The Many Sins of Lord Cameron Read Online Free PDF Page A

her skin. He was going to kiss her. She’d dreamed of his kiss in the lonely years between her first encounter with him and this one, reliving the warm pressure of his mouth, the heat of his tongue. And now, she would let him kiss her again. Gladly.
    Closer. Closer. Cameron nuzzled the line of her hair, his lips just brushing it. “Who is the letter to?” he whispered.
    Ainsley could barely speak. “None of your affair.”
    His smile held sin. “You look too innocent to have paramours. But I know you’re a good little liar.”
    “I’m not lying, and I don’t have a paramour. The letter belongs to a friend, I told you.”
    “She must be a very dear friend, for you to go to all this trouble.” He fished the key from his pocket and touched it to her lips. “Ye want this, do you?”
    “I would enjoy leaving the room, yes.”
    Cameron’s eyes warmed. “Are ye certain?”
    “Very certain.” I think.
    Cameron traced her lips with the key, the metal cool and hard. “What would you do for this key, pretty Mrs. Douglas?”
    “I don’t know.” That was the plain truth. Whatever Cameron asked her for, Ainsley was afraid she’d do without protest.
    “Would you kiss me for it?”
    Ainsley’s gaze went to his lips, and she wet her own. “Yes. Yes, I believe I would.”
    “Bold, wicked lady.”
    “I must be, mustn’t I? I haven’t screamed or slapped you or smacked my knee between your legs.”
    Cameron looked startled, then burst out laughing. It was a genuine laugh, his gravelly voice warm. The bed shook with it. Still laughing, Cameron tilted his head back and dropped the key into his mouth.
    “What are you—” Ainsley’s words cut off as Cameron brought his mouth down on hers, sweeping his tongue—and the cool key—inside. His lips were strong, mastering, his tongue forceful.
    Cameron lifted his head again, still smiling.
    Finding her hands released, Ainsley plucked the key from her mouth. “I could have choked on this, my lord.”
    “I wouldn’t have let you.” His tone was suddenly gentle, the one of the man who coaxed the most reluctant horses to come to his hand. In that instant, Ainsley saw loneliness in his eyes, a vast well of it, filling every space of him.
    Ainsley knew about loneliness—she was often alone despite living among so many people—but she also knew that she had family and friends who would be at her side the moment she truly needed them. Lord Cameron had family, the notorious Mackenzies, four men who couldn’t stay out of the scandal sheets, and a son, Daniel, who spent most of his time away at school. His two younger brothers had wives and new families to keep them busy, his older brother Hart had the dukedom. What did Cameron have?
    Compassion squeezed her heart, and Ainsley reached up to touch his face.
    Instantly, Cameron rolled off her, removing his heady warmth, at the same time pulling her upright. She found herself sitting on the edge of the bed, clutching the key, before his hand under her backside pushed her to her feet.
    “Go,” he said. “You have your way out, and I want to sleep.”
    Ainsley held out her hand. “With the letter?”
    “Bugger the letter. Now get out, woman, and leave me in peace.”
    The shutters between himself and her had risen again. Hard and unpredictable was Lord Cameron. A new mistress every few months, ruthless when it came to winning races, and fiercely protective of his horses and his son.
    Horses and women, she’d heard someone say about him. That’s all he cares about, in that order.
    And yet she’d seen that flash of longing in his eyes.
    Cameron still had the page of the letter. Ainsley had lost this round, but there would be another. There would have to be.
    “Good night then, Lord Cameron.”
    Hand under her arm, playful no longer, Cameron took her to the door, waited while she put the key in the lock, and more or less shoved her out of the room. Without looking at her, Cameron closed the door behind her, and she heard the