Free 'Twas the Night Before Mischief by Nina Rowan Page A

accustomed to riding in this fashion.”
    â€œI suggest you become accustomed, and quickly.”
    She couldn’t help wondering if this is what it would take for Serious Darius to loosen his inexorable control. At the very least, she suspected he wasn’t thinking about definitions at the moment. For her part, with his muscular body pressed so close to her back, she was beginning to have trouble thinking of words .
    Was that his nose brushing against her ear?
    His whiskers scraped her skin, sending a shower of delicious tingles raining down her spine. She wiggled again. Yes, that was most definitely his nose close to her ear again, and moving now to the back of her neck…was he smelling her?
    Penelope’s pulse quickened. His fingers flexed on her hip. She lowered her head just a bit, as if to provide him with better access to her nape. A few tendrils of hair had escaped her chignon, and they moved with the rhythm of Darius’s breath, tickling her skin. Her heart thumped against her ribs, the heavy beat echoing in her blood.
    And then his lips touched the back of her neck, right at the curve where it sloped toward her shoulder. Penelope gasped. Arousal sparked from the caress of his lips down her spine, spreading throughout her lower body.
    I am filled with passion.
    Though his tone had been wry, Penelope now knew the statement for the truth it was. When he’d kissed her, she had sensed passion, vitality, burning behind Darius’s reserve. She’d felt it.
    His lips skimmed to the middle of her neck. Penelope drew in a breath.
    â€œI told you not to move.” His voice was a murmur now.
    â€œBut what…what are you doing?”
    â€œPressing my lips, at the same time compressing and releasing them, upon your nape in an act of affection or reverence,” Darius said. “The definition of to kiss .”
    â€œI…I thought…” God in heaven .
    She couldn’t think. Tingles cascaded through her blood, and she just wanted to sit in the tight, uncomfortable saddle forever with Darius Hall compressing and releasing his lips all over her neck and even lower to her shoulders, her back…and what if he were to slide her dress off and follow the expanse of skin over the arch of her spine, even around to her breasts…
    Penelope closed her eyes on a gasp. Her nipples pressed against the fabric of her corset, and she was seized by a sudden longing to release her entire body from the confines of her clothes so that she could feel Darius’s mouth seeking and exploring…
    â€œHo, there!”
    Darius jerked upright, his body tensing. A short distance ahead, a carriage rattled along the road toward them, the driver waving his hat in the air. Sam.
    Disappointment speared through Penelope, which was most odd since she was supposed to be cold and terribly uncomfortable. Darius brought the horse to a stop and vaulted off the saddle, leaving Penelope bereft without the warmth of his body behind her. He grabbed the reins and led the horse to where the vehicle was slowing down.
    â€œSorry it took me awhile,” Sam called, hopping off the bench. “Had ta find a gig for the lass, an’ a fresh horse as well. I’ll take ole Bess there, if ye want to drive yerself.”
    â€œExcellent. We’re much obliged to you, Sam.”
    How Darius managed to regain his composure so quickly, Penelope had no idea. She allowed him to help her from the horse and into the gig, where she collapsed against the seat with a sigh.
    After exchanging plans and such, Sam took care of the horse while Darius started the vehicle toward Inverness. Without the threat of rain, they were able to travel quickly and reached the outskirts of the town within a few hours.
    The gig rolled to a halt in front of the Caledonian Hotel just as twilight was beginning to paint the sky a murky gray.
    â€œBefore we go inside, I’m sure you’re in need of fresh clothing,” Darius