questing fingers slip between the fabric of her parted cloak.
    He kissed her deeply, his hand closing over her breast.
    No one had ever touched her so intimately, and she was