Where to Woo a Bawdy Baron (Romancing the Rake 3)

But he did know one thing, it would do her no good to leave her here all alone and allow Fred to hurt her.

She made one of those soft moaning cries, the sort that told him she was close to her finish. Her face buried into his neck, her breath warm against his flesh. He kissed her temple wishing to stay locked together like this forever.

She came undone, her legs spasming as her arms locked about his back. Chris cradled her against him peppering her face with kisses. He knew he shouldn’t keep her but he didn’t think he could let her go either.

“Chris,” her voice trembled as she burrowed deeper into him. “I…” She stopped swallowing. “What do we do now?”

He drew in a deep breath as he rolled them both over, his back hitting the ground, even as he settled her on his chest. “We lie here, sweetheart, and enjoy the sunshine filtering through the trees.”

“Hmmm,” she murmured snuggling against his chest. “That isn’t exactly what I meant.”

“I know,” he answered as he began to stroke down her back along her spine. “But it’s the only answer I have at this moment.”

“Fair enough.” She lightly massaged his chest.

Desire still raged through him but he was content to just lie here with her on his chest. In fact, he couldn’t ever remember feeling so relaxed.

Bianca lifted her head. “Are you still coming to dinner tonight?”

“Yes.” He cupped her cheek. “I want to thank your father for his hospitality.”

Her lips parted and her eyebrows raised. “That’s why you’re coming to dinner. For my father?”

Her voice rose with every word and belatedly he realized his mistake. He flattened his hand on her back, pressing them closer together. “Bianca.” Chris drew in a deep breath, collecting his thoughts. “I don’t know where we’re going but I do know that I need to make a friend of your father if we ever hope to get there.”

“Oh.” She relaxed against him, laying her head back down and he nearly sighed with relief.

And then he realized that his every feeling was tied to hers. He only relaxed when she did. He hurt when she hurt, he sang with joy when she was happy. Damn.

They lay there for several more minutes before he finally lifted them both up. Bianca had pine needles sticking out from her hair and on her dress, and several articles of her clothing were strewn about the ground. He smiled in satisfaction as he began to put her back together.

“Must we go already?” she asked, pulling several more needles from her hair.

“I’m afraid so,” he answered, wanting nothing more than to lie back down. “We don’t want to arouse suspicion.” He pulled her against his chest and gave her a long hard kiss. “But I will see you tonight.”

She nodded and they stepped from the glen, making their way back up the path. Just behind the barn he gave her a kiss goodbye, peeking around the edge to make certain she entered the house. Then he turned back to return to the village. He missed the feel of her against him already. Tonight couldn’t come quickly enough.

* * *

Bianca tapped her toe as she sat on the settee waiting to welcome their guests. Not that she cared about Crestwood or Dashlane in the least.

Her father stood, participating in one of his favorite pastimes, reciting Shakespeare. He loved the playwright and poet so much he’d named them all after various characters from the plays.

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments; love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove.

O no, it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.