Affair by Amanda Quick Page A

let go of him. "I was about to ask you the same
    question. "Bloody hell." He lowered his mouth to hers once more.
    She felt his hand slip inside the hood of her cloak to cup the nape of her neck. His fingers were strong and warm. The intimacy of the caress sent another wave of excitement through her.
    He shifted his hold on her so that she was draped across his
    thighs. He cradled her in the curve of one arm and bent his head to kiss her throat. He pushed aside the folds of her cloak.
    Charlotte heard her own soft gasp as Baxter's hand closed over
    her breast. She could feel the heat of his palm straight through the thin wool of her gown. But she could not bring herself to pull away. A stunning sense of urgency infused her entire body. She tugged at
    the lapels of his greatcoat. "Mr. St. Ives-"
    His hand moved slowly down over the curve of her breast and tightened on her hip. He squeezed carefully.
    11 Dear heaven," she whispered, shaken. The solid, heavy length of his manhood pressed against hcr thigh. She closed her eyes as she sank beneath another wave of
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    sensation. She felt as if she had slipped into a delicious trance.
    Perhaps this was how it felt to undergo a session of mesmerism.
    She put her hands inside Baxter's coat, desperate for the feel of
    him. She was enthralled by what she found. Through the fabric of his linen shirt she could distinguish the sleek, powerful muscles of his chest. The heat and scent of him were intoxicating. She wanted more, so much more.
    He gathered up her tumbled skirts and the flowing folds of the cloak. He lifted them above her knees. Charlotte shivered again when he touched the inside of her thigh. He stroked her bare skin above her neatly tied garter. A shock went through her.
    The carriage slowed to a halt.
    Charlotte froze. Reality returned in a rush.
    "Bloody hell." Baxter straightened quickly. He leaned across
    Charlotte and snatched his spectacles off the cushion. Then he moved a carriage curtain aside. "We have arrived at your house. How the devil did we get here so quickly? I had several things I wished to say to you tonight." "And I had much to discuss with you." Charlotte struggled to
    collect herself She felt awkward and off balance. She also felt flushed and breathless and filled with a strange sense of anticipation. "We did not even begin to discuss the events of the evening." "No, we did not." He watched her with grim, narrowed eyes as
    she scooted back to the opposite seat and composed herself. "I shall call upon you tomorrow."
    His curt manner had the effect of lowering her spirits. The man had just been kissing her with great passion, she thought, and now he was speaking to her as if she had offended him. Then it struck her that he was no doubt deeply shaken by the emotions that had briefly overcome both of them.
    In truth, she was just as disturbed by the tumultuous embrace. But as Baxter's employer, it was her responsibility to take charge of the situation. Baxter was no doubt castigating himself quite sav-

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    Amanda Quick
    agely for having succumbed to the more passionate elements of his
    nature.
    She leaned forward to touch his hand in what she hoped was a
    reassuring fashion. "Do not concern yourself, sit. You are in no way to blame for what just occurred. That sort of intense emotion is often precipitated by excitement and danger. Our encounter with
    that dreadful man outside Mrs. Heskett's house was the cause of our
    heightened emotions."
    Baxter gazed at her very steadily. "Do you think so?" "Yes, of course. It is the only explanation. The threat of violence can open a floodgate of intense passions." "You have had a great deal of experience with this type OC thing?" "Well, no, not exactly," she admitted. "But I have read enough Byron to know that what happened to us just now was not unusual.
    When one faces danger, all of one's senses are aroused and            and stimulated."
    "Good God. You are basing your conclusions on the work of a
    bloody