To Pleasure a Lady

To Pleasure a Lady by Nicole Jordan Page B

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Authors: Nicole Jordan
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he merely reached down to capture her hand and bring it to his bruised jaw. His fingers encircled her wrist loosely—and there he stopped.
    â€œHave you ever really been kissed before now, Arabella?”
    She blinked at the unexpected question. “Of course I have been kissed. I was betrothed, remember?”
    â€œI’ll wager it was a tame sort of peck.”
    â€œWhat does that matter?”
    â€œIt matters greatly, if you have nothing to judge by. Your expectations must be severely depressed.”
    Arabella sucked in a breath; his fingertips had found the bare skin above her glove.
    â€œIt’s a pity, really.”
    â€œWhat is a pity?” she said absently. She was staring at his lips now, disconcerted by their nearness.
    â€œThat you’re a virginal innocent, with no experience in passion or physical pleasure.”
    Her cheeks flooded with color. “Of course I am virginal. I am a lady, despite our family scandal. We are
not
our mother’s daughters.” This time she couldn’t hide her bitterness.
    His blue gaze softened. “If you knew the pleasures in store for you, you wouldn’t be so quick to swear off men. You have no notion what you are missing.”
    â€œAnd I suppose you are offering to show me?”
    â€œActually, I am.”
    â€œI don’t wish you to show me a thing, Lord Danvers. I only want you to kiss me and be done with it. Would you
please
just get it over?”
    â€œVery well.”
    He bent his head slowly. Arabella froze, bracing herself for the onslaught. She refused to run this time like a coward. It was supposed to be a simple kiss after all…
    The trouble was, there was nothing simple about his kiss whatsoever. The caress was a mere brush of lips, true, but his mouth was warm and inviting, and the delicious pressure sent her senses reeling with blazing heat again, made her body shiver with desire. Just like before, when he had left her weak and breathless and helplessly aroused.
    Magic, that’s what it was. He was working some sort of fiery spell over her.
    She was inexplicably disappointed when he lifted his head after the briefest of moments. He was staring at her once more, Arabella saw, feeling dazed.
    She raised her fingers to her burning lips as she stared back at him. A flame had kindled in the depths of his blue eyes…the same sort of flame that he had ignited deep inside her.
    â€œSo it wasn’t an aberration at all,” he murmured, his voice low and husky.
    Arabella tried to gather her wits. “What was not an aberration?”
    â€œNever mind.” Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes as he stepped back. “Now, are you ready to return home?”
    She shook herself from her daze. “Not yet. I concluded a class at the academy this afternoon and intended to call on Lady Freemantle to make my report. She likes to be kept abreast of every detail.”
    â€œI will accompany you there.”
    â€œThat won’t be necessary. Her ladyship’s estate is just over the next hill.”
    He glanced in the direction Arabella indicated. “Then I will send a groom to escort you home when you are through. I don’t like the thought of you riding about the countryside alone.”
    Arabella’s expression turned ironic. “I have been doing so for years, Lord Danvers. This is not London. Ours is a completely tame neighborhood, with little wickedness or crime.”
    â€œStill, you should have a groom with you. I’m surprised your former guardian was so neglectful.”
    Arabella felt herself stiffening. “Paupers cannot afford grooms, my lord.”
    â€œYour step-uncle could have afforded to supply a male servant for your protection.”
    Her smile was humorless. “Our step-uncle did not consider us worth the expense.”
    Lord Danvers contemplated her expression. “Stings your pride to be that dependent, does it?”
    â€œOf course it

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