Her Only Desire Read Online Free Page B

to work with on his assignment. As for her, what on earth did she think she was doing, dashing around the streets of Calcutta in this wild fashion?
    He definitely meant to speak to her father about this.
    Yes, he thought sternly, not to the girl, but to her menfolk would he address his displeasure. Somehow he doubted Lord Arthur knew what mischief his beautiful daughter had gotten into this day, but that was no excuse. The chit had nearly gotten herself roasted alive.
    It was shocking that her father and brothers were not keeping a better watch over her than this. Did they not know that as the niece of the Hawkscliffe Harlot, she would in all likelihood require even
more
supervision than the typical impulsive young female? This branch of the Knight family was flirting with disaster by giving
their
Georgiana such free rein.
    Of course, in all fairness—both training and native inclination tended to make Ian look at everything from both sides of a situation—having witnessed her display of courage back at the fire, having seen for himself that her rescue truly had been a matter of life and death, he could hardly fault her.
    The girl had just saved someone’s life. He had never seen a woman risk herself for another that way. In truth, his previous cynicism about the new Georgiana had thinned considerably.
    Too, he was only a guest. It was not his place to lecture her or her father on propriety, much as he might have enjoyed doing so; and in light of the fact that riding tandem with the delectable creature had driven his own thoughts into the most lascivious territory, he really had no room to talk.
Merciful heaven.
Her warm hips rocked snug against his groin, while his hands molded her slender waist. His awareness of her had turned to ferocious want within the first furlong.
    Her long legs brushed against his thighs, teasing him; he could feel each subtle flex of her calves as she directed her horse. It was enough to drive a man insane.
    He tried to ignore it: Lusting after his host’s virginal daughter was surely the height of bad form.
    Then she coughed—a short sound, harsh and dry—and his protective instincts surged instantly to the fore once again.
    Furrowing his brow, Ian suddenly realized the girl was experiencing some difficulty with her respiration. Listening more closely, he could hear it in each painful breath she drew, could feel it in the clenched tightness of all the muscles down her back. His face turned grim.
    Disapproval and lust both thrown aside, he steadied her with a firmer hold on her waist. “The smoke has distressed your lungs.”
    â€œNo—I am well—truly.” She tried to stifle another cough, and he cursed himself for his lechery.
    â€œMy dear, you are a very poor liar. Tell me what is wrong,” he ordered in a clipped tone.
    â€œIt’s just a—touch of asthma. I’ve had it since childhood. Usually it gives me no trouble, but the smoke—”
    â€œDo you require a doctor?”
    â€œNo. Thank you.” She sent him a grateful glance over her shoulder, then hesitated. “When I get home, there are things I’ve learned to do that help.”
    â€œGood, then let’s get you there quickly.” He murmured to her not to try to talk; took the reins gently, brooking no further argument; and let her point the way, his entire focus fixed on getting her to safety, where she could receive the appropriate care.
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    Relief and gratitude had been Georgie’s main reactions since the moment Lord Griffith had appeared, and she had been savoring with covert pleasure the way his magnificent body enfolded her so safely as they rode together on her horse.
    But when he forced her to surrender the reins, her triumph over rescuing Lakshmi turned to a sense of unease. Though she did not argue with him this time, his smooth usurpation of control jarred her memory back to her true and original stance about