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Her e very naughty"

He snorted "Not as naughty as I would like to be Pinning you to a tree and lifting your skirts would do nicely"

"Lifting my--" She stumbled to a halt as every cell in her body responded to the picture his words evoked "It is the hts, took several steps forward before realizing she re in the filtered light of the overhead canopy "Are your nipples different in the sunlight? Is your scent altered? Your skin less soft? Your cunt less tight and wet?"

She shook her head rapidly, unable to speak

His gaze bore intensely into hers "I have to depart in the , Abby I cannot remain here and debauch you further That I auard the laht to keep her mother’s advice firmly in her mind, she could not do it Her heart ached She could only hope her exterior did not betray her

"I understand," she said tonelessly, all her previous enjoyone

Why did this man appeal to her so deeply?

She had lain in her bed after leaving him and pondered that question for hours In the end, she decided it was a cos, some external, like his attractiveness and charm And others internal, like his tendency to find new joy in her discoveries about how men and woauche She was desirable, witty, and wise Rhys thought it onderful" that she enjoyed puzzling out scientific equations He had even kissed the ink stains on her fingers as if they were a thing of beauty

He was known for his ennui and jaded views, but Rhys was only dored to be the catalyst that revived him, but she knew his sense of duty to his title would never allow her to be

It would be best if he left

"It would be best if you left"

He stared at her for a long rabbed her roughly, she was caught completely unawares His hands in her hair, he kissed her with unrestrained passion, his thrusting tongue stealing her breath and her wits

"You ainst her bruised lips "To see you dis has obviously driven you insane," snapped a faroaned "Bloody hell"

"Leave it to you, Trenton," drawled Lord Grayson, "to ruin my day"

Chapter 17

"I’ve no notion what to say to you, Rhys," Isabel scolded, glaring up the narrow path at her brother

Gray leaned over and murmured, "I will see Hammond’s niece back to the manse so that you may speak with Trenton in private"

"Thank you" Her eyes ratitude She watched as he collected the obviously flustered girl and led her away Then she rounded on Rhys "Have you lost your loohtly above the dirt

"I know you were out of sorts e left London, but to use that child as salve for your--"

"That ‘child’ is the saasp in horror

"Ooohhh…" She chewed her lower lip and began to pace

Lately, she often forgot about the age difference in her ossips had salivated over her superior years, but she nore theer man in her bed

But she could not think of that now

"Do not dare make that comparison" Her chin lifted "Grayson is far more experienced in such ail is not"

"It was al you," he muttered

"Ha!" She shook her head and then said more somberly, "Please tell me that you have not taken her to your bed, Rhys"

His shoulders drooped

"Dear God" Isabel paused her pacing and stared at her brother as if he were a stranger The Rhys she kneould have no interest in an innocent bluestocking "How long has this been progressing?"

"I first made her acquaintance at that blasted breakfast you forced "

She blinked Weeks Notto understand Not to sympathize, mind you," she added hastily "But sihten you All I know is that I cannot be within a few feet of her withoutbeast"

"Over Abigail Stewart?"

The glare he shot her spoke voluail Damn it, why can no one see her worth? Her beauty?"

Wide-eyed, she studied hi the flush at the crest of his cheekbones and the brightness of his eyes "Are you in love with her?"

His look of astonishment would have been comical if she weren’t so disturbed "I a with her Is that love?" He shook his head "I will be Sandforth eventually andwith her alone in the garden? This path is well-trodden Any one of the other guests could have happened upon you What of Ha his hospitality and trust this way if he had been the one to discover you e?"

"Damnation, Bella! I do not know What more can I say? I erred"

"You erred?" Isabel blew out her breath "Is that why you came? To be with her?"