More than Passion Read Online Free PDF Page A

cheeks.
    “There.” He offered her a small smile. “That’s better. Can you tell me what’s wrong?”
    She nodded. “My father wants me to marry him. He wants me to marry Dr. Simon.”
    Geoffrey shook his head, certain he’d heard wrong. He’d seen the man in town. He was older than her father.
    “That can’t be. Perhaps—”
    “It’s true,” she insisted. “He told me this evening.”
    She walked over to the window and pushed the drapery aside. “My father said Dr. Simon has agreed to marry me.”
    “Agreed? What do you mean?”
    She continued to stare out the window, standing perfectly still. The moon was full and flooded the room with silver light. She wore a nightgown of thin lawn and the light streaming through the window outlined her figure. His mouth went dry—she was exquisite. He caught a bit of what she was saying.
    “… five thousand pounds.”
    He shook his head. “What?”
    “Dr. Simon will pay my father five thousand pounds to have me for a wife.”
    Her last words were mere whispers. The full impact of what she said hit him then. He strode over to where she stood and turned her toward him.
    She looked up at him. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
    She dissolved into tears once more. He gathered her into his arms. He wanted to tell her what she wanted to hear, but he knew better. Kingsley could do anything he wanted with her and she had no choice but to go along with his decision.
    He led her over to the chair and sat, pulling her down on his lap. She rested her head against his shoulder, her tears flowing freely. He held her there for a long while, whispering soothing words and stroking her back.
    Finally, Becca looked up at him. “I don’t want to marry him. I don’t like the way he looks at me.”
    “How does he look at you?”
    She looked down, as if to hide from his gaze. “Like he wants to do things to me.”
    Geoffrey swallowed his disgust of the image of the doctor’s bony hands on her flawless skin.
    “Shh,” he soothed. “It’ll be all right. I won’t let him touch you.”
    She relaxed and leaned against him, rubbing her cheek against his chest once more. He stroked her back for a while as he tried to think of a way to get her out of this mess.
    Becca breathed in deeply and he felt as if he was being drawn into her lungs. What was she about?
    “You smell heavenly,” she whispered.
    When she ran the tip of her tongue over his skin, a shiver coursed through him. He breathed in sharply and looked down at her.
    She met his gaze, her eyes dark. “You taste just as good.” She began trailing hot kisses on his skin.
    He grasped the back of her head and urged her face up to his. He captured her lips with his own. How could desire flare so quickly? Her tongue eased into his mouth and he groaned. He quickly took control of the kiss, cupping her face in his hands.
    Her hands were driving him to distraction. She ran her fingers slowly over his chest as he kissed her, trailing her fingertips down over his belly to pause at the waistband of his breeches. He held his breath. God, yes. He wouldn’t force her, but he wanted those nimble fingers on him. When she finally traced the outline of his manhood through the fabric, he grew harder.
    “I want you, Becca,” he rasped. “Like I’ve never wanted any other woman.”
    He grabbed her hand and brought it up behind his neck. Her other hand followed as she pressed herself against his chest. He kissed the smooth skin of her neck and a soft moan escaped her lips.
    “Geoffrey ….” She breathed, leaning her head back.
    He unfastened the tiny buttons on the front of her nightgown, kissing the smooth skin he revealed. His hand cupped one breast, his thumb brushing across the nipple. She gasped at the intimate contact.
    He looked at her, his expression serious. “I don’t care who you’ve been with. I want you.”
     
    Becca raised her head in confusion. “But I haven’t—” His mouth closed over her hardened nipple