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Authors: Monica Burns

Pleasure Me

BOOK: Pleasure Me
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Table of Contents
 
 
Praise for Monica Burns and her novels of “cutting edge romance”*
“This sizzling hot historical and its compelling characters will leave you panting for more! Monica Burns writes with sensitivity and panache. Don’t miss this one!”
—Sabrina Jeffries,
New York Times
bestselling author
 
“No one sets fire to the page like Monica Burns.”

Ecataromance
 
“[Monica Burn’s] excellent love scenes and bold romance will have readers clamoring for more.”

Romantic Times
 
“A cinematic, compelling, and highly recommended treat!”
—Sylvia Day, national bestselling author
 
“The love scenes are emotion-filled and wonderfully erotic . . . Enough to make your toes curl.”

TwoLips Reviews
 
“Elegant prose, believable dialogue, and a suspenseful plot that will hold you spellbound.”
—Emma Wildes
 
“Historical romance with unending passion.”

The Romance Studio
 
“Wow. Just wow.”

Fallen Angel Reviews
 
“A satisfying read complete with intrigue, mystery, and the kind of potent sensuality that fogs up the mirrors.”

*A Romance Review
 
“Monica Burns is a new author I must add to my ‘required reading’ category . . . Everything I look for in a top-notch romance novel.”

Romance Reader at Heart
 
“Blazing passion.”

Romance Junkies
Berkley Sensation titles by Monica Burns
 
KISMET
PLEASURE ME
 
Order of the Sicari Novels
ASSASSIN’S HONOR
ASSASSIN’S HEART
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
 
This book is an original publication of The Berkley Publishing Group.
 
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
 
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
BERKLEY
®
SENSATION and the “B” design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
 
PRINTING HISTORY Berkley Sensation trade paperback edition / March 2011
 
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
 
Burns, Monica.
Pleasure me / Monica Burns.—Berkley Sensation trade pbk. ed.
p. cm.
eISBN : 978-1-101-47876-9
1. Courtesans—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3602.U76645P54 2011
813’.6—dc22
2010048803
 
 

