Read Deck The Halls With Love: Lost Lords Of Pembrook Novella for Free Online Page B

his finger to her lips, striving not to give any reaction to how warm they were. Despite the cold, the heat seeped through his leather gloves. “Shh.”
    “How dare—”
    “Shh. We’re not alone.”
    Her green eyes widened. The leaves would match their shade come spring. He would never behold another tree without thinking of her.
    Without panic, barely moving her head, she scanned the area. “Who?”
    “To your right, below that scraggly bush there.”
    She looked down. He saw her expression soften, before she shored up her resolve not to enjoy a moment in his company and gave him a pointed glare. “A rabbit?”
    He’d spotted the white fur just before he touched Merry. “A tad beyond is a deer.”
    She shifted her gaze and he took satisfaction in her curiosity. “I remember the interest you took in birds when we walked through the parks. You seem to know them all.”
    “I appreciate creatures, great and small. What I do not appreciate is your taking liberties. Please unhand me.”
    “Do you love him? You never truly answered my question last night. Tell me that much at least. Do you love him?”
    She angled her chin. “With all my heart.”
    Hope soaring through him, he gave her a slow, triumphant grin. “You always were a poor liar, Merry.”
    Then he covered her mouth with his.
    M eredith knew that she should knock her skates against the side of his skull, render him unconscious, and run for her life. Instead she released her hold on them and wound her arms around his neck. As he moved in, she welcomed the weight and warmth of his body pressing against her.
    It was wrong, so very wrong for her to enjoy his kiss, to want his kiss. Without liquor flavoring his tongue, he still tasted marvelous. Rich and sinful. Decadent. His gloved hands came up, held her head, provided a cushion against the hard bark. He took the kiss deeper, his tongue swirling through her mouth, stirring carnal cravings to life.
    There had been a time when she’d thought she’d die from wanting a kiss from him. She never felt that way with Litton. When he had kissed her, his lips upon hers had been pleasant. But she’d never thought that together they could melt snow.
    With Chetwyn, she was fairly certain that when he was done with her, she would find herself in a puddle of icy water. She stroked her hands over his shoulders. He was firm, strong. She knew he enjoyed the outdoors as much as she. His body reflected his passions. At one time, she’d hoped to become one of them.
    He slid his lips from hers, nuzzling her neck, his mouth somehow finding its way beneath her collar, the heat of his breath coating dew along her skin. “Until Christmas, Merry, give me until Christmas to prove my affections are true.”
    Everything within her wanted to scream, “Yes!” But her heart, still bruised, whispered, “No.”
    “I’m afraid,” she said, her voice as rough and raw as her soul.
    Drawing back, he held her gaze, his rapid breaths visible in the cold air mingling with hers. “I won’t hurt you again, I swear it.”
    He took her wrist. She wanted to wrench it free, but instead she was mesmerized watching as he brought it to his lips, crooked a finger beneath her cuff, and revealed a tiny bit of flesh. Gently, reverently, he placed his mouth there and closed his eyes as though he’d acquired heaven. Her breath caught, even as her heart sped into a wild gallop.
    “Until Christmas, Merry,” he whispered in a hoarse voice. “It’s not so very long, and I’m a much better choice than Litton.”
    He opened his eyes, and the intensity she saw there almost dropped her to her knees. “It’s too late, Chetwyn.”
    “Even if you were standing at the altar this moment, it wouldn’t be too late. It’s not too late until you exchange vows, until you sign the marriage register.”
    Shaking her head, she pushed him back and skirted away from him. She tugged down her cuff, yanked up her glove, but still she could feel the press of his lips