Seducing the Rake (Mad, Bad and Dangerous Heroes) by Christina Skye

mistress and all.”
    After a knowing look at the earl, the tradesman herded his men before him and disappeared into the mews, slamming the gate soundly.
    “Of all the ill-bred, self-important, muttonheaded —” The girl spun about. Her broom fell slowly to her shoulder. “And who in blazes asked you to—”
    Suddenly she stopped. Her breath caught audibly.
    Morland, well used to the effect his chiseled features and startling azure eyes seemed to have on strangers, merely smiled.
    And then his smile widened.
    Beneath the baggy skirts and bodice he made out the soft curves of a rather nice female shape.
    Immediately the day began to brighten.
    The ankles were trim enough.
    The neck was slender enough.
    And the breasts looked sweetly rounded, with definite potential for further exploration…
    A muffled sound broke from the object of his scrutiny, and a broom handle prodded his stomach. Before he could react, Morland found himself being shoved through the gate into the mews.
    “Now just one moment. I’ve come here to see—”
    His words fell on empty air. The gate snapped shut behind him, and the bolt slammed home.
    How had the bloody female managed that ? She hardly seemed big enough to wrestle a dozen roses to the ground, much less match horns with him. Yet here he stood, smack in the middle of the mews, staring down at a closed and bolted gate.
    Morland grew angrier by the second. He’d only been trying to help , after all. He’d even saved the coal delivery for her mistress.
    Who did the little fishwife think she was?
    Morland banged loudly on the gate. “I’ve business with the master of the house, wench—James Cameron by name! Tell him that Lord Morland is here to see him, and be quick about it!”
    That would do the job, he thought smugly.
    “Go bark up another tree, ye distempered cur! ‘Tis no James Cameron who lives here, so I’ll thank ye to go away an’ leave a decent household to its peace.”
    Morland frowned. “Then who—”
    “Ha’n’t time for any more o’ yer nonsense. Go on about yer business, I say!”
    Morland’s eyes darkened. He stared at the flimsy gate.
    Then his boot crashed through the wood just below the latch. The gate exploded open, three planks splintering free of the crossbar.
    “How dare you! That will cost a fortune to repair! You leave me absolutely no choice but to—”
    “I mean to see Mr. Cameron, wench.” His hands circled her wrists, which were surprisingly strong for a woman of her size. “So do you show me in, or do I find my own way?”
    Her only answer was a painful kick to his shins, followed by a punishing elbow to his ribs.
    Morland swung about. Cursing, he hauled her toward the fence.
    Her chest drove into his shoulder. Her hips wedged against his thigh.
    Soft. Surprisingly soft, even though she fought him.
    Frowning, the earl looked down.
    They were only inches apart, her wriggling form caught between his thighs. She squirmed.
    He inched closer. Her belly drove against his groin.
    Morland froze .
    Damnably supple. What would happen to all that fire and fight if she were in his bed?
    Abruptly the blue-eyed earl scowled angrily. He did not stoop to seduce servants. The thought was abhorrent.
    “Lemme go, damn yer eyes! Lemme go before I—”
    His fingers tightened. She had the most curious manner of speech, this servant, using well-modulated tones one moment and gutter slang the next.
    Intrigued, he scanned her face, shadowed beneath the floppy straw hat.
    Her nose looked fine and straight, even streaked by soot as it was. Abruptly he caught a faint hint of fragrance, something rich and exotic.
    It made him feel a sudden urge to see her eyes. He pulled at her hat, yelping when her teeth bit into his wrist.
    “Enough, you little savage!” With a dark curse he drove his knee between her legs. Her hat slipped back on her head.
    In that second Morland glimpsed her eyes.
    They were dark and blazing. Death and dismemberment were the kindest thoughts