Read The Seduction of Sophie Seacrest for Free Online

she said
it.”
    Alexander lifted a brow. “Indeed.” Would he
ever get used to his outspoken wife who ran about the grounds
barefoot and swollen with child? In their scant years of marriage,
she had brought light and hope and love into his life, and given
him a son they named Harry. Unfortunately, Francie suffered one
fatal flaw which proved damned disturbing to Alexander’s state of
mind; she believed everyone should experience the joy of marriage
and thus had embarked on a crusade to play matchmaker.
    She had been horribly unsuccessful.
    But in typical Francie fashion, she refused
defeat, stating her less than favorable attempts were the results
of incorrigible candidates and not inadequate matchmaking
skills.
    “Sophie is quite capable of tending to her
male suitors,” Alexander said, stroking the slender column of his
wife’s neck.
    “If that sourpuss aunt of hers has a say, she
shall marry a man twice her age with a stooped back and rotten
teeth.”
    He planted a kiss behind her left ear. “You
have a most vivid imagination, my dear.”
    “Have you seen Lord Groland, her latest
prospect?” She let out an indelicate snort. “He has five children and a mistress.”
    “Sophie has given no indication of joining
the husband hunt.”
    “Of course she has not made it officially
known she is reconsidering her position on marriage but I caught
Mr. Thurston watching her overlong from the corner of the ballroom.
And when Lord Potsdane introduced them, I thought she might
actually swoon, and Sophie is no silly nilly.”
    “Hmmm.” He ran his tongue along the rim of
her ear. God, but he couldn’t get enough of her.
    Francie’s voice faltered. “They would make a
stunning couple.”
    “Would they now?” Alexander slipped his hand
inside the front of Francie’s dressing gown.
    She shuddered and met his gaze in the mirror.
“He is very large,” she murmured, “and while not handsome, there is
a certain presence about the man one might find appealing.”
    “Appealing.” He brushed his fingers over her
breast, stroking a nipple lightly. “I do not think I like my wife
regarding other men to determine their appeal.” He smoothed his
other hand along the outside of her dressing gown, tracing the
outline of her protruding belly. “And I am certain Harry’s little
brother or sister would not approve of his or her mother gazing
upon men in order to determine their appeal.”
    Francie sighed as his fingers dipped lower on
her belly. “Oh, Alexander . . . ”
    “Yes, wife?” He smiled and eased his fingers
along the inside of her thigh, achingly close to her woman’s
heat.
    “I fear I am on fire.”
    “You don’t say?”
    She arched to meet him as her eyes fluttered
shut. Now he would see what she had to say about Gregory Thurston’s
appeal. Knowing his wife, she would soon give herself up to the
pure sensual ecstasy that enveloped them whenever they touched. The
intense needing had not stopped since the first time they lay
together. In truth, he feared it might never stop, and he would
remain forever a desperate, besotted fool in love with his wife.
There were worse punishments he decided as he bent to capture a
pink nipple. Much worse, indeed.
    ***
    A gush of wind and a burst of laughter
announced the return of Sophie and Caroline from their morning
ride. The two sisters rushed through the front door, almost
toppling Clyde in their haste. Sophie turned to Caroline and moved
her hands in gestures of speech which brought a huge grin to
Caroline's wind-blown face.
    "Oh, how I do enjoy our rides.” Sophie leaned
close and whispered, “Soon, we shall begin practicing astride. Then
you will fly across the estate with lightning speed and grace.”
    Aunt Vivian took that very moment to emerge
from the shadow of the stairs. “Your father requests your presence
in his library.” Her gaze drifted past Caroline. “Immediately,” she
added, turning to disappear down the long hallway.
    Sophie placed a protective