Read Princess Charming for Free Online

her breasts feel heavy and swollen while kindling a strange ache between her thighs. And then the sensual caress of his tongue on her nipple had shocked her with pleasure.…
    Thank heaven he had stopped before she’d surrendered completely to his brazen lovemaking!
    Maura found herself wincing in memory of her idiocy. It should not have surprised her, though, that Katharine’s dashing older brother knew how to seduce with breathtaking effect. The Marquis of Beaufort was a favorite of the ton, admired by both sexes, the darling of matchmaking mamas despite his scandalous behavior and his well-founded reputation as a captivating Lothario.
    Handsome did not begin to describe him … roughly chiseled features, dark unruly hair, eyes that were the vivid color of emeralds. All five cousins in the extraordinary Wilde family were notorious for their bewitching charm, but as aristocratic rogues went, Ashton was the acknowledged champion.
    Yet Maura couldn’t help wondering why Lord Beaufort had bothered kissing her this evening. He’d claimed his motives were altruistic, that he merely wanted to help release her pent-up anger, but he had never looked twice at her before tonight.
    His impact on
her
had been overwhelming. One moment she was seething with frustration, railing on about her nemesis; the next she was speechless with desire.
    She’d been kissed twice in her life—several years ago during her comeout Season, in fact—and neither occasion had been particularly memorable. Certainly not enthralling, as tonight’s episode had been. Moreover, she couldn’t comprehend why she had craved Beaufort’s touch so desperately when Lord Deering’s had only repulsed her.
    And why had she permitted the marquis to drag her pitiful tale of woe from her? Normally she would never dream of spilling her intimate secrets to a nobleman she knew more from his wicked reputation than his female relatives’ rare confidences. It was mortifying enough that he had witnessed her altercation with Deering.
    Maura was highly vexed at herself for finding Lord Beaufort so irresistibly attractive. She ought to be worrying about how to retrieve her cherished stallion from the clutches of a devious viscount instead ofdwelling on a spellbinding kiss like a dazzled widgeon. She wished Katharine would come—
    No sooner had the thought formed when her friend appeared in the entrance hall, obviously searching for her.
    Garbed in a ball gown of emerald green to match her sparkling eyes and highlight her shining auburn hair, Lady Katharine Wilde was the picture of vibrant beauty.
    Breathing a sigh of relief, Maura stepped forward.
    “How did your meeting go with Deering?” Katharine asked at once, which made Maura grimace.
    “Truthfully, it was a disaster …” Quickly she recounted the viscount’s ignominious proposition and her own wrathful response.
    Kate looked outraged on her behalf, but immediately protested Maura’s decision to quit the ball early.
    “But you cannot leave just yet!” she insisted.
    “There is no point in my remaining,” Maura repeated the argument she’d made to Katharine’s provocative older brother. “But you know I am immensely grateful for all you have done, dearest Kate. I will return your lovely dress tomorrow.”
    Katharine had loaned her the ball gown of amber silk, since she had nothing fine enough to wear to a grand ball and little money to waste on fashion in any case. Additionally, Katharine had sent her own carriage to collect Maura from her stepmother’s house, since Maura only had a gig in London and no coachman. She loved Katharine dearly, like a sister, but she still felt uncomfortable having to accept her generosity. No doubt it was pride that made her want to be independent and stand on her own two feet.
    At the mention of the ball gown, Kate gave a dismissive shrug, then suddenly changed the subject. “What about Ash?”
    “What about him?” Maura responded warily.
    “I saw him follow you