The Earl's Secret by Kathryn Jensen Read Free Book Online Page B

wrapped around her and gently eased her back against his chest. She didn’t flinch. Lightly his lips pressed down on the top of her head. “Do you like my sanctuary?”
    â€œVery much.” I’d like it even more, she thought wistfully, if you’d kiss me again.
    For what seemed a long time, they stood just like that, staring out at a world that seemed to have melted in the darkness, leaving them with only each other. She sensed that Christopher was thinking deep thoughts, making decisions for them—which was good, she decided, since she was incapable of thinking rationally.
    At last his voice broke the magical silence. “I’ll drive you back to the hotel as soon as you like. I just wanted to share this with you.”
    She turned in his arms and gazed up at him, puzzled and more than a little disappointed. “That’s the only reason we came up here—the view?”
    He gazed warily down at her. “If the situation were different…” He let the thought go.
    â€œDifferent in what way?” she asked.
    â€œThis isn’t something I can discuss with—” He sighed, shook his head in frustration.
    â€œWith a stranger?”
    A sudden chill descended between them, and he stiffened. “With a woman who will be gone before the end of the week,” he said tightly.
    â€œI see.” Jennifer didn’t know how to respond or what he wanted from her…or even what she expected of herself. Stepping out of his arms, she moved away to clear her thoughts.
    Jennifer scolded herself for having behaved foolishly. She knew better than to get involved with locals while traveling. At home in Baltimore, she never would have let herself get carried away like this on a first date. She was falling headfirst into an old trap—the vacation fling. An unwise temptation for any woman.
    Her glance drifted past Christopher’s shoulder to a photo on a bedside shelf. A young girl wearing a school uniform smiled into the camera. Jennifer tensed. Was that what he had meant by, “if the situation were different?” Did he have a child? Despite all she thought she knew of him, might he secretly be married or living with the child’s mother.
    All the lovely warmth drained from her body. “You’d better take me back to the hotel now,” she said.
    â€œCertainly.” But he didn’t move. And she didn’t dare look at him. “Jennifer?”
    â€œYes?” When she reluctantly brought her eyes up to meet his, she knew he’d followed her troubled gaze to the framed portrait.
    â€œI told you—there is no one else. I’m free and clear.”
    She felt numb, then hot all over. “Oh.”
    â€œI know that you need to leave, but I really want to kiss you just one more time.”
    She swallowed. “You were right the first time. We shouldn’t.”
    â€œI know.” He reached out and, grasping her wrist, hauled her into his arms. “To hell with being right.”
    She had no will to struggle. Everything drifted away except the sensations of his body pressing against hers, his lips moistly caressing hers. Her only reality was the shocking physical energy passing between them. She spread her fingers across his crisp, white shirtfront, stretched up on her toes and let her head fall back as he opened his mouth over hers.
    Jennifer curled her hands into fists against his chest as she felt his hand move up and close over her breast. The warmth of his palm penetrated her blouse and bra; she ached to feel his fingers touch her flesh instead of fabric. He must have had a similar thought. A second later he was tugging her blouse loose and slipping his hand beneath it. As his palm molded the cup of her bra, he paused and looked into her eyes, as though asking her permission.
    She nodded.
    His strong fingers moved beneath the nylon lace. His palm warmed her breast then moved aside just enough to gently roll her nipple