The Governess Club: Bonnie by Ellie Macdonald Page B

confused. “I just explained. He had written everything down in a diary.”
    “No, I mean I don’t understand how he lived so long among us without us knowing. He’s a murderer, for heaven’s sake.” Bonnie’s skin began to itch from her agitation. She rubbed her arms and began to pace.
    Stephen could feel her distress; an idiot would be able to. “I didn’t mean to cause you alarm.”
    She turned on him. “How was this not meant to cause me alarm? I may not have liked Mr. Renard, but I trusted him enough to not suspect he was capable of murder.”
    She was panicking. He needed to calm her. “Bonnie lass, calm down. Take a deep breath and calm down.”
    “Calm down? There is a murderer in the manor, one who almost killed me, and you are telling me to calm down?”
    Stephen grabbed her by the arms, halting her pacing. “You need to stop this.”
    “What are we going to do, Sir Stephen?” Her eyes were frantic.
    “You don’t need to concern yourself with this, Bonnie. I have it under control. I have a plan.”
    She stared at him. “You do?”
    He held her gaze steadily. “Aye. I will ensure you and the boys are safe. I will take care of you.”
    Her green eyes were wide. “You will?”
    “Aye.”
    Bonnie couldn’t help herself. He was so intent, so sincere. She stood on her tiptoes, cupped his face and pressed her lips to his. He gave a little jerk of surprise, but his hands tightened on her shoulders, pulling her closer to him.
    She pushed her tongue into his mouth, eager to taste him and to have him take away this fear. He met her eagerness, thrusting back.
    He plundered her mouth, sweeping and swirling, dancing with her tongue. Her head spun with his skill. His hands released her shoulders and wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Bonnie wrapped her arms around his neck, not objecting at all to being so close to him.
    “Bonnie lass,” Stephen muttered against her lips. “Bonnie.”
    Their lips met again, stopping his words. Stephen drew her bottom lip into his mouth and sucked, enjoying the sound of her moan. Her hands slid underneath his coat, pushing it from his shoulders. He had to release her to allow the garment to fall to the floor and Bonnie took advantage, her fingers fumbling with the buttons of his waistcoat. His hands fell to the tie of her dressing gown, freeing it to join his coat on the floor.
    Stephen grabbed her waist again, lifting her off the floor to hold her against him again, their lips coming together. He turned and moved the few steps to her bed.
    He took a step back and removed his collar and cravat. Bonnie watched him, watched his skin slowly be revealed, her mouth drying as each inch of bare skin reached her eyes.
    Stephen tugged his boots and socks off and untucked his shirt from his trousers, but didn’t remove it. He reached up and cupped her neck, his thumbs running down its length, before he leaned down and took her mouth again, gentling from his earlier plundering. Bonnie held his wrists, enjoying his controlled strength.
    One hand moved to tug on the ties of her nightgown. The cool air touched her skin before his hand disappeared underneath the material to cup her breast. She broke the kiss to press her forehead into his neck, savoring the warmth of his calloused hand surrounding her breast.
    Stephen pressed a lingering kiss to her temple before pulling away slightly. She made a sound of protest, but all he did was lift her arms and pull her nightgown off, tossing it to the pile of clothes in the corner.
    It was a novel thing, to be naked in front of a man, to be exposed entirely to his gaze. She saw the appreciation flare in his brown eyes and he licked his lips as his eyes drifted down, taking in her tightening nipples and rounded hips before settling on the curls covering her womanhood. She turned slightly, shifting her legs to give him a better view.
    Bonnie smiled when his jaw hung open, so she shifted again. His eyes were fixed on her moving