An Invitation to Sin Read Online Free PDF Page B

body and dropped a light kiss on her tingling lips. “You’re as tasty as a rosy apple, sweetheart. I think I’ll call you Pippin.”
    At that use of her father’s pet name, it was as if he were here, witness to her shame.
    Anna burst into tears.
    The earl froze, but did not let her go. To her astonishment, after a moment he held her closer and even rocked her a little. “Hush, Pippin. What the devil’s the matter with you? We’re talking a kiss here. It’ll go no further today if you’re not of a mind to it. I’m no rapist and we’ve plenty of time …”
    His very reasonable and rather bemused tone calmed Anna’s worst fears. She peeped up at him cautiously, sniffing.
    But perhaps seducers always behaved like this …
    “That’s better,” he said soothingly, thumbing tears from beneath her eyes and stroking strands of hair off her face. “Just a kiss, a taste, Pippin. And then I’ll let you leave. This time.”
    Heart pounding, Anna held on to that. One kiss and she could go.
    And she would never come back here again!
    But when his lips brushed over hers—a gentle, brandy-flavored roughness—she flinched away instinctively. He was ready for it and trapped her head, preventing all effort to avoid the deepening of the kiss.
    Anna tried to protest, but since her mouth was now covered by his, it came out as only a mewling sound. Her hands were trapped against his body and she truly feared that if she squirmed she would reveal all.
    God help her, what would happen if her parents ever found out about this?
    He ignored her struggles and protests, but released her mouth long enough to say, “You’ve the sweetest-tasting mouth I’ve known in a long time, Pippin.”
    “My lord, please—”
    But then he was kissing her again, pushing her mouth open, touching her tongue with his so she squeaked and struggled violently. But then, abruptly, like a wave crashing over her, Anna realized there was pleasure in it.
    There couldn’t be.
    But there was.
    It was like the first time she had eaten oysters. She hadn’t liked the thought of it at all, and hadn’t liked the first attempt much. But then, somehow, she had overcome the thought that the shellfish were alive, and that they were a little slimy, and had discovered they were delicious.
    She had never liked the idea of this kind of kissing, and hadn’t liked the first mingling of his mouth with hers, but now she found that he, too, was delicious—sweet and spicy beneath the tang of brandy.
    In moments the moist heat of his tongue seemed as natural as her own, and that acceptance spread downward through her body, relaxing her …
    He released her mouth with slow, parting kisses, smiling more warmly now, more like the youth in the portrait. “That’s it, Pippin, my rosy, juicy little apple. You see what’s in store? You needn’t fear I’ll mistreat you. I’ll take care of you …”
    Anna suddenly realized that his hand was sliding under her nightdress and took in the meaning of his words.
    She kicked against his touch. “No, my lord! Truly, I cannot be your mistress!”
    Despite her squirming, his hand ventured slightly higher, up to her knee. “You didn’t think you’d like kissing, Maggie. Let’s see how you like this …”
    “No … Help!” Anna tried to put the full force of her healthy lungs behind it but he clapped a hand over her mouth and laughed at her struggles.
    So much for his promises!
    As he looked down with interest at the leg her struggle was exposing, Anna saw the glint of the glass he had set down. She stretched out, seized it, and swung it with all her strength to crash against her ravisher’s head.
    With a cry, he relaxed his hold.
    Anna tore herself free.
    He was cursing now and holding his head. Anna was dreadfully afraid that she’d done him some terrible injury, but that was even more reason to flee.
    She raced into the hall and up the steps, her heart thundering, her breath mere gasps of panic. In moments she was through the