A Scandalous Passion

by Kelly Boyce

  “Good.” His lips brushed against her cheekbone and a deep pull made her press her hips into him. His breath caught and his hand moved to her lower back to hold her there. “And did you not also tell me you believed that from this friendship a great love could blossom?”

  He let go of her hand and cupped her face, tilting her mouth to his. She expected him to kiss her, but he didn’t. He lingered a hair’s breath away and it drove her mad.

  “I—I may have said something to that effect.” When she spoke, her lips brushed against his until her head buzzed and her legs turned liquid.

  “I thought perhaps I should inform you that you were correct.” He dropped a soft kiss on her mouth, so brief it was gone before she could truly enjoy it. She longed for him to return with another but he did not.

  “Correct?”

  “Mm.” He kissed her again, longer this time until not just her legs but her entire body threatened to give in. As if sensing this, he bent and scooped her into his arms and walked to the bed. He set her down gently and hovered over her.

  “About which part?”

  “All of it.”

  He reached for his shirt and pulled it over his head. His lean, muscular build reminded her of the marble statues placed throughout the gardens at Sheridan Park. She could not help herself and reached out a hand to touch the smooth skin where it stretched tautly over sinew and bone then down further where ridges formed against his abdomen. His breath hitched and he caught her hand when she reached the waistband of his breeches.

  “We should talk first,” he said.

  “First? And what shall we do second?” Her boldness shocked her and yet she felt no shame. Being with Spencer seemed the most natural thing in the world to her, as if it was meant to be. But was that enough?”

  “Second will be dependent on how the first goes.”

  He smiled and joined her on the bed, nestling in next to her. He propped his head up with one hand to look at her. The other hand played with the ties of her nightdress where they dangled near her breasts. Every now and again, his knuckles would brush against them and pleasure flooded through her.

  “Then talk,” she said, before speech became lost in the desire his touch created.

  “It was brought to my attention that during my latest proposal—and all the ones before that, for that matter—that I was reticent in mentioning a certain aspect of my feelings toward you.”

  “Were you?” Her heart pounded and the ache between her legs became almost painful as his hand drifted away from her breasts, over her hip and down her leg. The thin linen of her nightdress did nothing to protect her from the riot of longing his fingertips created.

  “Indeed. It appears I spent far too much time speaking of necessity and duty and even when I went beyond these things, I still neglected the most important issue.”

  His hand fisted around her nightdress and slowly drew it up over her thighs to leave her exposed. If he did not stop talking soon, she would expire on the spot from wanting him so desperately.

  “My lord—”

  “Spencer.” His mouth kissed the tender spot beneath her ear.

  “Spencer,” she said as she tried to keep her thoughts focused. “I wondered if you might be agreeable to doing the second thing first.”

  “That would not be proper.” His fingers lingered near her most private of places and teased her inner thigh.

  “Nothing about this is proper and I fear I am finding it most difficult to concentrate on anything you have to say at the moment.”

  “That is most unfortunate.” His fingers rose higher and she arched to meet them but the touch did not satisfy. It only intensified the deep ache.

  “Spencer, please…” She could no longer hold the pretense of conversation or knowing or caring what he needed to tell her. The pent up passion she had for this man consumed her body and demanded satisfaction before anything else.

  “I suppose it would be ungentlemanly of me to ignore a lady’s request.”

  But she didn’t feel like a lady. She felt like a wanton. And it felt good.

  He grabbed the hem of her nightdress and she lifted enough for him to pull it off completely, leaving her fully exposed. He gazed down at her with hungry eyes while he worked the front of his breeches open then wriggled out of them. The silly struggle caused a rash of giggles as one pant leg stuck on his foot and gave Caelie a moment to collect a few of her wits. Though once he returned to her, the skin on skin contact as he nestled between her legs soon scattered those completely.

  They stopped talking then, though continued to communicate with touches and kisses, sighs and whispers. He worshipped her body like a temple, leaving no aspect unattended. His mouth suckled her breasts and his hands traced her curves and his fingers…oh the things his fingers did to her. He made her bold and set her free and she gave in kind the best she could, until neither of them could stand another minute of the blissful torture. She opened to him and he entered her with reverence, stopping briefly to savor the moment before passion dictated he move and so he did. The rhythm began slowly at first, a tease, a torment, but something drove Caelie on until she picked up the pace, racing toward something only her body could define. She reached the peak and Spencer’s body stiffened in response and they fell over its edge tangled together, collapsed in mindless oblivion.

  Spencer’s head nestled next to hers buried in the feathered pillow. When he spoke, the words were muffled. “That was…I think…”

  He stopped. His chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. Caelie did not prompt him to say more. She was too busy picking up the scattered remnants of her own thoughts. She had never experienced anything like this before. Their first encounter had been wonderful, but she’d been so torn, her thoughts and feelings too conflicted. But not tonight. Tonight she had given over to the abandon of the scandalous passion they shared and it had been everything she could have dreamed of and more.

