Rakes Always Kiss First (Forbidden Kisses Book 2) Read online

  His skin was hot and pleasant to the touch, but just when he appeared ready to believe she was willing to kiss him again, she moved her leg behind his, keeping her dulcet tone. “Do not ever think you may kiss me when you wish, or that I would ever return for more.” With a smile, she pushed against his chest. He tripped over the leg she had placed behind him and tumbled beneath the water.

  Before he could come up out of the water and right himself, Mary rushed to the bank, gathered her clothes and the basket and hurried into the cover of the woods. Once she was securely hidden, she called back to him. “I’m sorry, but I only allow gentlemen to call on me. Certainly not barbarians such as yourself.”

  The man’s jaw dropped as water dripped from his hair and ran down his broad shoulders, and Mary smiled in satisfaction. As she dressed as quickly as she could - she could not have him stumble upon her in a state of undress again! - she thought about this Lord Anthony Greyson. The man was arrogant and rude! The thought of him watching her undress sent shock through her body once again. Yet, he was handsome and confident, and the way he kissed her still had her feeling lightheaded as she hurried home.

  But she would not return for another. That was one certainty he would learn to be true!

  ***

  Lord Anthony Greyson never wanted for anything in his seven and twenty years, whether it be the finest horseflesh, acquiring new properties in London, or even a simple kiss from a willing woman.

  Of course, wealth had provided for much of his needs, but he was equally blessed with a striking handsomeness women could not resist. It was a fact from which he did not shy away, and he used it to his advantage whenever the opportunity arose, which was more often than any would have thought possible.

  Terms existed for men such as he, the most common being rogue or rake, but Anthony thought the titles silly. He was an opportunist and had put his dashing good looks and charm to good use - to steal a kiss for his own pleasure or to convince a woman to do his bidding, whatever that may be.

  His favorite method of procuring what he needed was always quite easy. He would promise a woman that if he were to kiss her, she would return for more. As she stood dumbfounded by the bluntness of his statement, he would seize the moment and kiss her. Then, much to his pleasure - and certainly to hers - they always returned for more. It was a gift that was bestowed upon him, and he was not one to give up on his gifts.

  As he returned to Portly Manor, the lavish estate left to him by his father, the former Baron Greyson, Anthony could not help but replay the events of his encounter with one Miss Mary Shepherd.

  He had stopped not twenty paces from the riverbank, and the woman had been so focused on the water, she had not seen him. Any proper gentleman would have shielded his eyes or turned away, but Anthony - certainly not a proper gentleman - had allowed himself the reward of basking in all her beauty. Her creamy white skin and honey blond hair had been appealing, but to see her wearing men’s clothing that strained in all the right places had been tantalizing. When she removed that clothing to reveal the perfection that lay beneath, he could not take his eyes off her.

  A deep yearning for the woman had overtaken him as she made her way to the river, and he found it difficult not to rush to her side right then. Well, not necessarily difficult, per se, but rather impossible, for his feet refused to move he was so enthralled.

  When he first approached her, she had reacted like most others - confused and trembling in his presence. He could not blame her, or any of the others, for he was truly so handsome that women were often without words when they gazed upon him.

  However, there was something different about Miss Shepherd, something on which he could not put his finger. When they spoke, the conversation went through an array of intensity - accusatory to banter to smiles and laughter - and a stirring like he had never encountered before rose within him.

  It was not until he had allowed himself the privilege to kiss her, or allowed her the privilege of him kissing her, that the stirring turned into a raging inferno. It was an odd feeling, for it was as if his body had ignited in a way it had never done before, and he suspected she had the very same reaction. When she had touched his chest, he fell under her spell. Unfortunately for him, she had been playacting, for she shoved him into the river, more than likely to cool him off, which, in fact, it had, quite thoroughly and abruptly.

  How embarrassed he had been! His pride had been all but torn from his soul. But despite his embarrassment, he was intrigued by this woman, and he had to know more about her.

