A Lady to Desire
Page 27
Wearing naught more than a wicked smile, Charlotte danced her fingers up his bare arm to caress his shoulder. “I do enjoy a good game of battledore.” She paused meaningfully. “But I adore bedsport with you even more.” Then she slid the sheet down to reveal her bare body to his hungry gaze. In the late morning light, Francis swore she had never looked so lovely.
It had been like this between them since they had wed the morning after Fullbridge’s masquerade ball, the teasing side of Charlotte re-emerging once she was certain that she would not have to wed the Duke of Springford and be bedded by his nephew.
To Francis’ chagrin, Snowly was still around for some inexplicable reason, his injuries long since healed. He was at this very house party as a matter of fact. Rumor had it that the Bloody Duke believed he could reform the man, or at the very least, make use of him somehow. Nick probably could. After all, Snowly was nothing if not sophisticated and charming, not to mention very persuasive with the ladies. However, Francis would have preferred it if the man stayed as far away from Charlotte as possible.
Even though the earl had not uttered so much as a peep of protest since the day when Francis’ announced his intentions to wed Charlotte, Snowly had made it clear – both by what he said and what he did not – that he would still welcome Charlotte into his bed no matter who she married if she ever changed her mind and desired a dalliance. Francis was simply thankful that his wife had made her decision and that the earl had come out on the losing end of things.
“We should dress, though,” Francis sighed as he ran his hand over the curve of Charlotte’s bare hip. “Violet is expected to arrive this afternoon. I don’t want to still be in bed when she does.”
Silently, Francis also admitted that he still had his doubts about his sister’s new husband, but, as he had promised Charlotte, he would keep them to himself. As long as the man loved and cherished and was faithful to his sister, Francis would accept him, even if he could not understand why in the world Violet loved him.
Then again, why did anyone love whom they loved, he reasoned? After all, he had no reason to love Violet, for not only was she not his blood sister, but over a year since his return to London, he still had no memory of her despite her regaling him many times over the last several months with stories of their shared youth. He probably never would remember those halcyon days. But something in Francis’ gut told him that he had loved Violet once, and when he had first seen her that day back at the house party, he had felt that same tug in his gut, inexplicable as it had been.
No, Violet would forever be his sister, even without familial ties. Francis loved her as much as he loved his blood sister, Eliza. Nothing could ever change that. Family was family, be they bound by blood or not.
Charlotte chuckled as she stretched lazily, running her hand over Francis’ naked chest. “Given the way Violet has behaved herself as of late, I hardly think she will be scandalized if we are.” Then she stretched once more and again, Francis looked at her bare belly, wondering if his child grew there yet. He hoped so. “Still, you have a point.”
She went to swing her legs over the side of the bed, but Francis caught her about the waist and swung her back into his embrace. This was one of the things she loved so very much about him – that after all he had endured, he could still be happy and loving. She also marveled that he still loved her, even after all of her indecision.
Sometimes, Charlotte wondered if attending Fullbridge’s house party had been a mistake. Most of the time, however, she knew it was not. If she had not gone, she and Francis might never have been able to be honest with each other – about anything, really – but in particular about their feelings. She also shuddered when she imagined having wed Lord Snowly, something she was now certain would have been a most grievous mistake. Their time in bed might have been pleasurable, but marriage was more than that.
Unless there was love, there was no true marriage. She was more convinced of that than ever these days. And she did love her husband, with all of her heart and soul.
“Or we could stay precisely where we are.” Francis nuzzled the back of Charlotte’s neck and she sighed with pleasure, adoring the way he made her feel, so loved and cherished. “After all, I could never tire of you. You know that.”
Charlotte did know. She might have doubted once but no longer. In her heart, she knew that she was precisely where she was supposed to be.
Deep inside, she still quaked a bit when she realized how close she had come to making the wrong decision – or rather being forced into making the wrong decision. However, she hadn’t and now she had what her heart had desired from the first. She had the man she had fallen in love with at first sight as her husband. There was really nothing more she could ask for.
“And I will never tire of you, my love,” Charlotte replied, turning back to Francis and allowing him to suckle at her breast as he had done last evening. Her breasts were sensitive these days which she hoped was a sign that she would soon be increasing, for she would love nothing more than to present Francis with a healthy son, a family that he could remember after having his early memories stolen from him.
