Instead, she undid the belt at his waist and parted his banyan once more to look her fill.
“You are remarkable.” Her tone was low and breathless.
He tried to speak, but whatever he wanted to say and hoped to tell her came out as a croak.
Philip cleared his throat, but then her soft, pale hand grasped his cock, rendering him speechless. If he growled and roared like he wanted to do, he would scare her and probably bring her slumbering aunt as well as the tavern dog to her rescue. If he carried her to his bed and worshiped her body as he desperately wished — with his tongue first and then his hands — he would not be able to stop.
Truly, he would ruin her, take her innocence, and send his seed deep into her womb for he couldn’t imagine how he would pull out of such an enticing creature.
They would both be lost.
When her father discovered Philip’s treachery, the magistrate would take his vengeance quickly. Sir William had been quite clear on that point. He would make it unlawful for Philip to import a wedge of cheese from France, never mind barrel after barrel of brandy.
Yet Miranda Bright stood before him, holding him where he most ached for her.
“Please,” he said, softly enough he wondered if she’d heard him.
Her glance flew to his, her hazel eyes looking like a fairy’s twin flames.
Nodding, she stroked him.Again. Again. He cupped his hand over hers to guide her. It took him less time to reach the pinnacle of his pleasure than it had since he was a randy youth.
“Yes,” he hissed. Head back, eyes shut, gasping, he hoped he didn’t crush her hand as together they rubbed him through his long, powerful climax. At least he remembered to turn his body to avoid spending on the front of her dressing gown.
Drawing in a shaky breath, he opened his eyes. Her own were large and wondering. She was probably frightened, but better that had happenedoutsideher body than inside.
“I didn’t know you could do that,” she said, sounding anything but afraid. She was back to being inquisitive.
Hastily, he freed himself from her grasp and did up his robe while she stared at her own hand, then back at him.
“You were soft and hot under my fingers but also firm as a ... as a,” she trailed off while considering. “I am not sure I have the correct word.
“Please don’t tell me you’ve got a piece of paper and a pencil in your pocket,” Philip said, unable to keep from smiling. He was now so relaxed he had no need of brandy. He would sleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
“I should return to my room,” she said.
It was the first sensible thing she’d said, and he concurred wholeheartedly.
“Yes, immediately. If your aunt awakens—”
“I will tell her I had no wish to use the chamber pot and went in search of the inn’s water closet.”
“Good thinking.” Although he could hardly believe their conversation had descended to speaking about such things. He would vow he had not ever had such a discussion with a female before.
Yet why was she still standing there, gazing at him with those lovely eyes? She ought to be scurrying back across the hall.
“You must make haste.”
“Are you not going to kiss me?” she asked, looking adorable and alluring at the same time.
If he kissed her, he might as well open the door and yell from the rooftops that he intended to bed her next, for that’s where it would lead.
“Absolutely not,” he said, spinning her away from him, opening the door, and propelling her out into the hallway with a hand at her back.
WE STOPPED AT HAMPTON Court Palace on the way home. It was as magnificent as you have ever heard it described, but I shall try to do it justice.
Miranda told Helen and Peter everything she’d seen from the hammerbeam roof in the medieval-style Great Hall to Anne Boleyn’s gate with the amazingly accurate astronomical clock in its tower that showed not only the time but the moon’s phases, the month, the year’s quarter, and the sun and star signs.
It even tells you when the river is at its highest at far-away London Bridge. Such a marvel. I cannot imagine the engineering behind such a clock.
