Simply Forbidden Read Online Free Page B

interest lay in the lack of horses at the nunnery rather than her plight. The stable yard came into sight, and Lisette saw the small stable boy perched on the fence waiting for them.
    “Thank you for your help.”
    He shrugged. “You did well.”
    The horses stopped and the boy ran to their heads to holdthe reins. Lisette turned to find Lord Swanfield waiting to lift her down. She managed to swing her leg over the saddle, but when she tried to kick her other foot free she found the strength in her knees gone and clutched at his solid form.
    “Put your hands on my shoulders.”
    She obeyed, simply because she had no choice, and felt the warmth of his body and the flex of his muscles beneath the fine wool of his coat. His hands closed around her waist and he slowly brought her down to the ground, her body aligned with his. Behind her, she heard the stable boy whistling to the horses as he walked them away. Lord Swanfield didn’t release her and she made the mistake of looking up at him. He bent his head and kissed her, nipped at her lower lip until she opened her mouth to his tongue.
    With a groan he backed her up against the shadows of the stable wall where no one could see them. His kiss was as hot and possessive as she had hoped—had she hoped for this? This torrent of unexpected emotion, this desire to open herself to him and for him?
    She wrenched her mouth away from his. “I didn’t say you could kiss me.”
    “I didn’t ask.” He lowered his head again and kissed her harder and she forgot to argue, just luxuriated in the sensation of being engulfed, devoured, and possessed…. His hands roamed over her body, kneaded her buttocks, and pressed her closer and closer to the thickness of his buckskin-covered erection. She stood on tiptoe and threaded her hand through his black hair, tried to fit herself against his heat and the promise of his muscular frame.
    When he finally lifted his head, her lips were swollen, her breath coming in pants.
    “Was there something you wanted to ask me, Miss Ross?”
    “What?” Confused, she sought his eyes and saw lust andsomething far more watchful in his dark gaze. “What was I supposed to ask you?”
    He stepped back and bowed. “It’s of no matter. I’ll see you here tomorrow at five.”
    Lisette brought a trembling hand to her lips, suddenly conscious of where they were and of the possibility of prying eyes. Despite what Christian believed, she was usually very careful to behave in an appropriately ladylike manner when she was at her father’s house. But she didn’t feel ladylike. For the first time in a long while she wanted to experience the sexual joys her mother always hinted at, joys Lisette had begun to believe were not meant for her.
    “Miss Ross?”
    There was a hint of impatience in Lord Swanfield’s voice, as though he’d never kissed her, or as if she had disappointed him in some way. She studied his face, saw the desire he couldn’t conceal, and dropped her gaze lower to the shape of his hard shaft rising from his breeches. Had he felt anything, or was this just part of his usual morning ritual? A result of biology rather than true interest or passion?
    She licked her lips and tasted coffee and pure maleness. “Do you always kiss women you have just met like that?”
    He considered her for a long moment. “No. Good morning, Miss Ross.” He turned on his heel and walked away from her.
    Lisette remained in the shadows until the flush on her cheeks disappeared and her heart rate returned to normal. She’d kissed a lot of men, but most of them never dared to take such liberties with her person as Lord Swanfield had. She was usually the one in control. Despite his lack of courtesy, he excited her more than any other man.
    She sighed and went to find her cloak. There was no time to ponder the interesting matter of her attraction to such a man now. She needed to get ready for the day as her father’s hostess.Dare she turn up tomorrow for her riding lesson?