She wandered behind him, trailing her fingers around his ribs.
"Mine." This time she said it aloud. She ran her hands up over his beautiful back and down over his tensed and powerful buttocks.
"Mine."
She could hear his breathing now, feel his body move with it.
"In this I am a virgin," she said. "In this frightening knowledge that we have a lifetime."
"Don't be too sure of that. At any moment, I might explode."
Laughing, she kissed him in the warm hollow of his spine between his shoulder blades, then collapsed down, trailing her tongue to the cleft, sliding her hands forward to grasp him.
"Will you look at this," she said, resting her head against his buttocks, "you've finally brought me to my knees."
He tore out of her arms. "If I remember, Sweet Joy, that's when you're most dangerous."
He pulled her up and tossed her on the bed. "Remember this place? It can be remarkably comfortable."
Seething with excitement at his desperate need, Felicity rolled to sit on the coverlet. "You seem to have more experience of beds than I, husband dear. I'll let you take charge."
"Wonders will never cease." He pulled the sheets and blankets from under her, tipping her flat on her back so the silk rucked up.
Then he covered her, entered her.
Felicity squeaked with shock and pleasure, then held him tight, tighter as he began to move.
"In a hurry are we?" she gasped.
"We've had a whole damn month of foreplay, and you've finally driven me stark, staring mad."
And she could see it was the wonderful, delicious truth.
She locked her legs around him and set to making him lose his sanity entirely.
It was astonishingly easy.
Later, hand tracing love-patterns on his chest, she said, "Perhaps, we should try a month of foreplay again sometime."
He laughed, drawing her into a ferocious hug. "Not on your life, sweet Joy. Not on your precious life."
The End
Want more from Jo Beverley?
Page forward for an Author's Note
followed by an excerpt from
AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE
The Company of Rogues
Book One
Dear Reader,
The Irishness of this book took me by surprise.
Back in 1977, when I wrote the first draft of An Arranged Marriage, I threw in one Irish Rogue just to be different. Then, when I was writing Forbidden, I tossed in some comments about Miles and smuggling trouble, and even brought Felicity on the scene. As you will have seen in reading Dangerous Joy, characters don't always know what other characters are really doing.
(Which is an author's way of saying, the story changed on me and I had to do some fancy footwork to dance out of the corner I'd landed in!)
But all I intended when I started this book was to tangle Miles and Felicity together in the unwanted guardianship and then get them to Melton where they could have a normal, Roguish adventure.
I hadn't banked on the Irish temperament, or on Irish cats!
I do come to this honestly, however, having a solidly Irish family tree and having grown up in the North of England surrounded by plenty of Irish influences.
But the book surprised me—I love it when one does—and found myself dealing with magic and ancient myths, with strange people and even stranger animals. It came to seem quite suitable, however, since magic and ancient myths are also dangerous joys, in my opinion.
For those not familiar with the story of Diarmuid and Grania, let me briefly tell it here.
Grania, a beautiful Irish princess, daughter of the High King, was betrothed to the great Irish hero, Finn mac Cool, even though he was by then old. Now Finn, like Arthur, had a mighty band of devoted warriors called the Fianna, a brotherhood bound together by sacred vows.
At the wedding feast, Grania—clearly dissatisfied by the man chosen to be her husband—sees Diarmuid, one of the Fianna's most noted warriors, and also a young and handsome man. In fact, he was called Diarmuid of the Love-Spot, for he had been marked by a faery so that he would be irresistible to all women.
Poor Grania, you see, was helpless under the power of magic. This powerlessness is often a feature of these stories, and I tried to weave it into Dangerous Joy in so far as we modern readers are willing to accept any leash on our free will.
Grania decides to pursue Diarmuid and prepares a magic potion to put him under a "geas," a magic compulsion. To me, this seems pretty fair, since his love-spot has done the same thing to her. In the telling of the story, however, Grania is usually portrayed as a weak and wicked Delilah stealing the will of the heroic Samson.
Diarmuid fights against the magical compulsion, but he is helpless and must aid Grania's flight from Tara. He tries to keep the relationship a non-sexual one, but Grania seduces him, thus severing him forever from his fellows and his lord.
Finn and the Fianna pursue them, of course; but in a number of encounters, Diarmuid always prevails. Eventually, peace is made between them, and Grania and Diarmuid can live together.
But, as Miles and Felicity acknowledge in this book, most Irish stories end with blood and weeping.
