Page 51 (1/2)

"Why? This is practically ground level"

Quin swung a leg over the sill and dropped the foot or so to the ground Then he held out his ar up at her, his eyes frankly lustful "I just realized that there is no way to reach the bedchah the kitchen"

Olivia pulled up her skirts as de over the sill It was harder than it looked, and she ended up toppling into Quin’s ar her very tightly as he placed her feet on the ground, "we are not going back into the house I think we’ll go cli where?" Olivia looked around They were on the side of the house, around the corner froht spilled froht of a fullto your bedchamber? Because I absolutely refuse to cliht"

"Didn’t you tell h in a tree?"

"I don’t want to cliain? You’re lucky not to have been killed"

Quin just grinned "Even at e, I can cli back "It’s chilly out here I don’t knohat you have in mind, but I’m sure it’s not proper"

"It’s not proper at all And don’t worry about the cold I’ll grab a horse blanket or two from the stables"

"You want to stay outside?"

Olivia was about to voice a whole string of objections, but Quin chose to counter her argu her The kiss was so successful that she found herself perched on the sill again, which put her breasts at a level that Quin obviously appreciated

"It’s a good thing that door is closed," Quin said soulped, and caone and her hair was around her shoulders What’s more, her bodice had fallen alleaown "Oh, no"

"Yes, yes," Quin said, his hands catching hers, holding them wide so that he could adh of you, Olivia You’re like a drug" He dropped her hands and bent his head again

Olivia stilled, hand on the black hair that fell like silk onto her breast as he kissed her, open, wet- needles, a sweet kind of torer," she whispered, taking her courage in her hands This was the right thing to do

She was choosing her own duke

"Where is your tree?"

She followed hihter--and it was laughter--that bloomed in his eyes when she yanked her bodice up; the sweet heat of hisher name

She would follow him anywhere

Twenty

The Lucky Lady from Peedle

The tree turned out to be behind the stables And it wasn’t just a tree It was a house in a tree

Olivia stood at the base, looking up with stupefaction "What on earth is it?"