time.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you in the morning?”
She nodded and watched him turn around and walk the path toward the
house. Giselle didn’t know why she stood there to watch him go, but she did.
Her chest felt the burden of a weight so heavy, she couldn’t catch her breath.
Giselle sucked in her bottom lip when she saw him stop halfway down the path. Slowly
he turned around, looking back at her. She was surprised when he turned back.
While he came closer, the yearning for his touch taunted her body.
Trying to remain aloof, she furrowed her brow. “Did you forget something?”
“The goodnight kiss . I forgot the kiss. It’s
always the best part of a date.”
“You don’t have to pretend—”
He grabbed her around the waist, pulling her off her feet. “Ever since
you wrapped your arms around my waist before dinner, it’s all I could think
about.”
“But I thought you said—”
“I said you deserve love . I
am not capable of such emotion, but I am quite capable of a kiss.” Leaning in,
he smiled just before their lips met. The soft brush of his plump lips was
sweet at first, then he lingered, running his tongue over her top lip. Lowering
her to her feet, he readjusted his body. Something in his eyes told her he wasn’t
finished.
He held her face in his hands, dipping his head to meet her lips once
more. Seconds passed, and the tender moment was replaced by a mutual,
passionate enthusiasm to explore. Julien’s tongue was gentle, yet demanding.
Holding her in his grip, he silently orchestrated her movements to give him
better access to her mouth. Their lips were in perfect symmetry as Giselle felt
all her senses awaken for the first time. Desire, pure and
unassuming, pulsed through her blood leaving her wanting more of him.
With regret in his eyes, he sighed and pulled away. She felt an
undeniable tug on her body as she fought to stay still, and her heart pounded.
She yearned to be touched, longed to be loved. Loved . Knowing her reality, the
thrill of the moment escaped her grasp and spiraled away like a leaf in the
wind.
“Goodnight, Giselle,” he whispered.
The mention of her name made her tremble. Oh Julien, please love me. Won’t you try? I could love you enough for both of us. The
words wouldn’t come, and she watched him walk away yet again. This time, knowing
he wouldn’t stop, a tear rolled down her cheek. Giselle went inside the cottage
and cried herself to sleep.
Chapter Nineteen
Under a dark sky filled with the orange glow of a lover’s moon, Desiree
walked the grounds of Beaumont Plantation. Shivering from the chill of the night
air, she pulled her sweater tightly around her body. She came upon the hammock that
sent Simon toppling over earlier that day, and giggled.
She sat down and pushed off with her feet sending the hammock swinging.
For once, Desiree enjoyed the peacefulness of the bayou. It was quite the
opposite of what New Orleans offered, with its constant buzz of life. Unable to
recall if she ever experienced a place so quiet before, she concentrated on the
stillness. When a tingling heat crept along the tips of her ears, she stopped
the hammock from swinging. And when voices could be heard surrounding her, she
stood up and looked around.
Suddenly dizzy with confusion, she grappled with the hammock and sat
back down. All at once, she felt as though she were in the midst of a party.
The celebratory sounds and joyous laughter could be heard, but not seen. Feeling
her equilibrium shift, she held tight to the hammock. Her mind struggled to
listen without seeing. Closing her eyes helped.
As the voices grew distant, a male voice grew louder. “Chantilly,” he said. “Please understand. I love you, but I cannot
leave her. She is pregnant.”
Desiree turned her head in the direction of the voice, scared to open
her eyes, to invite the nausea back in. When another voice, female this time, came
out of nowhere, Desire listened. “You
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you in the morning?”
She nodded and watched him turn around and walk the path toward the
house. Giselle didn’t know why she stood there to watch him go, but she did.
Her chest felt the burden of a weight so heavy, she couldn’t catch her breath.
Giselle sucked in her bottom lip when she saw him stop halfway down the path. Slowly
he turned around, looking back at her. She was surprised when he turned back.
While he came closer, the yearning for his touch taunted her body.
Trying to remain aloof, she furrowed her brow. “Did you forget something?”
“The goodnight kiss . I forgot the kiss. It’s
always the best part of a date.”
“You don’t have to pretend—”
He grabbed her around the waist, pulling her off her feet. “Ever since
you wrapped your arms around my waist before dinner, it’s all I could think
about.”
“But I thought you said—”
“I said you deserve love . I
am not capable of such emotion, but I am quite capable of a kiss.” Leaning in,
he smiled just before their lips met. The soft brush of his plump lips was
sweet at first, then he lingered, running his tongue over her top lip. Lowering
her to her feet, he readjusted his body. Something in his eyes told her he wasn’t
finished.
He held her face in his hands, dipping his head to meet her lips once
more. Seconds passed, and the tender moment was replaced by a mutual,
passionate enthusiasm to explore. Julien’s tongue was gentle, yet demanding.
Holding her in his grip, he silently orchestrated her movements to give him
better access to her mouth. Their lips were in perfect symmetry as Giselle felt
all her senses awaken for the first time. Desire, pure and
unassuming, pulsed through her blood leaving her wanting more of him.
With regret in his eyes, he sighed and pulled away. She felt an
undeniable tug on her body as she fought to stay still, and her heart pounded.
She yearned to be touched, longed to be loved. Loved . Knowing her reality, the
thrill of the moment escaped her grasp and spiraled away like a leaf in the
wind.
“Goodnight, Giselle,” he whispered.
The mention of her name made her tremble. Oh Julien, please love me. Won’t you try? I could love you enough for both of us. The
words wouldn’t come, and she watched him walk away yet again. This time, knowing
he wouldn’t stop, a tear rolled down her cheek. Giselle went inside the cottage
and cried herself to sleep.
Chapter Nineteen
Under a dark sky filled with the orange glow of a lover’s moon, Desiree
walked the grounds of Beaumont Plantation. Shivering from the chill of the night
air, she pulled her sweater tightly around her body. She came upon the hammock that
sent Simon toppling over earlier that day, and giggled.
She sat down and pushed off with her feet sending the hammock swinging.
For once, Desiree enjoyed the peacefulness of the bayou. It was quite the
opposite of what New Orleans offered, with its constant buzz of life. Unable to
recall if she ever experienced a place so quiet before, she concentrated on the
stillness. When a tingling heat crept along the tips of her ears, she stopped
the hammock from swinging. And when voices could be heard surrounding her, she
stood up and looked around.
Suddenly dizzy with confusion, she grappled with the hammock and sat
back down. All at once, she felt as though she were in the midst of a party.
The celebratory sounds and joyous laughter could be heard, but not seen. Feeling
her equilibrium shift, she held tight to the hammock. Her mind struggled to
listen without seeing. Closing her eyes helped.
As the voices grew distant, a male voice grew louder. “Chantilly,” he said. “Please understand. I love you, but I cannot
leave her. She is pregnant.”
Desiree turned her head in the direction of the voice, scared to open
her eyes, to invite the nausea back in. When another voice, female this time, came
out of nowhere, Desire listened. “You
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