Love Redeemed Read Free Page B

family had put her at ease, but with their departure and that of all the servants, she’d lost her buffer. Alone with him, her body seemed to have one thing in mind. The juncture of her thighs heated, her core moistening in anticipation of taking him within.
    His fork clinked against the china as he set the heavy silver utensil down. “Would you like to join me in the study? I could use a brandy.”
    “So could I.”
    Brennan’s jaw unhinged halfway as he stared at her. Finally finding his voice, he sputtered, “You drink brandy?”
    “My father lets me sip it?” Serena’s skin stretched with a weak smile. She had misspoken with no way to cover it.
    “How singular.” Brennan shook his head and stood, extending her his arm.

 
     
    Chapter Three
     
     
    Surrounded by wood and leather, Serena grew certain her handsome host must have guessed the truth after her slip up about the brandy. His intense blue-gray eyes focused on her from across the room as the door clicked shut.
    “I am sorry my friends had to leave so early. If you need to leave, I can call my carriage around for you.” He looked so earnest and yet all she could see was hope. Hope she would stay or hope she would go?
    “Not at all. I thought you wanted a nightcap?” Comfortable in this pseudo-hostess role, she eased over to the decanter of cognac, or perhaps brandy? She lifted the lid. A delicate sniff told her the crystal contained the promised brandy. Excellent. She splashed two fingers of the amber liquid into a set of glasses and carried them toward her host who remained plastered against the study door.
    She handed him a glass, transferring the smooth cool container to him before taking his warm free hand. A gentle tug got him moving so she could lead him to a nearby couch where they settled together. A heady, lightheadedness heightened the pulsing sensation of her blood thrumming as her body warmed to an uncomfortable temperature. Her breasts felt trapped by her corset and gown, and yet balanced in the most precarious way at the lip of her bodice. Serena had never experienced such anticipation before.
    “Tell me, Mr. Whitling. How did you end up in the textile business?”
    “Tell me, Miss Freemont. How have we not met before now?” He leaned in close and traced her ear with his fingertip.
    Little shivers raced up and down her spine as though a breeze had stolen into the room. Tamping down the baser instincts demanding his touch, she focused on sipping her brandy. The dear man thought her a debutante. Not the practiced harlot that she was. He would be shocked were she to stand, strip, and proceed to manipulate both him and the situation with her usual finesse.
    “I cannot imagine. Honestly, I am on Bond Street quite regularly. But—” She hesitated. “Well, I shouldn’t say it. It just isn’t proper.” She blushed.
    “Please, you may say anything you like to me.” He set his brandy on a side table and took her hand in his to offer her assurance.
    Unsure how to respond Serena bit her lip. The truth of her next words rang clearer than the voice of a choirboy. “Well, I am glad I ran into you.” She could at least be true to her feelings if not her story.
    It took but a moment for her snifter to disappear under Brennan’s power before he swept her into his arms. The comforting band of bone and sinew surrounded her as his chest pressed against her sensitive breasts. Even through five layers of clothing, her nipples tightened and pressed forward seeking his heat.
    Warm lips claimed her soft moist ones, and his tongue demanded entrance. She willingly opened to him, accepted him, and welcomed him into her body.
    He probed her mouth and caressed her teeth with his tongue as his hands sought out her precariously positioned breasts. It took ever so little coaxing and the loosening of her bodice for her to spill out over the top of her dress. He treated her to more attention than she had known in recent memory.
    Her pebbled nipples grew