Two Shades of Seduction Read Online Free Page B

An unfamiliar sensation spread its way through her body, igniting a fire inside her that she didn’t know how to quench. No one had ever kissed her like this before. It made her weak at the knees, and she fought to keep her senses from reeling.
    Without thinking, she kissed him back. A growl rumbled in his chest. It was a primitive sound that made her lips part slightly, and instantly his tongue swept into her mouth. The taste of brandy laced its way over her tongue. Although the liquor’s flavor held no fire, it didn’t need to. The way his tongue swirled around hers made up for the lost heat of the brandy. White-heat plundered its way through her veins, and she moaned with delight.
    She wanted to sink into him. Mold her body to his and allow him to do whatever he demanded of her. Sweet Lord, this was beyond her wildest, most hedonistic imaginings. She’d never expected to feel so wanton, so eager for a man to take her into his bed. Fear suddenly knifed through her. Restraint. She needed to come to her senses. Desperate to regain control of the situation, she turned her head away from him. Hands splayed across his chest, she pushed against him in an effort to escape.
    Immediately, he released her. Devoid of his heat, a chill swept over her. She didn’t like the cold sensation. A craving to feel the warmth of his touch again made her stomach lurch. Still shocked by the wanton feelings he’d aroused in her, Sophie kept her eyes averted. Her breathing was ragged, and her heart was still racing as she endeavored to control the intensity of the sensations he’d stirred to life inside her.
    As she struggled with the strength of her reaction to his kiss, she shuddered. She’d responded to his touch like a woman starved for love and affection. The realization made her heart sink. He’d been in jest that they marry. What man would want a woman so much older than him? Just the way he’d pushed her away so abruptly spoke volumes.
    After all, she was the daughter of the man who had ruined him. How could he possibly be serious about marrying her? No doubt, he’d merely been toying with her. He’d taken pity on her and given her a taste of what could have been for her if she were much younger.
    She straightened her shoulders at the thought. She might be an old maid, but she still had her pride. Pity was the last thing she wanted from anyone, least of all this man. Head held high, she looked at the earl once more. Despite the several feet between them, Sophie noticed how his chest rose and fell rapidly, almost as if he’d been running.
    There was an odd expression on his face that vanished the moment he caught her studying him so intently. Perhaps he hadn’t been completely unaffected by their kiss. She dismissed the thought as a wild fantasy.
    “This is a mistake,” she said in a quiet, yet firm, voice.
    “It’s not a mistake to feel desire.” A dark emotion flashed in his green eyes and made her heart skip a beat.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “Don’t lie to me or yourself, Sophie,” he bit out. “You came close to letting me have you on my desk right now.”
    The shocking statement made Sophie swallow hard as Devlyn’s gaze bore into her. He was right. If he’d pressed his advantage, she would have surrendered to him without any protest. Sophie shuddered and looked away from his intense gaze. God in Heaven, what was happening to her? Despite being so much older than him, the man made her feel like an innocent, and she was far from that.
    She knew what went on between a man and a woman. She’d witnessed it that day in the stables when Eleanor had been rutting with a stable hand. No, the only innocence she possessed was from the actual experience itself.
    Innocent or not, she’d been daft to think she could marry a man so much younger than herself. It just wasn’t done. She winced at how foolish she’d been to come here. Determined not to act the fool, Sophie forced herself to look at him