Eventually, Grania is not satisfied with being left in peace. She wants Finn to come to her home as an honored guest. Diarmuid is not happy at the thought but gives in and sends the invitation. Though Finn appears to come in friendship, he sets up a situation in which Diarmuid is killed by a wild boar. He then manages to sweet-talk Grania out of her grief and take her back with him as his bride.
As you can see, this story is told as one of heroes betrayed, but like most history or myth, it is told by men for men. Here we have the wicked seductress undermining a great man's strength and leading him to misery and destruction, then being herself entirely conquered in the end.
We can see it, instead, as the story of a woman betrayed (by her father into an unwanted marriage) fighting for some trace of happiness with a more appealing man—a man, moreover, to whom she is attracted because of his own magic powers. Does Diarmuid take responsibility for the power of his love-spot? No. Even though he's doubtless used it to seduce many a poor woman, when he comes across one as tough and determined as he is, he whines and moans across half of Ireland.
And I'll bet it was his idea to throw a party for his old friends, too!
Enough of revisionist mythology, however. Dangerous Joy is by no means a retelling of Diarmuid and Grania, or even a parallel story; but there are small echoes of it, drawn up out of the magical Irish earth.
And what about the cats? I do hope you weren't too upset by the death of little Gardeen. As you see, she does come back in triumph, and has a part to play in Rupert Dunsmore's well-deserved fate.
Thank you for reading Dangerous Joy. I hope it's left you with a smile. You can help other readers find and enjoy it by leaving a review on your favorite site.
Or you can "like" my Facebook author page here. I share pictures, oddities, and all the latest news.
Dangerous Joy is the fifth book in the Company of Rogues series, which are all available as e-books. You can find the full list on my web page or in this e-book following the excerpt, below.
I have found great pleasure in books all my life, and I try to pay that forward by writing books that will delight others and leave them with a smile.
Happy reading always!
Jo
Page forward for an excerpt from
AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE
The Company of Rogues
Book One
Excerpt from
An Arranged Marriage
The Company of Rogues
Book One
by
Jo Beverley
New York Times & USA Today
Bestselling Author
AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE
Awards & Accol
ades
Best Regency Novel, Romantic Times
RITA, finalist
Bookrak Bestseller
"A splendid love story.... This immensely appealing pair of lovers will utterly captivate readers, while Ms. Beverley's commanding ease with the Regency period provides a veritable feast of delight for the true connoisseur. Bravo!"
~Romantic Times
Nicholas has arranged for his friends, the Company of Rogues, to keep Eleanor company, but when she holds a small party, he attends to keep up appearances...
Eleanor was pleased to see Nicholas exerting his charm to secure the success of the event, but this also led to bitterness. If he can turn it on and off so easily, she thought, why can't he turn it on for me now and then? She was amused by Peter"s jealous care of Amy until she compared it to Nicholas's casual regard of herself.
Lord Middlethorpe, standing beside her, said, "Now what in the sight of those sickening young lovers can be making you look so sad?"
"I'm just worrying about arrangements. This is my first real party, you know."
But he shook his head. "Won't do, Eleanor. May I try my hand at mind-reading? You were looking at Peter and Amy and wishing Nicholas was hovering over you in the same way."
She knew she had colored and did not attempt to deny it.
"He wouldn't be a very good host if he did that, you know. And perhaps he trusts you rather more than Peter appears to trust Amy."
Eleanor was betrayed into bitter speech. "He wouldn't care, I dare say, if I were to throw myself into another man's arms."
Surprisingly, Lord Middlethorpe laughed. "You obviously don't know Nicholas, even yet." He looked at her thoughtfully. "Jealousy is a not very attractive reflection of possessiveness, but would it make you happy if he were jealous?"
"Francis, this is most improper, and very silly. I can't...." Under his gently insistent look she said, "Yes. Yes, it would."
"Come then," he said and held out his arm. "Show me some particular book in the library."
Eleanor looked over at her oblivious husband then put her hand on Lord Middlethorpe's arm and allowed him to lead her from the room. "You expect him to come after us? I doubt he will even notice I have left the room, never mind who with."
"I, however, know I am taking my life in my hands."
His sensitive eyes reflected all his concern for her. Why was she surrounded by care from everyone except the one....
"Cheer up, or you'll have me thinking I am very poor company."
As they entered the darkened library Eleanor said, "Indeed you are not. I don't know what I would do without your friendship, Francis."
He lit the candles with a taper from the low fire and looked around. "Well, which book are you so anxious to share with me?"
Eleanor shrugged, and took up the folder of Chinese prints. "Have you seen these? They are exquisite."
