The sequel to An Unlikely Duke - A Prince In Need
“When past sins bleed into the present, and the victims seek vengeance upon the perpetrators, how long is it before far enough becomes too far?”
Excerpt
Robert hadn’t thought he could feel any more uncomfortable, but he was wrong. Feeling no shyness toward his social position, Mary crossed the few feet separating them and put her hands behind his head, pressing her body against him. She stood on her toes and brushed her lips against his. Despite his intentions otherwise, his body reacted to the contact, and he returned the kiss, putting his arms around her awkwardly. With a smile, Mary released him and stepped back, assuming she had caused him to change his mind. She now removed her dressing gown and shift, then climbed onto the bed, her movements slow enough to display her entire body. Her breasts were small, her hips narrow but rounded.
Robert felt his face warm. He couldn’t help but admire her for a few heartbeats, but he forced himself to turn away. He took a deep breath, trying to control his adolescent body. He had never seen a naked, pretty young woman before, nor had he ever been kissed. Robert didn’t want his first experience to be with a professional and wished he could leave the room, the brothel. He pinched himself in a vain hope that he was having a nightmare and he would wake up at his writing table or, better yet, safe in his bed, alone. He closed his eyes, but when he reopened them, he was still in the brothel. He turned to face the bed again. Mary had lain back, her eyes half-closed; she was smiling at him as she moved her hands around on the sheets in welcome. The movement caused a quiet rustling noise. “Come to me, my lord, and I will help you relax,” she murmured, not quite purring.
“I doubt that,” Robert muttered. Seeing no other option available, he sat down on one of the stools, not looking at Mary or the bed. He knew it was rude to turn his back on her, but if he kept looking at her, he was afraid of what would happen. He remembered the brief kiss and was terrified of things getting out of control. He heard a deep sigh from the bed before the wooden frame creaked as Mary shifted position.
“A pity,” Mary said loudly. “I get a clean, handsome young man, who does not have any horrible disease, and he has no wish to bed me. Sweet Mother, where did I go wrong?”
Robert turned to face her, then dropped his gaze to the floor. She had crossed her arms over her chest, and her small breasts now looked more rounded. “I apologize, Mary. ‘Tis not you, it is me. I do not wish to take you like this.” He was frustrated at his inability to say what he meant. “It is nothing personal. Oh, bloody - I can tell off members of the nobility with eloquence enough, but I am not able to say ‘no’ to you gently!”
Mary smiled as she rose from the bed, picked up her discarded dressing gown, and donned it. Gentleness was not something she was used to. She cinched the sash about her waist then walked over and stood behind Robert. He turned to look up at her, but she gently turned him to face away from her again. She touched his cheek for a moment, then placed her hands on his shoulders and began to massage them. In spite of his desire not to relax his guard, Robert felt some of the tension passing out of his shoulders and neck.
