to thundering. She slid her palms up Penrose’s chest, resting her hands up on his shoulders. Firm and warm.
In a quick move, he crushed her breasts against his hard chest, shifting his head. Merry gasped, and he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Had she not been holding firm to his shoulders, she would, indeed, have melted to the floor in a puddle of hot liquid.
After plundering her mouth, he pulled back and cupped her cheek. “As a gentleman, I should apologize, but I hope I haven’t frightened you.”
Merry drew her head back . “ I don’t frighten easily. ”
His hand dropped to his side. “ I’m sure you don’t.”
She turned and fled from the room, her emotions in a turmoil.
*
What have I just done?
Penrose slumped in his seat, his member rock hard from the kiss he’d shared with Merry. She was everything he was afraid she’d be. Warm, soft, and passionate. Her huge blue eyes , darkened by desire , stared into his before she’d run from him. Despite her enthusiastic response to his touch, she was an innocent. And not someone he should be t rifling with.
I will not marry without love.
Too bad she was n’t suitable, she would make a wonderful duchess. Proud, courageous , and graceful. He grinned. As long as she kept her mouth closed in public. But, oh, how he’d like to rile her in private , and w atch all that anger turn into passion .
For him.
Chapter Six
Early the next morning , Merry hurried to the stables to meet Lord Brandon for their outing . Having practically been raised on a horse, she was thrilled to have the chance to ride once again. Bedford Hall had an impressive stable, and she often rode when she had the chance. But amid all the upheaval with Lord and Lady Bedford’s deaths , and preparations for the move to Penrose, she’d hadn’t ridden in weeks.
Ballard led a dark grey mare from the stable as Lord Brandon joined her.
“Oh, what a beauty!” Merry ran her gloved hand over the magnificent horse’s velvet nose. “What is her name?”
“Aphrodite, m iss .”
She beamed. “A perfect dub.”
“Good morning, Merry. I must admit this is not my favorite time of day.” Lord Brandon ’s drawn face and bloodshot eyes confirmed his words.
“I could ride by myself. I’m an experienced horsewoman.” Her gaze roamed his face. “You do look as though you could use more sleep.”
“No. It would not be a good idea for you to ride alone. You’re not familiar with the land, and I would hate for something to happen to you.”
“Don’t concern yourself, brother, I will be more than happy to escort Miss Chambers on her ride.” Dressed in the height of fashion riding clothes, Penrose strode from the house, pulling on tan leather gloves.
Merry’s stomach clenched. The light of day only intensified his good looks. Had those full lips actually ravished hers last night? H is glance at her was warm, without the hint of disapproval she’d always seen before.
Be careful. He is a duke , and you can’t afford to allow your thoughts to wander in that direction.
“Miss Chambers would you mind terribly if I excuse myself?” Lord Brandon ’s eyes pleaded with her .
“Of course she doesn’t mind. You best search out Cook for one of her tonics.” The duke turned to Ballard. “Is Tafoya ready?”
Merry stood , her mouth agape , as Lord Brandon gave her a short salute and hurried to the house.
“Excuse me, Your Grace, but I would prefer to answer for myself.”
He frowned at her. “What do you mean ?”
“You don’t even know, do you?” She shook her head. “Lord Brandon just asked me if I minded him not riding with me, and you answered.”
“Do you mind him not accompanying you?” He looked genuinely confused.
“That is not the point.”
His eyes flashed with annoyance. “What is the point?”
“Never mind. This conversation is a waste of words.” Before he could assist her, s he stepped on the block and settled on the
In a quick move, he crushed her breasts against his hard chest, shifting his head. Merry gasped, and he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Had she not been holding firm to his shoulders, she would, indeed, have melted to the floor in a puddle of hot liquid.
After plundering her mouth, he pulled back and cupped her cheek. “As a gentleman, I should apologize, but I hope I haven’t frightened you.”
Merry drew her head back . “ I don’t frighten easily. ”
His hand dropped to his side. “ I’m sure you don’t.”
She turned and fled from the room, her emotions in a turmoil.
*
What have I just done?
Penrose slumped in his seat, his member rock hard from the kiss he’d shared with Merry. She was everything he was afraid she’d be. Warm, soft, and passionate. Her huge blue eyes , darkened by desire , stared into his before she’d run from him. Despite her enthusiastic response to his touch, she was an innocent. And not someone he should be t rifling with.
I will not marry without love.
Too bad she was n’t suitable, she would make a wonderful duchess. Proud, courageous , and graceful. He grinned. As long as she kept her mouth closed in public. But, oh, how he’d like to rile her in private , and w atch all that anger turn into passion .
For him.
Chapter Six
Early the next morning , Merry hurried to the stables to meet Lord Brandon for their outing . Having practically been raised on a horse, she was thrilled to have the chance to ride once again. Bedford Hall had an impressive stable, and she often rode when she had the chance. But amid all the upheaval with Lord and Lady Bedford’s deaths , and preparations for the move to Penrose, she’d hadn’t ridden in weeks.
Ballard led a dark grey mare from the stable as Lord Brandon joined her.
“Oh, what a beauty!” Merry ran her gloved hand over the magnificent horse’s velvet nose. “What is her name?”
“Aphrodite, m iss .”
She beamed. “A perfect dub.”
“Good morning, Merry. I must admit this is not my favorite time of day.” Lord Brandon ’s drawn face and bloodshot eyes confirmed his words.
“I could ride by myself. I’m an experienced horsewoman.” Her gaze roamed his face. “You do look as though you could use more sleep.”
“No. It would not be a good idea for you to ride alone. You’re not familiar with the land, and I would hate for something to happen to you.”
“Don’t concern yourself, brother, I will be more than happy to escort Miss Chambers on her ride.” Dressed in the height of fashion riding clothes, Penrose strode from the house, pulling on tan leather gloves.
Merry’s stomach clenched. The light of day only intensified his good looks. Had those full lips actually ravished hers last night? H is glance at her was warm, without the hint of disapproval she’d always seen before.
Be careful. He is a duke , and you can’t afford to allow your thoughts to wander in that direction.
“Miss Chambers would you mind terribly if I excuse myself?” Lord Brandon ’s eyes pleaded with her .
“Of course she doesn’t mind. You best search out Cook for one of her tonics.” The duke turned to Ballard. “Is Tafoya ready?”
Merry stood , her mouth agape , as Lord Brandon gave her a short salute and hurried to the house.
“Excuse me, Your Grace, but I would prefer to answer for myself.”
He frowned at her. “What do you mean ?”
“You don’t even know, do you?” She shook her head. “Lord Brandon just asked me if I minded him not riding with me, and you answered.”
“Do you mind him not accompanying you?” He looked genuinely confused.
“That is not the point.”
His eyes flashed with annoyance. “What is the point?”
“Never mind. This conversation is a waste of words.” Before he could assist her, s he stepped on the block and settled on the
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