Invitation to Ruin Read Online Free PDF Page B

definitely didn’t have a choice.
    He would not tell her it would be a marriage in name only. There was no point in upsetting the situation further.
    But the chance of making his wife pregnant was not one he would ever take—again.
    He turned and looked at the now not-so-innocent woman lying composed beside him. Her eyes locked with his and held him spellbound, his breath hitching in his throat. Their color was a beautiful tawny-brown, with shards of jade, glowing in the dim light. They appeared luminous globes welling with unshed tears, the chocolate specks adding to their troubled depths.
    Even now his body began to stir, his mind remembering the feel of her soft curves and satin skin beneath his hands. His eyes were drawn to her rose-red lips, plump and luscious. He wanted to taste her, to devour her with his need, to set her passion soaring, and teach her that their joining could be so much more.
    At the thought of making love to her again, his blood thundered loud through his veins. He wanted to reach out and tear her offending nightgown from her body. It was a sin to cover such a vision of beauty.
    His heart stilled at the implications of his body’s response to her. Perhaps this plan was not very clever after all. He definitely shouldn’t want with such consuming desire, a woman who would become his wife. He shook his head.
No. It’s simply that you haven’t had a woman in so long—
    The bedchamber door crashed open, and two men were silhouetted in the doorway.
    Melissa’s elder brother stepped into the room. “You will obtain a special license first thing in the morning, or I will have my satisfaction on the dueling field.”
    Melissa shrank down into the covers. “Christopher, desist. It was an honest mistake. Anthony thought he was in Cassie’s room.”
    Anthony rolled onto his side, blocking the sight of Melissa from those in the doorway, his eyes never leaving her brother’s. “Be quiet, Melissa. I don’t need a woman to beg for me.”
    She stiffened beside him.
    Her brother’s sarcastic words were biting. “Anthony is it?” The Baron strode farther into the room. “A mistake is when he apologizes for entering the wrong room and turns and leaves. There is no mistake when he stays to defile the mistake anyway, to simply sate his lust between a willing pair of thighs.”
    Melissa gasped.
    Anthony exhaled. “You best watch what you say about the lady beside me before I decide to teach you some manners.”
    “I think we’ve both learned she is no lady.”
    Despite his nakedness Anthony leaped out of bed, his fingers wrapping around Christopher’s throat, a dark rage engulfing him.
    A familiar voice said, “As you seem to have such strong protective feelings for the lady, it would seem it’s to be the special license.”
    His brother’s calm voice broke through his haze of anger. Anthony shoved Goodly aside and stalked toward Richard.
    “So you were behind all of this.” In a deadly voice he said, “Do you know what you have done?”
    “I have saved you from years of torment,” Richard smugly replied. “I’ve stopped Father from destroying the rest of your life.”
    Anthony stood looking at his brother as if he were a total stranger. “No. You have simply ensured Miss Goodly will endure a life of misery. “
    He retrieved his dressing gown from the floor. Donning it, he walked to the door and turned to address Melissa. “I am truly sorry for what has befallen you tonight. I did not mean to hurt you.”
    Anger at his brother’s deception flooded his being as he watched Melissa’s eyes flood with tears.
    “I do not want either of you to fight a duel over me. We will find another way. I won’t force Anthony to marry me.”
    “You misunderstand, my sweet. I will get a special license. I am merely apologizing in advance for the lifetime of disappointments you will endure as my wife.”

Chapter 3
     
    A nthony stormed into his bedchamber, slamming the door behind him. The fire in the