Her eyelids drooped and he breathed an inward sigh of relief. He could easily resist temptation if she fell asleep. Pulling her against him, he nestled her head on his shoulder. "Come here, Miss Robust," he teased "before you slide to the floor and render yourself unconscious."

"I suppose that would be rather undignified" she said in a sleepy voice, snuggling closer against him.

"Behavior most unbecoming a duchess," he agreed but she didn't hear him. She was already asleep.

Shifting gently so as not to awaken her, Austin stretched out and cradled her against him. With her lilac scent surrounding him, and her soft body pressed against him, all his senses leapt to life. Damn it, it appeared resisting temptation was not going to be as easy as he'd thought.

While he was throbbing, she was sleeping. He was hard and heavy with need she was soft and languid with slumber. She sighed in her sleep and hugged him closer. A deep groan escaped him.

Damn it all, this was going to be one hell of a long ride.

Chapter 12


Elizabeth came awake slowly. The first thing she noticed was that it was dark inside the coach. The next thing she noticed was that she was stretched out full length on the soft velvet squabs.

Then she realized Austin was stretched out right next to her. And his arms were around her. And she was lying half on top of him and their legs were entangled. She tried to move, but his arms tightened pinning her where she was.

"Where are you going?" he asked in a husky whisper near her ear, enticing a legion of chills to skid down her spine.

"I must be crushing you."

"Not at all. In fact, I'm very comfortable."