When a Lady Deceives (Her Majesty’s Most Secret Service) Read Online Free PDF Page A

haven’t screamed for assistance. The seeds of scandal have already been planted.”
    She regarded him beneath the veil of her lashes. “Are you suggesting we justify their blather?”
    “I’m sure you’ve heard enough to know I gave up caring for society’s regard a long time ago. And now, I have a beautiful woman at my mercy. Perhaps I feel the urge to justify a bit of my wicked reputation.”
    Praying he hadn’t detected the acceleration of her pulse, she met his gaze. “At your mercy? Need I remind you of my skill with a pitcher, Mr. Colton?”
    He made a show of glancing around the room. “Not a single pitcher in sight, save for my Scotch decanter.” He drew the pad of his thumb over her cheek. “Somehow, I can’t imagine you’d ever be at a man’s mercy.”
    “I am confident I’d find my way out of any predicament.” Good heavens, how her traitorous knees trembled beneath her skirts in contradiction.
    “Is that so?” His husky voice washed over her.
    “You’ve seen that for yourself,” she murmured with a smile.
    “I’ll need to keep you from the crystal. But I must confess I feel a responsibility to convince you that all men aren’t loathsome beasts. For the good of my species, you see.”
    His mouth quirked at the corners. Bloody unsporting of him to infuse his words with the slightest trace of humor. She most definitely did not want to find him appealing. Not that it would matter in any case. She knew better than to be drawn in by a man’s charms—any man, much less a man like Matthew Colton.
    If only she could stop thinking about that sensuous mouth of his.
    Would his kiss pose a subtle seduction? Or would he stake a bold claim, unleashing the intensity behind those dark eyes?
    Her stomach did a little flip. What on earth had come over her? It wasn’t as if she was a giddy miss experiencing her first flirtation. No, she was a modern woman. She knew how to keep her head about her. And she most certainly knew that allowing Matthew Colton to tempt her…to kiss her…was completely and absolutely out of the question. Odd, how disappointment twinged through her at the thought.
    Well, there was nothing to be done about it. She could not indulge her curiosity, for surely that was at the heart of her interest. Pulling in a breath, she cocked her chin. “And precisely how do you propose to go about doing that?” Her heart tapped in rhythm with her brisk words.
    His hands threaded through her hair. His fingertips were rough-textured, the hands of someone not averse to using his natural strength. Somehow, she liked that. The room spun, and she knew it had absolutely nothing to do with the blow to her head.
    “Like this.”
    His mouth claimed hers. Caressing, savoring, he nudged her lips to part for his possession. He tasted like expensive whiskey, entirely masculine, luring her senses to the brink of surrender with his commanding tenderness. This was no fumbling schoolboy intent on stealing a few kisses and forbidden touches.
    This was a man.
    The undeniable evidence of his masculine hunger pressed against her belly. A potent blend of desire and alarm flooded her veins.
    “You’re a beautiful woman, Jennie,” he whispered. “So, so beautiful.”
    The honest need in his voice cascaded liquid warmth through her core. If only he’d stop saying her name. On his lips, the husky sound was a sonnet. Nibbling the area beneath her earlobe, he resumed his tender conquest of her senses.
    Such sweet madness.
    She needed to retreat while she still maintained the allure of future surrender. If he kissed her again, she might well forget this man was a source, not a lover. Bracing her hands against his chest, she separated their bodies with a determined thrust.
    “We must stop this.” Her words came in one great rush.
    His hooded eyes betrayed his intrigue and his desire. He drew the pad of his thumb over her cheekbone, and then, his arms fell to his sides.
    She steadied her ragged breath. If only her