Claiming the Cowboys Read online

She sat on the daybed, stretching out on its wide mattress, snuggling her back up against the padded rest at the end. Feeling deliciously wicked, she kicked off her shoes, rolled down her stockings then began to read.

  Harry might have found the subject matter shocking but he must have had a far better idea of where to look for the scandalous parts than she did. The introduction to the work was dull and old fashioned. While she normally loved the chance to improve her knowledge, today, with the sun shining and in this peaceful spot, she couldn’t summon up her usual enthusiasm.

  The sun warmed her face and her eyelids grew heavy.

  The sound of the door being shut snapped her awake. A man stood in the middle of the room. Shadows fell across his face and she couldn’t make out his features. His arms were folded across his powerful chest.

  Mary swung her legs down, smoothing her skirts and tucking her bare feet out of sight. Her heart fluttered with the first stirrings of fear.

  “Who are you?” she demanded. “You have no right to be here.”

  “I have as much right as you, my lady.” There was no subservience in his tone, yet he knew her rank.

  “If you know my title, you know this is my father’s estate.” She lifted her chin, well used to giving orders. “I insist that you leave at once.”

  “I’m not interested in your demands.”

  The man stepped forward and she saw his face for the first time. He wasn’t as handsome as Harry—few men were, but he had a hard chiselled appearance, his cheekbones high and his mouth a firm slash. A muscle fluttered alongside his jaw.

  He wore no coat or hat, just a simple white broadcloth shirt and a pair of brown breeches, his feet in a pair of serviceable boots. Not a gentleman of leisure then. Unless he was a trespasser, and he seemed far too self-assured for that, he must work on the estate. He ought to be tugging at his forelock and leaving her alone, but he didn’t seem to be aware of that.

  “Take your silly little novel and go somewhere else if my presence here offends you.” He bent over to pick up the book that had fallen to her feet. He straightened and his dark eyes flashed fire. “Where did you get this?”

  “It’s my cousin Harry’s,” she replied.

  “I know it’s Harry’s,” he said. “I want to know how you got it.”

  “Harry lent it to me.” The implications of what he said struck her. “How do you know it belongs to Harry—and how dare you call him Harry? He is Viscount Selton.”

  “I call him Harry because he’s my friend, and I know it’s his book because he lent it to me, too.”

  “He lent it to you?” Mary gasped. “You’ve read this book?”

  “I read all of Harry’s books,” he replied. “Don’t look so surprised. I can read.”

  “That’s not… How do you know…? Who are you?”

  “I’m Drake, the head gardener,” he said briefly and dismissively, his attention on the book. “Harry shouldn’t have lent this to you,” he said, thumbing through the pages. “It’s not…”

  “Suitable for a lady,” she finished for him. “Now who’s making assumptions? I can read anything I want and not be shocked by it.”

  He looked down at her, an arrested expression in his dark eyes. “Oh really,” he said and flipped to the middle. He read, his voice deep and fluent, never stumbling over the words even when the images they described made her face flame. She wanted to sink into the cushions of the daybed and never reappear but she’d boasted that she would not be shocked. She squirmed on the seat, her body stirred by new and unsettling feelings.

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  About the Author

  Alysha Ellis lives in Australia and when she isn’t busy drinking champagne, eating chocolate and letting her inner tart run free, she writes erotic comedy. Her favourite quote comes from Mae West… A hard man is good to find. Who could argue with that? Alysha tries very hard to be bad, because bad girls have all the fun.

  Email: [email protected]

  Alysha loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.totallybound.com.

  Also by Alysha Ellis

  Send Me An Angel

  The Devil Made Me Do It

  Lone Wolf

  Downunder Heat

  Sharing the Billionaire: Submitting to Him

  At Your Service: The Gardener’s Sins

  Lasso Lovin’: Claiming the Cowboys

  Bodices and Boudoirs: A Boudoir for Three

  Totally Bound Publishing

  Table of Contents

  Table of Contents

  Legal Page

  Title Page

  Book Description

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  New Excerpt

  About the Author

  Publisher Page