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Agrowl offrustration slippingfroht her handsin his hair to holdhisheadstill Coveringhis ue into his mouth anddaredhim to a duel It was a dare hemet withenthusiass of her gown He wasn’tfastenough forValoree’s liking Releasing her hold on his hair, sheslid her hands between theownshaed her che breasts

"Beautiful, " he his head to suckle at one hardened nipple

Moaning, Valoreeshifted, closing her legs around hiships and drawinghimnearer as shewrappedherarms around the top of hisbowed headShe pressed onecheek tohis soft hair

"More, " shesaid softly by his ear Daniel chuckledagainst her breastat the urgency in her voice, then straightened and pressed aquick kiss to her eager lips

"More, hainstthe side of her rasp her ankles, then slid slowly upward overher calves, pushing her skirts before thehthis htly to watch her face as his hands crestedher knees and eased up the insidesof her thighs

"How muchmore? " heasked huskily

Suddenlyunable to catchher breath, Valoree out towet dry lips shethen bit as hishandshtly, she stiffened under his touch, her posture suddenly perfect

"All of it, " she lanced down to seea slow, satisfied smile creep over his face

"Youwillnotbesorry, " heassured her gently, ive her a brief, passionate kiss as he continued his caresses

Pressing a trail ofkisses across hercheekto herear, he added, "I shall "

"Arrangeh Valoree’s passion-soaked "He laughed, nipping at her ear

"Oh, that" Shakingher head, she insinuated her hands between their bodies and began to tug at the buttons on his shirt "I did not , " she said with a snort Her head snapped up in surprise, her eyes searching his face as hesuddenly removed his hands frolaredat her

He wasangry, sherealized with surprise"What? "

"Do I understand you to say that you have not changed yourme? "

"Nay, ofcourse not, " shesaid, surprised that he wouldthink so

Taking in his gri, she slidoff the sideboard and ently onhiscrossed arms "Do not takeit so I like you and aed We si his arms to avoid her touch, he propped his hands on his hips and saidin disbelief, "Youme touch you and makelove toyou like this when you have not decidedto asped in horror"Mayhapthings are different in the Caribbean; but herein England, ladies do not behave so with just anyone Theysave themselves for their husbands"

"Really? "Valoree asked She heardhisdoubting enored itas She had the wayhe seeathering thathe didn’tbelieve their coverstory, yet for some reason she was more interested in this new bit of informationat the mo and aching withdesire for him Too, she found what he said hard to believe Men didn’t seem to wait to have sex until they were married Thele oneof thewoman there was inthe waro at those here in London at this verymoment

In fact, Valoree was the only one on board the Valor who hadn’t been with amember of the opposite sex She had noteven beenkissed untilDaniel But, living a lie as she had, it wasonly because the opportunityto do so had never come up Valoree had no interest inwoht ht have had Besides, she really hadn’t had any until now An oddity, that, she thought

None of thesmile and ways, oreven Bull, as pure muscle and handsome ashell, had made her feel thewayshefeltwith Thurborne She supposed it had soht of those er needed to hide the fact that she was a woman, and she was attracted to the man before her - whynot have him?

"Yes, really, " Daniel said in exasperation and Valoree was drawn back to theirconversation

"Hin, too? "

"Too? " Daniel see with relief, apparently pleased by the unintentional admissionThen whatshe had askedsank in, and he frowned "Nay, I Only women mustrefrain until after they are married"

"Aha!"shecrowed a bit derisively "Ladies arethe only ones who must restrain the? " she asked "Whoexactly would it be who made up that rule, do ye think? Men, mayhap? "

"Aye, but - "