Free The Judge and the Gypsy by Sandra Chastain

take my responsibilities lightly. I don’t know what you had in mind for this little venture, but if seducing me was part of the plan, this is your chance. If not, then let me warm you up so we can both get some sleep.”
    Savannah opened her mouth to protest, but the delicious sensation that flooded her body when he pulled her closer silenced her. He threw his leg across hers and began to massage her feet with his feet, her arm with his arm, and her face with his fingertips. The electric shock of his flesh against hers took away all thought of speech.
    Instead, she felt her traitorous body begin to respond, becoming aware of nerve endings returning to life with a shivery sensation that danced along her body like heat from a midday summer sun. Her face and neck tingled. She became aware of the hair on his legs brushing against her, of his left hand working its way across her rib cage. Delicious sensationssurged through her, and she felt a primal yearning deep within her womanly recesses.
    This time it was Rasch who took a quick, shallow breath. “You aren’t wearing anything beneath that blouse.”
    “And you consider yourself a keen observer of people.” She was finding it hard to breathe. “I thought you knew.”
    Rasch was having breathing problems of his own, and that was minor compared with the other reactions of his body. “I didn’t. Ah, Savannah, it seems that I’m not as much in control as I thought. In lieu of taking a cold shower, maybe I’ll go out and check the fire.”
    “Don’t worry about the fire on my account,” Savannah said softly. “I’m getting warm, very warm.”
    “So am I, Gypsy. Now close your eyes and go to sleep.”
    “All right,” she agreed, feigning a yawn as she snuggled into the warm cocoon of his body. And then she felt his manhood, throbbing insistently against her bottom.
    So, the crusader’s body wanted hers. Good, that was a beginning. Thwarted passion was definitely a plus. He wanted to keep her warm. He was strung out with tension and eroding control. Good. She’d follow orders. She’d go to sleep and let him struggle with his honor; he certainly never had in court.
    Blatantly Savannah wiggled her derriere, pressing it against the evidence of his desire. “I think you’re right, Crusader,” she said drowsily. “We ought to get some sleep.”
    For the next half hour they lay, each held in check, waiting for some evidence that the other was sleeping.But it wasn’t happening. Every second was fuel for the smoldering embers of desire, until finally Rasch gave a loud groan and turned her over.
    “You aren’t asleep, and I can’t sleep either. We’ve got to do something about this, or neither one of us will be worth killing in the morning.”
    His lips captured hers with unexpected abandon. For a moment she responded then his last words echoed in her consciousness.
Neither one of us will be worth killing in the morning
. Worth killing! For a moment she’d forgotten what she’d set out to do.
    Letting Judge Horatio Webber make love to her might well be part of the outcome, but not when she was as emotionally overwrought as he—not yet. She had to make certain that the attachment was more than purely sexual if she was going to punish him for her brother’s death. She wasn’t about to let him make love to her before the time was right.
    Savannah shuddered and pulled away. “Sorry, Crusader, I’m not interested in some fling in the hay, or bag, as the case may be. I seem to be warm enough, and come morning you’ll be over this problem you have.”
    This time she finally managed to sleep. Whether it was the reminder of Tifton’s death that made her renew her pledge to avenge her brother, or sheer willpower, didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she slept.
    And eventually Rasch slept too. When he woke the next morning, his hand was cupping her breast possessively. In the pale morning light he could see her face, relaxed now in sleep. She was smiling