His Perfect Bride by Jenn Langston Page B

so many emotions flooding him, and he could not make any sense of them.
    “Richard, why do you not introduce us to your comely friend there?” Jonathan had moved closer than Richard had realized.
    It was obvious from Jonathan’s tone he mistook Lady Brianna’s position within society. Although he could understand the assumption, he could not stop the anger and protectiveness toward her that his friend’s words invoked.
    “I shall catch up with you two later,” Richard called out over his shoulder as he took Lady Brianna’s arm and ushered her toward his carriage, hoping the Stonemede crest would not be noticeable in the dark.
    “Where are we going?” she asked, apparently oblivious to the potentially dangerous situation she was in.
    What if it had not been him she had found? What if it had been Jonathan? Richard repressed a shudder at all the possibilities and quickly put her into his carriage. He gave the driver the address he had gained from his solicitor before climbing in after her.
    “I’m taking you home.” He belatedly realized he had allowed anger to coat his words. Softening his voice, he added, “Now, tell me what this is all about.”
    “Well . . .” she started, sounding embarrassed. “After the ball, I had been hoping to have another opportunity to see you. Then the next day, well, following that, I never saw you again. I just knew I had to find you.” Her words were jumbled as her explanation was not well thought out, but the way she said it made him want to smile. However, the urge vanished almost as quickly as he felt it.
    “So you thought you would do something reckless and dangerous?”
    “I took precautions. My footman, James, came with me and—”
    “Really? Where was he when I took you and put you in my carriage? Where is he now that you are here alone with me?”
    “That is irrelevant. I don’t need him now. I have you to protect me.”
    Her trusting smile both elated and enraged him. How could she unwittingly put herself in so much danger? Although he would never harm her, she had no way of knowing that. She needed to be taught some self-preservation. She needed a lesson.
    “What makes you think I’m not dangerous?”
    Without giving her a chance to respond, Richard pulled her toward him and violently took her lips. He kissed her with all the passion he had been holding back. Feeling the necessity to leave his mark on her, he slid her across the small space until she was seated on his lap.
    His need to teach her a harsh lesson about men quickly turned into desire as his body stirred with the feeling of a willing woman against him. Her hands sifted through his hair, tugging and encouraging him further. Forcing himself to be gentle, he slowed the attack on her mouth and began rubbing her back until, of its own volition, his hand found her breast. She froze, and Richard knew he had gone too far. Yet as he expertly stroked her sensitive flesh through the cotton of her dress, she began to melt against him.
    Feeling the carriage jerk to a stop, Richard eased himself back. Breathing heavily, he gently set her back in the seat. He had not intended for things between them to become more complicated, but her naivety pushed him too far. She sat very still, looking back at him with those trusting eyes, as her swollen lips mocked him.
    Richard calmed himself down, for here, at her father’s home, she was safe; safe from everyone, including him. Although he craved her with a fervor unknown to him, he refused to ruin her, and as he had no intention of marrying her, she was unattainable.
    “Now do you comprehend the danger you put yourself in?” Richard demanded, pleased his voice didn’t betray the desire coursing through his body.
    “Not danger, not from you,” she replied, her confidence in him unfounded. “However, I do understand your point. Very well delivered, I must admit.”
    Richard paused, indecision raking him. On one hand, he reveled in the trust she placed in him, but the