  Spencer lifted his head and shifted his weight to rest at her side, his leg thrown over hers in a possessive fashion. He cleared his throat. “About that first thing…”

  She had forgotten there had been a first thing and if his hand continued to massage her hip the way it was doing now, whatever he needed to discuss would soon be put on hold indefinitely unless he stated his business quickly.

  “What of it?”

  “I was attempting to impart to you that you have turned me over to your way of thinking.”

  “And what way of thinking is that?”

  “About friendship and marriage.”

  “I see. So you now believe good friends can make for a good marriage?”

  “Yes.” He nodded and his hand left her hip and drifted upward and cupped the underside of her breast. “Yes, I do. But…”

  He stopped and dipped his head to draw her nipple into his mouth. Spirals of yearning shot through her. For all he had sated her desire a moment ago, he stoked it once again. She sunk her fingers into his thick hair and held him there as he taunted and teased.

  “But what?” She gasped and arched into his mouth.

  He chuckled and lifted his head to gaze down at her. A smile lightened his handsome features and did almost as much to flame the embers as his touch. “But it needs one other element to bind it all together.”

  “And what is that?”

  “Love.”

  “Oh.” She held her breath, afraid to move or breathe or blink.

  “We have that now. At least on my part. That’s what I forgot to tell you. That I love you.”

  The words washed over her like a dizzying array of starlight. They burst within her and embraced her heart and soul. “You do?”

  He nodded. “Deeply and madly and with no end in sight, God help me. But if this is to work, then I must know one thing.”

  “What?”

  “Do you love me in return?”

  She reached up and touched his face, outlining the sharp edges of his jaw, the full lips that had kissed her soundly, the brow that often fu
rrowed or rose depending on what she had said or done. Did she love him in return? It seemed such a silly question. Of course, she did. She could not recall what it felt like not to love him and yet she could not pinpoint exactly when it had happened. Only that it had.

  “With all my heart.”

  Spencer smiled then leaned down to kiss her with a gentleness that brought tears to her eyes. She had found the one thing she had searched her entire life for. Someone to belong to. Someone to hold her heart safe and love her back with all of his.

  “Then we have but one recourse.”

  “Which is?”

  “To marry. And to have babies. Plenty of babies with fiery red hair and green eyes that shine like emeralds.” His grin turned wicked. “Perhaps we should begin tonight.”

  His body covered hers and his heart beat against her until her own matched the rhythm. Soon their bodies found their own rhythm and love and friendship and marriage entwined together into an unbreakable bond.

  Epilogue

  Caelie looked up from the needlepoint pillow she was making for Abigail and Nicholas’s new arrival, due the following month. Her breath caught as her handsome husband walked into the room, his hands filled with letters and a package tucked under his arm. They had been married a month and still she marveled at how her life had changed in that small amount of time.

  Thankfully, Lord Ellesmere had arranged for a special license and their engagement had been very short and oh, so sweet. Soon she would be embroidering a pillow for their own addition, a secret she had hugged close to her until she was certain.

  “What have you there?”

  Spencer glanced up and smiled at her, a gesture that filled her heart and awoke every nerve in her body from tip to toe. “Invitations. The last flurry of parties before everyone comes to their senses and leaves for their country seat to escape this unbearable heat.”

  It had been unseasonably warm and while she enjoyed being fully accepted back into society, she looked forward to retiring to Lakefield Abbey, the country manor Spence called home until such time as he took on the title of Marquess of Ellesmere. But this time, Caelie left with her head held high. Billingsworth’s attempt to ruin her had failed and he had quietly left London in a cloud of shame. Good riddance, in her estimation.

  “Do we wish to attend any of the parties?”

  Spence made a face, giving her his opinion. “I would much rather stay at home with you.”

  “And what would you like to do?”

  “I’m not sure exactly, but I’m quite certain it will involve a certain amount of nakedness on both our parts.”

  “Oh dear.” Her blood heated at the suggestion. She could live a thousand lifetimes and never tire of this man. “What is the package?”

  He pulled the small package from beneath his arm. “It is for Bowen. From Cornwall.”

  “Is that not where his parents were from?”

  “It is.” Spencer gave the package a curious look. “But his parents have been dead for over two decades.” He held the package closer to his ear and shook it.

  “Spencer!”

  “What? Do you not find it curious?”

  “Whether I do or not, it is Marcus’s business, not ours. Leave it be. I will have Fenton see he gets it. What else is there?”

  Spence set the package on the low table and continued sifting through the letters then stopped, pulling one out for closer inspection. His expression changed. Darkened.

  “What is it?”

  He looked down at her. “A letter. It is from your Mother. It was delivered from The Swiftness.”

  Her eyebrows lifted. Upon their engagement, she had written Mother to inform her of her impending marriage, sending it via one of Lord Ellesmere’s fleet which was set to land in Italy for trade then return. Her letter would be delivered and any reply sent back. In truth, she hadn’t expected a reply. She didn’t expect anything where Mother was concerned.

