The Price of Pleasure by Connie Mason Read Free Book Online

about him that made her desire more than the lonely life she had embraced after her husband’s death?
    That was her last thought before Reed lowered his lips to hers and kissed her. His kiss created arousing memories of giving and receiving pleasure, of lying in a man’s arms, of being cherished.
    His ravishing mouth left hers, sought her ear, then her neck. His kisses produced delicious tremors of excitement she hadn’t experienced for longer than she cared to remember. With a small moan of surrender, she circled his neck with her arms so she could hold him closer, returning his kiss even though she knew she was swimming in dangerous waters.
    Abruptly her senses returned and she drew away. “Are you ready to go back to the house?”
    “I’d rather stay here and kiss you.”
    “We can’t do this, Reed. One, you’re not well enough to engage in this kind of activity.”
    “We were only kissing.”
    “Two,” she continued, “this shouldn’t be happening. Once you leave, I’ll never see you again. We both need to remember that.”
    She rose and helped Reed to his feet. They walked in silence back to the house, where Fleur bid Reed good night and continued on to her bedchamber. Once inside, she sat on the bed and hugged herself. Reed’s kisses had tempted her to act injudiciously. She didn’t know what had gotten into her. She wasn’t the kind of woman whose head was easily turned by someone she scarcely knew.
    Besides, she had told Reed the truth. He was too weak to engage in activity of the sort he was contemplating. But what would happen when he was well enough? It wasn’t difficult to tell that Reed was a man who enjoyed women. Fleur didn’t dare succumb, however, for her work here was too important. Letting herself become infatuated with Reed would lead to heartache. Besides, no man could take Pierre’s place.
    Reed lay in bed, unable to sleep, cursing his weak body. Though his strength was slowly returning and he had put on weight since he’d arrived at the cottage, his stamina was not what it once was. Being around Fleur had awakened his libido, however. He could actually feel desire again. He’d felt a tugging in his loins despite his inability to sustain a full erection.
    Reed pounded his pillow, angry with himself and with his weakness. Would he ever be able to perform as a man again, with a man’s ability to do both himself and the woman of his choice justice? Kissing Fleur had proven that he could still desire a woman, and that was encouraging.
    Reed finally found sleep, but not an easy one. Sexual stirrings he hadn’t experienced in months plagued him. He dreamed of holding Fleur in his arms, slowly undressing her, making love to her, running his hands over her smooth skin, learning every nuance of her sweet flesh.
    In the middle of the night, Reed awoke with a start and realized he was suffering discomfort. He nearly laughed aloud when he discovered the reason for his distress. He had a full-blown erection. Even though he could do nothing about it, he turned over on his stomach and embraced sleep with a smile on his face.
    He was indeed alive!
    The next morning, still in good humor, Reed devoured his breakfast of eggs, ham, and fresh bread and butter. The entire household ate together, engaging in pleasant conversation.
    “I know I’ve been eating like a horse, Fleur, and I’m concerned about depleting your funds,” Reed said. “Where do you get the money to put food on the table?”
    Fleur placed her fork on her plate as she mulled over her answer. “Pierre knew bad times were coming. He gathered all the gold coin and family jewels he could get his hands on and insisted I sew them in the hem of one of my gowns and in the lining of my cloak, in case I had to flee Paris.”
    She swallowed, as if it was painful to go on. “That day arrived far too soon. Pierre insisted I leave without him. For a while, Lisette, Gaston and I stayed with Antoine’s parents in a small village outside