http://us.penguingroup.com

For Marie and Olivia.
The easiest thing about being a parent is how you love. I love you more than you can possibly imagine.
Acknowledgments
With gratitude to Kati Dancy for her meticulous attention to detail and her demand for excellence. A shout-out to my BFFs Rosie Murphy, Becke Martin, Keri Stevens, Keri Ford, and Renee Vincent for patience in listening to me whine, your commiseration, your jokes, and the HAWT male model pics that keep dropping into my inbox. You all are the best!
1
London, 1897
“I’m sure you understand, my dear. Miss Fitzgerald and I have formed a tendré for each other that transcends what you and I have had over this past year. I’m amazed she’s even countenanced my suit as she’s so much younger than me.”
Ruth flinched as she stood at the window with her back to Marston. What he really meant was that Ernestina Fitzgerald was younger than
her
. There was just enough complacency in her lover’s voice for her to know the bastard was enjoying himself. She’d been through this type of event so many times over the past twenty some years, but this time it was worse. This was the second time in less than two years that a lover was leaving her for a younger woman. And at forty-one years of age she was old—wasn’t she? Her hands trembled despite her death grip. Steeling herself, she pasted on a smile and turned around to face him.
“Of course, I understand, Freddie.” She deliberately used the nickname and earned a glare from him. She knew how much he despised anyone calling him that. “I’m certain Miss Fitzgerald will suit you well. As I understand it, her talent for skilled conversation equals yours.”
Marston sent her a suspicious look, but she knew he would never understand the double entendre. The man wasn’t nearly as intelligent as he liked to think. In fact, he was hopelessly inept at conversing intelligently about any subject other than hunting and fishing. Suddenly, she despised herself for even entering into a liaison with him. She knew why she had. She just hadn’t wanted to admit it until now. She’d been scared, afraid that time was running out for her. And now it had.
“Naturally, I’ll see that your allowance is paid through the end of the month.”
“Naturally,” she said coolly, not about to let him see she was shaken by the parting. It wasn’t as much unexpected as it was humiliating. “And Crawley Hall?”
“I am sorry, Ruth, but that seems a rather extravagant parting gift, don’t you think?”
“I prefer to think of it as a promise you made several months ago.”
She narrowed her gaze at him. She needed the estate. The orphanage on Aston Street was overflowing, and the more sickly children would benefit from the fresh country air.
“Did I? I don’t recall agreeing to any such thing.”
“Then perhaps I should have Wycombe refresh your memory, as he was present at the time you agreed to purchase the property for me.”
“I’m sure Wycombe will remember it differently,” Marston said with more than a hint of smug arrogance. “Besides, you already have property in the country. I see no reason why you would have need of another one. If you’re concerned about money, you can always sell the jewelry I’ve given you.”
The sanctimonious pig. The bastard knew why she wanted Crawley Hall. He also knew good and well that the house she owned near Bath was far too small for her needs. There was barely enough room for her, Delores, and Simmons let alone half a dozen orphans. And the jewelry he’d given her would bring her barely enough for half the purchase price of Crawley Hall. His refusal to buy the Hall meant she would need to dig more deeply into her resources. Something she’d hoped to avoid. She’d managed her finances well over the years, but buying Crawley Hall meant utilizing her long-term investments much sooner than she liked. Especially when her future was far from bright when it came to securing a new patron. She sent him a contemptuous smile.
“The jewelry you’ve given me? Darling Freddie, those trinkets will hardly fetch even a paltry sum. But if you refuse to keep your promise with regard to Crawley Hall, who am I to question your honor.” She caught a glimpse of the anger darkening his face as she turned away from him with a small shrug. “Since we’ve nothing further to say to each other, I think it’s time you left.”
Seconds later, a rough hand snaked through her hair and jerked her head backward. She never liked to show fear, but Marston pulled painfully on her hair and she cried out not only in surprise, but anguish as well.
“Listen to me, you old hag, if you even suggest that my attentions to you were ever anything but honorable, I’ll show you just how
honorable
I can be.”
A door opened behind them, and her butler entered the room. Tall and burly enough to make any man cautious of crossing him, Simmons occasionally acted the bodyguard in addition to his many other talents.
“I heard a scream, my lady. Is everything all right?” It wasn’t a question. It was the butler’s way of telling Marston to release her, which Freddie did with a rough shove.
“Don’t forget what I said, Ruth. I’ll not have anyone sully my good name.”
She remained silent, despite her desire to tell him exactly what she wanted to do to him, starting with castration. Lord, how could she have actually thought the man attractive? Because he was the
only
man who’d been interested enough to enter into a liaison with her. Nauseated by the thought, she swayed slightly on her feet.
As Marston left the parlor, she crossed the floor and gripped the arm of the settee as she slowly sank down into the cushions. Simmons didn’t comment. He simply followed her ex-lover out of the room, obviously intent on seeing the man out of the house. The trembling of her hands expanded to wrack her entire body, and she closed her eyes against the pain sweeping through her. First one tear and then another rolled down her cheeks.
She’d always known this day would come, but it was even more horrible than she’d possibly imagined. Age had always been her enemy, and she’d never been able to find a way to defeat it. Bent over, she cupped her face in her hands to cry softly. A warm arm wrapped around her shoulders, and she looked up to see her maid’s concerned expression.
“Did he hurt you, my lady?”
“Not really, Dolores.” She pulled a handkerchief from a side pocket in her skirt and shook her head as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “More my pride than anything else.”
“I never cared for the man. He never treated you as well as your other beaus.”
“I’m well aware of how you felt about Marston.” She couldn’t help but release a small laugh at the vehement distaste in her maid’s voice. “I’m surprised I didn’t come around to your way of thinking a long time ago.”
BOOK: Pleasure Me
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