Her head shot up, and her red, puffy eyes settled on him. “Heavens, no.”

Relief coursed through his veins.

“I hit him almost as soon as—” She cut off abruptly but he did not need to hear any more.

“And where will I find Monsieur Robard? In Paris?”

“Find him?” Estel

le blinked in surprise. “Why?”

“Why do you think?”

“No, Ross.” She shook her head. “I want to forget about Robard. I want to pretend the incident never happened.”

He would not forget. At some point in the very near future, he would travel to Paris. Once there, he would find the scoundrel and beat him so severely he would never regain the full use of his manhood.

“Please, Ross.” Estelle put a hand on his cheek, and he resisted the urge to close his eyes and relish the connection. “There was nothing you or I could have done to prevent it. I told you because you asked and because you were honest with me. But please, put it from your mind.”

“You ask the impossible.”

“Can you not understand?” Both dainty hands cupped his face now. “I want to leave all of that behind me.” Her face was so close he could feel her sweet breath breeze across his lips. “How can I do that if you won’t let me? Please, you must allow me to move on.”

“When you say move on what you really mean is run away.” Vane stared into her sad eyes. “Will you ever stop running, Estelle?”

She fell silent for a moment. “How can I? How can I stop when I don’t have the courage to face the truth?”

Vane wasn’t sure what she was referring to, but she gazed longingly at his mouth as her thumbs stroked his cheeks. He knew enough about women to know she wanted him and so he took a leap of faith.

“And what is the truth? Do you regret leaving Prescott Hall?”

Do you regret leaving me?

She swallowed visibly. “I regret it more than you will ever know.”

“Why?” They were finally getting somewhere.

“Because I lost the respect and friendship of someone dear to me.” She bent her head and pressed her lips to his in a chaste kiss. “I lost you.”

Had Estelle been sitting opposite he might have asked questions, probed her for more information. But her soft buttocks were but an inch away from his throbbing cock. The mere touch of her lips roused his desire, and he was lapping her comment up like a thirsty dog did a puddle of rainwater.

“What do you want from me?” Vane whispered. He cupped her neck, drew her mouth to his and kissed her with a passion reserved only for this woman. Leaving her in no doubt of his intentions.

“We cannot go back to how things were. Too much has happened. Our lives are so different now.” She moistened her lips. “But you’re the only man I have ever wanted. I would like to know you, Ross, to know the pleasure that comes when two people share a special bond, a deep connection.”

The devil on his shoulder rubbed his hands gleefully, eager for an opportunity to sate his curiosity, to know if joining with her would be everything he imagined it to be. The saint in him raised his hands to the heavens and prayed for caution. What if this experience made him want her all the more? If she left again how would he cope? But he was too weak to deny his body, too weak to deny his heart.

Holding her tightly to his chest, Vane leant forward and tugged down the blinds.

“Then kiss me again, Estelle. Convince me this is truly what you want.”

She sat up, shuffled to straddle him. “I need you, Ross. Help me to forget every painful memory.” She claimed his mouth in a ravenous assault, teased his lips apart and delved inside. It was as though she could not taste him deeply enough, as though she was famished and he was her only sustenance.

The wild, erotic dance of their tongues sent the blood rushing to his cock. He’d never been so hard, never been so eager to consummate an alliance. The sudden urge to feel every inch of her took hold. Frantic hands traced the curve of her hips, gripped her buttocks and drew her against the evidence of his arousal.

A moan escaped her lips.

Good God.

Tags: Adele Clee Lost Ladies of London Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net