Page 29 of Desperately Seeking Seduction

“It was time to move on,” she said solemnly. “I never allow myself to get comfortable anywhere.”

“Oh,” he said, feeling disappointed that he might not see Winston again. He hadn’t fully considered what keeping a secret like hers might mean. She would always be at risk of being found out. It couldn’t be an easy way to live. “Where will you go?”

“I don’t know yet. I never do. I just set out and see what opportunities await.”

“Why not go home?”

She sucked in a breath. “I can never go back.”

“I suppose your family doesn’t approve of you wearing the clothing of a gentleman.”

“No, they certainly do not.”

“Well, I don’t mind. Not really,” he promised. He should be at the easel already, eagerly attempting to catch the wonder of the morning in his art. He’d come out here to work, after all. Although spending the morning lazing about in the sun, talking to Win, held a far greater appeal. He scooted down to sit on the edge of the blanket next to her. “Where is home?”

“A long way away,” she said unhelpfully.

“Do you miss it? Miss your family?”

“Sometimes. But I doubt I am missed in return. If they saw me again, they’d never claim to know me.”

Her words brought him a greater understanding of her retiring nature. She’d been hurt and abandoned by her family. “Well, I would. I would miss you,” he said swiftly.

Winston laughed and hugged her knees tighter. “You’ll have Cuthbert back soon enough.”

“Yes. A valet I would never want to kiss as much as I do you right now,” he suggested, wishing she would relax and laugh again.

She turned to look at him eventually. “No, you’re not quite the scoundrel you want me to believe, my lord.”

“Well, I could be with you, but I’ve made a rule never to seduce my servants, especially not my valets.”

She set her chin on her shoulder. “You said I couldn’t be a valet anymore.”

“I don’t want to dismiss you, but it does make things more complicated—me wishing to kiss you every time you curse me. And you cursed me a lot this morning.”

“I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just… This is so strange. I’m not like other women.”

“You are to me, and that is all the opinion you should ever really care about.”

She laughed softly. “Do you always talk nonsense?”

“Not always but often,” he promised with a sincere smile. He couldn’t help wanting to draw her out because he liked her better than even his last lover. Winston had a way of making him comfortable without trying too hard to win him over.

“I like listening to you,” she said—and then suddenly leaned toward him, and her lips landed awkwardly on his.

Stratford was startled but only for a moment. He immediately drew her down to the blanket so he could kiss her properly, show her how it was meant to done. He wrapped her tightly into his embrace, craving the closeness of her body against his. Winston was curved in all the right places except for her bound breasts. He suddenly hated those bindings under his hands. They were coming between them and mutual pleasure.

Knowing he couldn’t do anything about them, he moved his hand down her back and grasped her sweet little derriere. The same orbs that had opened his eyes about her gender. He might just love them already.

Winston’s arms twined around his neck hesitantly, and he broke the kiss to stare down at her. “How did I ever mistake you for a man?”

“You saw what I wanted you to see,” she assured him proudly.

She was lovely and sweet and fierce. Despite everything, she had earned his respect. He brushed his fingers lightly over her blushing cheek. “Are you a virgin, Win?”

“Yes,” she admitted, her blush deepening to a dark pink.

“You’ll stay that way, too, with me,” he promised before claiming her lips again in a searing kiss that left them both gasping when they parted again. He wouldn’t be fathering any brats on Win. That would truly ruin her disguise and ensure they ended up married to each other.