He turned the sheets carefully. "Very fine. I have some similar but none as delicate as these."
Eleanor relaxed as usual into the pleasure of his company. They were studying the prints, Eleanor seated and Francis leaning over her shoulder, when the door opened and Nicholas entered. He closed the door quietly behind him.
Eleanor blushed, and Francis smiled.
Nicholas could not be said to be angry, and yet there had been a flash in his eyes when he first entered. Eleanor had to force herself not to leap to her feet and stammer out excuses.
He strolled over to the table. "You are admiring these? I think we should have them mounted."
"Yes," Francis replied, in an equally light tone. "A shame to hide them, but be careful the light does not spoil them. Treasures need to be cherished." He quietly left the room.
At the click of the door Eleanor looked up in alarm. Nicholas was studying her with careful attention.
"Has something in particular upset you?" They both knew he was not referring to the state of their marriage.
"No, nothing at all," she said hurriedly. "We must go back. It does not do for us both to be neglecting our guests."
"I think everyone is quite content for the moment."
He perched on the corner of the table beside her chair. It was a more intimate situation than any they had been in for weeks. Idly, he twirled one of her curls around his finger.
She found she could not look at him.
His voice came softly in the quiet room. "You are being very brave and very careful, Eleanor. You cannot know how grateful I am."
There was a magic in the moment, but it evaporated when she remembered what he was doing with the time she was so generously allowing him. She was trying, head still lowered, to decide on her response when he spoke again.
"Would it help to know that I am finding this time as difficult as you? And, I suspect, for many of the same reasons."
Surprised, she responded with a slight nod, anger melting into swallowed tears, equal parts grief and happiness. She did not understand what he was saying but his tone of deep concern was balm for her pride. At least he felt something for her.
But then he stood up abruptly, facing away from her. His voice was rough as he said, "I cannot explain things, Eleanor, and believe me, it wouldn't help if I could. Come, we must go back."
When he turned to offer her his arm she rose obediently, knowing no way to make any sense of him. His movement was arrested, and then changed. He raised his hands to cradle her face and she knew the hint of tears must be there, no matter how gallantly she smiled.
"Oh, Eleanor. I cannot even ask forgiveness, my dear."
He leant forward until his lips caressed hers. It was a kiss which spoke more of caring than of need, but there was a sweetness to be so close, to be wrapped in his concern, if not in his arms...
"Oh God." He wrenched back. She saw the bewildering need in his tortured eyes before he turned and left the room.
An Arranged Marriage
The Company of Rogues
Book One
by
Jo Beverley
New York Times & USA Today
Bestselling Author
~
To purchase
An Arranged Marriage
from your favorite eBook Retailer,
visit Jo Beverley's eBook Discovery Author Page
www.ebookdiscovery.com/JoBeverley
~
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Publishers Weekly declared Jo Beverley "Arguably today's most skillful writer of intelligent historical romance..." Her work has been described as "Sublime!" by Booklist, and Romantic Times described her as "one of the great names of the genre."
She is the NYT bestselling author of over thirty historical romance novels, all set in her native England in the medieval, Georgian, and Regency periods. Her novels have won the RITA, romance's top award, five times, and she is a member of Romance Writers of America's Hall of Fame.
She also writes some romantic stories with a science fiction and fantasy twist. The Trouble With Heroes... won the Sapphire Award for Best SF Romance, and The Marrying Maid was an honorable mention for Best SF 2011.
Her web site is www.jobev.com, and she regularly blogs at Word Wenches. www.wordwenches.com. You can also find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jo.beverley
She firmly believes that reading should be fun, and that every book should leave the reader with a smile.
Page forward for a list of books by Jo Beverley
Also by Jo Beverley
An Arranged Marriage
An Unwilling Bride
Christmas Angel
Forbidden
Dangerous Joy
The Demon's Mistress (a novella)
The Dragon's Bride
The Devil's Heiress
Hazard
St. Raven
Skylark
The Rogue's Return
To Rescue a Rogue
THE MALLOREN WORLD
My Lady Notorious
Tempting Fortune
Something Wicked
Secrets of the Night
Devilish
Winter Fire
A Most Unsuitable Man
A Lady's Secret
The Secret Wedding
The Secret Duke
An Unlikely Countess
A Scandalous Countess
Seduction in Silk
Table of Contents
Cover
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Author's Note
Excerpt from An Arranged Marriage (The Company of Rogues, Book 1)
Meet Jo Beverley
Also by Jo Beverley