Scandal in Scotland (24 page)

Authors: Karen Hawkins

Tags: #Romance, #Fiction, #General, #Contemporary, #Historical, #actresses, #Ship Captains

BOOK: Scandal in Scotland

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He bent his head and kissed her, pouring all of his discontent, fury, and heated desire into it.

The instant his mouth closed over hers, he realized his mistake. His anger fled before an onslaught of pure, red-hot lust. He forgot why he was mad, why she was locked here in this room, forgot everything but the blinding sensuality of her soft curves pressed against him while her lavender scent engulfed him like a velvet prison.

She froze for a second, then she, too, was lost in the heat that flared between them. He could feel the thunder of her heart as it merged with his, the desperation of her hands as they grasped his coat.

He cupped her to him, lifting her higher until her arms wrapped about his neck. She moaned against his mouth, opening her lips beneath his, desperately seeking.

He was vaguely surprised at her boldness, yet her response answered his own passion so clearly that he didn’t question it, but welcomed and encouraged it. He teased her lips farther apart and deepened the kiss, holding her firmly to him, no longer thinking—just feeling, enjoying, tasting and touching and stroking. His hands never stilled, but molded her to him, cupping her rounded ass, sliding up her sides to find her generous breasts and—

A shout rose through the open window as a servant found the pile of broken furniture. Recalled to his senses, Angus reluctantly broke the kiss and slid Mary to the floor.

Her eyes were still closed, her lips still parted as she panted, her hands bunched about his lapels as if she might fall if she released them.

The sight relaxed him. He might be flushed with passion, but she was utterly overcome.

The thought soothed his irritation as nothing else had, and he felt a sense of self-satisfaction as he gently released his hold.

Her eyes fluttered open and she gazed up at him in bemused amazement, her mouth temptingly swollen from his kiss. For a wild, impulsive moment he considered kissing her again, but reason returned.

He stepped away and her hands fell from his lapels. “There.” He had to clear his throat from the husky passion that still gripped him. “Let that be a lesson to you not to try my temper.”

She blinked and opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words tumbled from her parted lips.

Ha! He might have a husky voice, but she was rendered speechless by a mere kiss.

Smirking, he went to the window and closed it. Then he strode to the door, pausing to look back.

She still stood in the center of the almost-empty room. As he watched, she pressed a hand to her lips as if they still tingled from his kiss. Even more interesting, she made no move to argue with him—not a single word or look turned his way.

That
was more like it. Though the kiss had affected him more than he’d wished, he was no slave to it as she was. He, therefore, was stronger than she.

Now I know how to stop her
. He gave her a mocking bow. “Good day, Miss Hurst. I shall send your maid to you. If you maintain your decorum for the rest of the day, I shall send in a chair with your dinner so that you may have some comfort, though it will be removed once you finish. In the meantime, I believe I shall go for my morning ride.”

Satisfied and feeling magnanimous, he left, closing the door behind him.