Free Barbara Pierce by Naughty by Nature Page A

while.” He prayed she would continue talking while he willed the slight swell in his breeches to abate.
    “Yes, the chocolate. It has been years since I enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate,” she said candidly. “You must think I am silly. I suppose if you were inclined, you could drink hot chocolate every night.”
    He had not considered what her life had been before he had met her at the Pownings’. “There is nothing ridiculous in taking pleasure in something you like. Your appreciation for the hot beverage is enchanting. Go on. Indulge.” He motioned for her to sample more of the hot chocolate.
    She smiled shyly at his flattery. Picking up her cup, she delicately sniffed the contents before drinking.
    It was a near thing, but he stifled his groan. Ram watched her throat undulate with each swallow. He should have never invited her to the drawing room without Meredith. He had to think of something, anything, to distract him from the very bad idea of putting his hungry mouth to Patience’s slender throat.
    “You have been on your own for some time?”
    The innocent question wiped the open pleasure from her face. Guarded, she cradled her cup with both hands. “Yes. Since I was fourteen.”

    She had been so young to be fending for herself. He was outraged on her behalf. “What of your family?”
    A hint of sadness shadowed her blue eyes. “There is no one living who will claim me, my lord.” Abandoning her hot chocolate, she hastily rose from her chair. Clearly, the subject of her family or lack thereof was not one she would willingly discuss.
    It was his curse in life to be surrounded by prickly females.
    “Lord Ramscar, I should retire.”
    “‘Ramscar’ will do,” he corrected her as he stood also. Fortunately, his unruly body had calmed somewhat. “Or ‘Ram,’ if you prefer.”
    She balked at his suggestion. “It does not seem appropriate.”
    “Oh, it is when you consider you have practically become a member of our family,” he said, finding his reasoning sound. “We will be spending a great amount of time together. It creates intimacy, even amongst strangers.”
    Miss Winlow looked as if she was about to disagree. Wisely she resisted the urge to debate him. Instead, she nodded warily. “I bid you good night.”
    He was making her nervous. Ram did not mind. He wanted her to be aware of him. “Very well.
We will talk again soon. Pleasant dreams, sweet Patience.”
     
     
    Eros, the Greek god of love, must have visited her while she slept that first night at Swancott. Her dreams were dark and strangely erotic. Restless, Patience rolled onto her back, kicking off the sheet that was tangled around her legs. Visions of Julian Phoenix’s face fluttered like pages of a book caught by a spring breeze. A bottle of laudanum suddenly appeared in her hand. Although it made no sense, she poured the contents over the book.
    Stepping away from the book, she sensed Phoenix coming up to her, his arm snaking around her waist. She tensed against him, knowing what he wanted.
    “Let me show you pleasure,” her dark lover whispered in her ear.
    His hand moved upward and cupped her breast. The dress she had been wearing melted away. Such was the magic and wonder of dreams. Patience moaned as he playfully pinched her nipple. She arched her back, teasing his rigid manhood with her buttocks. He gave her a good-natured swat on her backside for tormenting him. The Julian Phoenix of her dreams was different from the man she knew. She tilted her head to the side, exposing her neck. She smiled at his playful nip. This Julian, her
magnificent dream lover, seduced her with his mouth and hands. His beautiful body was hers to command. She was free to explore him thoroughly in this realm; no request was forbidden.
    I want to feel you inside of me.
    She did not have to speak the words aloud. He sensed her needs almost before her. Patience slid her back down the front of his body, scoring his thighs with her nails.
    “Get on your