Read Online Tempting Bella (Entangled Scandalous) by Diana Quincy - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Diana Quincy
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we can talk.”
She avoided his gaze. “No, my husband expects me today. I must go.”
He halted and his goodwill evaporated. Another lie. She had no plans to meet her husband. Not that she knew of. He stepped much closer to her than was proper. “Do you, indeed?”
“What are you doing?” She backed away, looking around to make sure no one had noticed them. He followed when she entered the lending library and hurried by the circular counter in the center of the shop. She passed a wall of books before finally turning into a narrow corridor that was empty of people.
Halting, she spun around to face him. “This cannot continue. I must not see you again.”
Heat rose in his chest. “Why not? You seem content to allow other males to escort you.”
She drew back. “What are you talking about?”
He stepped closer, his chest inches from hers, jealousy searing his gut. “Orford. Your friend who was with you at the opera and at Vauxhall.”
Her cheeks reddened.
Was it because he stood so near to her, or had he hit too close to the truth about her constant companion?
“He is just a friend.” Her eyes narrowed. “Who are you to question me? I already have a husband to answer to, and you, sir, are not he.”
If only she knew. “And do you, my lady, answer to your husband?” he asked sharply. “Tell me, do you inform him of our encounters?
She paled, but her almond eyes blazed a lovely shade of gold. She pulled her shoulders back, looking every inch the haughty duchess she would one day become. “Move aside, sir. I have obviously misjudged you.”
Instead of stepping out of her path as good manners dictated, his gaze fell to those plush lips, so pink and plump, his to savor. “Just a kiss,” he murmured, unable to stop himself. She was his wife after all. There was nothing improper about it. “And then I shall let you pass.”
She inhaled, her shock evident. “You, sir,” she said scorchingly, “are no gentleman.”
…
Bella took a reflexive step back when Stan moved closer. The potency between them flexed again, upsetting her balance. His eyes were intent on her face, vivid emeralds that easily penetrated her flimsy defenses.
“Allow yourself this one indulgence.”
She felt woozy. His impressive form, with its carved wedges of muscle, no doubt honed by vigorous exercise, stood too near for her to think clearly. The shaving soap intermingled with the tang of clean male skin, coated her nostrils like an elemental calling card.
He stepped closer, a determined tilt to his strong chin. “Why deny yourself just a taste?” he murmured, his voice a warm, seductive purr.
His virility overpowered any remaining morsel of propriety in her. Blood rushed to her brain, hammering a relentless beat in her ears. Lord, she should not have agreed to meet him again. No good could come of it. She hadn’t guarded her emotions all of these years just to open herself up to heartbreak now, when she’d finally resigned herself to doing her duty and joining her husband.
A traitorous thought slipped into her brain. Why not give in to temptation? Why should she go to Sebastian with her innocence intact? He didn’t deserve it and likely wouldn’t even notice. He had all he seemed to want—her fortune and the Traherne prestige. When the time came, he’d probably force himself to bed her in order to beget an heir. But it would not be an act of passion, nor of love.
Her eyes slipped to Stan’s generous mouth and she couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to kiss him. It could do no real harm since it wouldn’t ruin her ruin her. Shouldn’t her first introduction to passion be with someone she desired instead of out of duty to a husband who had little use for her?
“I shouldn’t put you through this. The truth of the matter is—” He began, but she stopped him.
“Just this once,” she said, feeling both arousal and fear.
His green eyes blazed. He stepped closer and this time she did not step
She avoided his gaze. “No, my husband expects me today. I must go.”
He halted and his goodwill evaporated. Another lie. She had no plans to meet her husband. Not that she knew of. He stepped much closer to her than was proper. “Do you, indeed?”
“What are you doing?” She backed away, looking around to make sure no one had noticed them. He followed when she entered the lending library and hurried by the circular counter in the center of the shop. She passed a wall of books before finally turning into a narrow corridor that was empty of people.
Halting, she spun around to face him. “This cannot continue. I must not see you again.”
Heat rose in his chest. “Why not? You seem content to allow other males to escort you.”
She drew back. “What are you talking about?”
He stepped closer, his chest inches from hers, jealousy searing his gut. “Orford. Your friend who was with you at the opera and at Vauxhall.”
Her cheeks reddened.
Was it because he stood so near to her, or had he hit too close to the truth about her constant companion?
“He is just a friend.” Her eyes narrowed. “Who are you to question me? I already have a husband to answer to, and you, sir, are not he.”
If only she knew. “And do you, my lady, answer to your husband?” he asked sharply. “Tell me, do you inform him of our encounters?
She paled, but her almond eyes blazed a lovely shade of gold. She pulled her shoulders back, looking every inch the haughty duchess she would one day become. “Move aside, sir. I have obviously misjudged you.”
Instead of stepping out of her path as good manners dictated, his gaze fell to those plush lips, so pink and plump, his to savor. “Just a kiss,” he murmured, unable to stop himself. She was his wife after all. There was nothing improper about it. “And then I shall let you pass.”
She inhaled, her shock evident. “You, sir,” she said scorchingly, “are no gentleman.”
…
Bella took a reflexive step back when Stan moved closer. The potency between them flexed again, upsetting her balance. His eyes were intent on her face, vivid emeralds that easily penetrated her flimsy defenses.
“Allow yourself this one indulgence.”
She felt woozy. His impressive form, with its carved wedges of muscle, no doubt honed by vigorous exercise, stood too near for her to think clearly. The shaving soap intermingled with the tang of clean male skin, coated her nostrils like an elemental calling card.
He stepped closer, a determined tilt to his strong chin. “Why deny yourself just a taste?” he murmured, his voice a warm, seductive purr.
His virility overpowered any remaining morsel of propriety in her. Blood rushed to her brain, hammering a relentless beat in her ears. Lord, she should not have agreed to meet him again. No good could come of it. She hadn’t guarded her emotions all of these years just to open herself up to heartbreak now, when she’d finally resigned herself to doing her duty and joining her husband.
A traitorous thought slipped into her brain. Why not give in to temptation? Why should she go to Sebastian with her innocence intact? He didn’t deserve it and likely wouldn’t even notice. He had all he seemed to want—her fortune and the Traherne prestige. When the time came, he’d probably force himself to bed her in order to beget an heir. But it would not be an act of passion, nor of love.
Her eyes slipped to Stan’s generous mouth and she couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to kiss him. It could do no real harm since it wouldn’t ruin her ruin her. Shouldn’t her first introduction to passion be with someone she desired instead of out of duty to a husband who had little use for her?
“I shouldn’t put you through this. The truth of the matter is—” He began, but she stopped him.
“Just this once,” she said, feeling both arousal and fear.
His green eyes blazed. He stepped closer and this time she did not step
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