Free The Belligerent Miss Boynton AND The Lurid Lady Lockport (Two Companion Full-Length Regency Novels) by Kasey Michaels Page B

feet, so that the first thing Jared saw on regaining consciousness was the tapping foot of Miss Amanda Boynton. Slowly he raised his eyes to her face and was rewarded for this pain by the cutting remark: "Not only do we now know which is the better horse, my lord, but we have a fair idea of just who is the superior rider."
    Jared was nonplused for a moment, but then he saw the humor of the situation. "Made a cake of myself, didn't I? I bow to your superiority, Amanda. Ow! Perhaps you'd be willing to wait for that bow?" He put a hand to his throbbing head as he tried to rise, but was still able to see Amanda's quickly offered, and just as rapidly retracted hand. "I don't think I can make it to my horse alone, Amanda," he said, even as his strength returned to him. "Would you be so good as to let me lean on you?"
    "I'd as soon see you crawl, my lord, but I was taught always to help dumb animals. Oh, very well. Put your weight on me."
    Other than the discomfort caused by the lump on his head, Jared was already almost fully recovered. He had felt the fall coming and aimed his body for the soft clover. In truth, besides having the wind knocked out of him—a repeated occurrence since meeting Amanda—he was only slightly injured by the bang on his very hard head.
    Yet now he moaned loudly and rested an arm across Amanda's shoulders, feeling the soft curve of her breast against his side as they walked slowly to his horse. Once there he clutched at his saddle and looked as if he would indeed faint.
    Amanda planted herself in front of him and grabbed both his arms in her hands and then shook him none too gently.
    "Don't you dare swoon on me Jared! Just help me get you up on your horse and I can lead him to the closest farmhouse for help."
    Jared slid his arms around Amanda's waist and stared deeply into her worried eyes. "I don't recall giving you permission to address me by my first name, you shameless wench. Or, daring that, the right to make free with your hands on my body."
    "Oh, Jared, this is no time for more of your foolishness. You're clearly talking out of your head. You could be badly hurt—and I've treated you abominably."
    "Yes," he agreed solemnly, "Abominably. Precisely the word I'd have chosen myself, imp." His deep blue eyes were twinkling as they looked into her worried amber ones, and slowly she stiffened under his gaze.
    "You—you're bamming me! You're perfectly sound, and allowing me to worry and fret and...and lug you about like a sack of grain! Cad!"
    "A cad, Amanda? Not yet, imp. But soon. Soon, I promise..." Jared's eyes danced as he tightened his arms until he held her powerless in his embrace. Slowly, inexorably, she felt him draw her closer within the circle of his arms and she watched, bemused, as his head slowly came down and his mouth claimed hers in a gentle caress.
    She forced her eyes to remain opened wide for long moments, staring at Jared's long lashes as they cast shadows on his cheeks. She made no effort to struggle, for she knew it was useless, and decided it probably would be safest just to remain passive in his arms.
    But her body betrayed her by warming to his touch.
    Her lips opened in a low moan and Jared quickly took advantage of it to plumb the depths of her mouth with his tongue. Shivers of excitement coursed down Amanda's spine, and her arms, acting with a will of their own, crept up around his neck. Her mind whirled warnings around in her brain but her body dismissed them.
    Her betraying eyelids fluttered closed.
    Suddenly Jared released her, and she would have fallen except for his supporting hands. He smiled down at her, but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. His face was pale, and his voice shook a little as he quipped, "You've worked quite a cure on me, Amanda. I swear I haven't felt this well in months. Have you any more miracle remedies?"
    "Oh, you monster !" she cried, and raised a hand to deal him a vicious slap. But he shot out his hand and caught at her wrist, squeezing