Never Resist a Rake Read Online Free PDF Page B

me.”
    â€œNonsense. You’re under the same roof right now. As soon as your brother found you, he brought you back to the Barrett family town house. He could have put you up in Mivart’s, you know.” The posh hotel was located in the heart of Mayfair and was a favorite of the ton during the Season. “Doesn’t the fact that Lord Richard has been looking for you everywhere for the last two weeks mean anything to you?”
    But John had been in London for much longer than two weeks. The day after he discovered his true identity, he’d shaken off the Wiltshire dirt and legged it to Town, dragging the long-suffering Mr. Porter with him. His newfound family hadn’t sought him out before now. Whatever the reason they wanted him at Somerfield Park, he’d bet his best shoes—and now he finally had more than one pair!—it had little to do with Lord Somerset’s annual hunt.
    â€œThe fact that Richard came looking for me doesn’t mean as much to me as the fact that you want me to go to Somerfield Park,” he said. “I won’t go unless you agree to come.”
    â€œAll right, I accept,” she finally said, tugging her hand from his grasp. “My mother doesn’t travel well, but one way or another, I’ll convince my parents.”
    John laced his fingers behind his head and gave a self-satisfied sigh. “You know, that’s one good thing about becoming the marquess’s heir. People say yes to me a lot more than they used to.”
    She swatted his shoulder as if he were still a cheeky hanger-on. “Don’t get used to it from me.”
    He caught up her hand again. “I’d better. Remember, there are two conditions.”
    â€œI’ve already agreed to go to the country for you. What more could you want?”
    â€œKiss me.”
    Her eyes went wide. “That’s not the sort of thing a gentleman asks of a lady.”
    â€œI’m not asking. I’m offering. It’s your choice. If you want me in Somerfield Park, you know what you have to do. Kiss me. Right now.”
    Anyone who thought Miss Rebecca Kearsey was a pattern sort of debutante had never seen her angry. John recognized the signs. Her sweet mouth went all pinched and her chin quivered.
    But however she might feel about it, she leaned forward, grabbed him by both ears, and kissed him right on the mouth.

Three
    While one cannot disregard the importance of bloodlines, great men are made, not born. Most often, however, it takes a woman to find and shape that bit of greatness.
    â€”Phillippa, the Dowager Marchioness of Somerset
    John Fitzhugh Barrett was not going to make a fool of Baron Kearsey’s daughter. No, sir. From all accounts, the new Lord Hartley had been running with a fast crowd and had no doubt kissed dozens of women.
    Fancy women. Loose women. Women whose kisses would turn a man’s knees to water.
    Rebecca would show him. A virtuous girl was just as good as a bad girl. Better. She’d kiss him, all right. She’d kiss the man into next week.
    She prided herself on reasoned thought and knew she was being illogical, but before she could untangle all the invalid syllogisms running through her head, she pressed her mouth against his with such force, their eye teeth knocked together. No matter. He wasn’t going to think her a missish little thing who kissed like an awkward first cousin. She was going to put some passion into it.
    As much as she knew about passion, at any rate.
    He covered her hands with his and she realized he was trying to encourage her to soften her grip on his ears. So she uncurled her fingers and slid her hands down to palm his cheeks.
    He groaned into her mouth.
    I’m getting good at this .
    Then when he groaned again, she decided it was probably not a good thing. There was a definite edge of pain in the sound. Her fingertips were pressing too hard on the skin around his swollen eye.
    Botheration! There were