Forbidden by Susan Johnson (best feel good books txt) 📗

"Tomorrow you have free rein, darling," Etienne said, noting the direction of her gaze as they ascended the wide staircase, carpeted in a tartan plaid typical of male hunting lodges. "There was only time today to clean. Apparently the Viscount's household was a bachelor one."

"You don't mind?"

"It's your home, too."

"Then the moosehead goes."

"Have the moosehead taken down, Louis," the Duc said to his valet who was preceding them up the stairs.

"Immediately, Your Grace."

"Morning's fine, Etienne."

"In the morning, then, Louis," Etienne said. "Unless some of the help is available tonight."

Louis understood without turning around, the Duc wished immediate action. "Very good, sir," he replied, opening the door into the master bedroom and standing aside. "Your punch is ready, sir, on the table near the fire, and Miss Daisy's milk will be brought up directly."

"Thank you, Louis. Tell Cook breakfast will be late."

"Certainly, sir, and if I might say so, sir, it's very pleasant to have Miss Daisy in your household again."

"You may tell her yourself, Louis. Ceremony is out of place in this setting." The Duc's smile was warm.

Louis turned to Daisy with a small bow, his smile welcoming. "It's a pleasure to have you back, Miss Daisy. We've missed you."

He spoke in the royal we, as Etienne often did, more conscious of protocol than even his master. Daisy smiled at the trim, middle-aged man who had taken care of Etienne since he was first in need of a valet. "I'm pleased to be back with you, Louis. And tomorrow you must help me put this house to rights."

"Certainly, Miss Daisy. Now that the house has a mistress, the decor requires substantial renovation. We look forward to your directions."

Etienne was standing patiently at Daisy's side but his gaze restlessly surveyed the room, his separation from Daisy too long for much more polite conversation. His glance returned to Louis, a bland, pointed look to which Louis immediately responded.

"Good night, sir. Will you require anything else?"

"No." The Duc's response was exceptionally quiet.

"Good night, Miss."

"Good night, Louis."

And when the door closed softly behind Louis a moment later, Etienne pulled Daisy into his arms and kissed her, fiercely, intensely, with pent-up passion. He'd had to sit beside her and talk to her, only touching in the ways prescribed by politeness while they dined and visited with her family. Now at last he had her alone, after weeks of separation, and a wild need raced through his senses.

She felt softer than he remembered, her body filled out with new, rounded contours, her breasts fuller against his chest. And her mouth beneath his, her lips, wet and warm, offered a sweetness he craved.

Tightening her arms around Etienne's neck, Daisy rose on tiptoe, the pressure of her lips demanding more, wanting more, her body stretched against his hard frame, offering her passion.

His tongue penetrated her mouth in slow, languid arousal, the evidence of his need rigid against her belly.

Lifting his mouth slightly, he brushed a lingering kiss over her lips. She reached higher, wanting his mouth back, wanting the sensation, the pressure, the taste and feel of him. The Duc eluded her. "I promised to put you to sleep…" he said, remembering.

"I'm not tired…" Daisy breathed, her blood heated and pulsing, the feel of his erection, hard and long, burning into her body. Her tongue traced the curve of his lower lip she could reach. "Kiss me…"

"I shouldn't…" Etienne murmured! obliging her demand, his mouth caressing hers lightly, "you should sleep." He nibbled gently on her bottom lip and she shifted slightly to better feel the tingling heat between her thighs. "You're sleeping for two now…" he whispered, his hands lazily stroking the silken curve of her waist, his mouth lowering to hers once again, its pressure subtle, inquiring, teasing.

"Umm," Daisy sighed a few moments later, as the Duc's mouth released hers. Her hand drifted over the soft wool of his lapels, past the buttoned front of his jacket, slipped downward to the strained fabric over the swelling bulge in his trousers. "You don't seem tired either…" She stroked lightly and squeezed.

"Umm." The Duc's response rumbled deep in his throat, a luxurious smile lifted his mouth, sleep the farthest thing from his mind.

"Am I keeping you awake?" Daisy murmured, coy and teasing, her sensuous massage adding vivid dimension to the Duc's arousal.

"Acutely." Gazing down at her, his green eyes were heavy-lidded, intemperant, extravagant with desire. "I have a feeling I may be up much of the night," he whispered. "If you don't mind."

There was a faint wildness in the rough-soft timbre of his voice, and a familiar flare of fevered, intoxicating excitement raced through Daisy's senses. Her nipples peaked hard at the insinuation in his words, her breasts ached to be touched, sensitive suddenly to the fabric of her chemise, to the muscled strength of the Duc's body. A fluttering palpitation in the heated dampness between her legs kept time with the agitated beat of her heart and it took effort to force the air from her lungs. "I don't mind…" Her seductive dark lashes lifted to his another scant inch allowing him to see her flame-hot desire.

The fragrance of pine logs scented the air, the heat from the fire warmed the room to the same delicious temperature as passion had its occupants. A single kerosene lamp, its glass globe etched with grazing deer, shone in brilliant golden splendor from the dressertop, prisms of shimmering radiance reflected brightly from the tall pier mirror mounted behind it.

"Take your hair down," Etienne softly said, unlacing her arms from around his neck.

"I want to rip your clothes off instead," Daisy said, her fingers touching the silk of his cravat.

A soft rapping on the door interrupted.

"Later," the Duc promised, his tone provocative with promise. "Your milk, I expect." And he led Daisy over to the green velvet couch. "Wait here for me."

Their eyes met for a moment in the light of the dancing flames.

"I don't want to wait long," Daisy murmured.

"I don't want to wait at all," Etienne said,