Free The Earl's Outrageous Lover by Elizabeth Lennox Page B

‘you’,” he snapped.  When he saw the green and butter yellow dress that had been tossed onto the back of a chair, he lifted it into his arms to survey the design and then nodded.  “Here, put this on.”
    Jessica absolutely loved this dress but knew it was slightly outrageous and the low V in the front might raise some eyebrows.  “This isn’t really a charity ball kind of gown,” she said cautiously, looking up at him with concern as she held the soft material in her hands.  “Are you sure that you want me to wear this one?”
    Actually, he didn’t want her to wear it.  He wanted her to be wearing nothing at all.  He wanted to slide his hands over her figure and learn all the places on her body that made her gasp with excitement.  “Yes.  Go put it on.  I’ll wait and see if it works.  If not, then we’ll get something else.”
    Jessica waited for him to leave her bedroom, but when he simply stood there waiting, eyebrows raised in challenge, she huffed and walked into her bathroom.
    Jessica put the dress on, letting it slither over her figure.  The top was a bit risqué, with her larger than average breasts pushing against the fabric, the low cut of the V neck revealing the inside swells before it flowed down in gentle waves to the floor.  She loved the way the dress made her skin look soft and pale while it deepened the color of her hair.  But wasn’t it too sexy for a formal charity ball?
    She shrugged and decided to enjoy the night.  If someone else didn’t like her dress, they could just gossip behind her back.  She loved dancing and maybe there would be some man at the event tonight who would get her mind off of Edward’s obnoxious behavior.  At the very least, she’d find someone who would treat her with more respect!  He’d practically shoved her into the bedroom and ordered her to take off the dress.
    She stepped out of the bathroom, taking a deep breath as she waited for his reaction.  She was braced for him to tell her to change back into the boring, black dress.  But as she stood in the bathroom doorway, all he did was look at her.  From the top of her hair to the tips of her toes peeking out underneath the chiffon hemline.  She actually blushed when his eyes hesitated at the cleavage revealed by the low neckline, but he only nodded his head when he was finished.  “That’s better,” he finally said.  “Let’s go.”
    She pulled her hand out of his and shook her head.  “Why didn’t you like the black one?”  she asked, seriously wanting to understand this man.  “I thought you would like it and approve of it, although why I would even want your approval is beyond me!”
    He stepped closer once again, his eyes hot and angry.  “Why are you trying to be someone you’re not?”  he demanded with a low, terrifying voice.  “You’re a beautiful woman.  You shouldn’t be hiding in a black dress.”
    She was so stunned by his comment she wasn’t sure exactly how to respond.  She stood there looking up at him, her eyes confused.  “You think I’m beautiful?”  she asked softly.
    He reached up, his fingers about to touch her but he hesitated.  “You know that you are,” he replied with a husky voice and let his hand drop back to his side.  He stood there looking down at her without moving for a long moment.  When she didn’t push him away, his head lowered slightly.  Then another fraction of an inch and Jessica’s breath froze.  She should pull away, she should run and hide.  But she did neither.  She just stood there, her mouth open slightly in anticipation of whatever he might do.  And she was very much hoping he would kiss her, that she could find out what it would be like to be kissed by Edward.
    When his lips finally touched hers, she gasped and pulled back slightly.  He watched her, saw her eyes widen, then drop to his mouth.  That mouth was more temptation than a man should ever have to endure, he thought.  He watched in