  At the crest of a hill, Portly Manor came into view. His father had died from an illness when Anthony was but five, and his mother in a drunken accident five years later. He had only returned from Dover two months prior, and the town had been ripe with rumors of the three sisters who had taken over Sweetspire Estates.

  Now that he had met one of the sisters, he vowed to not be stopped from seeing her again. Though she rejected his offer, the kiss she received would make her curiosity grow, and he had no doubt she would return for more. They always did.

  When he reached the front steps of his childhood home, the door opened and his brother, Henry, stepped out, greeting Anthony in his usual drab manner. “How was your excursion?” he asked.

  Anthony gave his brother a wide grin he would not have been able to stop had he tried. “It was perhaps one of the finest I could ever have had. The water cooled me, the sun warmed me, and a woman was in the river to greet me.”

  “A woman in the river?” Henry asked. “Was she a runaway? No peasant would be lost in that area; it is much too distant from the main road.”

  Anthony leaned against a white pillar and laughed. “No, she was not a runaway. In fact, she was one of the three sisters about whom we have heard so much; the ones who are now living at Sweetspire Estates.” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “And what a beautiful woman she is. So beautiful, in fact, that I could not allow myself to pass up the opportunity to give her a kiss.”

  “You kissed her?” Henry asked. “You cannot continue on in this manner. You are a baron, and a gentleman, and should act accordingly. Have some respect for yourself and others, man! It does your name no good to continue duping women with kisses.”

  The pleasant feelings Anthony possessed upon his return were replaced with anger. “I respect others, and myself, just fine. If I deem a woman worthy of receiving such attention from me, then she shall have it.”

  His brother sighed. “You have always been the arrogant one. I had thought age would have taught you to put those ways behind you, but it appears you still have some growing up to do.”

  “Well, you are the recluse,” Anthony rebutted. “Studying, working on business ledgers, and only entertaining yourself with the occasional party when it suits you. There is far more to life than drinking brandy with earls four times your age while discussing the rising cost of sheep.”

  “For what reason would I wish to attend any events of the ton?” Henry said with a shake of his head. “To watch others admire you? Heap praises for your boldness as women smile at you with affection? No, I would much rather remain home with my ledgers and my brandy, thank you very much.”

  Though he and his brother fought often, Anthony did love Henry, and he regretted his harsh words. Placing a hand on Henry’s shoulder, he said, “All your life it is as though you are in my shadow. It is time to live free and enjoy the wealth and privilege we have been given.”

  Henry laughed, an inimical sound that lacked even a drop of mirth. “It is I who runs the businesses,” he said, “and insures the ledgers are correct. If I were to enjoy life as you do, we would be in the streets within a month.”

  No longer wanting to argue, Anthony looked out over their land. “I must invite Miss Shepherd to the house. There is a mystery about this woman I must solve. Would you be so kind and send a card for me?”

  “I already have.”

  Anthony turned to stare at his brother. “What? How could you already have done that?”

  His brother rubbed his forehead. “Do you not recall two nights ago we spoke of having the sisters for dinner?” He gave a heavy sigh. “You were drunk, as usual. You asked me to send an invitation to the new residents at Sweetspire Estates.”

  “Ah, yes,” Anthony replied, now recalling that he had indeed made the suggestion. “How could I have forgotten?”

  Henry gave him a sniff. “Because you have no responsibilities; you never have. I do all the work. It has always been this way, and I believe it always shall.” Without another word, he went back into the house, leaving Anthony alone.

  Anthony let out a frustrated growl. His brother needed to relax more and quit busying himself with work. But in truth, Anthony wanted Henry to continue dealing with the business matters, for the man had been given the gift of a great mind. He worked well with numbers and was much more organized than Anthony could ever hope to be.

  On the other hand, Anthony had been the one blessed with not only his dapper demeanor, but a way with words. He could convince anyone, be he farmer or duke, to part with their money, and therefore, it was he who attended meetings scheduled by Henry.

