What You Desire (Anything for Love, Book 1) by Adele Clee Read Free Book Online

inadvertently granted him guardianship of his sister.
    “So let me understand your situation,” he said, rubbing his chin. “You, an unmarried woman of gentle breeding, insist on riding alone to London carrying an extremely expensive necklace. Once there, I believe you intend to attempt to trace your brother or meet with a French comte.”
    “Yes,” she replied with a firm nod.
    “And you expect me to just hand it over and wave goodbye at the door.” He straightened to his full height and said in a stern voice, “Have you ever been to London, Miss Beaufort?”
    “That is of no consequence,” she replied, unperturbed. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
    Sebastian snorted. Her argument had no basis for she had probably never ventured more than ten miles from her own front door. “I will not deny that your courage appears to have no bounds, but you could not possibly be aware of what danger lies ahead.”
    The mere mention of the word danger should have been enough to create doubt over such a ludicrous plan, but Miss Beaufort was either deaf or oblivious to the meaning of the word.
    “I have a theory,” she said, straightening her back and lifting her chin. “Those not courageous enough to take risks, will accomplish nothing in life.” She gave a little shrug, a coy smile playing on her lips. “Sometimes you just have to take a chance.”
    It appeared there was only one way to put a stop to her ridiculous notion of heroism. “I believe I am about to put your theory to the test.”
    He did not wait for a response. In a few strides, he covered the distance between them, moved his hand to the small of her back and pulled her into his chest.
    “Where is your courage now, Miss Beaufort?” he whispered as his lips found hers.

 
     
    Chapter 7
     
     
    Sebastian knew why he was kissing her.
    From the moment she had stood on her toes, pressed her soft body up against him and teased him with her wandering hands, he had struggled to think of anything else.
    He expected the kiss to last mere seconds, but this was a woman who defied his expectations. Foolishly, he’d convinced himself the kiss was simply a way of highlighting her naiveté, to demonstrate the dangers an innocent woman might face once alone in the city.
    Then a sigh left her lips and the thought left him.
    Relaxing his grip, he let his hand roam over her lower back as his lips moved slowly and smoothly over her sweet mouth. She responded to his touch, pressing herself against him, molding herself into him and he could feel the swell of her breasts through the fine fabric, could feel the heat radiating from her body.
    He continued slowly, curbing his desire, telling himself she would come to her senses and break contact. Then her hand drifted up over his chest, up to caress the back of his neck, her fingers stroking in a slow, seductive rhythm. Her lips parted on another soft sigh and he could not hold back.
    His tongue traced the line of her lips, desperate to taste her, to possess her. She opened for him, her untutored tongue meeting his with a need that matched his own. Their breathing became shallow and rapid and he let his hands move further down her back, cupping her and drawing her closer in an attempt to ease his throbbing manhood.
    Desire gripped him like a whirlpool, pulling him down, sucking him under.
    Good Lord. What had happened to Beaufort’s sister while he had been away?
    The thought caused a jolt of awareness, jerking him to his senses, as though he’d just stepped on a carpet of nails with his bare feet.
    What the hell was he doing?
    He should be acting like a respectable guardian, not some scoundrel in need of sexual gratification. He tore his lips away and tried to shake the desire raging through him.
    What had started out as a plan to enlighten her, had turned into one of the most stimulating experiences of his entire life.
    He looked down at the delectable Miss Beaufort. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips