The Holiday Present by Johanna Lindsey

Author:Johanna Lindsey [Lindsey, Johanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780060542849
Google: wxk4o2tGpR0C
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 190342
Publisher: Avon
Published: 2003-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Christopher had never realized just how pleasant it could be, to simply hold a woman close to him and savor the feel of her warm body. He supposed he’d never really taken the time before to find out, always impatient to either sleep or be off about his business, once he finished satisfying his needs. Then, too, he’d never “kept” a mistress before, or brought one into his own bed.

Not that he hadn’t had many mistresses over the years, but they’d had their own abodes, their own agendas separate from his, and the typical arrangement with these types of mistresses was that they’d merely agree to accommodate each other exclusively for a time. They’d cost him no more than the occasional expensive trinket.

Anastasia, now, would be completely “kept.” He’d be supplying her with a home where he could visit her, servants to see to her comfort, clothes, food, as well as the expensive trinkets. She was going to be costly. She was most definitely worth it.

“You sound famished,” she said when they’d both heard his belly rumble for the third time.

“Perhaps because I am,” he replied lazily, still in no hurry to get up. “Come to think of it, don’t recall having dinner last night—bloody hell, it’s no wonder that rum went right to my head. Any idea what time it is?”

“Quite late, midmorning at least.”

He chuckled. “You call that late?”

“When you’re used to rising with the dawn, yes, that’s very late.”

He smiled. “There’ll be no reason for you to rise that early anymore.”

“I happen to like the dawn, to watch the sunrise. Don’t you?”

“Hmmm, never thought about it—actually, don’t recall seeing too many sunrises. Sunsets are more in line with my habits.”

“I think you’ll enjoy the dawn with me, Christoph,” she predicted.

“I know you’ll enjoy sunsets with me,” he countered.

“And why can’t we enjoy both?”

He sat up to look down at her. “You aren’t thinking of changing my habits, are you? And why do you persist in calling me Christoph? Didn’t I tell you last night that my name was Christopher?”

“You did. Kit, too, you said your friends call you. But I happen to like Christoph much better. It sounds more lyrical to my ears. Consider it an endearment.”

“Must I?”

She chuckled and rolled to the side of the bed, then headed for her clothes. “I think we must feed you immediately. Empty bellies lead to grouchiness.”

He blinked, then grinned to himself. She was right, of course. There was nothing wrong with her having a pet name for him. And besides, when she sashayed about the room naked like that, he simply couldn’t find anything really worth complaining about.

He got up to dress as well. When he finished and glanced at her again, it was to find that she was wearing that flashy dancing costume from last night, which would draw more attention to her than he would like.

“Have you nothing else to wear?” he asked.

“You didn’t exactly give me the opportunity to pack last night, Christoph. All I

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.