The Perfect Gift Read Online Free Page B

rise up and demand attention. Thank the lord for the decrees of the ton that stiff breeches were not de rigueur in all situations. He was pleased to be wearing pantaloons, even if they were frowned upon as fast by some of the upper echelon of the ton.
    A noise not unlike a kettle about to boil was coming from under the skirts. It seemed the lady was not amused.
    With an inward smile of satisfaction, Stephen used his fingers to tease for a few seconds longer, squashing his innermost desires to take things a lot further. Judith, for he was sure it was she, was upside down; her skirts hung over her upper body and shielded him from her view.
    With regret, he turned her upright, letting her skirts fall and cover her perfect body.
    She was red in the face as she glared at him.
    Stephen suppressed a chuckle. “Ire because I took a small liberty, my dear, or because I stopped before I began to explore?” He raised one fine-shaped eyebrow, and held the lantern closer to her.
    The light swayed, and he saw stars as pain radiated from his stomach, to his cock, and thence upwards. He could have sworn his teeth rattled with the intensity of the blow he received.
    The minx has hit me.
    His breath whooshed out of him, and through the ringing in his ears he heard her furious voice.
    “You bastard, you cad, you, you, villain.” Her voice was deep and full of scorn. “Is that the lone way you can justify touching me? When my head is covered and I cannot either take part or deny you?”
    Put like that it did seem rather more underhand than he had intended. Stephen did his best to gather air into his labored lungs and not wheeze like an old man. It was several seconds before he decided he was in control of his breathing once more. His chest heaved as he struggled to formulate his sentence.
    “I apologize, my lady,” he said, stiffness uppermost in his voice, “if I offended or upset you.” He was not going to apologize for his actions, and he saw the gleam in her eyes when she realized it.
    “And do you apologize for anything more?” she asked, her hands clenched by her sides.
    Stephen eyed those tiny weapons. He knew the signs of ire in a woman. “If I did so, it would be a lie,” he replied. “I must be frank, I enjoyed every tiny touch, and my body aches for more.”
    “So why did you stop?” Judith demanded. “Did not the way my juices coated my curls and your hand indicate my enjoyment?”
    He sighed. “I could say, I remembered where we were, with servants outside, but in truth Judith, if I did not stop then, I would have unleashed all my desires on you, and I fear they are too dark and dangerous to apply to such a young lady.”
    “You fear.” Her voice was full of scorn and he winced at the tone. “Always you. Have I no say in the matter?”
    How could he explain his ideals without scaring her? The thought she would be disgusted by him did not bear thinking about. “Perchance I dare not let you, for in truth Judith, my palate is jaded, my desires not of the norm. I feel too much for you to subject you to them.” He waited for her response, his heart heavy.
    “You feel, tis all you, all you again my lord. Oh get me out of here.” Her voice broke and she sobbed. Stephen gritted his teeth. He wanted nothing more than to hold her, promise her anything and never let her go. If, he thought, despair seeping into his soul, he did not need more than he thought she would voluntarily give.
    “I will instruct my coachman we are to leave in the morning,” Judith continued, her voice thick with emotion. “Though I fear I may have to depend on your goodwill until then. Once I leave, I will not disturb you anymore, my lord.”
    “Judith, my dear, you will always disturb me,” Stephen said. “And I wish with all my heart things could be different. Let us go now and get into the warmth of the hall, and I…” He trailed off. How could he explain and see the ardor in her eyes turn to scorn and even more, perhaps to