No Gentleman for Georgina Read Online Free PDF Page B

front of him, watching his face. She had never seen him like this, so open, so emotional. Normally, he kept himself in the deepest, most severe check, never allowing emotion to bleed through. But he could not cover the pain of his memories now.
    She lifted her hand and gently cupped his cheek, stroking her fingers over the skin.
    “I cannot imagine what it must have been like. Did you have no one to talk to about it?”
    He was staring at her now, his focus shifted from the past to her face. And a new expression joined whatever pain he had shown her. But she couldn’t name it. All she could see was that it was hot and focused and made her stomach flip in a most pleasant fashion.
    “No,” he whispered. “No one knows what happened to me. You are the first soul I have ever spoken to.”
    “And your arm?”
    “My shoulder still hurts from time to time.” He rotated it with a slight wince. “But I am a whole man, if that is what you are asking me.”
    She swallowed. There was such a tension between them now that she could hardly breathe. Hardly think. Instead, she whispered, “Paul…”
    He let out a low moan and moved even closer to her. They were almost touching now, she was almost in his arms.
    “Say my name again and I may not be able to stop myself,” he whispered, his voice painfully rough.
    She blinked, not understanding, and yet her body reacting in ways she did not control. She felt hot, so hot, and she was trembling as she slowly wet her dry lips and said, “Stop yourself from what?”
    He leaned away, watching her face with an intensity that made her shake. “Georgina,” he whispered. “You must know that I have—I have feelings for you.”
     

Chapter Five

     
    The moment those horrible words of confession fell from his lips, Paul wished he could take them back. Especially when Georgina’s expression twisted into one of utter shock. He had gone too far, let his emotional response to the East India Company figures and the memories they inspired make him lose his faculties.
    Georgina was kind to him, but there was nothing more there. And now he had ruined everything between them.
    “Georgina,” he began, intent on apology and minimization of this foolish mistake.
    But before he could continue, she shocked him by launching herself forward into his arms. Her hands cupped his cheeks, and she kissed him.
    For a fraction of a moment, he could only register surprise. Georgina was a proper lady in all things—and this reaction was anything but proper. But that surprise faded at the innocent ardor of her kiss, and he couldn’t resist what she offered.
    His arms came around her. He cupped the back of her head gently, angling her for better access, and returned the kiss. At first it was chaste and closed-mouthed, but her lips were too soft, her breath too sweet, and he couldn’t help himself. He had to taste her.
    He darted his tongue out, tracing the crease of her lips. When she gasped, he took the opportunity and slid inside. She stiffened only for a flash and then relaxed, first letting him slide his tongue over hers, then tentatively returning the passion in his kiss.
    She was so innocent and yet she learned quickly, and soon she was delving into exploration with as much fervor as he felt. And it was too much temptation, too much desire that she stoked in him. He felt his cock beginning to swell, his blood beginning to boil, everything in his mind and body demanding that he strip her propriety away and claim her in some way.
    He couldn’t claim. That would be desperately unfair to her. But couldn’t he give pleasure? Couldn’t he have that small boon to cling to later when Georgina had married some proper man and she would likely not even be allowed to call him friend? That time was coming, he knew it, and he wanted this stolen night to give him comfort when it was all over.
    He slowly guided her back, toward an exhibit where an elegantly dressed wax figure stood beside a velvet settee. When he