dressing
herself. I want a daughter–in–law with an excellent reputation in
every part of society—and with the best connections.”
“Yes, of course,” Lord Devaux said
meekly.
“And you will ensure she marries my
son, won’t you?”
“Oh, yes. Of course she will. There is no
question...”
“There still is the question. That is why I
am telling you this.” Tatiana infused her voice with just a touch
of magic. “You will make sure that she marries
Vallentyn.”
Devaux’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat as
he swallowed hard. “She will marry him. I will see that she
does.”
“Good.” Tatiana sat back in her chair. She
herself could easily ensure that the girl did marry her son, but
she would really rather not have to resort to such... force.
<><><>
Adriana stopped and caught her balance on a
tree. How embarrassing!
She couldn’t allow Morgan to see she was
there, not when he... she could feel her face heat and was sure she
was blushing furiously.
She resolutely tried to keep her eyes on his
face, but they disobediently darted down his exposed body. Strong
muscles defined his bare shoulders and chest. Below that Adriana
couldn’t see anything because of the water, and she was extremely
grateful. She had never seen a naked man before, and was certain
that she never should—at least not until after she was married.
In her mind, Henrietta’s stern voice told her
in no uncertain terms she was to leave immediately. Adriana knew
the voice was right—she shouldn’t be here at all. She started to
turn away, but Morgan gave another bright shout of laughter. She
looked over at him playing in the water and knew she just couldn’t
go.
The thought of leaving without drawing even
one little sketch of Morgan and the river was unthinkable. Surely
it was alright from an artistic point of view. Men painted naked
women, so why couldn’t she draw a naked man?
No, neither Henrietta’s voice in the back of
her head, nor the threat of being caught in so compromising a
position could force her to leave. She would stay, but only for a
very short time. Just long enough to do one quick sketch, she told
herself sternly.
She opened her sketchbook, took out her
pencil and watched in fascination as Morgan reached out and grabbed
a long stick floating on the water in front of him. He threw it
further downstream and, with a bark of excitement, a great black
Labrador went swimming after it.
Morgan dove for it as well, with a jump that
gave Adriana a glimpse of a sleek, sculpted back and buttocks. His
legs kicked powerfully at the water. He reached the stick just
before the dog. Laughing, he came up for air as the dog barked
again.
Adriana watched transfixed as Morgan and his
dog played together in the water, throwing the stick back and
forth. Morgan was so happy and carefree, so strong and
handsome.
Adriana stopped. Where had that thought come
from? She silently reprimanded herself.
But it was true.
Even as she watched, she could feel herself
become as relaxed and happy as he was. But there was something
more. There was another feeling deep inside her. Desire.
Heat was building up in Adriana’s blood, she
could feel it churning within her. The heat and tingles of desire
and happiness, like laughter, bubbled through her veins. Overcome
with her emotions, Adriana put her crayon to paper and let the heat
flow through her body and out through the crayon. Her hand
carefully, but quickly, sketched Morgan, his dog and the flowing
water.
But there was more. There was the bright sun
in the heat of the day, Morgan’s laughter, the dog’s joyful
barking, and the splashing of water. She captured it all in her
drawing so she could experience it again another day.
On another lonely day, Adriana thought,
looking at her sketch. When she was back in London, she would want
to remember this day and this time. These feelings would come back
to her when she looked at her sketch, and she would be able to live
these happy moments
herself. I want a daughter–in–law with an excellent reputation in
every part of society—and with the best connections.”
“Yes, of course,” Lord Devaux said
meekly.
“And you will ensure she marries my
son, won’t you?”
“Oh, yes. Of course she will. There is no
question...”
“There still is the question. That is why I
am telling you this.” Tatiana infused her voice with just a touch
of magic. “You will make sure that she marries
Vallentyn.”
Devaux’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat as
he swallowed hard. “She will marry him. I will see that she
does.”
“Good.” Tatiana sat back in her chair. She
herself could easily ensure that the girl did marry her son, but
she would really rather not have to resort to such... force.
<><><>
Adriana stopped and caught her balance on a
tree. How embarrassing!
She couldn’t allow Morgan to see she was
there, not when he... she could feel her face heat and was sure she
was blushing furiously.
She resolutely tried to keep her eyes on his
face, but they disobediently darted down his exposed body. Strong
muscles defined his bare shoulders and chest. Below that Adriana
couldn’t see anything because of the water, and she was extremely
grateful. She had never seen a naked man before, and was certain
that she never should—at least not until after she was married.
In her mind, Henrietta’s stern voice told her
in no uncertain terms she was to leave immediately. Adriana knew
the voice was right—she shouldn’t be here at all. She started to
turn away, but Morgan gave another bright shout of laughter. She
looked over at him playing in the water and knew she just couldn’t
go.
The thought of leaving without drawing even
one little sketch of Morgan and the river was unthinkable. Surely
it was alright from an artistic point of view. Men painted naked
women, so why couldn’t she draw a naked man?
No, neither Henrietta’s voice in the back of
her head, nor the threat of being caught in so compromising a
position could force her to leave. She would stay, but only for a
very short time. Just long enough to do one quick sketch, she told
herself sternly.
She opened her sketchbook, took out her
pencil and watched in fascination as Morgan reached out and grabbed
a long stick floating on the water in front of him. He threw it
further downstream and, with a bark of excitement, a great black
Labrador went swimming after it.
Morgan dove for it as well, with a jump that
gave Adriana a glimpse of a sleek, sculpted back and buttocks. His
legs kicked powerfully at the water. He reached the stick just
before the dog. Laughing, he came up for air as the dog barked
again.
Adriana watched transfixed as Morgan and his
dog played together in the water, throwing the stick back and
forth. Morgan was so happy and carefree, so strong and
handsome.
Adriana stopped. Where had that thought come
from? She silently reprimanded herself.
But it was true.
Even as she watched, she could feel herself
become as relaxed and happy as he was. But there was something
more. There was another feeling deep inside her. Desire.
Heat was building up in Adriana’s blood, she
could feel it churning within her. The heat and tingles of desire
and happiness, like laughter, bubbled through her veins. Overcome
with her emotions, Adriana put her crayon to paper and let the heat
flow through her body and out through the crayon. Her hand
carefully, but quickly, sketched Morgan, his dog and the flowing
water.
But there was more. There was the bright sun
in the heat of the day, Morgan’s laughter, the dog’s joyful
barking, and the splashing of water. She captured it all in her
drawing so she could experience it again another day.
On another lonely day, Adriana thought,
looking at her sketch. When she was back in London, she would want
to remember this day and this time. These feelings would come back
to her when she looked at her sketch, and she would be able to live
these happy moments
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