A Dangerous Temptation, Volume 1 by L.R. Olson

Author:L.R. Olson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, historical romance, regency romance, contemporary romance, general romance

****

Julianna

“Jules, have you ever….”

Penny didn’t finish her thought. I’d been laying on my back, staring at the canopy above my bed for hours while Penny told me story after story about London. Most of which I’d already heard multiple times. I’d managed to tune her out as I thought about James and his kiss. James and his proposal. But the hesitant tone in Penny’s voice gave me pause.

Curious, I rolled onto my side to face her. Penny lay on her back, playing with the blue ribbons that tied together her night wrap. It wasn’t like her to hesitate. We told each other everything. Although I still hadn’t gotten up the courage to tell her about James. I tucked my clasped hands under the side of my face. How could I? How could I explain the unbearable ache that even now thrummed through my body?

He hadn’t asked me to marry him exactly, but it was coming. First, of course, he’d have to meet father. But there was no reason for a long, drawn out courtship. I would prefer to marry before Penny, and do something the proper way. I knew she and my family would rather I married first as well. The elder sister was always first in line. But as much as I was attracted to him, I admit I had my reservations. He hadn’t apologized for implying I was a whore after kissing me in the orchard. Had dismissed our arguments as if they meant nothing.

“What, Pen?” I asked when the silence continued to stretch.

She slid me a glance. “Have you ever wanted to kiss a man?”

I blushed over her blunt question. We’d never talked about such things, but I decided to be completely honest with her. We were old enough, after all. “Yes.”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t mean Welch’s son.”

“Me neither.” I grinned, finding her innocence amusing. “Welch’s son kissed me. I didn’t really have a say in the matter. But to answer your question….yes.”

Oh how badly I’d wanted to kiss James again. Why? One would think that after the first kiss, desire would wane. Much like when eating sweets. You’d have a couple and be content. But I wasn’t content with James. No. I wanted more. And more.

“Truly?” Penny asked, her curiosity caught.

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

She shrugged. “Samuel kissed me three months ago. Right before we left for London.”

Startled, I sat upright. “Samuel? Our stable hand?”

She flushed, nodding.

“Oh Penny! Mother and Father will kill him!”

“No!” She bolted upright. “You mustn’t tell! It was nothing. Nothing at all. It’s over. We’re friends now and I would hate for you to ruin it.”

I sighed, reluctantly agreeing. I had no wish to get Samuel fired as I liked him well enough, and he’d been with our family for five years now.

“Tell me about your kiss,” Penny demanded. “Now that I’ve told you mine, you must!”

I could hold back no longer. Giddy, I pressed my hands to my chest. “Oh Pen, I’ve met the most amazing man! He’s a farmer.

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.