Wicked Temptations by Patricia Watters Page A

thought you could do that in the evening, especially my eldest daughter, Trudy. She's sixteen and fancies herself in love with one of my ranch hands, and I want to sever that tie. Moving her into the house would take care of that problem. You wouldn't be expected to do anything but be there in the evening. The children have their own rooms, and their tutor, Mr. Avery, would live above the carriage house and be there during the day to see to the children's schooling. You might even give Trudy some advice on staying chaste until marriage. She's a headstrong girl with a passionate nature. Not a good combination."
    "I've spent little time around children," Priscilla said. "I don't see how I could advise your daughter, especially about staying chaste. I don't mean to imply that I've been unchaste, but it has not been difficult for me to remain virtuous, because there have been no temptations. But your daughter lives in a different world from the one in which I was raised. I'm sure she's a pretty young woman, who attracts handsome young men, something I never had to contend with."
    Adam studied Priscilla's wistful face. Odd that men didn't gravitate toward her. But he was about to change that. "Well, Miss Priscilla Phipps," he said, "you'll be contending with me now." He reached out and stroked her cheek. "I hope you won't take offense when I tell you that I miss your appealing little freckles, and your tangled red hair, and your long golden lashes, because that's who you are, and that was what attracted me to you. And I am going to kiss you now." He leaned over, took her by the arms and pressed his lips to hers. For a few moments she didn't respond, but when he opened his eyes and saw her looking at him, he broke the kiss momentarily, and said, "Priscilla, close your eyes."
    She did, and the next moment her arms were around his neck, her lips parted, and she made no attempt to stop him when his tongue slid into her mouth to taste and tease. Before long, her tongue began to shyly explore his, gradually becoming bolder, until she was matching the rhythm of his thrusts with an eagerness that took him by surprise. Somehow she'd moved onto his lap, and her arms tightened around him, and her mouth became more demanding, and before he could catch himself, she'd hurled herself against him, tumbling him backwards and landing on top of him, until the full length of her was stretched over the full length of him.
    Her eager kiss and warm womanly body sprawled atop him clouded his senses. He cupped his hands over her nicely-rounded bottom and pushed her intimately to him, and she pressed her breasts against his chest and deepened the kiss. Her passionate response was almost his undoing. Only the sound of voices in the distance brought him back to his senses. Breaking the kiss, he raised himself to sit up, taking her with him.
    Once upright, her eyes popped open in surprise. "Oh, my word!" she exclaimed. Untangling her arms from around him, she shifted off his lap and rested on one hip again, tucking her booted feet demurely beneath her. "That has never happened to me before," she said, fanning her face with her hand. "I don't know what came over me."
    "I assure you, you were not the only one affected by that kiss." Adam glanced around to see if anyone had been watching. Relieved, he said, "We'd better reel ourselves in or your virtue is sure to be questioned." When he turned back, her fingers were pressed against her lips. "Are you alright?" he asked. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
    She shook her head. But her eyes held a new light, one he recognized as passion. "No, I'm find," she said, her voice catching with her labored breaths. "Just a little winded. I don't know why this has been happening of late. It's like my lungs collapse and have to be refilled. It must be the high plains air. It wasn't dry like this in Missouri ."
    Adam looked around again, and when he was certain no one was watching, he leaned toward and kissed the side of her neck and