She hissed and drew in a sharp breath when he bit down slightly, making her core quiver with need. “I adore you even more when you do that.”
“I should do that more often then if you like it so well.” Francis rolled them to the center of the bed so that Charlotte came to rest astride him. “I also think that a few more minutes abed will not harm us.” He thrust up into her, burying his cock to the hilt deep within her wet heat. “I also think that another chance to conceive a child would not go amiss either.”
“I completely agree,” she sighed with bliss as she arched her back and shifted her hips so she could better meet his throbbing erection. “A few more minutes will not hurt a bit.”
Except that a few minutes soon turned into another hour and by the time the two of them emerged – fully clothed – from their bedchamber, the afternoon sun was high in the sky and Violet and her husband were already downstairs awaiting Francis’ and Charlotte’s appearance. And when the happy couple did finally stumble into the green drawing room, absolutely no one was surprised in the least. After all, when a man desired a lady as much as Francis desired Charlotte, such delays were to be expected.
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
At the tender age of twenty, Lady Violet Denton has been all but forgotten by her wastrel brother at a boarding school for years! She has been stuck there – and without proper funds – for so long that she has been forced to take employment as the school’s new French instructor, as all of her letters to him are returned unanswered. She could never have imagined that her once-beloved brother would abandon her in this fashion, but after such a long silence, she has little choice but to accept the truth.
Out of all of the Bloody Duke’s men searching for the missing Miss Denton, of course it should be Lord Alexander Huffton, the Marquess of Buxton, that stumbles upon her in a remote section of Hertfordshire – to his great misfortune. A known rake and an avowed libertine, the marquess is more comfortable in a courtesan’s bed than in the company of an innocent young woman. And Violet is about as innocent as they come. However now that he has found her, Alex is duty-bound to return her, not to mention somehow break the news to her that her brother isn’t really her brother at all.
As Alex and Violet travel toward London – and her brother – the desire growing between them flares until one night, it can no longer be denied. Is Alex willing to release Violet from his arms when the time comes? Or will he do what is necessary to claim her as his?
Find out in A Night In The Lord’s Bed, coming Late Summer 2018!
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Other Titles By The Author
Other Titles by the author
Tales From Seldon Park
To Catch A Duke (Book 1)
Far Beyond Scandalous (Book 2)
At The Stroke of Midnight (Book 3)
A Viscount of Mystery (Book 4)
A Marquess Is Forever (Book 5)
The Secret Seduction of Lady Eliza (Book 6)
From The Viscount With Love (Book 7)
The Kiss of a Rogue (Book 8)
The Earl of Heartbreak (Book 9)
A Gentleman By Moonlight (Book 10)
A Scandal In The Making (Book 11)
An Earl For Hire (Book 12)
My American Marquess (Book 13)
One Forbidden Night (Book 14)
The Pleasure of His Kiss (Book 15)
A Lady To Desire (Book 16 )
One Night In A Lord’s Bed (Book 17 - coming Late Summer 2018)
The Seldon Park Christmas Novellas
One Christmas With The Earl (Novella 1)
On A Cold Christmas Eve (Novella 2)
The Earl Who Loved Me (Novella 3)
Christmas At Hollywell (Novella 4)
A Season For Romance (Novella 5)
The Ghosts, Inc. series
Novels
Ghosts Of Lovers Past (Ghosts, Inc.: Book 1)
Heart of Shadows (Ghosts, Inc.: Book 2)
Spellbound (Ghosts, Inc.: Book 3)
Edge of Heaven (Ghosts, Inc.: Book 4)
Time's Mirror (Ghosts, Inc.: Book 5)
Forever Bound (Ghosts, Inc.: Book 6 - coming soon)
Ghosts, Inc. Ghostly Shorts
Ghostly Shorts Anthology, Vol. 1
Ghostly Shorts Anthology, Vol. 2
And We Danced (A Thieves Market exclusive short story)
Modern Magic
Dream Date
Bewitched, Bottled, and Bewildered (Coming 2018)
The “Aphrodite’s Closet” series
Aphrodite's Closet: The Anthology, Vol. 1
(Nobody's Cinderella, Fairy Tale Theater, A Little Bit Of Magic)
Aphrodite's Closet: The Anthology, Vol. 2
(Stardust and Moonbeams, Belle of the Ball, The Enchanted Season)
Finding Prince Charming: An Aphrodite's Closet novel (Coming soon)
Also Available
Santa Search And Rescue
Christmas in Philipsburg
The Magic of Christmas
A Midsummer Night's Delusion
Much Ado About Something - A Short Story
Fairy Tale Lives (coming soon)
The Clockwork Doll: A Steampunk Novella
Crossed Hearts (A Modern Frame Tale of Romance)
Under A Golden Moon (coming soon)
About The Author
About the author
Making her home in the mountains of central Pennsylvania, Bethany Sefchick – a self proclaimed nerd - lives with her husband, Ed, and a plethora of Betta fish that she’s constantly finding new ways to entertain. In addition to writing, Bethany owns a jewelry company, Easily Distracted Designs.
