Rory Read Online Free Page A

roguish charmer.
    “Of course I can read,” she said in a tone that implied the question was silly. She knew that many servants were uneducated, so he would probably assume she was no different. “What do you wish me to read?”
    “Byron, perhaps? Or Shelley?”
    Of course he would like Byron. The two shared so many similar characteristics, after all. “I shall check your brother’s library and see what I can find.”
    “Thank you, Shannon. You are far too kind.”
    She liked his voice, and the way he said her name. He was so beautiful it was difficult not to stare. It was one thing to look at him when he was sleeping and unaware, but when he was staring at her so intently, and right after she’d seen him perform the most intimate of acts, it felt strange.
    So disturbingly strange she looked away.
    “I will see to your dinner now. That is, if you’ll be all right without me. Perhaps I should call for someone to watch over you?”
    He walked toward her, the sheet hanging dangerously low where he’d tied it at his waist. She held her breath, just waiting for it to drop.
    He was two steps away from her when he wavered on his feet. Shannon reached out to settle him and would have ended up on her bottom if it weren’t for the bed. Her breath left her in a rush as his full weight landed on top of her. Every solid inch of his powerful body covered her. She pushed against his shoulder, but he didn’t budge.
    Oh, for God’s sake.
    “My lord,” she said urgently, pushing against him, but he didn’t move. However, she felt the hard ridge of his cock pressing into her belly.
    Much to her horror, the blood in her veins simmered, pooling low in her groin. Even her nipples tightened. Her nose was buried in his neck and she inhaled deeply. Thank goodness reality came in the way of a familiar scent. Jasmine. Candice’s perfume.
    “Rory!” she said, her voice firm, trying without success to squeeze out from beneath him.
    Slowly, his eyes fluttered open and he stared down at her, his brows furrowing as though he were trying to figure out how she had gotten there.
    She shifted, and the sides of his mouth lifted in a scandalously handsome smile. Was it her imagination, or had his manhood become even harder? He made a moaning sound, and his long hair tickled her shoulder and face. Why did she suddenly feel the desire to bury her head in those tresses?
    “What happened?” he asked, his gaze fastening on her lips.
    Oh dear.
    “You lost consciousness,” she said, her face turning hot. “I tried to steady you … but we fell onto the bed, and I have tried without success to move you. I have been trying to wake you.” Dear God, she was babbling like an idiot.
    He laughed under his breath.
    What the hell? “It is not funny. You are not well. You are pale and sweaty, and I fear a fever might have taken hold. For your information, fevers could be deadly in this situation.” Now why had she said that?
    Was it her imagination, or had he shifted his hips and applied more pressure on her nether regions? Yes, there was no denying the hard-as-stone ridge of his manhood resting snug against her mound.
    Lord help her, but she had the most insane desire to spread her legs wide and arch against him. What would it feel like to have him buried deep inside her, this man who had been making love to another woman scant minutes before?
    He took his weight off her chest by propping himself up on his elbows. At least she wasn’t being crushed and could perhaps start thinking clearly.
    He stared down at her, his face inches from hers. Good God, he was so perfect it almost hurt to look at him.
    Still supporting his own weight, he continued to watch her. His thumbs brushed gently across her temples. “You are so striking with your pale hair and eyes. And incredibly delicate. I feel like you could break if I am not careful.”
    Well, apparently he wasn’t
that
concerned, because he wasn’t budging.
    An image of him and Candice flashed before her