Bridal Favors - Engaged in Wickedness Read Online Free Page B

wits in order.
    "I am breathless with curiosity."
    "He has decreed that I shall not go out into gardens such as this one with gentlemen." She glanced coyly up at him. "And that I absolutely should never, ever kiss them."
    The muscles in his belly froze and his mind stuttered into gibberish. She couldn't possibly be suggesting... but of course she was... but it was too fast... she was too fast! But...
    Somehow, he found the wherewithal to speak, though God knows they were the exact wrong words. "It sounds like your brother has made a very reasonable and prudent decree."
    She pursed her lips in a flirtatious moue. "Ah, but that is just the problem. It is a decree , and I am possessed by a devil that makes me defy every one of his decrees."
    So. Well. She did wish to. But he couldn't. It wasn't honorable, which of course was ridiculous in that he had already intended to seduce her. In fact, he ought to be gleeful about his progress, and yet...
    She took his arm and began to head down into the lawn. He resisted for a moment. Not because he intended to, but because he was still frozen in shock.
    "If it isn't you, it will be some other gentleman," she said with another one of her coy smiles. "I would much rather it was you, but if you refuse me..."
    "Certainly not!" he snapped as he joined her on the steps. He wasn't even sure what he was responding to. He certainly wasn't refusing. The vehemence of his reaction startled him, but it clearly seemed to delight her as she laughed. In fact, she was entirely too bewitching as she patted his hand just as he had done to her not fifteen minutes before.
    "Do not fret," she said in an exact echo of his words. "I assure you, I am well used to disobedience. I shall instruct you on exactly what to do."
    They stepped onto the pathway, the stones well lit by lanterns. But it was a rather long path that ambled to a small park beyond. How easy it would be to disappear into the darkness for all manner of mischief.
    His head nearly swam with the thought. Did she have no idea what could happen to her? What he could do? He was already rock hard and more than a little tempted to do the deed right here, right now. Of course he knew it was too soon and timing was everything, but good Lord, he was just a man. And she was leading herself right into disaster!
    "Lady Gwen," he began, but she danced ahead of him, stretching out her arms and spinning around. Her head fell back and her hair swung free. And once again, he found his better thoughts slipping away under her hypnotic beauty.
    "I do love the fall, especially when it is not so cold yet." She stopped spinning and pointed up to the three quarter moon. "I love the moonlight and the trees in all their colors." She danced around a trunk. "And most of all..." her voice trailed away as she disappeared behind a cluster of tightly packed trees.
    Edward stumbled after her. She was an autumn fairy, leading him down the garden path. He was powerless to stop himself even knowing he'd changed from predator to prey.
    "Most of all?" he asked as he rounded the corner.
    It was dark here, but the leaves were well packed. Clearly other couples had found this particular pocket of darkness. But no one else was here now. None but her, her back against the tree and her eyes sparkling up at him.
    "Most of all, sir, I love the way my skin tingles with the chill."
    He stepped up to her, taking his cue to warm her by putting his hands on her. Her skin was indeed cool from the air. Did she know that her nipples were tight, that her skin glowed white in the moonlight, and that no man could resist her?
    "You have done this before," he said softly. Not in accusation, but as a statement of fact. He was delaying, trying to find an honorable path but seeing only her.
    "One question, Sir Edward, before I disobey my brother and let you kiss me."
    "Yes, Lady Gwen?" He didn't know how he managed the words. His blood was roaring in his ears and his hands trembled. She felt so soft, so