Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“We’ll see,” she singsonged as she spun expertly around and raced over the ice to the kids, making them squeal.
Bryn snuck a peek at the shore where Elonne had made himself at home beside Rosamunde. It was a knife to the gut and he bit back his possessive growl at the relaxed body language she maintained around him.
Why Elonne and not me?
The wind increased and he stopped in the middle of the lake, head up and eyes on the clouds, which had gotten dangerously close.
“Time to go.” He barked the order.
No one hesitated to follow. Even the kids moved off the ice. Within moments the skates were hung inside, the blankets back and the fire out. Bryn skimmed the group and calculated the distance back. They wouldn’t make it in time.
“Move now.”
Everyone obeyed, keeping the kids in a single sled so they didn’t have to walk and slow them down, plus they would stay warmer pressed together. The extra sleds were dragged empty behind some others. Eyes roving the group, he stayed in the back so no one would fall behind. Henry, his younger brother, led the way, his easy steps cutting a path for others to follow.
They’d made it about a quarter of the way when the sleet slammed into the back of his head. Damn it! He should have been paying better attention to the clouds. His lips twitched as he watched Rosamunde and Delicia, Uncle Phillip’s daughter, slide in behind the sled, acting as wind barriers to protect the children more.
The whinny of a horse had him sharing a look with Falcon. Both of them had weapons on them, no way they went anywhere with family and were unable to protect them from danger.
It wasn’t danger. His father drove a sleigh toward them, a pair of roan geldings tossing their heads and snorting as they moved, raring to go. The geldings moved in a wide circle around Bryn and his charges, where his father gave him a nod then stopped.
“Let’s get on.” Bryn waved a gloved hand in the air, encouraging them to all climb in.
The children were lifted in, then the women. It took everything in him not to demand they not touch Rosamunde. Once everyone else was on and settled, he tossed in the sleds the children had used and hopped over the side. Keely tugged on him and he lowered himself to the wood floor of the repurposed wagon.
Blankets were passed out to protect them from the increased sleet slamming into them. Bryn made sure the children were safe then leaned against the side with a deep breath.
Rosamunde sat across from him and he caught her staring. With a wink, he smirked at the flush moving over her skin.
What he would do to her if he were seated beside her with a blanket over them, keeping others from watching. His dick swelled and he bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself under control.
It wasn’t working.
Chapter Fifteen
The heat of the water permeated her cold body and Rosamunde didn’t even try to stop the appreciative moan that escaped. She’d done more today than she did most days and it was barely afternoon. Being out in the unexpected storm hadn’t helped.
Her muscles ached, but it was a burn she’d keep forever if it meant more days like this. Walking outside, snowball fights. Watching people ice skate.
Kissing Bryn.
Her body trembled and she squeezed her thighs together, trying unsuccessfully to stop the onslaught of memories reliving his kisses gave her. Skin hypersensitive, she shifted in the tub and breathed through her nose, trying to calm down.
As she finished washing herself, her arms brushed along her pointed nipples, drawing a whimper of anguished need from her. This wasn’t fair. Swallowing back her desire, she moved the rag down over her belly and on. She moaned as her fingers brushed her core.
She ached there and wanted something to take it away. No, not something. Someone. Bryn.
Worrying her lower lip in her teeth, she thought about her day. More like she thought about Bryn. Gut clenching, she sucked a sharp breath and tried to wrangle her thoughts. They were wild and running in directions she didn’t want them to go. Thousands of them and all with a singular destination.
A man who she would willingly give her innocence to if only he would take it. A man above her station. A man who members of the ton liked to scorn when he was not before them. But even if they wanted to shun him, they wished they could be his friend, warm his bed or learn from his training for boxing.
For all the bad things people spread about him, she’d found in him an integrity that she hadn’t seen in others. And while it impressed her, she wished just once he would let go of those morals and burn her with the heat she felt when he touched her.