The thrill of freedom buzzed through her body, only to be completely subsumed by a low thrum of arousal at the sight of Sophia leaning against the only vehicle in the lot.

Vic allowed herself the time and space to stare at her. Her skin-tight jeans showed off endless legs and most of the curve of her sumptuous hips before they were covered by a supple red leather jacket open to reveal a flimsy white undershirt. The ensemble was all at once effortlessly informal and over-the-top chic, much like the woman underneath it all.

Sophia’s smirk was slow and knowing as she stood steady under Vic’s blatant appraisal. “Did you escape through the wardrobe like all the other British prep-school children?”

Vic shot one last parting look at the door behind her as she kicked it shut hard enough to hear it latch. “Something like that. You’re not carrying any Turkish delight, are you?”

“Oh honey, I’m way more dangerous than that.”

Vic’s mouth went dry, both at the truth of the statement and the rush of heat it sent sizzling through her. She closed the distance between them in an instant and had to grind her teeth against the impulse to push Sophia against the side of the Land Rover and ravish her right there. It would be easy to slide a knee between Sophia’s legs and work one hand down the front of those painted-on jeans.

The images flashed through her mind with frightening clarity, and the strength of the urges behind them tore at her insides like a beast clawing for release. She closed her eyes and clenched her jaw in an attempt to hold them at bay, less out of a sense of decorum and more out of a sense that, once she surrendered control, she might never get it back again.

When she regained enough composure to open her eyes, Sophia’s expression held both sympathy and satisfaction.

“Shall we?” Vic managed to ask.

Sophia laughed. “Shall we what? Do you have a plan for this evening, other than fucking me in the back of your Land Rover, because right now that seems to be where we’re headed.”

“An undoubtedly tempting option.” Her cheeks warmed at both the colourful description and the accuracy of Sophia’s assessment. “But, no. When I voiced my willingness to sneak around like teenagers, I didn’t quite mean that far. I’m taking you out to dinner.”

Sophia grimaced. “‘Out’ as in ‘out of the castle grounds’? Might not be such a good idea.”

“Yes, but unfortunately staying inside the castle grounds has considerable drawbacks as well.”