An Invitation to Seduction Read Online Free PDF Page A

he’d called a work of art in itself. He would be appalled to see the dress that hung on her damp body, a servant’s castoff that Kitty had hoarded away and wore on occasions when she needed to escape from the demands of being a wealthy American’s daughter.
    “I thought you were drowning,” he said. “I was coming to your rescue.”
    How ironic. In the water, she’d not needed rescuing, and now she did. She felt as though she were wading into uncharted oceans, that at any moment she’d have to acknowledge that she was out of her depth, in danger of drowning.
    “I’m a strong swimmer,” she said inanely. “I’ve swum the world over.”
    “Indeed. Where exactly?”
    She angled her head. “Wherever I wanted.”
    “Alone and undetected?”
    She smiled slightly. “Until today.”
    “Then I am grateful for today.”
    Holding her gaze, he lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to each of her knuckles, although kiss was too tame a word for his exploration. His lips enveloped, while his tongue stroked and tasted, sending dizzying sensations swirling through her. His gaze was as hot as his mouth.
    “I shouldn’t be here,” she whispered, surprised by how breathless she sounded.
    “Who are you?” he asked again.
    Shaking her head, she averted her eyes, focusing on the horizon, stunned to see how much of the night the sun had pushed back.
    Gently he angled her hand until her wrist was exposed, and he continued his subtle seduction. Her eyelids fluttered closed, and she imagined him taking this leisurely journey along the length of her entire body. Was this howthe woman who had given birth to her had been lured into a scoundrel’s arms: slowly, tenderly, with only a hint of passion revealed?
    She drew her hand free of his hold and folded it up against her body, beneath her tingling breasts. He stirred to life sensations she’d never before felt.
    Odd. When she’d danced with dozens of men, spoken with them, flirted with them, batted her eyelashes, and smiled becomingly. She’d done none of that with him, and yet there she was, drawn to him as the tide was drawn to the shore.
    As he tucked strands of her hair behind her ear, a shiver shimmied through her, and she turned her attention back to him, realizing too late that he was closer than he’d been before, closer and more dangerous.
    The sun had worked its magic, revealing him as one might an expensive gift, slowly, savoring the discovery. His eyes were darker than his hair, almost black, and she thought their shade had little to do with the remaining shadows. His lashes were long, spiked. On closer inspection, she saw tiny lines within his face, lines that marked him as a man who spent a great deal of time outdoors. She thought it unlikely he was an aristocrat. He was a laborer of some sort then. A fisherman perhaps. A sea captain. A man who was accustomed to taking women into his berth, then leaving them ashore.
    That would explain his unanticipated kiss. As for her response—it rose from the uncivilized part of her that she fought daily to control. With him she was in danger of losing the battle.
    And she cared not—which frightened her more. To have no regard for where this moment might lead was blatant folly, recklessness.
    He touched his lips to hers, a tentative exploration this time, like a butterfly testing the welcome of a buddingflower. Yet there was nothing fragile or dainty about him or the desire she recognized smoldering within his eyes. He threaded his fingers through her hair, bracketing his palms on either side of her face, and pressed his luscious mouth against hers.
    With his tongue, he stroked the outer edges of her lips, the seam that separated them, coaxing her mouth to open, bidding her to allow entry. Then he was exploring more deeply, more intimately, slowly, leisurely, as though the sun would cease to rise farther, as though the day would not give way to the night.
    She knew nothing about him except that she shouldn’t be there with