Page 74 of The Notorious Lady

He snorted. “Then you’d be the weak one right now, freezing and looking pitiful.” He covered her hand with his icy one.

Grace shook her head. “Hide your hand under the blanket. You need to warm up.”

“Don’t you know that the easiest way to warm up is by contact with another human being? Apparently, people are warmer than blankets.”

“You are delirious.” Grace chuckled, tucking his hand under the blanket.

“No, it’s true. I’ve read mountain guides telling people to snuggle up in tents with other people for warmth.”

She raised a brow. “Were you preparing for an expedition into the mountains?”

He closed his eyes. “No, but I found the book to be fascinating.”

Grace cleared her throat. “Well, if the mountain guides are saying this, then… perhaps we should do the same. Unless you mind sharing a bed with a harlot.”

Another scoff. “We’ve shared a lot more than that already.”

She raised a brow. “Have we?”

He raised his hand, creating an opening in the blanket. “Just get in.”

Chapter 20

Grace climbed inside the blanket with a slight hesitation. But his cold limbs quickly turned her hesitation into worry. She needed him healthy. The rest of the journey to Dover wasn’t long. If they left on the morrow in the early morning, they would possibly reach it by nightfall. But she’d rather they got there faster.

She would feel safer there. She would feel at home.

She embraced him from behind and curled herself around him, holding him close. She laid her hand over his arm and rubbed.

He placed his cold hand over hers and squeezed.

“You are incredibly cold,” she tsked. “Here, turn toward me and warm your hands against my belly. Let me warm you up a little.” She turned away and waited for him to turn toward her and embrace her from behind. His cold but strong arms wrapped around her waist, pressing her solidly to his chest.

She covered his hands with hers and held them close to her midsection. That part of her body was always one of the warmest.

His breath on her ear, he now lay incredibly close to her—their legs were entwined, his arms were steel bands holding her pressed up against him. It had been a long time since anyone embraced her like this. It was rather comforting, until he said, “I know of a way that will warm both of us up really quickly.”

His low, playful voice whispered lightly against her ears.

Grace didn’t answer. She knew what he meant, and she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t interested. She wanted him. She missed him. After traveling for hours with her bottom pressed between his thighs, with his arms around her, that want had only intensified.

Something within her rebelled against the idea, though. He wanted her only because she was there. Easily attainable. A harlot—ready for the taking, to be used for his pleasure and warmth. Nothing more.

And while it shouldn’t have mattered—he wanted her, she wanted him, they could enjoy themselves to their hearts’ content—it did. Somehow it did.

He didn’t want her. He just wanted her body.

And as for her…

She hadn’t wanted a man this much in a while. Not in all the years of watching numerous men’s naked bodies in her brothel.

She hadn’t been with a man, truly been with a man, in a long time. And she’d promised herself that the next time would be worth it. The next time it would be about feelings.

“Hmm…” A low rumble reverberated through his chest and against her back. He tightened his arm around her, pulling her closer so that her derriere touched his thighs. His hands were warmer now, and an undeniable bulge grew inside his trousers, pressing against her.

Her heart raced and a shiver spread inside her belly.

“How did you come up with your name, anyway?” he asked.