Lessons of Love

One lucky winner with receive a signed copy of Lessons of Love during the prize giveaway.

If you like a little kink with your Historical Romance, then take a peek at the excerpt from Lessons of Love, below. Steamy erotic kink that will knock your socks off.

(Adult Only Excerpt from Lessons of Love)
Louisiana 1842

Jolie Dupree stripped down to her chemise and slowly stepped into the stream. A small sigh escaped her as she waded deeper, relishing the feel of the refreshing water on her fevered skin. It had been stifling hot for the past two weeks, and her body yearned for a cooling swim. That yearning had been denied her however, because of the ever-watchful eyes of her stepfather Hank. But today was different. Today she was finally free from his critical gaze. He had gone into New Orleans on business, leaving her to do as she pleased.
As soon as his carriage had disappeared around the far turn in the road she had run from the main house to her secret spot at the stream. It was a secluded place, a green and shadowed glade, where the willows draped over the water and the stream formed a small pool. The branches concealed her within their long hanging leaves, and provided privacy from the outside world, allowing only the dappling of sunlight to skip along the surface of the water creating a safe haven. Here she could strip off the stifling layers of her gown and petticoats and let the cold water envelop her. Here, for just a while, she could be free.
Jolie splashed forward into the refreshing pool, immersing her entire body. She swam across the length of it and back, blissfully happy, totally engrossed in the feeling of relief the water provided. She floated on her back, her beautiful golden hair flowing around her head like a silken halo. Her green eyes held a look of merriment and rapture. She hated the stifling gowns that clung to her body and draped her from head to toe. How did anyone think a woman could survive in the smothering folds? To make matters worse, her stepfather insisted she wear high neck gowns even in the summer’s blistering heat.
Thinking about her stepfather caused a grimace of distaste to come over her beautiful face. Her eyes narrowed as she scrunched up her nose, her mouth puckered and turned down in a frown. The thought of Hank always had this effect on Jolie. Hank was a hard man who ruled his household with an iron fist. Jolie knew she would be punished if he ever found out about her trip to the stream. He would tell her it was sinful to strip down and swim in the water, but at the moment, Jolie didn’t care. He was long gone, and she simply couldn’t pass up this rare opportunity.
Jolie knew Hank had gone into the city to conduct business, and wondered idly if he was meeting with Monsieur Jameson. Her stepfather held the title to several properties in New Orleans along with the plantation where they lived, and he was always busy dealing with the various men who came and went from their home. Jolie had met Monsieur Cole Jameson when he had dined with them a few days ago. The type of business the two men conducted was something Jolie knew nothing about, but she did know there were rumors about the dashing and handsome man who had graced their table.
When her friends came to call a few weeks ago, they had gone on and on about the elegant and mysterious man with the dark good looks whom their mothers had warned them about. He had purchased a large plantation in the area and was trying to establish himself in the community as a prosperous and respected man, but there were stories about his seduction of innocent ladies, and even tales of girls disappearing after being seen with him. Any young woman who allowed herself to be associated with him without a proper chaperone or a wedding band would be ruined. Her stepfather had warned her to remain silent during his visit to their home.
Hank knew it would be considered very rude if Jolie were kept from the table, so he’d had no choice but to allow her to be present. He had a lucrative property deal with Monsieur Jameson, and he did not want to offend him, but Hank had given Jolie strict instructions about her behavior. She was to remain mute with her eyes downcast unless asked a direct question. Hank was of the opinion that his stepdaughter was sinful because of her beauty, and any attention she received was intolerable. He felt it was the work of the devil in her that made her enticing to men. Jolie knew that if Monsieur Jameson displayed any interest in her, Hank would place the blame squarely on her shoulders.
Jolie had done her best to follow the orders of her stepfather. She remained silent and only looked up when they were first introduced, but that one glance caused her heart to beat a little faster. It was as if a hummingbird had taken up flight in her breast at just the sight of him. The Monsieur was a handsome man with wavy black hair that curled just below his collar and high fine cheekbones. His eyes were a deep shade of cobalt blue and held an air of mystery, and his form was strong and lean. His shoulders were wide and his breeches accented the powerful muscles in his thighs. He loomed over Jolie’s tiny frame, and when he’d looked down on her, she felt like a mouse being pounced upon by a cat. Just having him glance at her caused butterflies to flutter in her belly.
He was refined, and his manners were impeccable throughout dinner. He hadn’t even spoken to her, much to Jolie’s relief. The last thing she wanted to do was incite her stepfather’s ire. The dinner went without incident until they were finished, and then it happened. When Hank rose to go to the study for brandy and cigars, Jolie had chanced a glance upward and had found her gaze captured by Monsieur Jameson. His eyes had sparkled wickedly, and he’d blown her a kiss before curling his tongue lewdly behind his top teeth.
Jolie had been mortified. If her stepfather had seen the Monsieur’s actions, he would have punished her severely. Thank goodness his back had been turned. The kiss had embarrassed her, but it had also made her insides tingle and caused a flush to rise up upon her cheeks. The memory of it had stayed with her in her dreams, causing her to wake up with an odd feeling of warmth in her belly.
Jolie was pulled from her dreamy musings by a rustling in the bushes. She froze in fear; listening, praying it was a small animal, but to her horror, the very man she’d been daydreaming about stepped through the fronds of the willow tree. She dropped to her knees in the water, hiding her body from his piercing gaze, but it was clear by his expression that he’d gotten quite an eyeful. His sensuous lips turned upward in a wicked smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement at her innocent modesty.
“I believe I’ve stumbled upon a bewitching water nymph. Do you remember me, little one?” Jolie didn’t answer him. Her mind was racing, trying to think of a way she could flee. Her heart was pounding with fear as Cole Jameson’s eyes bore into her.
“What’s the matter sweet? Have you lost your voice? I’m not going to hurt you, Jolie.”
“A gentleman would leave if he found a lady in such a predicament.”
“I never claimed to be a gentleman, my dear. Come out of the water, Jolie. I promise I won’t hurt you.”
Jolie didn’t believe that for one second. She recognized the look in his eyes all too well. It was the same look she’d seen on the faces of so many men since she’d developed into a woman. It was the look of lust, and at that moment Monsieur Jameson looked as though he would like to devour her.

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