Oh, Cherry Ripe

She slapped at his shoulder, and when he released her she felt his eyes look into her hers. She made a face at him and announced in a whisper, “You, sir, are taking a liberty. I am at a loss, for you are taller, stronger, and perhaps wicked enough to pursue this further. If that is what you intend … proceed, for I have always wondered what it would be like to be ravished on a London street.” This was meant to make a mark and hit his sense of honor, and it did that very well.

He pulled himself up to his full six feet and stared hard at her. “My dearest child, I am not in the habit of ravishing young women on London streets.”

“Ah, are you not? Then I do apologize,” she said meekly. Again a flush hit.

He growled at her. “What the bloody hell are you doing out here alone anyway? ’Tis folly.”

He sounded to Cherry as though he were fast sobering up in spite of the drink she had tasted on his delicious tongue.

“I am running away from my … er step … father.” She tweaked the truth just a bit, as she didn’t need anyone putting two and two together.

“Why?”

“I cannot tell you that, but it would be very nice if you would let me go on my way before I am caught,” Cheryl returned, smiling charmingly at him, but she could see by the curious expression on his face that he wasn’t about to let this go so easily.

“Running away? Stepfather? This sounds like some blasted fairytale. You can’t go about London alone at night. Might be accosted by any number of scalawags.”

“So you have made me aware …” she started, but he took up her arm and led her towards his coach.

“I shall take you to where you wish to go.”

She could now see she had been wrong. He was not in the least bit sober.

“But I am going to the New Forest,” she answered doubtfully.

“Are you? Whatever the devil for?” he asked, his brows well up.

“My nanny lives there. She will know what to do.”

“For no good reason, that makes sense. Take you to your nanny,” he announced happily.

Cherry was driven by her instincts. This would serve. He was bosky, yes, but she could see he was a gentleman. His first reaction was to see her safely to her nanny. That displayed to her satisfaction that he had no evil intent. Playful, obviously, but safe enough.

“Well, then, I shall tether Bess to the boot.”

“Here, I’ll do that,” he said, taking the reins. He then tripped over himself, grinned boyishly at her, and fumbled with the leading rein to her horse.

She laughed and, pushing him slightly out of the way, saw to her horse herself before climbing into his coach. She was off on a grand adventure!

~ Four ~

CHERRY PEERED THROUGH the darkness of the coach. Lanterns hung on both sides of the

interior, but they gave off only a dim light. Her companion sat quietly beside her, eyes closed, and appeared to be sleeping.

She wondered why she felt so comfortable with him. He was a stranger. She knew nothing about him, other than the fact that he was a splendid figure of a man. Yet she had allowed him to help her into his coach, tether her horse at the back, and drive off into the night. What was wrong with her? He was also quite thoroughly drunk; yet, he certainly conducted himself in excellent style. She had gone with her instincts, and her instincts were rarely wrong.

But, he stole a kiss from you, she reprimanded herself.

Yes, she answered the attack, but such a kiss! And he is not quite sober, after all. She felt perfectly safe with him. Safer than she would be riding alone at night.

There was nothing to do but relax against the luxuriant leather squabs of the seat and contemplate the dark landscape. Everything would be right as rain as soon as she was back with Nanny! She had always relied on her dear, sweet nanny, and this time, she was sure, nanny would know just how to get her out of this scrape.

* * *

He appeared to be asleep, yes, but he was not. His one eyelid lifted now and then to watch her face as she looked out her window at the passing scenes. She was a beauty, the likes of which he had (and he had been with many) never seen before. A child still hung about her and seemed to be still very much in her make-up, but her kiss promised a man a woman in bed. He experienced a hard-on at the notion and shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

She moved, and he caught a glimpse of her provocative body as she slipped off her dark cloak, setting it to one side of herself. Even in the dim light he could see that her clothing, while a simple riding ensemble, was made up of a fashionable Spencer of dark blue with black frogging. He watched her take off her kid gloves and undo the buttons to reveal a lacy, cream-colored shirtfront, and he was all too aware of her full breasts. A sure desire to touch once again stirred his loins and made him squirm uncomfortably. She looked his way, but then he supposed she was satisfied that he was asleep and turned away again.