Page 51 of Lord Ashley's Beautiful Alibi
“But…” She winced. “I don’t want bugs crawling up my legs.”
He feigned horror. “You see me swatting them away, do you?”
She ground her teeth and banged on the roof herself. She had a sudden vision of his fingers sliding up her legs. The scintillating idea made her need to wee more urgent. “Bugs like me.”
“I bet they do,” he murmured. “Just hike up your skirts. Make it quick.”
She cringed as the driver slowed and pulled to the side of the road. “Men!”
“Women,” Kane moaned, and had a time of it getting comfortable.
“Something bothering you?” She bit her lip to suppress her chuckle as he arched his spine.
“With all your wiggling and giggling, I’m not in any condition to get out of this carriage.”
She was proud of herself. There wasreally largeevidence. It was the first time she had gotten him to admit she had any power over him.
“Stop preening,” he groused.
But she burst into laughter. He had an erection that certainly made her proud.
The carriage rolled to a stop.
“Out,” he barked at her, when he had alighted and offered his hand.
“Are you sure you don’t have to relieve yourself?”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Come.” He led her to the edge of a copse of birches, where she waited, arms crossed, until the coachman and groom turned their backs and Kane did the same.
Minutes later, all four of them happy, they were off again.
“How long do you think it will take us to get to our first inn?”
“A few hours.” He flicked melting gray eyes at her and then at the basket beneath the opposite seat. “Dig us out the flask of water, baguette, and cheese.”
*
Their accommodations inthe inn that evening were much better than the cab of their coach. At least they had a bed. Tiny, it stood against the rough logs of their little room. They began the night in it together, but were apart within an hour. Ashley took to the floor with an eiderdown that left either his feet or his massive arms sticking out.
Whatever showed of him was just fine with Gus, but she would have preferred to have his warmth pervading hers. Practical, she gave in to the current conditions and sighed.
“At least the lamb stew we had for dinner was good,” she said, standing over him.
In response, he threw a pillow at her and rolled away.
*
Kane’s hopes forarriving at his lodge the next day were high. They’d better. The allure to keep Gus’s supple body against his was becoming a devil’s temptation.
The first morning, thefaubourgsof Paris had given way to the gentle breezes of the north. The aromas of mustard plants,their bright yellow flowers blooming in the rolling waves across the hills, filled his mind with what he had to accomplish here.
The verdant forests of the countryside shaded their journey in the hot June. They had changed horses at the inn yesterday, midday. Gus and he and their two coachmen ate from the well-stocked wicker baskets. A mild cheese and good white wine, fresh boules of bread, and crocks of butter complemented the salty hunks of ham from the smokehouse.
“I need a nap!” Gus patted her tummy and climbed into the coach the second day. She slept for a few hours, once more cuddled against him amid blankets and squabs.
He gazed at her. Her hair in his fingers, her lithe body curled along his. She was a fiendish temptation, and he was conflicted as to what precisely he was to do with her. But he had told her to be honest. He must be with himself. He could no longer simply befriend her. He wished to stroke her and pet her.Hell.We wished to eat her like candy.
But no. He had to keep his hands and his cock to himself. As along as he did, they would be focused each on their pressing goals.Curse it.
