not true. I have been wasting my life - neglecting my estate - and it has taken the accusations of a wise and wonderful woman to show me that.’
Although his eyes held a hint of amusement there was a note of uncertainty in his voice that made her want to jump up and reassure him.
‘I know full well the reputation I have,’ he continued, ‘but all I can say is that such reputations are much easier to acquire than they are to lose, and I wish you to know that since Deborah - although my life has been somewhat frivolous - I have behaved as a gentleman should at all times. If you can find it in your heart to … return some feeling for me, I promise you I will be constant in my love for you and always true.’
Sophia found she was rising from her seat without being aware of it.
‘Oh Ralph!’ she whispered, ‘do you mean it? For I already do love you, despite the fact that I have tried so hard not to. These last few weeks I have come to realise how content I have been here at Avalon – how much I have enjoyed your company - but I have been so miserable, expecting that at any time you would return to London and leave me here alone.’
She saw the hope spring to his eyes as he reached out to pull her gently into his arms. Her heart was pounding and so was his, she realised, as he held her against his chest in a long, hard embrace.
‘Can you really love me Sophia?’ he murmured into her hair.
She buried her head into his chest, her lips roaming freely over the soft cloth of his shirt as she said. ‘To prove it to you I will even stop my visits to your tenants if you particularly wish me to. Although ...’ she drew slowly back and smiled; a sweetly knowing smile that made him catch his breath. ‘were we able to come to some arrangement about that I feel it would greatly increase my desire to please you in whatever way you might find desirable?’
He laughed – a sound of pure happiness as he looked down into her teasing eyes.
‘I fear it is as I always suspected, Madam. You are a minx – and I will have to show you who is Master in this house. However ...’ his voice dropped to a husky growl as he lowered his head. ‘I’m sure we can come to some arrangement about that...’
And as his lips claimed hers in a kiss that seemed to reach into her very soul, he swung her into his arms and carried her swiftly across the room, setting her on her feet again and ripping her gown off with one rough tug that dispatched it over her head and onto the chair.
‘I’m beginning to think that I shall need a larger allowance,’ she murmured as he tipped her onto the bed and crushed her body with his. ‘Either that or I’m going to have to teach you a few lessons in self control my love.’
She gasped as he swiftly adjusted his clothing and entered her fully.
‘Oh, I think I have as much self control as I need,’ he murmured, watching her face as he buried himself deep within her. ‘And all we require is for my self control ...’ this as he thrust powerfully into her, ‘… to last just a little longer ... than your own.’
‘ Oh ...’ she breathed, rising eagerly to meet each thrust. ‘ Oh yes Ralph . You are right - thatis exactly what we need.’
THE END
I do hope you’ve enjoyed reading this novella as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. Do pop over to Amazon to leave a Review if you’d like to.
Coming Soon: Desperate Measures – Isabelle & Guy’s Follow Up Story.
Five years on and Ralph’s cousin Guy is divorced from his wife Charlotte and Sophia’s friend Isabelle is now widowed. Two people with a lot of baggage - both determined never to marry again. But circumstances force them together. Are they both destined to lead lonely reclusive lives or will passion thaw their cold hearts and allow the seeds of love to grow?
To be the first to hear about new releases and other news or to contact me, come and say ‘Hello’ on
Although his eyes held a hint of amusement there was a note of uncertainty in his voice that made her want to jump up and reassure him.
‘I know full well the reputation I have,’ he continued, ‘but all I can say is that such reputations are much easier to acquire than they are to lose, and I wish you to know that since Deborah - although my life has been somewhat frivolous - I have behaved as a gentleman should at all times. If you can find it in your heart to … return some feeling for me, I promise you I will be constant in my love for you and always true.’
Sophia found she was rising from her seat without being aware of it.
‘Oh Ralph!’ she whispered, ‘do you mean it? For I already do love you, despite the fact that I have tried so hard not to. These last few weeks I have come to realise how content I have been here at Avalon – how much I have enjoyed your company - but I have been so miserable, expecting that at any time you would return to London and leave me here alone.’
She saw the hope spring to his eyes as he reached out to pull her gently into his arms. Her heart was pounding and so was his, she realised, as he held her against his chest in a long, hard embrace.
‘Can you really love me Sophia?’ he murmured into her hair.
She buried her head into his chest, her lips roaming freely over the soft cloth of his shirt as she said. ‘To prove it to you I will even stop my visits to your tenants if you particularly wish me to. Although ...’ she drew slowly back and smiled; a sweetly knowing smile that made him catch his breath. ‘were we able to come to some arrangement about that I feel it would greatly increase my desire to please you in whatever way you might find desirable?’
He laughed – a sound of pure happiness as he looked down into her teasing eyes.
‘I fear it is as I always suspected, Madam. You are a minx – and I will have to show you who is Master in this house. However ...’ his voice dropped to a husky growl as he lowered his head. ‘I’m sure we can come to some arrangement about that...’
And as his lips claimed hers in a kiss that seemed to reach into her very soul, he swung her into his arms and carried her swiftly across the room, setting her on her feet again and ripping her gown off with one rough tug that dispatched it over her head and onto the chair.
‘I’m beginning to think that I shall need a larger allowance,’ she murmured as he tipped her onto the bed and crushed her body with his. ‘Either that or I’m going to have to teach you a few lessons in self control my love.’
She gasped as he swiftly adjusted his clothing and entered her fully.
‘Oh, I think I have as much self control as I need,’ he murmured, watching her face as he buried himself deep within her. ‘And all we require is for my self control ...’ this as he thrust powerfully into her, ‘… to last just a little longer ... than your own.’
‘ Oh ...’ she breathed, rising eagerly to meet each thrust. ‘ Oh yes Ralph . You are right - thatis exactly what we need.’
THE END
I do hope you’ve enjoyed reading this novella as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. Do pop over to Amazon to leave a Review if you’d like to.
Coming Soon: Desperate Measures – Isabelle & Guy’s Follow Up Story.
Five years on and Ralph’s cousin Guy is divorced from his wife Charlotte and Sophia’s friend Isabelle is now widowed. Two people with a lot of baggage - both determined never to marry again. But circumstances force them together. Are they both destined to lead lonely reclusive lives or will passion thaw their cold hearts and allow the seeds of love to grow?
To be the first to hear about new releases and other news or to contact me, come and say ‘Hello’ on
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