if hes wicked by Hannah Howell

that she would never lose
    him completely. She had to find comfort in that. She was just finding it very hard to do so.
    “Have you been keeping your papa company?” she asked as she moved toward the bed.
    “Aye,” replied the little boy as he scrambled off the bed and hurried over to wrap himself around her legs. “I was tel ing him stories.”
    “Your best ones, I hope.”
    “My vewy best ones.”
    “Wel , I do hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I believe it is time for you to go and clean up for your tea and for a rest.”
    Chloe had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing when Anthony shuffled out of the room as if he was headed to the gal ows.
    When she turned to look at Julian as she shut the door behind the little boy, she lost that control the moment she saw the grin on his face. They both
    started laughing at the same time, although she noticed that Julian winced a time or two, proving that his injuries were stil a little tender.
    “The boy has a talent for theatrics,” Julian said as he sat up and moved to the edge of the bed, bringing him close to Chloe.
    He had missed Chloe’s visits even though he knew he should not have. Julian knew he should have used the time to push her out of his mind, but,
    instead, he had spent far too much time thinking about her and wondering why she was not visiting him as often as she had before. Just hearing her laugh
    had brought back al the wanting he had thought he had begun to cure himself of. He stood up and stepped close to her, drawn by the way a thick lock of
    her hair had tumbled forward, freed of the binding she had tied it back with. Even as a voice in his head told him that he should step back, that he should not touch her even in passing, Julian reached forward and gently pushed that lock of hair behind her ear. And a very pretty ear it was, too, he thought.
    Forcing himself to look up from her lush mouth, he met her gaze and felt himself become lost in the rich depths of her inky blue eyes. Julian began
    to lower his mouth to hers, ignoring the loud warnings in his mind. For too long he had wondered what she would taste like and he could no longer resist
    the temptation she presented. The way her eyes widened told him that she knew what he was about to do but she made no move to stop him. He was
    both disappointed and exhilarated by that.
    Chloe knew Julian was about to kiss her. She also knew she ought to push him away, to sternly remind him that he was a married man and then
    walk away as fast as she could. Instead she leaned toward him, hungry for the touch of his mouth. She had never been kissed and she knew she wanted
    him to be the first even if, once the kiss ended, the reality of their situation made them both retreat.
    The moment his lips touched hers, Chloe knew she was in trouble. As he brushed his mouth over hers, he slid the fingers of one hand into her hair
    and she shivered from the strength of the desire that roared to life within her. It was wicked to kiss a married man, but she was going to do it. Cautiously, afraid the slightest move on her part might make him come to his senses and pul away, she placed her hands upon his chest. He released a soft moan
    and increased the press of his lips against hers. And then, quite suddenly, the kiss was no longer a simple, brief taste, just a naughty satisfying of
    curiosity.
    Her senses reeled as he nipped her bottom lip and, when she gasped from the heat that roused, he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Chloe was
    startled by the invasion for barely a heartbeat before the stroking seduction of his tongue robbed her of the last of her tepid resistance. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave herself over to the heady delight of his kiss. She did not think that anything had ever felt as good or tasted as sweet.
    When Julian abruptly pul ed away, she heard herself make a soft, inarticulate sound of protest. She opened her eyes to look at him and found him
    staring at her in