Free Passion's Joy by Jennifer Horsman Page B

interest. His mood was dangerous and always capricious; there had been little inclination until the moment her small body fitted against him, giving an arresting hint of the curves hidden in the baggy boys' clothes. His interest had been only mildly intrigued, until the moment he touched her lips.
    Fear molded her lips with a maddening vulnerability, while her sudden stillness said this was her first kiss. These two things, combined with the sweet moist taste of her mouth, formed an unexpected urge.
    As his tongue swept skillfully in her mouth, she froze with panic and fear natural to a young lady with plenty of worldly, unchaste knowledge, but not a real kiss to her experience. Yet as his mouth molded to hers with the play of his tongue, she was stricken with a tremor, a warmth in its wake, making her dizzy, weak knees and limp again. Then she was melting as the kiss suddenly deepened.
    He broke the kiss at last and stared for a long moment. She was unaware he had granted her freedom, so she remained intimately positioned in his arms, dazed by the kiss, the heat of his body, the roar in her ears and the pounding of her heart. Then, with a warm chuckle against her ear, he whispered, "Joy Claret, my surprising vixen, would you have me—a virtual stranger—lay you beneath this tree to take your virtue?'
    Some small part of her mind that was still working managed an uncertain shake of her head, and warm, wonderful humor lifted into his gaze as he laughed.
    Only then did she realize she was free. Gathering her dazed wits, she slowly stood to her feet and backed away. As long as he lived, he'd not forget the small hand touching her lips, the eyes wide with wonder and incredulity.
    She backed right into Derrick.
    "Yes? What is it?" Ram asked, as he stood brushing off his pants.
    "You're not going to believe it, Ram." Derrick caught her at the shoulders. "Twas little wonder the bastard didn't break with a whip given what he knew. Sean finally said we seemed to just be making a mess of the floor, and he put Cane on it, with that Oriental thing he does. That
    always works, but lord," Derrick laughed, "the bastard didn't have to give us all five names. One would have done it."
    "Get to the point."
    Derrick passed a meaningful glance down at the girl. "You better come inside, Ram. Suffice to say, this favor you're doing for your uncle has suddenly grown larger, even for you, as it seems to shed considerable doubt on the integrity of some of Orleans' finest families."
    "Well," Ram chuckled. “I’ll be damned. A day full of surprises." The worst day of her life ended as he ordered Derrick to fetch Bart to escort the lady home, then gently caught Joy's arm and whispered into her ear just what he was likely to do if he ever found a girl dressed as a boy out without an escort. Color raced to her cheeks, and she was quite speechless, helplessly humiliated and immobile again. With plenty of laughter, Ram returned to the Red Barn.

    * * * * *

Chapter Three

    along.
    The hot Louisiana sun threw a bright ribbon of light over the river as Bart and Joy rode

    Engaged in a furious and futile battle with gnats, Bart was proving to be an amicable and
    talkative companion. She might add sweet-like, if his very size didn't preclude such niceties. He claimed to be Ram Barrington's personal valet! The thought of Ram Barrington needing help getting his boots on in the morning seemed patently absurd, though here Bart was in all his glory.
    Joy understood the metaphor tired to the bone as she never had before and she suspected Libertine did as well. The humidity covered her with a thin sheen of perspiration; dirt and grime covered her form. She looked worse than ridiculous. Uncomfortable thoughts of her disheveled appearance were paired distressingly with the memory of Ram Barrington's gaze. She had never known vanity like this! To make matters worse, every time she thought of his threat, which was every ten paces it seemed, she felt herself blushing,