The Bride Unmasked

The century is turning. Decadence is giving way to decorum, and public masquerades are being denounced from pulpits across the country. A respectable woman would not dream of attending one unaccompanied. But, after all, Amanda has no intention of being unaccompanied for long…TO MY I’m thrilled to share with you the story of Amanda’s seduction of Hugo. An experienced man has a lot to teach a young woman—but sometimes a woman has even more to teach an experienced man. ABOUT THE Harriet Jones has always dreamed up stories. As a little girl, she loved long car rides where she could stare out the window while her mind filled with the lives and conversations of her characters. Now that she’s older, the characters’ lives have become more exciting, so she has to be careful not to get too distracted while driving—but she still gets her best ideas while in a moving vehicle. She lives in a country cottage outside Melbourne with her three favorite her husband, her son, and her cat, and counts herself thrice blessed.EXCERPT FROM THE BRIDE UNMASKED‘What do you want?’ he asked, keeping his voice low, not wishing to break the spell he was weaving around her. Or the one she was weaving around him.‘Want?’ she murmured, her mouth turning to follow the movement of his finger.‘If this is a fantasy, I will do my best to fulfill it—but you must tell me what you want.’‘I want…’ eyes still closed, she waved a hand. ‘I want this…this excitement. I want that it doesn’t stop,’ she said, still maintaining that ridiculous French accent.‘Will you be missed?’She didn’t answer, and he pressed, ‘Is someone waiting for you?’‘I came solitairement.’ ‘A maid, a footman?’ he persisted. When she shook her head, he frowned. How dare she place herself at such risk? ‘Seeking excitement?’ he rasped, unable completely to keep the anger from his voice.She moved her face against his stilled hand, like a cat wanting to be stroked. Her skin was like thick cream flushed with rose water. ‘Seeking you,’ she said.‘Or anyone else?’ She stiffened at the taunt, and suddenly he lost patience with the game. He needed to see her face.He moved to untie her mask and she jerked back, grabbing his hand. ‘Non,’ she said firmly. ‘You must not unmask me.’When he would have persisted, her hand tightened on his. ‘You must promise,’ she insisted. ‘If you do not promise, I cannot stay.’He hesitated, then nodded his head in reluctant agreement. ‘As long as that is to be the only restriction.’ ‘Oui.’ She stared intently into his eyes. ‘Anything else you want, you may have.’Hugo felt the breath leave his body as a dozen lascivious images crowded his mind. Even as the blood rushed to his cock, he shook his head at her. ‘Be careful what you offer.’‘I do not comprehend.’‘Say instead that I may have anything that it pleases you to give.’‘And that will content you?’He lowered his head until his mouth hovered over hers. ‘I will make sure that it pleases you to give me whatever I want.’