THE STRICT BRITISH BARRISTER: ACT ONE by Maggie Carpenter Read Free Book Online Page A

don’t write about anything else,” he replied, interrupting her thoughts.
    You want to ask him, so ask him.
    I can’t.
    Sure you can, what have you got to lose? Ask him.
    Lifting her gaze, she caught his intense, brown flecked, blue eyes across the table.
    “I hope you don’t mind me asking this, but, uh, do you…actually…do the things in your book in…uh…your real life?” she stammered, feeling the heat burn across her face.
    “Your courage to ask that question is to be commended,” he smiled. “It’s surprising. You’re an enigma, Brittany Carter.”
    “I am?” she asked, her embarrassment easing with his remark.
    “Yes, you are,” he nodded, you’re demure and reserved, but you were just brave enough to ask a very provocative question, and why are you on this cruise by yourself? “The answer is yes, I am very much like Jonas.”
    Brittany felt her heart skip, and her thighs tense.
    Oh, my God. He spanks women, he ties them up, this is all just too wonderful.
    “ Now that my book is finished,” he remarked casually, “I have some time to enjoy myself. Would you care to have dinner with me this evening?”
    “Thank you, Duncan, I would like that very much,” Really, he just asked me to have dinner, really? I can’t believe it.
    “I do prefer dining away from the thundering hordes,” he grinned. “Would you mind eating here, perhaps on my deck if the weather permits?”
    “Yes, definitely,” she nodded, “I would.” YAY
    “Good, then it’s settled. Perhaps we could take a walk after this wonderful breakfast, if you don’t have other plans.”
    “No, I don’t have other plans, and it will give you a chance to tell me what your new book is about, the story, I mean, if you don’t mind,” she added, wishing she hadn’t sounded so clumsy.
    “Hmmm, I’ll have to think about that,” he replied. “Perhaps, if you’re a good girl I might email you the manuscript…perhaps.”
    “What do you mean? How can I be a good girl?” Did I just ask that? It’s the drink, the drink is making me behave like this.
    “That’s easy,” he smiled, “just do as you’re told.”
    Oooh, my toes are curling. You’re going to spank me, aren’t you Duncan Rhys-Davies. I can see it, I can feel it, and I can’t wait. Oooh, this is happening…this is really happening!

CHAPTER SEVEN
    U nspoken words can sometimes be the easiest to hear.
    Both Brittany and Duncan knew why they were strolling the length of the deck together; Brittany knew why Duncan had called her and invited her to breakfast, and Duncan knew why Brittany had asked whether he practiced what he preached.
    The spanking, whether a one-time event or the beginning of something more, was looming. Its promise shone through their eyes when they happened to connect, and tingled through his fingers as he gently wrapped his hand around hers.
    The erotic energy between them had seen her out of breath by the time he was walking her down the wide, thickly carpeted corridor to her cabin, and standing next to her as she fumbled with her key, he finally took it from her hand and slid it in the lock.
    “So, uh, what time do you want me for dinner?” she asked, wishing the meal was thirty minutes away.
    “Is 7 p.m. agreeable?”
    “Yes, yes, definitely,” she nodded, pushing open her door.
    “Before you go…” he said, taking her elbow and turning her to face him.
    His lips were on hers before she barely realized he was about to kiss her. They were swift and sure, confident and softly demanding, and as her butterflies sprang to life she felt her body dissolve into melted butter. Dropping her arm to clutch her hair he gently tilted her head to the side, and moved his mouth to whisper in her ear.
    “I think you’re a bit of a cheeky girl underneath your polite exterior. Am I right?”
    Heart hammering, finding it hard to find the words, she mumbled, “kind of, I want to be cheeky, very cheeky.”
    Unable to stop herself she leaned into him,