Free Scandalous Summer Nights by Anne Barton Page A

grassy field dotted with bright wildflowers. She collapsed happily, her skirts billowing around her.
    James followed, tossing his leather bag to the ground before sinking into the soft grass beside her. He sighed at the glorious view—the vivid green slope of the hill beforethem, the rolling meadows in the distance, and the winding stone walls. “This is what I wanted you to see,” he said simply. “It’s my favorite spot in the world.”
    She turned to face him, her cheeks pinker than usual; whether their heightened color was due to heat or strong emotion, he couldn’t say. But he liked the effect.
    Her lips parted as though she were about to speak, and her eyes shone as though she were about to cry. She did neither. Instead, she stared at him like she could read his every thought. And if she could, God help him. God help them both.
    “What do you think of it?” he asked.
    She lay flat on her back and blinked at the bright sky. “Glorious.”
    James swallowed. Olivia’s hair was mostly loose, splayed around her head like a woman who’d just been thoroughly pleasured. Her pale breasts strained against her dress, almost spilling out of the top. With a tug, he could pull down her bodice and expose her nipples, lower his head, and curl his tongue around one until it tightened into a hard little nub. With one swift move, he could flip up her skirts, nestle his head between her legs, and lick at the folds of her sex until she writhed and moaned with pleasure.
    Olivia sighed, apparently oblivious to the wicked nature of his musings. She patted the ground beside her in invitation. “You must try this.”
    Yes, most definitely oblivious.
    Nonetheless, he stretched out on the soft earth beside her. Their bodies did not touch, but the inch that separated her arm from his fairly crackled with heat.
    “I imagine this must be how the gods and goddessesfeel at the top of Mount Olympus,” she said. “It’s a little dizzying, isn’t it?”
    If James felt dizzy, it had nothing to do with Zeus and everything to do with her sweet, citrusy scent. But he simply said, “Mmm.”
    For a few minutes, neither of them spoke. James turned his head to glance at Olivia’s profile. Her eyes were closed, as though she were savoring the warmth of the sun upon her face. He took the opportunity to admire the light smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose and the thick fringe of her lashes brushing her cheek. Her lower lip tempted him with its fullness; he longed to pull it between his teeth and suck lightly—to taste her as he had that night at the Easton ball. His cock strained against the front of his buckskin breeches and he shifted onto his side, hoping the tall grass might conceal his lust.
    Olivia’s eyes fluttered open and she, too, rolled onto her side, propping herself up on an elbow. “How did you find this place?”
    James shrugged and endeavored not to stare at the swells of her breasts, pressed enticingly together. “I just happened upon it.”
    “Thank you for sharing it with me.”
    There was a lot more he’d like to share with her. Lying among the flowers with Olivia, it seemed as though they were miles from anyone else. How easy it would be to forget that she was Huntford’s younger sister. And that he was leaving for Egypt in a couple of months.
    And that she deserved better than him.
    “I’m glad you like it,” he said sincerely. “I almost forgot about our breakfast. I promised you the best hot crossbuns in England, and I never forget a promise. Come, I’ll escort you to the table.”
    “Table?” She sat up, eyes sparkling.
    James stood, took her hand, and helped lift her to her feet. Scooping up his bag, he said, “This way.”
    He led her to the large, flat rock that overlooked the fell. She easily scrambled onto it and sat with her feet dangling over the edge.
    “The view from your dining room is breathtaking.” She splayed her palms over the rough stone. “It’s pleasantly warm. Almost