  Despite his business prowess, his ability to convince women to part with a kiss was his greatest gift, and he could not wait for Miss Mary Shepherd to accept his invitation so he could enjoy another kiss from her, whether she wished to give it to him or not.

  Chapter Three

  From the river, Mary hurried home. Shame and anger guided her steps, not necessarily anger at the kiss Lord Greyson had bestowed upon her, but for her own enjoyment of the vile act. Mary was a lady, polite and educated, but she was not some object of pleasure of whom some man such as Lord Greyson could simply take advantage. The man was arrogant, crude, and by all accounts
a rake, to which he readily admitted.

  Yet, when he held her and pressed his lips to hers, she could not deny the wondrous feelings - a warming sensation in the pit of her stomach and tingling down her spine - that flooded her body. She had to have been five shades of red! How could her body be so treasonous?

  At least she had received some satisfaction at pushing the man into the river! Placing her hand on his broad chest had made the sensations she endured from the kiss to double, yet, seeing his expression of shock before he went underwater paired with his surprise at her rejection of his invitation brought a sense of satisfaction. And perhaps a bit of redemption.

  Letting out a sigh, she frowned as she approached the house. Emma and Luke stood outside beside Nancy. They should have left an hour or more ago; why were they still here?

  “I thought you would be gone by now,” Mary said as she walked up to them.

  “A card arrived,” Emma replied. “Stephen asked us to wait here for him. He said that if you returned, he wanted you to speak to him, but I do not know why.” A quick glance at Nancy gave no more indication of what this was about than the explanation Emma gave.

  “I will go then,” Mary said. She made her way to the door, and Nancy joined her, taking the basket from her arm.

  “Are you all right?” Nancy asked. “Your cheeks are very red. Did you get too much sun?”

  Mary nodded, though Nancy’s question only made the lingering memories reappear in her mind, which in turn more than likely made her blush all the more. “I believe so. I should have taken a bonnet with me, but with these clothes, I thought it would appear odd.”

  Nancy gave her a smile. “Then I’ll make you a cool drink. Is there anything else you need?”

  “You do not have to play the servant anymore,” Mary said as she placed a hand on the woman’s arm. “And even if you had not become my companion, there is no need to keep up the pretense when we do not have guests.”

  Nancy shrugged. “It’ll keep me busy…and my mind off Robert. I already miss him.”

  Mary’s heart went out to the woman. “Well, in that case, I suppose I could use a cool drink. I shall meet you in the parlor when I’m done speaking with Stephen.”

  Her friend smiled as though she had received the greatest of news. She was such a lovely woman!

  They separated in the entryway, Nancy off to the kitchen and Mary to the office. The sounds of the voices of Stephen and Constance came to her ear as she entered the room.

  The couple was facing each other, and by the tone and volume of their voices, they were in the middle of an argument. Constance had her arms crossed over her chest, and Steven was shaking his head.

  “She will be safe,” Stephen was saying as Mary closed the door. Both turned toward her, and her brother-in-law smiled. “Ah, you have returned. I was going to send Luke after you.”

  Constance did not sound as pleased as her husband. “You did not tell me you were leaving,” she said, her voice angry. “You cannot do that again; I was worried for your safety. You mustn’t go off alone. I have warned you about that before, and you refuse to listen.”

  “I am sorry,” Mary said. “I was only at the river. Did you wish to speak to me?” She learned long ago that arguing with her sister was not worth the time, so she simply did not do it.

  Constance glanced at Stephen. “I do not agree with this, but I will allow Mary to decide.” She still had her hands crossed over her chest - not a good sign.

  Stephen placed a hand on the back of one of the wing back chairs that faced the large desk. “Please, sit. I have a favor to ask of you.”

  Mary nodded and took a seat, her sister taking a seat in the other chair. Stephen walked around the desk and sat behind it.

  “Last night, Robert left to meet with an informant.”

