Lords of Honor by K. R. Richards Page B

informed his friend immediately.
    Jack nodded . “I expected as much from you, Micah .”
    “She was very ill . I am more familiar with her than I should be, I know . Her virtue is intact . I swear it.”
    “I believe you, Micah . Do not wor ry about what I think . You must remember I did see her condition at the White Hart . She could not stand on her own . Besides, I know you well enough , Micah, to know that you always behave as a gentleman . Y ou have proposed to her and will make your offer for her to Owen . Until Owen arrives, you may continue as you are.”
    “Thank you, Jack.”
    Jack winked . “I’m happy for you, Micah . She’s a sweet young woman , a nd very lovely.”
    Micah grinned . “She is both ; and much more to me .”
    Libby seemed quite worried upon his return . “If I was not here, would the two of you go on?” she asked.
    Her chin raised in a defiant gesture . He wanted to kiss that chin . He also wished to banish the frown upon her rosy lips . “No . T here are at least six of them, Libby . We’ve dealt with their kind before in Glastonbury . The se men are dangerous . I was shot, Lyon was shot and Harry’s sister, Lady Caroline , was shot . Most of them are hired thugs fro m London . Jack and I would stay here in Salisbury until reinforcements arrived, just as we three are now going to do . Come here . We’ve a few minutes before Jack gets back .” He opened his arms to her.
    Libby h appily stepped into his embrace . “You were shot ? Where?” She gazed up at him with curiosity .
    “In the thigh . I’ll tell you about it later . We did not get to finish what we started at breakfast, sweetheart . We won’t have too many more opportunities to be private for awhile ,   u ntil we are married . If anyone arrives this evening, we shall not be able to sleep together until after we are wed . I very much enjoy ed our kiss earlier at breakfast .” His voice deepened. ”N ow let’s see, where were we? ”
    H is mouth cover ed hers . H e kissed her deeply . He drank form her honeyed mouth like a starving man . It might be the last bit of privacy they would share befo re they were married . The wedding ceremony might not be as soon as Micah would like . Everything now depended on how Owen viewed their situation .
    His hands moved gently down her lovely back , smoothed over the indentation of her waist and s topped to rest upon her hips . He pulled her tighter against him . He held her there while he contin u ed to kiss her . H e w anted to thread his fingers through her thick braid and loosen her magnificent hair , but there was n’t time . He p ull ed her closer still . He realized he might go mad not having Libby in his arms while he slept . I t amazed him that in two days time he gre w so accustomed to having Libby near . His lips left her mouth to trail down her neck . He nipped lightly at the sensitive skin where her slender neck dipped to her collarbone .
    He shivered with delight as Libby placed soft little kisses along his neck . When his cock began to harden, Micah knew he had best stop . He could not allow the desire he felt for Libby to overrule his common sense . Jack would be back shortly and he might walk in to find them in a situation that would embarrass his lady . Micah would not do that to Libby .
    He pulled away from their kiss reluctantly . He drew his head up and looked his fill of her . Her sapphire eyes were dark with passion and her lovely lips were red , s lightly swollen and still parted . “Jack will return any minute, sweetheart . And I’ve letters to write. ” H e noted the deep and husky tone in his voice .
    Libby gazed into Micah’s silvery gr a y eyes . She s aw the corners of his mouth turn up in a smile . Her hand rested o n his chest . She could feel the pounding of his heart beneath her hand . The rhythm seemed to match the wild beating of her s . “Oh, Micah , w hen you kiss me I tingle all over ,” she whispered . She felt her cheeks grow hot .