Page 6 of Charlotte's Kisses

This was all too shocking. So why was she sucking on his tongue and rubbing her tingling breasts against his pectorals?

She moaned, like a puppy getting its belly scratched, or perhaps a harlot. But heavens above, apparently, she adored being kissed by a masked stranger who had recently drunk ale.

Her lover withdrew his tongue, and his lips cupped her ear. “Please play along, my lady.”

“Yes,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck. She would do anything he asked as long as he placed his velvety tongue back into her mouth.

She whimpered as he withdrew from her embrace and stepped back. Perhaps she was a horrible kisser. No surprise there since she had no idea what she was doing. However, she had secretly stolen a few peeks at the scandalous instructionalbook,The Secret Life of Gentlemen, and had some idea of what happened between men and women. Unless it wasn't her awkward kissing, and he had noticed she “looked a fright in pink.” Her heart, which had been beating wildly just moments ago, withered as if it were a dried-out old current.

He turned his back to her and backed up until his shoulder blades bumped her nose. “Please excuse the lady and I,” he said.

Who in the dickens was he speaking to? Charlotte raised onto her tiptoes to peer over his shoulder. So much for the noise in the forest being hungry deer or a disgruntled Nash. Three of her stepmother’s staff stood gawking.

“Pardon us, sir, um, my lord,” Leon said. “Have you seen a bloke run through here? About your height and build, brown tailcoat.”

Caught behaving like a Jezebel. She was ruined. Her stepmother would smirk.“I told you she was worthless,” she would say to everyone. Her father would huff and then lock himself in his study. Alexander might be her only ally—but only if she could get him to put away his books for a moment and listen to her tale.

Charlotte winced at the horror of her predicament. She hid behind the gentleman who apparently owned a brown coat and was on the run from her stepmother.

Wait a minute. If he was her stepmother’s enemy, perchance he was her friend? What a pleasant thought. Remaining concealed behind the wall of muscle, she called out, “Yes. I saw him.”

Her lover stiffened as he peered over his shoulder at her. What lovely blue eyes he had. Unfortunately, they morphed into little slits that contained hellfire. “Do not,” he growled at her.

Heavens, even his growl was appealing.

“He went that way.” Charlotte swung her hand over her human shield’s head and pointed into the forest.

“Thank you, miss,” Leon said.

“Hurry. Before he gets away,” she said.

Sending her enemy in the wrong direction filled her with effervescent bubbles that threatened to burst forth in a giggle. Although, perchance, what she truly celebrated was the bold new Charlotte who planned to continue kissing this masked stranger.

Chapter five

The chit pressing herfull bosom into Hugh’s chest had just saved his hide. Add to that, her full curves were shoved into a shimmering pink gown, her blue eyes had clouded over with lust, and her soft lips boldly trailed kisses over his mouth. The second he had seen her, it was as if she was an apparition. Her magical aura aglow in the dark had called to him. Besides, she was much too lovely for the foppish fool who’d been trailing her.

Hugh needed to be on his way in case his pursuers came back. However, his cock had other ideas. The bloody unruly thing was making itself known, poking this enchantress in her belly. She halted her explorations to pull back and peer down at the bulge in his trousers.

“What is that?” she asked.

“My cock enjoying our kisses.” What in the hell was wrong with him? Why would he say such an indecent thing?

“Oh,” she said around her gasp.

She probably thought he carried a pistol in his trousers. But no, the dashed magistrate had taken it, and he had no jutting coins. He was simply a bloody libidinous blighter who was unable to control his dashed prick. They should lock him and his ungentlemanly rod far away from ladies. However, instead of running from him, she gazed into his eyes. Shite, he liked her big innocent eyes, half hidden though they were in that feminine mask.

“Why did you risk your reputation to save me?” he asked since he’d been doing his damndest to shield her.

“I wanted to keep kissing you,” she said. “Besides, they did not see who I was.”

She wanted to keep kissing him? How utterly sublime.

He wrapped one arm around her waist and tugged her to him. Unlike his desperate kisses meant to save his life, these would seduce. Taking her bottom lip in his, he nibbled, rejoicing in her shiver. What a responsive chit.

He gently kissed a path from the nape of her neck, brushing his nose over her earlobe. Seeing as how she tilted her head to the side and mewled, she quite enjoyed his ministrations. Encouraged by her response, he cradled the small of her back, then nibbled and sucked his way to her collarbone.

Her fingernails dug into his scalp as she held him close.