Seduction by Amanda Quick Read Free Book Online

little control
    over my inner speculations."
    "Perhaps you can be taught some measure of control," Julian suggested.
    "I doubt it." She smiled at him suddenly and the warmth of that smile made
    Julian blink. "Tell me," Sophy continued impishly, "was my guess accurate?"
    "The business I attended to before leaving London last week is none of your
    affair."
    "Ah, I see the way of it now. I am to have no privacy for my speculations but
    you are to have all the solitude you wish for your own. That hardly seems fair,
    my lord. In any event, if my errant thoughts are going to upset you so much,
    don't you think it would be better if I kept them to myself?"
    Julian leaned forward without any warning and caught her chin in his fingers. It
    occurred to him that her skin was very soft. "Are you teasing me, Sophy?"
    She made no move to pull free of his hand. "I confess I am, my lord. You are so
    magnificently arrogant, you see, that the temptation is sometimes irresistible."
    "I understand irresistible temptation," he told her. "I am about to be overcome
    by it, myself."
    Julian eased over onto the seat beside her and wrapped his hands around her
    small waist. He lifted her onto his thighs with one smooth motion and watched
    with cool satisfaction as her eyes widened in alarm.
    "Ravenwood," she gasped.
    "That brings me to another matter on my list of clarified demands," he murmured.
    "I think that when I am about to kiss you, I would like you to use my given
    name. You may call me Julian." He was suddenly very conscious of her firm,
    rounded little bottom pressing against him. The folds of her skirt clung to his
    breeches.
    She steadied herself with her hands on his shoulders. "Need I remind you so soon
    that you gave me your word of honor you would not… would not force yourself on
    me?"
    She was trembling. He could feel the small shivers going through her and it
    annoyed him. "Don't be an idiot, Sophy. I have no intention of forcing myself on
    you, as you call it. I am merely going to kiss you. There was nothing in our
    bargain about kissing."
    "My lord, you promised—"
    He wrapped one hand around her nape and held her carefully still while he
    covered her mouth with his own. Her lips parted on more words of protest just as
    he made contact. The result was that the kiss began on a far more intimate level
    than Julian had planned. He could taste the damp warmth of her instantly and it
    sent an unexpected flare of desire through him. The inside of her mouth was soft
    and wet and faintly spicy.
    Sophy flinched and then moaned softly as his hands tightened on her. She started
    to pull away but when he refused to allow the small retreat she went quiet in
    his arms.
    Sensing her cautious acquiescence, Julian took his time and gently deepened the
    kiss. Lord, she felt good. He had not realized she would be so sweet, so warm.
    There was enough feminine strength in her to make him vividly aware of his own
    superior strength and that realization had a startlingly arousing effect on him.
    He felt himself growing hard almost at once.
    "Now say my name," he ordered softly against her mouth.
    "Julian." The single word was shaky but audible.
    He stroked his palm down her arm and nuzzled her throat. "Again."
    "J—Julian. Please stop. This has gone far enough. You gave me your word."
    "Am I forcing myself on you?" he asked whimsically, dropping the lightest of
    kisses just below her ear. His hand slid down her arm to rest intimately on the
    curve of her knee. Julian suddenly wanted nothing more than to ease her thighs
    apart and explore Sophy far more thoroughly. If the heat and honey between her
    legs were anything like that promised by her mouth, he would be well satisfied
    with his choice of wife. "Tell me, Sophy, do you call this force?"
    "I don't know."
    Julian laughed softly. She sounded so wretchedly unsure. "Allow me to tell you
    that this is not what is meant by the expression forcing myself on you."
    "What is it, then?"
    "I am making love