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She yawned, stretched her arms... and touched another person sitting beside her. Gasping, she swung her head in that direction. The darkness veiled the person’s identity, but the small amount from outside the coach’s window outlined a man’s figure.
Fear crawled inside her like a frightened cat, making it difficult to breathe. Then again, breathing would only disturb the person next to her. Clearly, this wasn’t her father next to her. The man’s shoulders were too wide, and his hair was too short. The way his head was tilted as it rested on the back of the seat let her know he was asleep.
Confusion filled her and caused the throbbing headache to return. Why would a man be in her coach while they were both asleep? This made no sense at all.
She should leave while he was asleep. Being alone with any man like this was highly scandalous. Her reputation could be ruined. But what if someone saw her sneaking out and the man exiting the vehicle later? How could she get out of this predicament?
Her stomach twisted with indecision, and she couldn’t see any way out of this. Did the driver know? And if he did, why hadn’t he alerted her parents by now?
Slowly and careful not to make a noise, she leaned toward the window again and peered out. Indeed, there were not as many vehicles as when she and her parents had first arrived. Perhaps she would be safe to leave now before she was discovered.
The man beside her groaned and shifted on the seat. His arm circled her waist and pulled her against his body. His head dropped to her shoulder as his face rolled toward her neck. Gasping in panic, she clutched his arm. Although she should push him away, she could tell he was still asleep. She needed to keep him that way. Waking him up would be devastating for them both.
Regina breathed slower as she tried to calm her fiercely beating heart. As soon as she could make the panic rising inside her leave, she would be able to think of a way out. She had always been clever that way. However, being this close to a strange man and smelling his manly scent of spice and leather... and feeling his warm breath on her neck made havoc jump inside her. Even dancing with men had never made her feel this jittery.
The man groaned again, snuggling closer. His lips rested against the pulse of her throat. Could he not feel her erratic heartbeat? Then again, if he were asleep, he wouldn’t be able to feel anything. Now was the time she wished she wouldn’t be able to feel at all. Every time he breathed, his breath caused her to tingle with awareness.
Holding her breath, she tried to peel his arm away, but that only made him hold her closer. Inwardly, she groaned. How could she get out of this without waking him? Perhaps she had to wake him, but she couldn’t. Even though he was in her coach by mistake, they were still together, and they had both been asleep. The odds of coming out of this without a scandal were highly unlikely.
She swallowed to moisten her very dry throat as she prepared in her mind what to say when he woke up. Should she offer him a bribe to keep quiet? Then again, would her father be so ashamed of her and want to wash his hands of the situation?
Tears stung her eyes. She felt hopeless the longer she sat and did nothing.
Softly, she cleared her throat and opened her mouth to speak, but then the man did the oddest thing that stopped all thoughts passing through her head. He brushed his lips back and forth over her skin. The tingles inside her grew hotter, and her breathing accelerated.
Breathing slower, she fought the urge to empty her stomach, but instead, she forced herself to try and remember what had happened once she climbed in the coach, and especially what had happened when she thought she’d been asleep. Slowly, scenes entered her mind.
Regina had been very dizzy, and when she sat on the seat, she noticed the man across from her drinking from a wine bottle. Shadows had played across his face, but she recalled thinking he was quite handsome.
He lowered the bottle of spirits slowly. “Um... are you lost?”
Her mind swam with confusion. “Certainly not. Are you?”
His mouth pulled into a grin. “Not at all. I know where I’m at, which is sitting in my coach while finishing this bottle of wine.” He held it toward her. “Would you like some?”
She gasped. “Sir, you are not inyourcoach. This is my family’s coach, and I demand you leave at once.” It had hurt to talk because it made the dizziness increase, which made her head pound harder.
He chuckled in a baritone voice. “My dear lovely lady, this is indeed my coach. You were the one who climbed in. However, there is no need for you to leave yet. I would enjoy your company.”
Before she realized what was happening, he switched to the seat next to her. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, and he pulled her close.
“Sir, I beg your pardon. Please contain yourself,” she snapped, placing her palms against his chest to push him away. But my, was he a muscular man, and she feared her weariness wouldn’t allow her to fight off his advances. Yet, he seemed as if he were also not quite alert because he swayed a few times.
“Youbegmy pardon?” He chuckled as he cupped the side of her face. “My lovely, you don’t have to do much begging. I fear tonight I’ll be a puppet in your hands. Your wish is my command.” He leaned in and brushed his lips very near to her mouth. “As long as you don’t wish to leave, of course.”
She had never been in such a position before. Yet, as the stranger started kissing her, Regina’s resolve crumpled. She blamed it on whatever it was that caused her to be suddenly ill this evening, and she couldn’t push him away. Yet she wasn’t trying to, either.
His kiss was so tender, and the way he stroked his fingers along her jaw and down her neck stimulated her body and mind. Never had she experienced such sensations, and heaven help her, she found it easier to answer his sultry kisses than to try and fight him.
Regina snapped out of her memory. Her hands trembled from what she had done. She placed her palms on her scalding cheeks, hoping it would bring down her temperature. At least the man had been gentle with her, even though all they had done was kissed... passionately, she might add. At least she prayed that was all they did. But then why had they both fallen asleep?
Insanity crept inside her mind, and she chuckled lightly. How could she have been charmed by a stranger? And to think she had reprimanded Jane for being drawn so quickly to a man she didn’t know. Regina had fallen prey to the same method Wayne Nichols had used to lure Jane to his side. Well, perhaps not exactly, but close.
“Are you awake?” the man beside her mumbled groggily.
Fear absorbed quickly through her, making it difficult to breathe. “Yes.”
He continued to trail light kisses along her throat. His hot breath brought back the feelings she had experienced before she had fallen asleep. Why couldn’t she stop thinking about kissing him again? Yet, as hard as she tried, she couldn’t stop her body from relaxing against him. It was as if her body was being controlled by someone else, and wouldn’t let her leave the comfort of his embrace.
