The Earl's Secret by Kathryn Jensen

between thumb and forefinger. She gave a little yip of pleasure, arched against him and felt his arousal against her stomach.
    â€œYou’re like silk,” he groaned, dropping his cheek against her forehead. His breath was hot and labored.“I want you, Jennifer. I’m sorry. I didn’t plan…make me stop if you don’t—”
    She pressed her fingertips over his lips, silencing them. “I want you, too,” she whispered. But his few seconds of doubt had sharpened her own thoughts. She wasn’t as experienced as many women, but she understood that heartbreak was sure to follow an affair as sudden and hot as theirs promised to be. “But this isn’t going to happen, Chris. We must stop.” The words came out strong and reasonable, despite her body’s protests. You don’t sleep around, she told herself. If there is a man to love in your future, he won’t be a one-night stand in a foreign country. “Can we just sit and…hold each other?” she asked. Maybe his arms around her would be enough.
    He didn’t answer at first. She waited, not moving within his intimate embrace. At last he seemed to have composed himself. “If you like.” Slowly he withdrew his hand from inside her blouse.
    She closed her eyes and tried to prolong the warmth of his touch. If only her body would stop quivering and her head remain clear for longer than a few seconds. Darn hormones, she thought ruefully.
    â€œCome here,” Chris said, holding out his hand to her. He led her to the Victorian love seat. Sitting with his back against one pillowed arm, one leg extended along the cushions, he brought her down so that she could lean back against his chest. With his arms enclosing her, she felt as near to heaven as she’d ever been.
    â€œRest,” he whispered, touching his lips to the pale wisps of hair on top of her head. “It will be all right.”
    â€œWe’ll go back to the hotel soon,” she murmured.
    â€œYes, soon.” He stroked her cheek, and his breaths grew quieter, deeper.
    Jennifer closed her eyes and let the earl soothe her. She still ached for him. But this would have to do.

Three
    C hristopher’s first conscious thought was that his back hurt like hell. He tried to recall if he had taken a bad fall during his last polo match, but didn’t think he had. His second thought, still before he’d opened his eyes, was that something rather heavy was sitting on his chest. Not as heavy as a horse, thank goodness, so he was probably okay. Then a faint whiff of vanilla met his nostrils…and he knew.
    Jennifer. Not sitting on him, sprawling over him.
    His eyes flickered open. Through the window he could see a gray predawn sky smudged with the first streaks of rose. He was stretched out on the love seat in his turret apartment. Jennifer was curled peacefully against his chest, her eyes still closed.
    Smiling to himself, he stretched his aching spine against the cushions of the short couch and buried his nose in the soft blond tresses feathering his cheek.Apparently the earl of Winchester had spent the night with a beautiful woman, he thought whimsically. His smile widened. Regrettably, the usual advantages attached to such a statement had not come to fruition.
    Jennifer stirred in his arms. He automatically contracted them protectively around her body to keep her from tumbling off the couch. After a moment she turned her head to squint up at him. “Tell me we didn’t.”
    â€œI think I’d remember if we had. And I sure hope you would.” Christopher let his eyes drift closed again, enjoying the feeling of holding her. He knew it was selfish, but he wanted to keep her there with him, despite her plans to leave for London that day.
    She touched a fingertip to his morning-whiskered cheek. “Christopher.”
    â€œHmm?”
    â€œI’m sorry. You need to wake up and drive me back to the