Read Online Wronged (The Cuvier Widows Book 1) by Sylvia McDaniel - Free Book Online Page A

hadn’t
anticipated feeling anything for Marian Cuvier.
    He sampled her warm, soft lips, suddenly
intent on exploring this surprising new sensation. She didn’t
resist him as his tongue began a careful exploration of the
fullness of her lips. The sweet taste of her mouth left him craving
for more than just the taste of her. And as the reason for the kiss
vanished from his mind, he was tempted to further his study of her
mouth as he savored Marian.
    She sighed the sound deep in the back of her
throat, just before she pushed him away. She leaned away from him,
her eyes wide with dismay as she covered her mouth with her
hand.
    “Oh,” she gasped.
    Then before Louis could recover from the kiss
and gather his wits about him, she jumped up from the desk. She
grabbed her reticule.
    “I... I must go. Edward ... is waiting,” she
said, her voice breaking up.
    “Marian,” he called, still a little stunned
by the impact of her kiss.
    “I ... Goodbye!” she said, and ran out the
door.
    Louis stood there, shocked. What just
happened? He’d kissed her, but somehow something more than just the
pressure of their lips had taken place. Marian’s response confused
him, but even more his own reaction shocked him. He liked kissing
Marian. He liked it so much he wanted to do it again. But Marian
was his business partner, not someone you wanted to play with and
then send away.
    A heavy sigh escaped him. Maybe kissing the
widow wasn’t such a good idea after all. Maybe she just reversed
the situation and he should be the one running scared.
     

Chapter Four
     
    M arian returned to
the office the next morning, although with some reluctance. Louis’s
kiss the night before awakened all kinds of thoughts and images.
Things that she hadn’t thought about in years. Feelings she had
buried, once it became evident that Jean would no longer be
frequenting her bed.
    The pleasure that burst inside her at the
touch of Louis’s lips against hers had surprised and frightened
her. She sat behind her desk and touched her fingers to her mouth,
the memory of his kiss still fresh in her mind. So many years had
passed since a man kissed her, let alone made her feel passion.
Surely her response yesterday had been an accident. If he were to
kiss her again, she would probably feel only the texture of his
lips and nothing of the pleasure. Whatever reaction he’d evoked
yesterday afternoon had been a mistake.
    An enjoyable mistake, but doubtful it could
happen again or should. Certainly he’d resorted to trying to
frighten her away and when she saw him today she would act as if
the kiss meant nothing.
    “Good morning,” Louis said, standing in her
doorway.
    Her heart leapt within her chest at the sight
of the man who kept her dreams troubled last night. How long had he
been standing there watching her?
    He leaned against the doorframe looking like
temptation ... with a hangover. Dark shadows circled his bloodshot
eyes, his complexion a pasty shade of white.
    “Someone mentioned you brought croissants and
coffee,” he said, with a weak smile.
    She blushed, not quite meeting his gaze,
unable to look at his full lips without remembering how they
felt.
    “They’re on the table. Help yourself.”
    He moved slowly to the food, poured himself a
cup of coffee and picked up a hot croissant. Seeing a chair beside
her desk, he sank down, making himself cozy, like he wanted to
settle in for a nice long chat.
    How could he just come into her office sit
down as if they were old friends, after he had behaved so brazenly
toward her the night before?
    Marian kept working hoping he would get the
hint and go away. He sipped his coffee and moaned.
    “The brew is strong, but it didn’t have that
effect on any of the other men who stopped in this morning,” she
said, not looking up.
    “My head is killing me,” he answered
solemnly.
    “I noticed you don’t appear your usual
chipper self this morning. What’s wrong?” she questioned
innocently, knowing he