Meanwhile, Steven enjoyed being married to the loveliest woman in the world. He planted another row of kisses at the base of her neck, in response to which she finally stirred. A sleepy murmur followed as she turned toward him and allowed him greater access to her luscious body.
“Good morning,” he whispered while running his hand up the length of her leg, from knee to thigh to hip.
She blinked a few times to focus her eyes before producing a dazzling smile. A glorious kiss followed, before she knit her brow and said, “I think an additional word with the staff is in order today. Mrs. Elkins still apologizes to me whenever the two of us cross paths.”
“And so she should,” Steven said, the reminder of how unwelcome and ill-treated Calista had once been beneath this very roof momentarily dampening his spirits.
“It’s untenable, Steven, and time to move on.”
“Very well. We’ll assemble the troops and inform them all that from this day forward, apologies are only accepted for new transgressions.”
“A clean slate,” she murmured. A laugh escaped her immediately after as he rolled her over, tumbling her until she straddled his hips. She swatted his shoulder but humor, desire, and love filled her eyes. “Have you always been this energetic in the mornings?”
“Not until I met you.” A devilish smirk pulled at his lips. “Would you perchance care to see exactly how energetic I can be?”
He’d shown her countless times before, yet he never tired of their lovemaking. And neither did she. Much to his satisfaction, the lady’s appetite in that department matched his own. Furthermore, she wasn’t shy about what she wanted.
She rolled her hips, her blonde locks tumbling over her naked shoulders in perfect disarray. “It’s my favorite start to the day.”
He gripped her hips while helping her into position. “God, how I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Her words, accompanied by a sigh of simple pleasure, filled his heart to perfection and with the wondrous promise of holding this glorious woman close for the rest of his days.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Mr. Donahue’s Total Surrender, the first book in my Enterprising Scoundrels novella series. If you enjoyed this story, you’ll also enjoy The Townsbridges in which five siblings thwart the rules of Society in their quest for love and happiness. The prequel, featuring their parents, can be downloaded for FREE! Click HERE to get your copy today.
Or, if you haven’t read my Diamonds In The Rough series, you might consider A Most Unlikely Duke where bare-knuckle boxer, Raphe Matthews, unexpectedly inherits a duke’s title. Figuring out how to navigate Society won’t be easy, but receiving advice from the lady next door may just be worth it.
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Once again, I thank you for your interest in my books. Please take a moment to leave a review since this can help other readers discover stories they’ll love. And please continue reading for an excerpt from the first book in my Brazen Beauties series, Mr. Dale and the Divorcée.
Sneak peek!
Keep reading for an excerpt from
Mr. Dale and the Divorcée
A Brazen Beauties novel
Chapter 1
London, 1818
It was horribly hard for Wilhelmina Hewitt to find the words she needed to start this discussion. But after all her husband, George, had done for her, she felt it her duty now to help him as best she could. Even if the subject she wished to broach would probably shock him.
“Would you like a brandy?” he offered, the gentle sound of his voice conveying the warmth and consideration he’d always shown her.
Her resolve – the complete lack of nervousness she experienced in spite of her decision – surprised Wilhelmina. Instead of panic, an extraordinary sense of calm overcame her. She knew she was making the right choice, no matter how much it was destined to upend her life.
She considered her husband with deliberate practicality. The man she’d married twenty years earlier when she’d been eighteen and pregnant reclined in the armchair opposite hers, his gaze expectant. Their fathers had been like brothers. They’d attended the same schools, had fought side by side in the American War of Independence, and had later perished together at sea.
Wilhelmina and George had both been ten years old when news of their fathers’ deaths had arrived. With their properties less than one mile apart, they’d quickly found solace in each other. As one would expect, the incident had deepened the bond they’d already shared since birth. So when Wilhelmina faced the greatest ordeal of her life eight years later, George hadn’t hesitated for a second. Having recently been denied the woman he loved, he’d insisted he’d never want to wed another. So he’d chosen to protect Wilhelmina instead. George had, she acknowledged, sacrificed more for her than what was fair. It was time she returned the favor.
Deciding to be direct, she cleared her throat. “I think we ought to get a divorce.”
George’s eyes widened. He stared at her as if she were mad. “I beg your pardon?”
Wilhelmina took a deep breath. “How long have you and Fiona been seeing each other?”
His gaze slid away from hers as his cheeks grew ruddy. “You know the answer to that.”
“By my estimation it’s almost exactly two years. Two years of pretending Fiona is my dearest friend – that it is me she comes to see thrice a week, not you.” The lovely widow, ten years George’s junior, had caught his attention one evening at Almack’s. The two had struck up a conversation, which had led to a dance. When subsequent run-ins with Fiona had increased George’s interest in her, Wilhelmina had decided to step in and help the pair. By covering for them, she’d allowed them to conduct their affair in private and without scrutiny.
It was, she realized, an unconventional arrangement. But then again, her entire marriage was far from ordinary. The one and only attempt she and George had made to consummate their union turned out to be a spectacular failure. Bedding each other had been impossible due to their being like brother and sister and, Wilhelmina admitted, due to her own aversion for the act itself. So she’d happily encouraged George to pursue such relationships elsewhere in the years since.
“I’m sorry. I did not realize you were opposed to our meetings. You never—”
“George.” Wilhelmina gave her husband a reassuring smile. “I believe you’ve misunderstood my reason for suggesting a divorce. It is not because I’m offended or upset by the relationship you and Fiona enjoy, but rather because I believe you have fallen in love with her and she with you.”
He sat utterly motionless for a moment, then finally nodded. They’d always been frank with each other. “You’re correct, but divorce is not the answer, Mina. It would be public and messy. Our reputations would be destroyed in the process – yours especially.”