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Authors: Jeannie Lin
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cleared.
“I had to do it,” he said softly. He took a step closer. “After what you did.”
“Please don’t mention that.” Her face burned with shame. “It was all one mistake after another. I was only trying to set things right.”
“I wasn’t talking about you bribing the head of the ward.” He reached out to stroke his thumb along her cheek. “I meant what you did for me. When I first took the exams, I was afraid of expressing any opinions. I echoed the classics with cold efficiency, afraid of overstepping my bounds. You made me remember what it was to aspire, to risk everything. You showed me how to be fearless.”
“Reckless,” she corrected.
He grinned. “That as well.” Then his voice lowered, deepening with emotion. “You’re why I passed.”
“Nonsense,” she scoffed, blinking furiously. She looked down to stare at the letter. “But this is very generous. Thank you.”
He still hadn’t told her what she was hoping to hear: that he’d missed her. That he could think of nothing else. She should have known better than to dream like that. Her freedom was more than enough. The ring of laughter interrupted her thoughts.
“Rose…Jia. Do you think I learned nothing from you? This isn’t generosity.”
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him. “Then what is it?”
“An offer.” He slid his arms around her, tugging at her so that she tumbled against him. “A bargain. A bribe.”
She steadied her hands against his chest. He felt so good. “What for?” she asked.
His voice lowered and his hold tightened around her. “So you’ll agree to be my wife.”
“I can’t.” She struggled against him, but it was only nominal at best. She’d dreamed of being in his arms every night they were apart. “You have a shining future ahead of you. You can have any match you want. A girl from a good family.”
“I want a woman who can take on lords and vagabonds alike.”
“But—”
Cheng silenced her with a kiss. Her limbs weakened at the possessiveness in his embrace. She fit herself to him and closed her eyes, letting his solid shape and presence surround her. She’d wanted him so much that it was painful to even think of it.
“I can do this until you stop arguing,” he threatened. “Forever if I need to.”
She started to renew her protest, but Cheng simply kissed her again to deliver on his threat—just as she’d hoped he would.
THE END
If you enjoyed this story, don’t miss these other sensual historical romances by Jeannie Lin, on sale now wherever ebooks are sold!
Harlequin Historical
Butterfly Swords
The Dragon and the Pearl
Harlequin Historical Undone
The Taming of Mei Lin
The Lady’s Scandalous Night
“Chang Ai Li flees her wedding and her enraged bridegroom in Lin’s exciting debut, an adventure tale set in turbulent 8th-century China. Especially vibrant writing describing the culture, clothes, and countryside…”
— Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Butterfly Swords
Enjoy more passion through the ages with the sensual Harlequin Historical UNDONE titles on sale now:
Behind the Courtesan’s Mask by Marguerite Kaye
How to Tempt a Viscount by Margaret McPhee
Testing the Lawman’s Honor by Lauri Robinson
The Unrepentant Rake by Barbara Monajem
Disobeying the Marshal by Lauri Robinson
A Rake for Christmas by Ann Lethbridge
Spellbound & Seduced by Marguerite Kaye
An Illicit Indiscretion by Bronwyn Scott
Virgin Unwrapped by Christine Merrill
One Wicked Christmas by Amanda McCabe
Craving something a little longer? Find more historical romantic adventure from Harlequin Historical at http://www.Harlequin.com or your local bookstore.
Interested in writing for Harlequin Historical UNDONE? Send your submission to [email protected].
About the Author
Jeannie Lin grew up fascinated with stories of Western epic fantasy and Eastern martial arts adventures. When her best friend introduced her to romance novels in middle school, the
“I had to do it,” he said softly. He took a step closer. “After what you did.”
“Please don’t mention that.” Her face burned with shame. “It was all one mistake after another. I was only trying to set things right.”
“I wasn’t talking about you bribing the head of the ward.” He reached out to stroke his thumb along her cheek. “I meant what you did for me. When I first took the exams, I was afraid of expressing any opinions. I echoed the classics with cold efficiency, afraid of overstepping my bounds. You made me remember what it was to aspire, to risk everything. You showed me how to be fearless.”
“Reckless,” she corrected.
He grinned. “That as well.” Then his voice lowered, deepening with emotion. “You’re why I passed.”
“Nonsense,” she scoffed, blinking furiously. She looked down to stare at the letter. “But this is very generous. Thank you.”
He still hadn’t told her what she was hoping to hear: that he’d missed her. That he could think of nothing else. She should have known better than to dream like that. Her freedom was more than enough. The ring of laughter interrupted her thoughts.
“Rose…Jia. Do you think I learned nothing from you? This isn’t generosity.”
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him. “Then what is it?”
“An offer.” He slid his arms around her, tugging at her so that she tumbled against him. “A bargain. A bribe.”
She steadied her hands against his chest. He felt so good. “What for?” she asked.
His voice lowered and his hold tightened around her. “So you’ll agree to be my wife.”
“I can’t.” She struggled against him, but it was only nominal at best. She’d dreamed of being in his arms every night they were apart. “You have a shining future ahead of you. You can have any match you want. A girl from a good family.”
“I want a woman who can take on lords and vagabonds alike.”
“But—”
Cheng silenced her with a kiss. Her limbs weakened at the possessiveness in his embrace. She fit herself to him and closed her eyes, letting his solid shape and presence surround her. She’d wanted him so much that it was painful to even think of it.
“I can do this until you stop arguing,” he threatened. “Forever if I need to.”
She started to renew her protest, but Cheng simply kissed her again to deliver on his threat—just as she’d hoped he would.
THE END
If you enjoyed this story, don’t miss these other sensual historical romances by Jeannie Lin, on sale now wherever ebooks are sold!
Harlequin Historical
Butterfly Swords
The Dragon and the Pearl
Harlequin Historical Undone
The Taming of Mei Lin
The Lady’s Scandalous Night
“Chang Ai Li flees her wedding and her enraged bridegroom in Lin’s exciting debut, an adventure tale set in turbulent 8th-century China. Especially vibrant writing describing the culture, clothes, and countryside…”
— Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Butterfly Swords
Enjoy more passion through the ages with the sensual Harlequin Historical UNDONE titles on sale now:
Behind the Courtesan’s Mask by Marguerite Kaye
How to Tempt a Viscount by Margaret McPhee
Testing the Lawman’s Honor by Lauri Robinson
The Unrepentant Rake by Barbara Monajem
Disobeying the Marshal by Lauri Robinson
A Rake for Christmas by Ann Lethbridge
Spellbound & Seduced by Marguerite Kaye
An Illicit Indiscretion by Bronwyn Scott
Virgin Unwrapped by Christine Merrill
One Wicked Christmas by Amanda McCabe
Craving something a little longer? Find more historical romantic adventure from Harlequin Historical at http://www.Harlequin.com or your local bookstore.
Interested in writing for Harlequin Historical UNDONE? Send your submission to [email protected].
About the Author
Jeannie Lin grew up fascinated with stories of Western epic fantasy and Eastern martial arts adventures. When her best friend introduced her to romance novels in middle school, the
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