Page 32 of The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad

Of course, he did, I thought as he shot me a grin.

Clearing my throat, I took a deep breath then picked up where we had left off.

Pippa’s breathing was erratic. Her heart pounded in her breast as Laird Blackwood’s hand made the slow journey up her thigh to cup her backside, a place no other man had ever touched.

“Wrap your legs around me, lass,” Laird Blackwood said, voice rough and heated.

Just like that, her legs wound themselves around him seemingly of their own accord. They had begun to weaken some time ago, and now they rested high on Laird Blackwood’s hips. The man groaned at her easy acquiescence.

“Good girl,” he growled.

“Oh,” Pippa cried out as he buried his head into her neck, leaving kisses and little bites up and down the column of her throat. “Laird Blackwood, please!”

His hips thrust up once in response, making both of them moan.

“Tell me what you want, lass.”

She hardly knew. Even if Pippa did know what she wanted, she was sure she wouldn’t be able to ask him for it. Not out loud, not here in his study surrounded by his amazing collection of books. It was improper. It went against everything she had ever been taught growing up. Libraries were sacred and no place for such dalliances.

I stuttered on that last bit and definitely did not look at Colton. I could feel his grin from across the room, but I decided to do the smart thing and kept my eyes to myself. Looking back down, I kept reading.

Laird Blackwood had no clue where her thoughts had wandered. If he had, he might not have spoken so rashly or so honestly. As it was, his mind so addled by passion and the heady feel of her warmth around him, he said exactly what he had been thinking.

“Your arse is lovely.” He gave it a squeeze, causing Pippa to gasp in affronted delight. “Your body is so responsive.” His lips pressed against her fluttering pulse. “Most days I walk around hard, and it’s all because of you.”

I gulped. That last part was bad enough, but did I seriously have to say this next bit? Yes, I thought. Yes, you do have to read it Sadie Day because you are not a goody-two-shoes. You are not too nice, and you are definitely not a coward.

I plunged into the last section, again, keeping my eyes on the words in front of me.

Pippa clutched the back of his neck, forcing him to look up at her. When she looked into his sable brown eyes, she saw hunger and strength and a fierceness she had come to associate with the brash Scottish highlander. It awakened something inside of her, and she could remain silent no longer.

“Take me, Laird Blackwood,” she breathed. “I have an ache inside, and I believe you are the only man who can ease it. Will you help me? Please?”

“Aye, lass,” he said, taking her mouth once more in a fierce kiss. “I’ve got you.”

My voice cracked on the last word.Why me?I asked not for the first time this week. Was it possible to die of embarrassment? I’d have to Google that later.

When I looked up, the Shady Grove residents hadn’t moved a muscle. Their eyes were glued on me (or heads turned in my general direction for those who could no longer see). Even George Trask, the grumpy curmudgeon that he was, had his good ear turned my way. I guess they were waiting for what happened next, but we were done for the day. So done.

“That’s the end of the chapter,” I mumbled. “We’ll pick up here next time.”

George was the first to start moving, grumbling about “missing the first part of Jeopardy,” the others not far behind. Many of them were talking about the book as they walked/wheeled toward their rooms. Some of them even thanked me for reading which was so nice but completely unnecessary. I hadn’t checked to see if Colton had moved yet, hadn’t even glanced his way. It like seemed the safest course of action.

Betty fanned herself. “Well…that was some finish. Now, I’m just dying to read the next chapter.”

“Me, too,” Cora said. “That Quinn Phillips sure does know how to write a racy scene.”

As Colton walked up to us, I kept my eyes averted. “And you? What did you think?”

“I liked the part about the library.”

My eyes shot straight to his at that. There was nothing innocent about the look in those baby blues.

“I never realized that was something girls were into,” Colton said. “But I’m starting to see the appeal.”

I could not believe he’d just said that.

“Oh yes,” Betty said, a matching gleam in her eyes. “It’s a bookworm thing, I think. A library, the nooks and shadowy corners, all those books looking on, it’s the perfect place for romance. Don’t you think so, Cora?”

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