Free Nan Ryan by Love Me Tonight Page A

momentarily he was sighing with deep carnal pleasure as he sat naked on the velvet vanity stool with her kneeling between his spread legs. She looked so cute, so sweetly innocent in the youthful yellow dress and matching hair ribbon.
    Naughtily she held his heated gaze as she flipped her long dark hair back off her face, sank back on her heels, and bent to place her soft, unrouged lips over the pulsing tip of his straining erection.
    There was nothing remotely innocent in the way she expertly made love to him with practiced lips and teeth and tongue, but it was sweet indeed. She drove him half crazy before finally bringing him to total fulfillment.
    A half hour later a completely sated Niles Loveless was drawing his gray trousers back on while she fingered the diamond-and-emerald necklace at her throat. Making small talk, she asked if he’d heard the shocking news.
    “You mean about Helen Courtney and the Yankee bastard?” he said, buttoning his pants.
    “Mmmm. Won’t he spoil your plans?”
    “I’m sure that’s what Helen thinks.”
    “Well, darling, with a man’s help on the farm, mightn’t she be able to produce a decent autumn harvest? Make enough money to pay the taxes and hold on to the—”
    “I’ve no intention of allowing that to happen. I want that land, all of it. I am going to have it.” He smiled then and added, “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m quite adept at getting what I want.”
    “I had noticed,” she said, smiling. “Have you seen the Yankee in town? What’s his name?”
    He shrugged. “I haven’t seen him. Haven’t even heard his name, but whoever he is, I have plans for him. Within two or three weeks, I’ll see to it that he’s left Alabama or is in the county jail. Either way, Helen will be amenable to my buyout offer before this summer ends.”
    “You’re so clever, darling,” she praised. Then, “I’ve heard the Yankee’s quite handsome. There’s sure to be gossip about the two of them way off out there alone.”
    “Of course there’ll be gossip, as well there should.” He shook a finger in her face. “You’re to have nothing more to do with Helen Courtney, you hear me? I won’t have people talking about you, dear.”
    “Niles, you’re so protective, so solicitous.”
    With the tip of his little finger Niles touched the diamond-and-emerald necklace resting in the hollow of her throat. “I wouldn’t be displeased if you mentioned to some of her friends you suspect Helen and the Yankee are … well …”
    “But of course, darling.” Her smile turned to a petulant pout. “Must you get dressed? We’ve only begun to relax.”
    He grinned and pinched her cheek. “While I agree that the three R’s are more important than anything else in life, I really must hurry.”
    She gave him an innocent look. “Readin’, ’ritin’, and ’rithmatic? They’re the most important thing in life?”
    “No, pet,” he said, and again drew her into his embrace. “Rum, riches, and rapture.”
    She laughed and said, “Well, darling, you have riches. Stay and I’ll give you rum and rapture.”
    “It’s tempting, but I really do have to go. The little wife’s giving an important dinner party for Senator Riggs—at my request. I promised Patsy I’d get home early.”
    “Mmmm.” Yasmine sighed, locking her wrists behind his back. “Then I suppose I’ll be seeing you again in a few hours.”
    “Oh?” His hands cupped her delicate rib cage. “You coming to Patsy’s dinner party, my sweet?”
    She smiled wickedly. “I wouldn’t dream of missing the gala, darling,” she purred.
    Then Yasmine Parnell, the respected, glamorous, dark-haired thirty-three-year-old wealthy widow said to the esteemed, blondly handsome thirty-seven-year-old family man Niles Loveless, “After all, Patsy’s one of my dearest friends.”

Chapter Ten
    K urt Northway walked toward the corral as the first pale tinges of light streaked across the eastern sky. Perched on the corral