Free Until You by Jennifer McNare Page B

shifted?  “What are you going to do now?” she asked, somewhat breathless from her struggles.
    Nicholas, acutely aware of her lush charms, despised himself for the direction his thoughts were taking.  Mentally cursing his body’s traitorous yearnings, he took several deep breaths to bring his rampant desire under control.  “Young lady,” he began with grim determination, “I am about to do what your grandfather clearly should have done years ago.” 
    Ashleigh knew then for a certainty what was coming and began to struggle again in true earnest.  It was beyond horrifying to realize that the Duke of Sethe was about to give her a spanking as if she were a naughty child.  She twisted around so that she could see his face and the uncompromising set of his features convinced her that he was quite serious.  “You wouldn’t dare,” she said, unable to believe what was about to happen.  His expression hardened and Ashleigh began to panic.  “My grandfather will kill you for this,” she panted, her mind racing to find some means of stopping him.
    “I doubt that,” he replied confidently.  “In fact, I believe your grandfather might just thank me.”  With that said he shifted Ashleigh to a better position upon his lap and prepared to deliver the first stinging blow to her backside.
    As he raised his arm, Ashleigh briefly wondered how much protection her velvet riding habit would provide against his open palm.  She had her answer a split-second later when his hand landed with surprising force against her derriere.  Not much.   Damn him!   She gritted her teeth in mute fury.  He could beat her black and blue before she would give him the satisfaction of hearing her beg for mercy.  Whatever attraction she might have felt for him vanished in an instant.  In fact, she didn’t think she had ever felt such absolute hatred for another human being as she now did for Nicholas Leighton.   But it was anger, not pain that suddenly had her battling back her tears.
    Though she no longer struggled to free herself, Nicholas could feel the sudden and unmistakable quivering of Ashleigh’s body as if she were fighting to keep from crying.  He hesitated as his temper began to cool, and to his great surprise regret at his impulsive action abruptly overwhelmed him.  Realizing that his hand still rested mere inches above her bottom, he quickly pulled it away .  Christ, what the bloody hell had he just done?   Though she might behave as one, she most definitely was not a willful child.   She was a young lady, and what he’d just done was utterly inexcusable.   Though he’d acted out of fear for her safety, his own impetuous behavior was unpardonable and he knew it.   He hesitated for a moment and then reached for her shoulders, intending to pull her up, an apology hovering on his lips.  Unfortunately however, Ashleigh came up swinging.  Any words he might have said were lost as her small but powerful fist connected with his jaw. 
    “You miserable rotten bastard,” she hissed furiously. 
    Nicholas was so caught off guard that he toppled off the tree stump, taking Ashleigh with him.  They landed in a heap with Ashleigh lying pinned beneath his solid frame, her hat falling from her head and several of her curls tumbling free of their pins.  For a moment they lay unmoving, both of them momentarily stunned by the force of their landing.  The pain in his jaw was temporarily forgotten as he looked into Ashleigh's beautiful, enraged face.  Their gazes met and held, vivid green clashing with deep blue.  Glaring at him through eyes brimming with moisture she whispered, “I hate you!”
    From the moment they had first encountered one another upon the grassy meadow, Nicholas had known that she was attracted to him.  Now, knowing who she was, he knew that he should feel relieved that her feelings had now turned to hatred, but surprisingly he didn't.  He felt the enticing curves of her body as she lay beneath him