Sheltered from pity and whispering tongues at a friend's country estate, Clara awaits the birth of her first child with mounting confusion. Despite the tiny life growing inside her, she dreams of passion in Reggie's arms.
And the erotic fantasies grow more compelling every day. When Reginald Moore's wife died in the arms of her lover, Clara's husband, he whisked pregnant Clara away from false friends to his country estate to avoid the strain of the scandal.
After six months of pretence, Reggie is done mourning his faithless wife and, despite his originally noble intentions, he longs to have Clara in his bed - unborn child and all. But are his skills of persuasion enough to convince Clara to set aside her grief for a faithless man and choose a new life with the one who stood by her, no matter the obstacle?
Author's note: this story contains a red hot romance between two wicked mourners around one rather large baby bump. To Fred, my lifelong adviser and partner in crime. May you always follow the straight and narrow path.
Reginald Moore gestured to the oak tree beyond his window. Reggie made room so Clara Blackstone, the widow of his former business partner, could stand between him and the farce occurring outside. At the sight, she drew in a sharp breath. Her legs kicked in the air ineffectually, her hair—fallen from its moorings—blinded her to the full extent of danger.
Beneath her, her father stood shouting up at the branches and Reggie feared she might faint from the parental scolding. Her miserable shrieks gathered strength and then a particularly high and desperate one made him shudder. It is entirely your fault that the local lasses are forced to ridiculous measures to catch a glimpse of you. If you could be the least bit pleasant, and do the pretty once in a while, things would go much better for you.
Reggie let his gaze stray to the widow standing beside him. She was exceptionally pretty: flawless pale skin, full rosy lips, but her soft doe brown eyes no longer sparkled with warmth as she spoke.
Was that a hint of sadness in her tone? Did it not occur to the chit that the span of the tree fell somewhat short of my window? Clara leaned closer to the glass and her black bombazine gown whispered across his leather-encased foot. Another distraction, added to the shock of her surprising invasion of his bedchamber.
Neither the spectacle below nor the spectacle before him was safe for closer inspection. Not yet at any rate. But he had to be patient and wait for the conclusion of one last matter. Then neither hell nor high water would prevent him having his way, and securing Clara as a permanent fixture in his life. Hearing Clara describe another man with such glowing approval in her tone unnerved Reggie.
He frowned at her somber attire, thankful that her involvement with the situation below the window hid his annoyance. She gave no further commentary, but a sigh passed her lips. As always, his glance fastened on her ring finger. A single band of gold still encased it. Clara chuckled, a rich throaty laugh that distracted him more the longer he knew her.
Those vulgar words, spoken months before his death, had tormented Reggie for more days and nights than he cared to think about.
He watched constantly for signs that she would recover her zest for life but so far, he saw little indication that she missed the pleasures of the flesh. If she was indeed the bold seducer her husband claimed, charming a gardener would require little more than a crook of her dainty finger. Her lips turned up in a gentle smile. Dragging her to the country for her health in the face of the scandal created by others had been entirely for his welfare because in London he had no excuse to linger in her drawing room.
Deceiving her about his true motives had been surprisingly easy. Yet, even still, she was in mourning for a man she was ridiculously lost without. Reggie had stood her friend, adviser and protector through it all: the deaths, the scandal, the inquest and finally mourning.
Neither of them very emotionally attached to their dead spouses, who betrayed them with each other. They finally admit their feelings for one another and succumb to them in a passionate act of l Promises are made, happiness to their upcoming new lives is felt. Very short story, but sweet with the right amount of sexual tension. Picked it up for Free on Amazon. Pleasant 30 minutes reading time in the car as I waited for my own beloved to hurry up from a business meeting.
Download links for: Wicked Mourning Advertising. Online stores:. Copy in the library:. Reviews see all ziurC. Other books by Romance. Red Dirt Heart 4. Hearts of Fire. Give It All. Other books by Heather Boyd. Related articles.
0コメント