Excerpt: Tempting Bella
Book 2: Accidental Peers
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 away. A firm hand cupped her chin, a gentle touch angling her mouth for his ravishment.
Full lips came down on hers, soft and fleeting at first, scattering Bella’s thoughts to the far corners of her senses. She sighed into his mouth and his tongue slipped inside, sampling her with deep, luxurious strokes. He tasted unabashedly male, mingled with a touch of sweetness, edged with the tiniest bit of tartness. Delicious. She’d known such kisses existed, had even seen Josette allow them from her beaus in the past. But she’d never dreamed, never imagined the wonder of it, the astounding pleasure that made one lose all sense of propriety. That made her forget she had a husband.
Stan wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer until she was engulfed in masculinity. She pushed herself up against his heat, relishing the unfamiliar intimacy of a warm, muscled male body pressed against her feminine curves. She would allow herself this one taste of temptation before succumbing to duty—and an indifferent husband.
Stan groaned and kissed her deeper than Bella thought was possible. Losing herself in his lips and tongue, she brought her arms around Stan, caressing up and down his back, feeling the hard curve of muscle under his tailcoat. She pulled him to her, kissing him back, tasting and exploring…
“Mirabella Wentworth, is that you?”