When not penning romance novels or creating sparkly treasures, she enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, reading, Steampunk cosplay, dabbling in plumbing, and lavishing attention on any stray cats who happen to be hanging around. She always enjoys hearing from her fans at: bsefchickauthor@gmail.com
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Did you love A Lady to Desire? Then you should read The Pleasure Of His Kiss by Bethany M. Sefchick!
Lady Aurelia Tillsbury is infatuated with Lord Hugh Hunt and has been for over a year. However, so much stands between them and marriage, including his family's poverty and suspicions that he is a fortune hunter. Still, she believes those obstacles can be overcome. That is until her mother, in a fit of madness, demands that Aurelia either wed the man of her mother's choosing or face the consequences.For Lord Hugh Hunt, the future Marquess of Strattfield, it was love at first sight the night he encountered Lady Aurelia, the youngest sister of one of his best friends. Hugh desires her for his wife, except that as a spy for the Crown, Hugh's work is too valuable to allow him to simply walk away from his duties, no matter what he desires.When Aurelia is sent away from London and from him, Hugh knows that he must act quickly or lose her forever. However secrets from his past threaten both his happiness and her life. Can Hugh somehow make Aurelia his forever? Or will others come between them, costing them everything?This 92,000-word novel is written in the modern, Regency romance style for a slightly hotter and sexier read. It may not be appropriate for younger audiences.
Read more at Bethany M. Sefchick’s site.
Also by Bethany M. Sefchick
Fabulous Fairy Tales
A Midsummer Night's Delusion
Much Ado About Something
Ghosts, Inc.
Ghosts Of Lovers Past
Heart Of Shadows
Spellbound
Edge Of Heaven
Time's Mirror
Ghosts, Inc. - The Short Story Anthologies
Ghostly Shorts
The Ghostly Shorts
Modern Magic
Dream Date
Bewitched, Bottled, and Bewildered (Coming Soon)
Tales From Seldon Park
To Catch A Duke
Far Beyond Scandalous
At The Stroke Of Midnight
A Viscount Of Mystery
A Marquess Is Forever
The Secret Seduction Of Lady Eliza
From The Viscount With Love
The Kiss Of A Rogue
The Earl Of Heartbreak
A Gentleman By Moonlight
A Scandal In The Making
An Earl For Hire
My American Marquess
One Forbidden Night
The Pleasure Of His Kiss
A Lady to Desire
The Seldon Park Christmas Novellas
One Christmas With The Earl
On A Cold Christmas Eve
The Earl Who Loved Me
Christmas At Hollywell
A Season For Romance
Standalone
Santa Search And Rescue
Crossed Hearts
Christmas In Philipsburg
The Magic Of Christmas
Watch for more at Bethany M. Sefchick’s site.
About the Author
Making her home in the mountains of central Pennsylvania, Bethany Sefchick lives with her husband, Ed, and a plethora of Betta fish that she’s constantly finding new ways to entertain. In addition to writing, Bethany owns a jewelry company, Easily Distracted Designs.It should be noted that the owner of the titular Selon Park - one Lord Nicholas Rosemont, the Duke of Candlewood, a.k.a. "The Bloody Duke" - first appeared in her mind when she was eighteen years old and had no idea what to make of him, or of his slightly snarky smile. She has been attempting to dislodge him ever since - with absolutely no success.When not penning romance novels or creating sparkly treasures, she enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, and lavishing attention on any stray cats who happen to be hanging around. She always enjoys hearing from her fans at: bsefchickauthor@gmail.com
Read more at Bethany M. Sefchick’s site.
About the Publisher