Page 58 of Scandal’s Daughter

The idea that she was perhaps her mother’s daughter after all crept into her mind, but she pushed it away. She slid her arms around him in return, pressing closer, wanting to forget another man and another place, an autumn idyll that could only ever have been a dream.

He broke the kiss and looked down at her, his eyes were pleased and heavy with wanting.

“You see, sweet Eve,” he murmured, dipping his head to trail his mouth along her jaw line, feathering a line of hot little kisses down her neck as his skilled fingers opened the fastenings on her spencer. She gasped as his large hand slid underneath the short jacket and his head bent further to press a kiss on the soft rise of her breast just above the neckline of her dress. Closing her eyes as desire flamed to life, she felt his thumb rub the peak of her nipple beneath the soft fabric of her gown and bit back a moan.

“I can please you, Georgiana,” he whispered kissing a path over one breast to the other. “I could show you such pleasure. I want to, love ... so badly.”

She drew in a breath as his fingers tweaked her nipple and his head raised to nuzzle the soft skin beneath her ear. “It wouldn’t be so bad would it, to be married to me? Friends who desire each other, it’s more than many people begin with.”

“Not so bad, no,” she murmured, her body alive with sensation, her head dizzy with desire and her poor heart too bruised to allow her to think clearly.

He paused and grasped her face between his hands. “Is that a yes?” he asked, his voice rough with need.

“I--,” she gasped, and then shook her head. “No, yes ... I don’t know!” she exclaimed. “Please, I need time to think. Take me back now, Beau, please. I need to ...”

He pulled her into his arms once more and kissed her ruthlessly, leaving her breathless and flustered as he released her and took his place at the oars once more.

His eyes on her were intent as he rowed them out from under the tree and she quickly refastened her spencer. She didn’t doubt she looked flushed and thoroughly kissed, and she raised her chin in defiance at the scandalised glances of another couple who passed close by as they rowed back to shore.

“That’s it, darling,” Beau whispered, his glittering gaze warm and approving. “Who gives a damn for what they think. They’re all liars and hypocrites after all.”