Love by Chance (A Contemporary Romance) by Debra Elizabeth Page B
Authors: Debra Elizabeth
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didn’t want their contact to end. “Would you care to share that drink now,” she said a little out of breath.
d’Artagnan’s lips curled up in a mischievous grin.. “Indeed, I would, my lady.”
He offered his arm and she took it without a moment’s hesitation. They wound their way around the dance floor and headed back to the bar.
“May I say that you look stunning this evening? You’re the most beautiful woman at the ball,” he whispered in her ear.
His breath caressed her slender neck and Alysa felt the blush creep up her face. “Thank you. It is very kind of you to say that.”
“Not at all, my lady, I only speak the truth.”
She was captivated with the handsome stranger. That deep voice was mesmerizing. She wanted to rip off his mask to reveal his identity, but that was against the rules at a masquerade ball. Instead, she gripped his arm tighter and let him lead her away from the dance floor.
There were two other couples waiting for drinks at the bar when they arrived. Alysa recognized socialite Sophia Johnson and her husband Ed, waiting to be served. She was dressed as Marie Antoinette, including the enormous hairstyle and hat that the French queen was famous for. Ed looked every inch the dashing Louie XVI. When they turned, Alysa inclined her head toward Sophia. Sophia nodded in return and walked on past.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked.
“Two glasses of champagne, please,” d’Artagnan said.
The bartender put two tall flutes on the bar and poured the bubbly liquid. d’Artagnan reached for the glasses and handed one to Alysa.
“Thank you,” she said. “I absolutely adore champagne, especially Moet.”
“I appreciate a good glass every now and then, but it’s not my first choice.”
“No?”
d’Artagnan offered his arm and the two walked away from the bar to a more secluded alcove. “My tastes run more to a pint of Guinness draught, especially on a cold night with a crisp wind. Warms my insides,” he said with a chuckle.
His laughter struck a cord in her. She wanted nothing more than to listen to that voice for the rest of her life. She leaned closer to him, ready to taste his lips.
A shadow fell over them. “May I have the next dance?” asked the pirate in a husky voice.
Alysa looked up and gave him a sweet smile. “Thank you, but I must decline for now while I catch my breath. Perhaps later?”
The pirate glanced at d’Artagnan before turning his attention back to Alysa. “Of course, I’ll look for you later.” He soon disappeared back into the sea of costumes.
“My lady, you may dance with others if that is your wish,” d”Artagnan said.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you for sharing that,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
They were inseparable. The evening flew by with champagne, dances and small talk. Alysa didn’t want it to end. It was the most fun she’d had in years. Standing out on the balcony, she let the cool night air caress her skin. Her cheeks were flush with color and not only from their dancing.
d’Artagnan’s finger lightly traced her jaw line. “My Lady, I know it’s against the rules, but may I take the liberty?”
Before Alysa had a chance to ask what liberty he wanted to take, he bent down and kissed her. His lips were soft and the kiss as light as a feather. Her body trembled like a tiny captured bird. She moved closer and returned his kiss, a kiss full of passion and need. He reciprocated and their tongues explored the sweet taste of each other’s mouths. The world disappeared. Nothing else mattered but the magnificent man stirring the fire in her belly. Long moments passed before they parted. She looked into d’Artagnan’s eyes, searching for a sign that he felt the same heart-pounding connection.
His hand brushed against the hollow of her throat as he reached for one of the blonde curls that lay on her shoulder, and twirled it around his finger. “Lovely. I…”
He stopped in
d’Artagnan’s lips curled up in a mischievous grin.. “Indeed, I would, my lady.”
He offered his arm and she took it without a moment’s hesitation. They wound their way around the dance floor and headed back to the bar.
“May I say that you look stunning this evening? You’re the most beautiful woman at the ball,” he whispered in her ear.
His breath caressed her slender neck and Alysa felt the blush creep up her face. “Thank you. It is very kind of you to say that.”
“Not at all, my lady, I only speak the truth.”
She was captivated with the handsome stranger. That deep voice was mesmerizing. She wanted to rip off his mask to reveal his identity, but that was against the rules at a masquerade ball. Instead, she gripped his arm tighter and let him lead her away from the dance floor.
There were two other couples waiting for drinks at the bar when they arrived. Alysa recognized socialite Sophia Johnson and her husband Ed, waiting to be served. She was dressed as Marie Antoinette, including the enormous hairstyle and hat that the French queen was famous for. Ed looked every inch the dashing Louie XVI. When they turned, Alysa inclined her head toward Sophia. Sophia nodded in return and walked on past.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked.
“Two glasses of champagne, please,” d’Artagnan said.
The bartender put two tall flutes on the bar and poured the bubbly liquid. d’Artagnan reached for the glasses and handed one to Alysa.
“Thank you,” she said. “I absolutely adore champagne, especially Moet.”
“I appreciate a good glass every now and then, but it’s not my first choice.”
“No?”
d’Artagnan offered his arm and the two walked away from the bar to a more secluded alcove. “My tastes run more to a pint of Guinness draught, especially on a cold night with a crisp wind. Warms my insides,” he said with a chuckle.
His laughter struck a cord in her. She wanted nothing more than to listen to that voice for the rest of her life. She leaned closer to him, ready to taste his lips.
A shadow fell over them. “May I have the next dance?” asked the pirate in a husky voice.
Alysa looked up and gave him a sweet smile. “Thank you, but I must decline for now while I catch my breath. Perhaps later?”
The pirate glanced at d’Artagnan before turning his attention back to Alysa. “Of course, I’ll look for you later.” He soon disappeared back into the sea of costumes.
“My lady, you may dance with others if that is your wish,” d”Artagnan said.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you for sharing that,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
They were inseparable. The evening flew by with champagne, dances and small talk. Alysa didn’t want it to end. It was the most fun she’d had in years. Standing out on the balcony, she let the cool night air caress her skin. Her cheeks were flush with color and not only from their dancing.
d’Artagnan’s finger lightly traced her jaw line. “My Lady, I know it’s against the rules, but may I take the liberty?”
Before Alysa had a chance to ask what liberty he wanted to take, he bent down and kissed her. His lips were soft and the kiss as light as a feather. Her body trembled like a tiny captured bird. She moved closer and returned his kiss, a kiss full of passion and need. He reciprocated and their tongues explored the sweet taste of each other’s mouths. The world disappeared. Nothing else mattered but the magnificent man stirring the fire in her belly. Long moments passed before they parted. She looked into d’Artagnan’s eyes, searching for a sign that he felt the same heart-pounding connection.
His hand brushed against the hollow of her throat as he reached for one of the blonde curls that lay on her shoulder, and twirled it around his finger. “Lovely. I…”
He stopped in
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