The Last Wicked Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath Read Free Book Online Page A

her throat, he began undoing buttons, giving himself access to more skin. He nipped at her collarbone, circled his tongue in the hollow at her throat. She plowed her fingers through his golden locks, relishing the soft curls as they wound around her fingers.
    More buttons were unfastened. She sighed as he trailed his mouth and tongue along the upper swells of her breasts. Heat pooled deep within her. She wrapped her legs around his hips, taking surcease from the pressure of him against her. He moaned low, more a growl than anything as he pressed a kiss in the dip between her breasts.
    God help her, but she wanted to feel his touch over all of her.
    Peeling back her bodice, he began loosening the ribbons on her chemise. In the distance, someplace far far away, she thought she heard a door open.
    “The count—” Her butler began and stopped.
    “Winnie?” Catherine’s voice brought her crashing back to reality.
    Mortified, Winnie knew the heat scorching her now had nothing to do with passion.
    William calmly lifted his head. “Excuse us, but she’ll need a moment.”
    A moment? Dear God, she’d need the remainder of her life to get past the humiliation of being caught sprawled over her desk with a man who was not her husband licking at her flesh. She was vaguely aware of the snick of the door closing.
    Very slowly, very carefully, as though she were delicate crystal that could easily shatter, William placed his hands beneath her back and helped her sit up. Then closing his arms around her, he held her near, and she buried her face against his chest.
    How could his heart beat so methodically when hers was jumping all around, bouncing off her ribs?
    “You’ve done nothing wrong,” William said quietly. “Although you might instruct your butler that he needs to knock before entering.”
    She nodded jerkily. “I want to die.”
    “Winnie, you are not at fault here. The fault is mine for being unable to resist your charms.” He tucked his finger beneath her chin and titled her head back until he was gazing into her eyes. “Invite me to dinner.”
    “Dinner?”
    “Yes, you know. That meal that takes place in the evening, a few hours before bedtime.”
    “Are you not at all embarrassed by being caught?”
    “I’ve been caught for worst offenses, and there’s no punishment to be had here except for the abrupt ending to something that I was enjoying immensely.” He gave her a wicked smile. “I’ll promise to behave this evening if it’ll put you at ease.”
    As wrong as it was, she wasn’t certain she wanted him to behave. Still, she nodded. “Yes, please join me for dinner.”
    “I’ll be here at half past seven.” Leaning in, he took her mouth hotly, but swiftly, before giving her a seductive wink and grin. “Now button up.”
    As he began striding from the room, she slid off the desk and began to do as he suggested.
    C atherine Langdon, Countess of Claybourne, paced the hallway just outside the door to Winnie’s study. The butler’s announcement of her arrival was only a formality that he insisted upon. She knew the duchess would always be at home to her, as did the butler, so she had merely followed him into the study. She should not have been surprised by what greeted her. William Graves might have been a respected physician, but he was also a man, a man whose friendship with her husband had been forged during their youth. She knew the upbringing they’d had and their dislike of convention. But Winnie had always been so terribly proper.
    But then so had Catherine upon a time. Scoundrels tended to have their way.
    The door to the study opened. Graves closed it behind him and acknowledged her. “Countess.” Then, with long strides, he carried on down the hallway as though that were sufficient.
    She hurried after him. “What the devil were you doing in there?” Catherine demanded.
    He spun around, and she was taken aback by the anger burning in his blue eyes. “If you have to ask then Claybourne