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She did not reply, experiencing a mixture of pleasure and uncertainty. There was a compliment implicit in
the statement. But he was a stranger& he had not known her long enough, nor well enough, to distinguish
something so intrinsic and subtle.
 Did you enjoy the May festivities, my lord? she asked as she tied the kerchief back into place.
 I enjoyed watching you.
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Her eyes narrowed in pretend-menace.  Do you intend to tell anyone that you saw me here?
Lord Sydney leaned closer, as if to impart some highly confidential news.  Not if my life depended on
it.
Smiling, Lottie leaned her shoulder against the tree trunk, mirroring his posture.  Are you going
a-maying, like the other young men?
 That depends. A flirtatious gleam entered his eyes.  Are you going to run through the forest in hopes of
being captured?
 Decidedly not.
 Then allow me to escort you back to the house. I shouldn t like for you to be waylaid by some
impassioned village youth.
 Oh, I would outrun any of them, Lottie said confidently.  I know these woods quite well, and I am
small enough to dart easily among the trees. No one could catch me.
 I could.
 A man as large as you? I think not. In these woods, with all the underbrush, you would be as noisy as a
rampaging elephant.
His body tensed subtly, his appreciation of the impudent challenge almost palpable.  You might be
surprised  he began, and paused as he was distracted by a feminine squeal from somewhere to the left
of them, as a village girl was  caught by a randy young man. A moment of silence, and then a loud moan
of pleasure filtered through the trees.
When Sydney turned back to Lottie, she was gone.
Laughing inwardly, she slipped through the woods like a wraith, raising her skirts to her knees to keep
from being snagged by branches. She maneuvered easily through the maze of trunks and flexible saplings,
until finally all was quiet and there was no sign of anyone behind her. Pausing for breath, Lottie glanced
over her shoulder. No movement, nothing except for the distant sounds of May Day carousing.
Either Lord Sydney had decided not to give chase, or he had lost her in mid-pursuit. A triumphant smile
curved her lips she had proved her point. Turning, she continued toward Stony Cross Park and
shrieked in alarm as she walked right into a hard male body.
She was caught against a deep chest, a pair of powerful arms subduing her easily. It was Lord Sydney,
his low laugh tickling her ear. Stunned, she leaned against him, requiring temporary support as she strove
to recover her equilibrium.
 How did you get in front of me? she asked breathlessly.
 Flank speed. His gentle fingers sought to restore her kerchief, but it slid from her fine, slippery hair,
revealing the neat braided coil at her nape. He let the cloth drop to the ground. A smile wove through his
voice.  You can t escape me, you know.
The teasing words seemed to contain a hint of warning.
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Lottie stood in the shelter of his body, absorbing his warmth, his spicy masculine scent. How had she
come to be alone in the darkness with him? She did not believe in happenstance. This could only be a
result of her own relentless attraction to him& an attraction that seemed to be returned in full measure. As
they both fell silent, Lottie became aware of a nearby couple, their entwined figures barely visible through
the trees. The muffled sounds of sexual revelry brought a rush of heat to Lottie s face.
 Take me back to the house, please, she said.
Lord Sydney released her. Lottie stepped away, almost bumping against the large tree behind her.
Following, he pressed her against the wide trunk, using his arms to protect her from the rough bark. Her
breath caught sharply. Her hands slid to his upper arms, where the brutal swell of muscle was manifest
through his coat. She knew that he was going to kiss her, that he wanted her. And heaven help her, she
wanted him too.
He stroked the curve of her cheek with a single fingertip, so carefully, as if she were a wild creature that
would bolt at the slightest sign of haste. Her breath quickened as he touched her chin and tilted her head
back in an angle of surrender.
His gentle mouth descended to hers, molding, coaxing, until she parted her lips with a gasp of pleasure.
The tip of his tongue stroked the edge of her teeth, ventured farther, brushed the inside of her cheek in a
burning, delicate exploration. The kiss made her light-headed, and she wrapped her arms around his
neck in a desperate bid for balance. He let her have more of his weight, pinning her securely between his
body and the unyielding oak at her back. She twisted and pulled at him, until he made a soothing noise
and ran his hands down her back. The slow caress only sharpened her need, making her arch against him
in a blind, instinctive search. She felt something against the fabric of her rough-woven skirt& the intimate
bulge of his sex.
The rigid length of him matched perfectly in the notch between her thighs. His hardness pressed into her
softness, his mouth possessed hers with wicked skill, while his arms surrounded her. Sliding her hands
into his hair, she curved her fingers around his scalp, beneath the thick locks that gleamed like silk in the
fragmented moonlight. A harsh breath escaped him, and his lips slid along her throat. Even in her
innocence, she sensed the wealth of experience in his careful touch, the hunger he kept so tightly
shackled.
Her peasant blouse had slipped over one shoulder, revealing the white gleam of her skin. His fingers
stole to the ribbon of her gathered neckline and tugged deftly, causing the crumpled linen to slide
downward. Gradually his hand eased beneath her chemise. Her cool, soft nipple tightened against the
calloused pads of his fingers, the peak turning harder and warmer with each circling stroke.
Lottie pressed her face into the crook of his neck and shoulder. She had to stop him now, before her
will was completely demolished.  No. Please stop. I m sorry.
His hand slid from her blouse, and he touched her damp lips with his fingers.  Have I frightened you? he
whispered.
Lottie shook her head, somehow resisting the urge to curl into his embrace like a sun-warmed cat.
 No& I ve frightened myself.
For some reason her admission made him smile. His fingers moved to her throat, tracing the fragile line
with a sensitivity that made her breath catch. Tugging the peasant blouse back up to her shoulder, he
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retied the frayed ribbon that secured the neckline.  Then I ll stop, he said.  Come I ll take you to the
house.
He stayed close to her as they continued through the forest, occasionally moving to push a branch out of
the way, or taking her hand to guide her over a rough place on the path. As familiar as she was with the
woods of Stony Cross Park, Lottie had no need of his assistance. But she accepted the help with demur.
And she did not protest when he paused again, his lips finding hers easily in the darkness. His mouth was
hot and sweet as he kissed her compulsively& swift kisses, languid ones, kisses that ranged from intense
need to wicked flirtation. Drugged with pleasure, Lottie let her hands wander to the thick dishevelment of
his hair, the iron-hard nape of his neck. When the blistering heat rose to an untenable degree, Lord
Sydney groaned softly.
 Charlotte& 
 Lottie, she told him breathlessly.
He pressed his lips to her temple and cuddled her against his powerful body as if she were infinitely
fragile.  I never thought I would find someone like you, he whispered.  I ve looked for you so
long& needed you&  [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]