  “What does it say?”

  Spencer opened the letter and scanned its contents. “It appears she and Mr. Beechum are unsuited and she wishes to return home.”

  “To stay with us?”

  Spencer made a face. “One can only assume. What do you wish to do?”

  Caelie took the letter from Spencer and read through the short missive. Nowhere within the written words did her mother apologize for what she had done or issue words of warmth or regret. Only that she disliked Italy, Mr. Beechum, and her current circumstances and expected Caelie to make arrangements to bring her back to London.

  Caelie set the letter aside. “I think perhaps Mother has made her own bed and we should leave her there to lie in it. I know it sounds harsh, but I do not want her special brand of poison anywhere near our baby.”

  Spence’s eyes grew wide. “Our what?”

  Caelie smiled.

  “Are you—?”

  “I think so. I’m almost certain.”

  Spence whooped, tossed the remaining letters aside and scooped her up in his arms then whirled her around until they were both dizzy.

  “Are you frightened?” She asked, when he finally stopped and sank into the chair with her across his lap.

  “Terrified. You?”

  “I will be fine if I know you are by my side.”

  He leaned down and kissed her long and hard until happiness and passion filled her.

  “There is nowhere else I would rather be, my love. Nowhere else in the world.”

  Author’s Note

  Thank you so much for reading A Scandalous Passion, Book 2 in the Sins & Scandals Series. I hope you have loved Caelie and Spencer’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. You can check out Book 1, An Invitation to Scandal in the series to read how it all began as well, and keep your eye out for Marcus Bowen’s story in Book 3, A Sinful Temptation due out in Fall 2014.

  Reviews are definitely welcomed and appreciated at Amazon and Goodreads: www.amazon.com; http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4732626.Kelly_Boyce.

  I love to hear and connect with my readers. Below are links to how you can find me:

  Website: www.kellyboyce.com

  Facebook: Kelly Boyce, Author

  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Boyce-Author/167747449914858?ref=hl)

  Twitter: @KellyLBoyce

  https://twitter.com/KellyLBoyce

  Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4732626.Kelly_Boyce

  Amazon Author Page:

  http://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Boyce/e/B00681M5XU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

  Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kellyboyce1/

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  Dedication

  A big thank you to all the readers who enjoyed AN INVITATION TO SCANDAL. It was my first stab at self-publishing and your support meant the world. I hope you enjoy Caelie and Spence’s story as much as you did Nicholas and Abigail’s.

  And, as always, for John—because real life heroes never go out of style.

  Acknowledgements

  I think the biggest acknowledgement needs to go to my amazing husband. During the writing of this book, I was under several tight deadlines with nothing in the way of wiggle room. This meant early mornings wake-ups, weekends spent down in the dungeon (aka, my office), or taking off to the local coffee shop for the day, all in an effort to meet said deadlines. This left my husband to do the bulk of the dog-walking, supper cooking, housework, etc. Not once did he complain. Instead, when I was pulling out my hair because my characters were refusing to cooperate, he simply asked, ‘Is there anything I can do?’ So to my real life hero, thank you. You make my life, not only easier, but a complete joy.

  To my Mom and Dad for all your support, not just now, but in the early years as well. Neither one of you ever batted an eye when I said I was going to be a writer when I grew up, instead you encouraged me and continue to do so. Best. Parents. Ever.

  To my older brother, Craig—a natural born storyteller if there ever was one. Thanks for saying n
ice things about me to your friends. Yeah, they talk. You’re busted.

  To my younger sister, Alyson—if anyone is going to change the world, you will. Thanks for not letting me take myself too seriously (is that even possible in our family?). Keep the laugh-track coming.

  And as always, to my sanity saving crew—Julianne MacLean, Cathryn Fox and Pam Callow.

  Anne MacFarlane and Annette Gallant—every second Sunday you gals keep me in line and keep me on track. Thanks for sharing the journey. Here’s to a long road ahead.

  Nancy Cassidy—this one landed in your lap in kind of rough shape. Thanks for helping me mould it into something much more readable! I promise to keep working on those was statements.

  To Michelle Helliwell—thanks for the links on travel times. You are a wealth of information. I plan on picking your brain more in the future. Fair warning.

  To Kim Killion and Amy Atwell—my cover design and formatting gurus. Love you gals and your teams!

  And to Cedar—comic relief is golden.

  About the Author

  Kelly Boyce started writing in Grade 2 when her favorite teacher, Mrs. Matheson showed up with a box filled with plot ideas and she was hooked, but it wasn’t until she read Lisa Gregory’s Bitterleaf that she fell in love with historical romance.

  It took several years after that however, before she discovered Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada and realized how to take those stories, turn them into books and send them out into the big bad world. After that, it was full steam ahead, with lots of interesting twists and turns along the way, including being a featured author in the documentary on the romance writing industry, Who’s Afraid of Happy Endings.