Love's Peril (Lord Trent Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

bold advance and by the tempting sensations being produced—that she stood like an imbecile and let him proceed. But only for a moment.
    The man was a sorcerer who overwhelmed her good judgment. She put a hand on his chest and eased him away. He stepped back, but just a tiny distance so she would realize he was moving away because he chose to and not because she had insisted.
    “Stop that,”she scolded.
    “Stop what?”
    “I can’t dawdle in here while you bite my shoulder.”
    “Why not?”
    “I barely know you, and what I’ve learned so far worries me greatly.”
    “I could do more than bite you. Where you’re concerned, I have all sorts of naughty suggestions.”
    “You do not,”she scoffed.
    “Oh, I absolutely do.”
    He reached down and had the audacity to unbutton the top button on her dress. She gasped and slapped his fingers away.
    “You are a menace.”
    “Ah, chérie” —a hint of his French accent slipped into his voice—”you are the one who sneaked into my room. What am I to think? It appears you want something from me, and I’m happy to give it to you.”
    “I don’t want anything.”
    “Don’t you? If I had to guess, I’d say you crave what I’m eager to provide.”
    He chuckled and set his thumb on her chin, tipping her face toward him as he bent down and touched his lips to hers.
    She’d been kissed before—by Patrick, her long ago fiancé—but it had been years since it had happened. She was frozen in place, riveted by him. But quickly, she remembered herself and yanked away, managing only to bang her head on the wall.
    “Don’t do that,”she fumed.
    “Or what?”
    “Or…I don’t know, but I didn’t come in here to be kissed by you.”
    “Perhaps you should ponder the actual reason for your arrival. The house is quiet and supper won’t be served for ages. No one will miss you if we spend a few hours together.”
    “Doing what?”
    “If you have to ask, then I am certain you should stay so I can show you.”
    He dipped down as if he’d kiss her again, and her heart was racing so hard, she thought she might swoon. It dawned on her that she’d love to misbehave in ways she should never allow. She felt bewitched, as if he had magical powers and had cast a spell on her.
    She couldn’t predict what might have transpired, but the door to the adjoining room was wrenched open again, and Annalise Dubois entered from the other bedchamber.
    “Jean Pierre—” On seeing Sarah huddled with Mr. Sinclair, she bristled with affront. “ Mon Dieu, Jean Pierre! I can’t leave you alone for two seconds, and you are trying to tumble the servants.”
    Sarah moaned with dismay and stumbled away from him as he turned to Miss Dubois.
    “You have the worst habit of interrupting,”he told her, “when I really wish you wouldn’t.”
    “I traveled with you for your pleasure,”Miss Dubois pointed out. “Not mine. If you require intimate company, you don’t need to seduce the housemaids.”
    “I’m not a servant!”Sarah indignantly huffed, but they ignored her.
    “I couldn’t resist,”Mr. Sinclair said. “I came in, and she was in here—with her hair down and her gown unbuttoned. She was practically begging to be ravished.”
    “I was not!”Sarah seethed as Miss Dubois snapped, “I’m sure she was.”
    Sarah gazed at Mr. Sinclair, at Miss Dubois. Their long acquaintance was clear, a thousand visual messages flitting between them. They were so closely attuned, they could quarrel without speaking a word.
    As to Sarah, she had never been more horrified, and if Miss Dubois mentioned the incident to Mildred, what catastrophe would result?
    Before Sarah could scurry out and run to safety, Miss Dubois strutted over. She was very tall, very angry, and she towered over Sarah.
    “Be gone, you little harlot,”Miss Dubois growled.
    “How dare you insult me!”
    “If I catch you sniffing after Jean Pierre again, I’ll do more than insult you. I’ll tell Madame Teasdale. I don’t