Free At The Stroke Of Midnight by Bethany Sefchick Page A

women who broke them with
some frequency, yet somehow managed to get away with it.   Women like her sister.   Women who were given whatever they desired
simply because they were pretty.
    Jane trailed her hand over
Sebastian's face, learning the curve of his lips and nose, the arch of his
cheekbones and the slash of his brow.   In such a short time, those features had become so very dear to
her.   Losing him would destroy her, but
then, her life in London was already forfeit.   She could not go back.   All she
could do was go forward and take the memory of this perfect Christmas with her.
    "I should say no," she began
but he cut her off with a cheeky grin and a finger to her lips.
    "But you won't."
    She shook her head.   Why be coy?   There was no purpose to it.   "No, I won't.   I surely damn
myself but I want you, Sebastian.   And
if I do not enjoy your company now, I never will."   He started to protest but it was her turn to
put a finger to his lips.   "I
believe that you mean to try, but we both know the odds.   It is unlikely that either of us will ever
achieve the future we seek."  
    Then she decided to be bold and
leaned forward to kiss a spot just beneath his chin.   His valet had missed it shaving and there was a light growth of
stubble there.   She wished to discover
how it felt against her lips and was not disappointed in the rough, scratchy
sensation.   In fact she rather liked
it.   "So we will take the here and
now and in three days when the clock strikes midnight and Christmas Day
arrives?   We will part.   Agreed?"
    At first, Jane thought Sebastian
might protest, even though this little assignation was essentially his idea.   However, he moved closer to her, pressing
her body hard into the wall, allowing her to feel the hard length of his
erection against her thigh.   "It is
not exactly what I want, but it is better than I had hoped.   I will take what you offer, my beloved
Jane.   But believe me when I say that I
will not stop in my quest to truly make you mine."
    Then he kissed her and all thoughts
of protest flew from Jane's mind.   Sebastian's mouth was hot on hers and she realized that this was what
she had longed for in the dark of night these past few months.   Dreams of Sebastian had fueled her.   She knew that.   However, she hadn't realized precisely how much until this moment
when she felt his hands start to skim the length of her body, learning every
curve and indentation.
    When he tugged down her bodice to
free her breast, she did not protest but instead shifted to give him better
access.   Whatever he asked for, she
would give without hesitation.   When he
drew her peaked nipple into his mouth, she nearly cried out from the pleasure
of it.   This was far beyond what she had
imagined.   Of course, she had nothing
specific in mind when she had agreed to see Sebastian over the next few days.   He, however, obviously had.
    Then he freed her other breast,
taking the soft mound in his hands and kneading her until she was weak-kneed
and writhing against him.   More.   She wanted more.   But she had no idea how to ask, or, more importantly, what she
was asking for.   All she knew was that
she craved more of Sebastian and his touch.   How she would live without this when she was gone from here, she did not
know.   Just then, however, it did not
matter.   Nothing mattered but him and
the way he was making her feel.
    Sebastian picked that precise
moment to do something marvelous with his tongue and at that, Jane was
lost.   Was her head not already buried
into his shoulder, she feared that all of Blackstone would have heard her
keening cries of delight.

Chapter Four
     
    "You left the ball early last
night, Jane.   I thought we discussed
this.   You are to be present at all of
the events during the house party.   Illness is not an excuse.   Nor
will it make your father and I change your mind about sending you to Scotland.   In fact, I think sending you today