The Bride of Larkspear (13 page)
“Quite the contrary. I cannot excuse such failure. Not in the least. You will somehow summon the enthusiasm or I shall be on the earliest train headed south.”
“And if I do manufacture enough false zeal to satisfy you?”
“Then I shall say nothing to anyone of Mr. Martin.”
“Your word?”
“Your word that the kiss will be more debauched than any you’ve pressed upon Mr. Martin.”
“You are a pervert, Hastings.”
He smiled again. “And you are just the sort of woman to appreciate one, Miss Fitzhugh, whether you realize it or not. Now, here is what I want you to do. You will seize me by the shoulders, push me against the wall, reach your hand under my jacket—”
“I feel my bile rising.”
“Then you are ready. Onward. I await your assault.”
She grimaced. “How I hate to spoil a perfect record of repelling you.”
“Nothing lasts forever, my dear Miss Fitzhugh. And remember, kiss me passionately. Or you’ll have to do it again.”
She might as well get it over with.
She closed the space that separated them in two big strides and gripped him by the sleeves of his dressing gown. Instead of pushing him backward as he’d instructed—as if she’d allow him to dictate the specifics of her ordeal—she yanked him toward her, fastened her mouth to his, and imagined herself a shark with hundreds of razor–sharp teeth.
Or perhaps she was a minion of the underworld, her mouth a welter of burning acid and sulfur fumes, devouring his soul, savoring all the idle immoralities he’d committed in his lifetime as a palate cleanser between courses of more substantial sins.
Or a Venus flytrap, full of delicious nectar, but woe was he who thought he could dip a proboscis inside and sample her charms. Instead, she would digest him in place, stupid sod.
Vaguely she sensed something hard and smooth against her shoulder blades. They’d been in the middle of her room; why was she being pressed into a wall? And why, all of a sudden, was she the one being devoured?
The muscles of his arms were tight and hard beneath her hands. His person was as tall and solid as a castle gate. His mouth, instead of tasting like a furnace of greedy lust, was cool and delicious, as if he’d just downed a long draft of well water.
She shoved him away and wiped her lips. She was panting. She didn’t know why she ought to be.
“My,” he murmured. “As ferocious as anything I’ve ever imagined. I was right. You do want me.”
She ignored him. “Your word.”
“I will say nothing of Andrew Martin to anyone. You may depend on that.”
“Leave.”
“Gladly, now that I have what I came for.” He smirked. “Good night, my dear. You were well worth the wait.”
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(And did you, dear reader, by any chance spot the little exchange in this excerpt that would find its way into the opening scene of
The Bride of Larkspear
, no doubt serving as Hastings’s inspiration?)
More Books by Sherry Thomas
The Fitzhugh Trilogy
1.
Beguiling the Beauty
2.
Ravishing the Heiress
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2½. “A Dance in Moonlight,” currently a part of the historical romance anthology
Midnight Scandals
3.
Tempting the Bride
3½.
The Bride of Larkspear
Other Historical Romances
Private Arrangements
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Delicious
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Best Romance of 2008
Not Quite a Husband
, 2010 RITA® Winner, Best Historical Romance
His at Night
, 2011 RITA® Winner, Best Historical Romance
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
The Bride of Larkspear
© 2012 by Sherry Thomas.
Cover design © Frauke Spanuth, Croco Designs.
Cover photography credits © Sergey Galushko | Dreamstime.com, and © Robyn Mackenzie | Dreamstime.com.
Fleurons credit © iStockphoto.com/enjoynz.
Editor: Tiffany Yates Martin, FoxPrintEditorial.com.
Much gratitude to Courtney Milan, who graciously allowed me to borrow many helpful tools. Just as much gratitude to Lori Bennett of the Nelson Literary Agency, for her patient help and exceptional work.
Digital Edition 1.0
ISBN: 978-1-62051-055-1
All rights reserved. Where such permission is sufficient, the author grants the right to strip any DRM which may be applied to this work.