A most improper kiss

“Whatever I want to, Mr. Fuller.” She murmured, deliberately echoing his words, as she pressed her lips experimentally to the back of his neck tasting the salt of his flesh with the tip of her tongue. She would have liked to stand behind him just as he had stood behind her when his hands had so boldly explored her. Unfortunately the condition of his flogged back kept her from pressing into his back where she could be safe from his accusing eyes, instead she found some shelter under his arm and rested her cheek against the ribs that were rising and falling far faster than normal.

Charlotte still lacked the courage to meet his gaze, but from this position she could watch her fingers run through the dark curls on his chest. A line of hair ran over his taught belly and disappeared under the waistband of his woolen trousers. She could see the bulge of his manhood tenting the fabric of his garment and for a fraction of a second she considered letting her hand follow the trail of hair and feel the heat of his manhood. Shocked by the boldness of the thought Charlotte's hand moved on its own away from the tempting bulge and found the rough stubble of Mr. Fuller's chin. Finally her eyes rose and met his again and before she lost her nerve she lifted herself onto tiptoes and pulled his lips to hers.

Randy was befuddled by Lady Marlton's kiss. He wanted to twist his lips from hers and deny her any pleasure of her cruel game, but there was something about her lips that he was incapable of resisting. Instead of pulling back, his lips clung to hers like a drowning man clinging to a floating spar and when her mouth opened in an invitation he slid his tongue into her and tasted her sweetness again. He pulled against the chains that bound his wrists in frustration at not being able to wrap her in his embrace, actually it was not necessary, Lady Charlotte was pressing her delightful form tightly against his and holding his head to hers as fiercely as he wanted to hold her.

And then as suddenly as the kiss had begun it was over. Lady Marlton twisted away from him with a grasp and stepped behind him once again nearly out of his field of vision. By craning his neck uncomfortable he was able to watch her straighten the bodice of her dress and smooth the wrinkles from her sleeves.

God how he hated her and her games. Randy despised Miss Marlton - easily as much as he hated her father, what kind of woman would **** a man like this? First kissing him with uninhibited passion and then walking away without even a word. He was pretty sure she had enjoyed the kiss though. Her cheeks were flushed and even in the dim light he could see the rapid rising and falling of her pale bosom against the lace of her bodice.

“Your back will heal, Mr. Fuller." She told him as she rapped sharply on the door to his makeshift cell.

Charlotte was confident that Mr. Fuller's wounds would heal, probably faster then her heart. She acknowledged sadly to herself as the door opened and Lieutenant Easton offered his hand to balance her step over the high door sill. If Charlotte held the young officer's hand longer than was necessary the young man did not protest, and if he noticed the flush of her face or the painful way her nipples speared at the fabric of her dress he was discrete enough not to comment.

“The salve should be renewed tomorrow.” She told the officer loudly enough for Fuller to hear “If I have time I'll stop by to see how your prisoner is doing, but if I'm otherwise occupied I'm sure one of your men could apply it just as well.” She wanted to walk away with those cool words, but she could not leave him hanging like that when she saw Mr. Fuller shift uncomfortably just before the door to his cell closed.

“Will his arms be unfastened from those rings?”

“Yes Lady Marlton.” Lieutenant Easton assured her with a questioning look. “I had him chained to the wall like that to facilitate the cleaning of his back. “He will be loosened from the wall as soon as you are safely away My Lady.” Charlotte ignored the dozens of question she could hear in his voice and thanked him again for his diligence, but she knew that the man was not fooled and his normally dour face became even more grim at her words.

Charlotte stepped past the young Lieutenant, and headed for the stairs; she was nearly as troubled as the young King's officer by what she had just done. What in the world did she think she was doing?