  “Yes,” Mary replied. “Nancy told me. The informant traveled far with his news from what I understand.”

  “That is correct,” Stephen said. “This informant spoke of a man who is not only selling women, he also runs a house of ill repute in London where he allows men to…well, let us just say that what he allows should never be mentioned in mixed company. Or in any company, if truth be told.”

  Mary shook her head in disgust. “That is horrible. I assume we will be doing what we can to put a stop to this?”

  “Indeed,” Stephen replied. “It is without a doubt despicable, but what makes this matter even more interesting to us is that the man of whom these rumors speak lives close by.” He reached into a pocket and took out a letter. “This morning after you left, a rider came with this.”

  This piqued Mary’s curiosity. “What does it say?”

  Stephen chuckled. “It is an invitation to the new tenants of Sweetspire Estates to dine next Friday - from the very man about whom Robert learned.”

  “That…that is lucky for us, then,” Mary said, her heart skipping a beat.

  “Indeed,” Stephen replied, setting aside the letter. “I would like you to attend the dinner. Gather any information, if possible. Perhaps if the man’s tongue loosens after a few drinks, he will brag about his exploits and that will give us enough evidence to determine that he is the man we seek.”

  Mary nearly jumped from her seat as Constance rose from hers. “You mean for her to indulge in drinking with the man?” she demanded. “She is a lady, Stephen, not some common woman who can be found in the lowest of pubs!”

  Stephen sighed and walked around the desk. “I know she is a lady, and with Nancy at her side, she will be safe. I do not believe harm will come to her.” He placed his hands on Constance’s arms, which seemed to calm the woman somewhat. “It would not do well for the man to kidnap a dinner guest, now would it?”

  Constance gave a resigned sigh. “No, I suppose it would not. In fact, the suspicion would be known by all if a lady disappeared while in his home.”

  The smile he gave his wife made Mary blush. “That is right. Plus, I would not ask this if I thought any harm would come to her.”

  Constance threw up her hands in defeat. “Oh, very well. I’m sorry for becoming angry. I worry for her is all.”

  Mary rose with determination. “I will attend this dinner, and as Stephen said, with Nancy with me, I will be safe.”

  Stephen nodded. “We believe that, if the man catches an interest in you, more invitations will come. It’s through those invitations we hope to learn more about him.”

  “I will worry every moment you are gone,” Constance continued, “but as I said, it is your decision. But, are you certain you want to do this? It may become dangerous.”

  Mary wanted an adventure to prove herself worthy, much like Louisa or Constance, and this would be her chance to do just that. She would have to feign interest in a vile man who sold women and participated in other acts of treachery, and it would be dangerous, but the reward of helping others - not to mention the praise that would be bestowed upon her - would be great.

  “If this man shows even the slightest interest in me,” she said with a smile, “I shall lead him to believe I return his interest. When he brags of his business dealings, I will pretend such captivation that he will want to tell me everything. I will continue in this endeavor until we learn all we need to know in order to halt him in his tracks.”

  Stephen smiled. “Excellent!” He gave her a warm hug. “I must leave now; the others probably grow restless.”

  When he left the room - after kissing his wife, of course - Constance turned to Mary. “I’m proud of you. Promise me you will be safe.”

  “There is nothing to fear. It’s only dinner and perhaps a walk through the garden after. I’ve endured as much with men who have come to call on me.” As Constance turned, Mary added, “Oh, you did not tell me the man’s name.”

  “Greyson,” Constance replied. “Lord Anthony Greyson.”

  Chapter Four

  Though an hour had passed since Mary spoke to her sister and Stephen, the name of Lord Anthony Greyson still echoed in her mind. The man who she had enjoyed kissing - though she would never admit that aloud! - he was in fact a vile man accused of all sorts of sordid and contemptible acts.

  If he thought he could get another kiss from her, he was sadly mistaken! That she had even thought of it as a possibility, even for a moment, was appalling! She was glad she would be a part of that particular rake receiving his comeuppance.