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Laura James and PublishAmerica Arrogant Lord Armstrong falls for the charms of one woman while in pursuit of another. Determined to capture Gabrielle, James stirs her senses, tempts her morals and confuses her thoughts. She believes his intentions are sincere, until she finds him alone with the other woman. Broken hearted she flees in an attempt to escape. Ironically she ends up on the very same ship James and the other woman have just boarded. After that, all hell breaks loose! |
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~ Excerpt ~
It
seemed like hours had already passed, but Gabrielle knew it hadn't yet
been five minutes. Then without warning came a sound from behind her
"Mmmmmmmmm." Gabrielle's hair on the back of her neck stood up. She
could feel the goose bumps on her skin multiplying. She slowly turned
her head in response but the room had very little lighting and it was
hard to focus. She couldn't see anyone. Perhaps she was mistaken. Maybe
it had been a noise from the other side of the door. She turned back to
the door, lightly pressing her ear against it. The silence on the other
side urged her forward. Just as she reached to open it and peek into
the hallway, she was once again startled by a strange sound coming from
behind her. "Mmmmmmmmmm." Suddenly she couldn't seem to move or breath.
Her heart was racing and she began to shake with fear so she silently
stood there trying to calm down. After what again seemed like ages, she
turned and tried to look about the room. Her eyes had adjusted to the
lack of light so she inched slowly forward. The sound of trickling
water accompanied by a slight echo confirmed her location to be a
bathing chamber. She didn't remember exactly which one. Walking deeper
into the room she exercised great caution. The sconce on the far wall
across the room was burning, emitting only a small circle of dim light.
Still she didn't see anyone about so reaching the first alcove, she
peeked within. A small candle burned on the table in the corner,
providing a soft glow yet the room remained shadowed. A faint movement
caught her eyes. There was someone lying on the massage table! There
she stood paralyzed with fright and wondering what to do, when he
moaned again. "Mmmmmmm."
She realized with relief, it appeared the customer was fast asleep. She
turned to leave, when the candle flickered brightly for a moment,
causing her to notice his face. It was the handsome man she had seen
earlier, while sneaking up to the viewing chamber. What was he doing
here? Why was he alone? As she gazed at him, she instinctively moved
closer. Passing through the sheer gauze curtain she inched forward. He
was more than handsome he was perfect. She stepped even closer.
Standing next to the massage table, looking at him laying there in all
his naked glory she simply starred. His dark hair fell loosely, curling
slightly at the base of his neck. His shoulders were firm and wide, his
muscles rippled down his torso. His bum was firm, yet paler than the
rest of him. His legs were thick and long, but paler than his upper
body. His back and arms were golden, his hair black and wet.
She couldn't have stopped herself if she had tried and without warning
her hands began to touch him. Careful not to wake him, at first her
hands felt as she felt; shy. Then as he continued to sleep, she felt a
bit safer. It was as though her hands expressed her feelings becoming
bolder, more curious. She touched, stroked and massaged. His skin was
not soft like her own, but firm and muscular. He had little hairs on
his legs and bum. She was simply mesmerized by the shape and contour of
his body. She couldn't seem to get enough of just touching him.
Silently his body seemed to dare her to recklessness. She ran her hands
along the contours of every inch of him, trembling from the temptation.
After trying to drag herself away from him for the second time, she
finally stopped and turned to leave. As she turned, the man's hand
grabbed her arm. "Don't leave without a kiss," his husky voice
muttered. Gabrielle concluded, he must think she was the same girl who
had massaged him earlier. Still no matter what he thought, she was not
experienced enough to know what to do. She was still standing there
trying to decide, when he yanked her forward. Pulling her closer and
turning his body sideways at the same time, their lips met. At first it
was a simple touching of their lips, then the tip of his tongue ran
along her bottom lip. Suddenly he pushed his tongue inside her mouth
and reached around her shoulder with his other arm. She froze at first
and was not quite certain of what to do. Yet as his tongue probed and
his lips crushed hers, she simply leaned in and melted against his hard
chest. Later, all coherent thought was gone, as her tongue spared with
his and demanded as much from him as he demanded from her. Several
moments later he slowed down and began to nibble her lips. Then with a
tender kiss on the lips, he simply turned back over and apparently went
back to sleep. Gabrielle stood there in shock; convinced her
inexperience had caused him to turn away. Then embarrassment set in. As
she stood trying to get her emotions under control, shame turned to
excitement. She didn't understand her own churning feelings, she didn't
even know if she had kissed him correctly. But this man had touched her
as no other and she didn't even know his name. Anger mixed with her
emotions before she knew what was happening. Was she upset that he
kissed her or that he stopped? Her feelings were all a jumble as she
backed out of the room. Finally pulling herself together she made her
way towards the door. If she didn't know who he was, then he didn't
know who she was. Maybe that was for the better. Her heart was racing,
her lips were tingling and her mind was confused. She was a mess and
she still had to get back safely. She wasn't even sure she could think,
let alone maneuver her way back. Yet she didn't have a choice, so after
making sure the hallway was clear, she quietly escaped.
