Read Letters at Christmas for Free Online Page B

heavily upon them, warming her skin. Knowing fingers found the slit in her drawers. Feeling drunk on the pleasure, she lay back on the seat and allowed him to play her. He gazed down at her, kneeling on the floorboard. Pleasure rocked through her, drawing out urgent moans. A flash of need crossed his face. He was desperate for release, but she sensed he wouldn’t take it. He would only give pleasure, not take it. He could only risk his life, his happiness, for a chance at hers.
    Keeping her legs spread for him, she tugged off her gloves. In just those few seconds, her fingers became stiff and numb. She persisted, fumbling at the buttons on his pants until she’d opened the placket. Reaching inside, she held him with both hands so as to shield his tender flesh from the cold. But she could do better than that.
    She’d given her virginity to him on the night he left, but before that, they had experimented in every other way. In the stables and coatroom at first, and when he grew bold enough, in her bed at night. He knew how to touch her, and she knew how to touch him. She knew how to make him burn.
    Holding him steady with one hand, she slipped him into her mouth. His fingers curled inside her. “ Sidony. ”
    She used her tongue to caress him, to draw the salty musk of him onto her tongue. He pressed inside her, firmly, roughly, in a race to the finish. She drew on him with her mouth and her hands, one at the base of him and the other slipping inside his smallclothes to caress the flesh beneath. Her moans of desire were muffled, but not his. Every harsh breath or softly spoken swear word mingled with the bells that rocked with their movements, with the huff of restless horses, and the birds who chattered in the trees. Pleasure wound tightly within her, clenching and writhing until she thought she would burst.
    He jerked suddenly, and she knew he’d reached his climax. His hand went to the back of her head, cradling her while he spilled warm, salty seed down her throat. She swallowed obediently until a flick of his thumb against a bundle of nerves broke her apart. On a tight cry, she released him and rocked her hips up to his fingers, blinded by a thousand night stars, cradled in his familiar embrace—only tighter now, stronger.
    A flush crept up her cheeks as she put her finger to her lips, feeling wetness. She wiped them furtively, but he saw. His smile warmed her, sharing a secret. He bent to lick the corners of her mouth, and then kissed her, a deep, leisurely exploration that left her breathless.
    With gentle hands, he straightened her clothes but when she reached for his, he stayed her hands and did it himself. “Just rest.”
    “We should hurry.” Her words were slurred, and they exchanged a wry look.
    “Indeed. Even Geoffrey will get suspicious at some point.”
    She wasn’t sure about that. He never had yet. “Do you think Catherine knows about us?”
    “I suspect there isn’t much she doesn’t know.” Hale flashed a quick smile as he resumed his seat. Their ride back was pleasant and uneventful—or maybe it only seemed that way because she was sated and boneless. Luckily, he let her drift in that blissful state as he drove them home.
    They pulled up behind an empty sleigh. Laughter from the stables gave away the location of the others. Smoothing her hair, she prepared herself to greet them. After helping her down, Hale went to check on the horses.
    Turning away, she hid a private smile and touched her lips again. Performing the act during the day had felt wicked—and all the more exciting. She had always enjoyed risk-taking, and their intimacies were the ultimate form of adventure. Once they married, she could partake of them every day. Because of course they would marry. Her withholding had been born of shock, at first; then pride.
    “Hale.”
    He paused with his hands still on the harness as she approached. “Yes?”
    “You know I care for you.”
    His smile was happy and a touch bashful. “I