In Memories We Fear by Barb Hendee

Author:Barb Hendee
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin Group, Inc.
Published: 2011-10-03T22:00:00+00:00

Maxim was alone at the rectory in the early afternoon, trying to get a fire restarted in the kitchen. Old Mrs. Tillard was dying, and Brandon had gone to comfort the family. Maxim had accidentally let the fire go out, and now the blackened logs smoldered before him. An autumn chill had set in upon Hastings, and the room was cold.

A knock sounded.

He stood quickly, heading to the door to tell the visitor that Brandon was not in. But he opened it to see Opal standing on the other side. She wore a dress of cream silk that made her hair look even more vibrant, and he drew in a sharp breath. Since he’d kissed her, she’d been a little uneasy around him.

“I’m alone,” he said instantly, politely warning her that she’d best not come inside. “Brandon’s at the Tillards’.”

“I know,” she answered. “Mr. Jacobson delivered our milk a little while ago, and he told Mother. I made an excuse to slip out. I thought you might be here.”

Maxim tensed with a kind of hope. She’d come here on purpose, knowing he was alone? He stepped aside and let her in, closing the door softly behind her.

“Maxim,” she breathed, turning to him. “I’m so sorry about before . . . I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you . . . to stop thinking about—”

He needed no more encouragement and took the back of her head in his hand, pressing his mouth upon hers. This time, she responded with force, kissing him back and opening her mouth.

The room didn’t feel cold anymore, and his mind filled with images of her lying beneath him. He didn’t even try to stop himself. Still kissing her, he pulled her through the kitchen into Brandon’s room and pushed her down onto the bed. She didn’t protest but ran her hands up his back, kissing him harder.

Later, he barely remembered the next few moments, but everything seemed to happen quickly. Breathing harder, he moved his hands to her breasts. Then he pushed her skirts up and pulled his trousers open. When he entered her, she cried out once, but he didn’t stop, and then she was moving with him until something inside him exploded, and he was gasping into the pillow beneath his face.

He almost couldn’t believe what had just happened.

Opal Radisson had given herself to him.

On Brandon’s bed.

“Maxim,” she whispered, “we must be married soon.”

He raised his head, looking down at her anxious face, knowing she needed to hear the correct thing. “Yes,” he said.

What was the procedure?

“Should I speak to your father?” he asked, the thought filling him with dread. Mr. Radisson might be wealthy, but he had the look and manner of any man who worked near the docks. Maxim couldn’t help his fear of such men. They were a foreign species.

“No, let me,” she whispered. “He listens to me.”

While Maxim believed this to be somewhat unorthodox, he had no experience in such matters, and her response filled him with relief.

He gazed at the pale skin of her throat, and then leaned closer to kiss her again.

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