Forbidden Read Free Page A

“—one
kiss?”
    “I’m a virgin!” Margery squeaked.
    She saw him smile. “It takes more than one kiss to change that,
sweetheart.”
    There was a long, long moment in which Margery could feel the
warmth of his body and hear the thunder of her pulse in her ears. She did want
to kiss him. Her stomach dropped with shock as she realized it. Fierce curiosity
licked through her, laced with wickedness. She could barely believe how she was
feeling. Things like this did not happen to her; she was far too sensible to
want to kiss strange gentlemen in brothels. Or so she had thought. Yet something
of the sumptuous, bawdy atmosphere seemed to have infected her like too much
wine in the blood, and here she was with this man who was temptation
personified....
    His lips brushed hers, so light a touch she thought she had
imagined it. He captured her gasp of shock in another kiss, hot and sweet, that
took her completely by surprise. It was her first kiss. Occasionally, she had
wondered what it might feel like and now, all of a sudden, she knew. It felt as
though there were too many sensations for her to grasp. She was aware only of
the strength of his arms about her and the touch of his mouth on hers. It was
all sparks and flame, fiery desire and the ache of wanting. It was enough to set
her trembling in a way she had never felt before.
    His lips very gently nudged hers apart, his tongue touched hers
and everything became dizzying and molten and shocking in a perfectly delicious
way. Now she knew why people liked kissing so much. She never wanted to stop.
Her body felt soft and yielding against the strength and hardness of his. The
pit of her stomach felt hollow with a peculiar longing. She was lost in a
dangerous new world and did not want to be found.
    A door shut sharply, away to their right, and Margery jumped
and awoke, stepping back out of the circle of his arms. The sweetness fled and
she felt cold and shocked. She was no Cinderella. Nor was she the heroine of one
of the Gothic romances she read in secret. She was a servant girl and he was a
gentleman. She wondered what on earth she had been thinking. No, she knew what
she had been thinking. She had been thinking that kissing was the most
delightful occupation she had yet discovered. More accurately she had been
thinking that kissing this particular man was the most delicious thing
imaginable. But that did not make it the right thing to do.
    “No.” She pressed her fingers to her lips in a brief, betraying
gesture and saw his gaze follow the movement and his eyes darken.
    “No,” she said again. “This is quite wrong.”
    “You!” Mrs. Tong was swooping toward Margery like a vengeful
harpy, scarves flying, bangles clashing. “I told you—” She broke off as the man
moved protectively close to Margery’s side. A smile of ludicrous brightness
transformed her sharp features. “I beg your pardon, sir,” she said. “I did not
see you there. Was this girl importuning you? She does not work here.” Mrs. Tong
shot Margery another vicious vengeful look. “My girls are a great deal more
professional—”
    “I don’t doubt it, ma’am.” The gentleman cut in, so smoothly it
did not sound like an interruption. “But you have the matter quite mistaken. I
was lost—” a hint of amusement in his tone “—and Miss Mallon was doing no more
than giving me directions, for which I am most grateful.”
    “Since she is in the wrong place herself,” Mrs. Tong said
sharply, “it amazes me that she could direct anybody.” She softened her tone and
placed a hand on the man’s arm. “If you would care to come with me, sir, I can
help you with whatever you require. You.” She jerked her head at Margery.
“Out.”
    “Goodnight, ma’am.” Margery did not spare Mrs. Tong more than a
brief nod of the head. She could feel the madam’s eyes boring into her. She knew
that Mrs. Tong suspected her of trying to tout for business. This would be the
last time she was permitted in