Free Midnight Kisses (Midnight Series) by Emily Bold

time—and by the way, he seemed very healthy to me when I saw him last, which is why I was so surprised to hear of his demise only a day later—he forgot his bag. I realized right away, and placed it in the safe so I could return it to him in good time, but because of the general confusion surrounding his death, I completely forgot all about it. It was only when I received your note that I remembered the bag.”
    He bent under his desk and pulled out a simple leather briefcase.

    A few moments later, the carriage was clattering down the cobblestones. It was almost noon, and despite her indisposition the previous night, Eliza seemed to have fully recovered. Danielle briefly considered the possibility that her friend might have left her alone with Devlin on purpose, but she immediately came to the conclusion that Colin, at least, would never have agreed to such an unseemly plan.
    But the inquisitive sparkle she noticed in Eliza’s eyes made her reconsider.
    “Well, tell me now, what were you talking about with Lord Weston last night? I hope you’ve put your differences to rest?”
    Danielle glanced out the carriage window. What they had talked about? She smiled when she thought back to the previous evening.
    “You want to make love to me? Here?”
    “Yes, Danielle, I do. And there’s nothing you can do or say to stop me.”
    He had sealed her mouth with a kiss, wiping away all of her objections, and promised her unspeakable pleasures. While he had made her head swim with his hungry lips, he had at the same time loosened his neckerchief and rid himself of his shirt before lying down with her.
    The warm glow of the fire had made his bare skin glisten, and Danielle’s spellbound eyes wandered along the narrow band of dark hair that ran down from his belly button and disappeared inside his waistband. Devlin had smiled and breathed a kiss on her nose.
    “You’re not afraid, are you?”
    “Devlin, I  . . .  will it be as it was with the lady on the sundeck  . . .  You remember?”
    His roaring laughter had made her blush. She was so painfully inexperienced! Surely he was taking pleasure in her innocence.
    “Goodness, no! It won’t be like that at all, Danielle,” he promised, and with a tenderness that came as a shock to her, he had started stripping her shyness away. His kisses were like butterflies on her skin. His hands soft and patient. Over and over, he stoked her passion, pulling her deeper and deeper into a maelstrom of overwhelming emotions. His muscles underneath her fingers were hard and strong. He made her feel safe, and she desperately clung to him as though she were drowning. He pushed her dress farther and farther down until it rustled to the floor.
    “You are more beautiful than the Venus ,” he had whispered, and his hands were shaking when he touched her naked skin over and over again. His kisses came more and more demanding. Danielle realized his rising passions when his tongue danced around her belly button and his hands caressed her breasts. Danielle was trapped in her own lust and passion. She wanted more, and her body knew exactly what to do. When Devlin’s hands slid down and over her hips, she raised her pelvis. That was all the invitation he needed, and when his fingers touched her secret spot, she dug her nails into his back. Delicious shivers ran down her spine, driving her closer and closer toward release; a release she instinctively yearned for but was unable to name.
    “Danielle? Are you even listening to me?”
    Eliza was visibly displeased as she pointed at the street.
    “We’ve arrived! Do you want to get off here, yes or no? I don’t understand why you’ve been ignoring me for the past few minutes!” she grumbled.
    Danielle opened the door and descended.
    “I’m sorry, I was lost in thought. Buying a house is such a serious decision to make,” Danielle tried to smooth over her friend’s hurt feelings.
    Quickly, and so that Eliza wouldn’t notice she had been having