Irresistible Temptation

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Authors: Sara Craven
Tags: Fiction, Erótica, Romance
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she thought, her spirits rising mercurially. What you're suffering from, you idiot, is a mega-dose of sexual frustration. Ami because you can't have the man you want, you've simply transferred your feelings—targeted someone else.
    Culpable, but no real harm done.
    Because if Declan Malone was delivered to me gift-wrapped, I'd send him back.
    And, with a small fierce nod, she reapplied herself to her r with studied concentration, so much so, in fact, that when she'd finished she found herself with a slight headache.
    She got up, flexing her aching shoulders. The basement felt stuffy, and slightly claustrophobic all of a sudden.
    She thought, I need some fresh air.
    She picked up the key for the garden, and set off up the steps.
    Because it was late, she kept to the outside path, and the pools of light spilling from the uncurtained windows of the houses. Clearly no one was concerned about Peeping Toms, she realised wryly, resisting the temptation to study the brightly lit interiors as she passed, and see how the other half lived.
    She wouldn't walk too far, she assured herself. Just enough to dispel the faint muzziness from her head and ensure she slept properly—and without any untoward dreams.
    A faint breeze stirred the air, and brought the scent of flowers. Jasmine, she thought, breathing it longingly, her mind torn back to her West Country home.
    If she pretended really hard, maybe she could imagine she was back there—and safe.
    Now why did I think that? she wondered, her brows snapping together sharply. I'm fine where I am. I'm content, and will be happy.
    And she quickened her stride impatiently, in the process nearly falling over a cat that had just meandered out of the bushes in front of her, his tail held aloft like a flag.
    'Whoops.' Olivia caught at an overhanging branch to steady herself, while the cat began to wind itself round her legs, purring furiously. She looked more closely. 'Haven't we met before?'
    From the glimpse she'd caught the day before, it looked like the one Humph had chased—the Fosters' Maximilian.
    'Hi, there.' She bent and stroked him. 'Does anyone call you Max?'
    It seemed someone did, because he chirruped at her, and pressed even closer, arching his back in ecstasy.
    'You're such a flatterer.' Olivia ran her hand along the silky fur in a valedictory gesture. It was time she was turning back, she thought with faint unease. As it was, she'd walked further than she'd intended. If Maximilian was around, she was close to enemy territory.
    'Stealing cats as well as husbands, Miss Butler?'
    The mocking drawl made her straighten with a gasp, staring with disbelief to where he stood, a shadow on the edge of deeper shadows.
    My God, she thought, her nails scoring the palms of her hands. I have no luck at all.
    Aloud, she said coolly, 'Just making friends, Mr Malone.'
    'Where would you be without the animal kingdom?' Declan said silkily. 'I thought you'd come to worship at the shrine, perhaps.' His voice sank. ' "
But soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east."
—and Jeremy is the sun. Only you're unfortunate, because he's not up in his room at the moment,' he added prosaically. 'In fact, he's out'
    'Yes,' Olivia said between her teeth. 'I know.'
    'Ah,' he said. 'You've seen him, then.'
    'Naturally.' She stiffened, angrily aware that she was standing in a patch of light from a neighbouring window, and that he could see her as clear as day while she couldn't see him at all. Which gave him a totally unfair advantage-as usual.
    'Oh, I understand,' he said. 'You've come to thank me.'
    'Thank you for what?' Olivia snapped.
    'For keeping your ill-advised confidence to myself, perhaps.' His tone was dry.
    'Oh,' she said, and swallowed. 'Yes.' She paused. 'Why didn't you tell him?'
    'I'm not completely sure,' he said slowly. 'But it certainly wasn't out of the goodness of my heart.'
    'You do surprise me.' Her voice was laced with sarcasm.
    'I thought I might,' he agreed. 'And, just for

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