After the door closed, James looked up. He still couldn't believe the
same beautiful woman he had seen earlier, running through the
corridors, had simply appeared in his bath. When the two girls had
first come in and huddled near the door, he realized they were hiding
from someone. He had been in the process of putting on his robe and
going back to his room, when they had barged in. He had simply tossed
his robe aside and lay back down on the table to watch the events
unfold. After the first woman left, he couldn't help but to have a
little fun with the second. It wasn't until she had come into the
candlelight that he had recognized her. When that had happened he
wanted her to come closer, lest he loose her in this large castle. So
he made a few more noises and it drew her attention all right. Who knew
she would so skillfully maneuver his desires. Who could have figured
she would play his body like a violin. When she had been finished
massaging him, he just couldn't bare to have her walk out on him
without kissing her. As she had begun to move away he had grabbed her
and demanded a kiss. Again, who could have ever imagined the shear
perfection of that kiss? Though she had acted timid at first, she
progressed quickly enough. Then those hesitant kisses had turned
demanding. He knew he had to have her! James had thought to coerce her,
but he suddenly remembered that was her job. So he pretended to fall
asleep to irk her into outrageous behavior. Instead she had used the
opportunity to flee. She was a delight and as he licked his lips he
could still taste her. Slipping on his robe and walking down the
hallway to his room, his mind was churning. Damn! He had forgotten to
get her name. Oh, well it would add mystery to the adventure. After all
he was well trained at ferreting out information, how hard would it be
to find her?
Running all the way, Gabrielle's breath sounded ragged. Her heart was
pounding so loud she thought everyone could hear. Up and down all those
steps, through all those hallways. Her bare feet slapping against the
stone and marble floors as she ran. She was exhausted, lasting only on
sheer will power. Almost there, she had made it on instinct alone
because she was no longer capable of rational thought. Finally she
reached her floor, found her door and slipped inside. Kathleen was
pacing within. "I was just about to come find you!" whispered Kathleen,
running to her and hugging her fiercely. She stood back a moment and
looked at Gabrielle. "Something's wrong, what happened?"
"No nothing is wrong, I'm fine." Trying to slow her heavy breathing she
muttered, "I ran most of the way, I'm just out of breath."
"You're lying, it's not just the running. I can tell your upset"
"I do need to talk to you about something, but I need to sleep first.
Trust me when I tell you nothing is wrong. We can talk in the morning."
Needing to keep her thoughts to herself a little longer, she moved over
to the bed and turned down the covers.
"All right, sleep first, then we talk. Your sure your fine?" Kathleen asked as she hopped into bed.
Gabrielle smiled, "I have never been better, now move over." They both drifted off to sleep.
Unfortunately the next morning they did not get to have their talk,
because they overslept. They were running down the hall and trying to
get to the kitchens before they had to go their separate ways for the
day. When Polly spotted them she demanded that Kathleen stay with her
and Gabrielle continue on her way. So having little choice Gabrielle
continued on. Polly asked "Where were you last night Kathleen?"
"I went to Gabrielle's room last night for a chat and ended up falling
asleep there. Why, did you need me for something? I was off duty on the
chart wasn't I?" Kathleen asked in false alarm.
"Yes, you were marked off duty. However something came up and I was
looking for you and couldn't find you. I thought perhaps you had gone
somewhere and not written it down. Anyway a customer came in last night
and requested you. As we couldn't find you, we had to come up with an
alternative. Make sure you stay close at hand today Helena may need
you. I forgot to look, where will you be today?"
"I am working on the first floor today, in the sailor's fantasy. It's
my turn to be the mermaid. If you need me, I should be done by dinner.
Who was the customer that was looking for me?"
"Can't say as I know him, some gent named Armstrong."
"I'm not sure I recognize the name, maybe I'll recognize the body. I'm open tonight if he needs me."
Polly said, "I'll make sure Helena knows. I'm glad you weren't getting
in trouble last night. Nothing I like less than hearing you scream
about slops buckets!" then she turned and walked left the room, her
laughter following behind.
Kathleen hurried on to the kitchens. She found Gabrielle at a table and
hurried to fill a plate and join her. "Well, our plan worked!"
"What do you mean?" asked Gabrielle
"Our plan to say I fell asleep in your room. I've been interrogated and
she accepted my answers. Now on to you, what happened last night?"
Gabrielle took a moment then rushed headlong into her story. "I was
waiting for ten minutes to be up, when I heard a strange noise coming
from inside the room I was in. I couldn't leave quite yet and was
afraid if I didn't check it out, I'd get caught. So I carefully walked
about the room.did you know we were in one of the baths?"
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