Tempting Gemma 2 Read online

  The creature came closer, its gaze racking her. To her astonishment--not to say horror--the already immense phallus grew even larger.

  In an instant, the horned beast leaped onto the altar and crouched over her. She smelled its breath--rather oddly, it had recently been drinking ale--and felt the heat of its skin scorching her.

  But its eyes, when she dared to look into them, were at odds with its feral appearance. In them, she saw something more--at once eternally old and wise yet at the same time filled with the brash vigor of youth. And even, this was the part that made no sense at all, a hint of regret.

  She was going mad, that was it. The drink, the oil, they were robbing her of reason.

  “Easy,” the beast murmured. “It will be all right.”

  Surprise heaped upon surprise. What was this now? The creature sounded just like Charles but that was ridiculous. The Marquess of Ardsley was most certainly not the sort to go about wearing ram’s horns and fornicating on stone slabs for the diversion of the villagers. He favored Savile Row, when he deigned to wear clothes at all.

  However, there was no denying that he had the most magnificent body. She creamed thinking of it. There were times when she wanted to run her hands over every inch of him, then follow that with her tongue and--

  “Breathe,” he murmured and reached down, spreading her with his fingers.

  Instinctively, she obeyed, sucking in lungfuls of air just as he--

  Aaahhh! The phallus of the horned god plunged into her, immense, filling her completely. Her whole body tightened. A single stroke, another and she was coming, riding wave after wave of an orgasm that seemed to go on forever.

  The force that had held her immobile broke free. Her hips rose, her back arching, the greedy muscles of her cunt clenching fast. She reared up, seizing the thick, rough silk of his hair and drew him deeper

  His great body shook as she milked him. Even when he should have been spent, she was not done. Her thighs closed around his hips, she flipped him onto his back. The moon climbed in the sky and still she rode him, taking jet after jet of his cum.

  The drums sounded, the pipes sang, the men and women of Ardsley danced round and round the stone altar where their lord and lady coupled, surrendering to the most ancient forces of the earth and in so doing, assuring its fertility for another cycle of the sun.

  As it had been in the oldest times. As it would be forever.

  Appendix

  Pagan Practices at Ardsley Manor

  On the surface, the mere suggestion that one of England’s oldest and noblest families could harbor pagan sympathies appears ridiculous, if not outrightly slanderous. The Ardsleys, like all our cherished aristocracy, are stalwart upholders of the Church of England (apart from one or two Popish adherents best not spoken of). Over the centuries, many of those outside the direct line of succession have entered the clergy and advanced within it to high estate, occupying the finest bishopric palaces in the wealthiest dioceses. Their selfless service to God, King and Country merits our deepest appreciation and gratitude.

  And yet from time to time rumors surface of activities in the vicinity of Ardsley Manor and its nearby village that hint at beliefs drawn from a much earlier era. The Mid-Summer Village Fair is merely one example.

  Further enlightenment may lie in an examination of historical events in the vicinity of the manor. It is known, for example, that during the worst of the “Burning Times”--the term is a misnomer as witches were more often hanged--Ardsley Manor alone was spared.

  No woman or man there was ever accused, much less made to suffer an agonizing death. No animals--cats, in particular--were deemed familiars and thrown onto burning pyres. Indeed, to this day, there is not a household in the village that lacks a plump, contented feline.

  We do have the testament of a witch hunter who had the misfortune to visit Ardsley Manor in the 17th century. The fellow rambles a bit--his mind appears to have been overset by the experience--but we can glean that whatever he found there sent him fleeing into the night. Apparently, he was a nervous sort.

  The scattered reports of ancient oaks found festooned with all manner of talismans including the bodies of strangled chickens and hares can be disregarded as the ramblings of day hikers who objected to being set on by the Ardsley hounds.

  Private archaeological excavations have been undertaken over the years on the grounds of the estate. Although the results have never been made available to the public, favored scholars have reported evidence of barrows aligned to the winter and summer solstices. In addition, the pretty little pavilion overlooking the lake shows evidence of having been built on the site of a far older temple.

  The enlightened mind will acknowledge that the Ardsleys, in the interest of maintaining the happy peace and prosperity of their demesne, may have engaged from time to time in less than orthodox behavior. Indeed, might still be doing so.

  That is for them to know--and for us to discover--as we venture ever further into this tale of marriage, mating and mayhem.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  In the aftermath of the Village Fair, Charles resolves to see to his young wife’s well-being. The fitness program he devises for her brings them closer together than ever before.

  Tempting Gemma

  continues in

  Book Three

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  Sneak Peeks

  TEMPTING GEMMA is part of my Austen series. Continue reading for a sneak peek at other books in that series.

  His Lordship’s Downfall

  With profound apologies to Jane Austen, who through no fault of her own inspired this tale of dark contemporary romance. Although M/F, monogamous and HEA, this story is far more explicit than any I’ve written before. Sexual exploitation, casual misogyny, brazen revenge, graphic language including frequent appearances of the c- word, and the use of unconventional devices for intimate purposes are only a few of its many sins. Read solely at your own discretion.

  Lord Adrian Burleigh is a handsome, autocratic aristocrat with a taste for excess. In his world--where a modern-day British Empire still rules most of the globe--there are no limits for a man of such wealth and power. His privileged life is comfortable, controlled and predictable. Until, that is, he decides to acquire a “pet”.

  Early on, the reader is likely to conceive a desire to do terrible things to Lord Adrian despite--or because of--his wicked appeal. Rest assured, the arrogant lord will receive his just deserts. Of course, because this is a romance, he will be the better man for it.

  Read a preview of HIS LORDSHIP’S DOWNFALL here

  Tales of the Odalisque

  Welcome to the Odalisque, the world’s most exclusive club intime. Kindly leave your inhibitions at the door (clothing is optional). If this is your first visit, a few words of explanation may be in order. The tall, lithely muscular and all-around stunningly handsome man lounging at the bar is the club’s founder and owner, Lucius Belmont. “Luscious Lucius” some call him. Others are more inclined to mutter about his resemblance to Lucifer. A word to the wise, enjoy your visit but do nothing to vex him. Especially not now.

  Lucius is pre-occupied with a problem u
nlike any he has encountered before. That rarest of creatures--a virgin--has wandered into his circle of debauchery. Natalia Bollinger is everything she should not be--exquisitely beautiful, unbearably arousing, and uncannily able to penetrate all his hard-won defenses. But Natalia is guarding secrets of her own that will pit her against Lucius in an epic showdown of vice versus virtue. Before your visit is over, limits will be tested, lines will be crossed, and all the rules will be broken. Take a seat. The show is about to begin!

  Although inspired by my earlier work, “His Lordship’s Downfall”, also available on Amazon, “Tales of the Odalisque” is a standalone novel with no cliffhanger. You need not have read “His Lordship’s Downfall” to enjoy this story but of course, I hope that you will do so. Please be aware that while this story is M/F, monogamous and HEA, it contains explicit sexual scenes that some may find disturbing. Read at your own discretion.

  Read a preview of TALES OF THE ODALISQUE here

  I also write a dark romance series that you may enjoy. Continue reading for a sneak peek at CHOSEN:

  Chosen

  My name is Grace Delaney. I was born into this country’s most admired political family. When I was sixteen, the media dubbed me “America’s Princess”. I hate being called that, all the more so since I discovered the terrifying secret hidden behind my family’s glittering public image.

  A few months ago, I graduated from college determined to make a life of my own. But now, suddenly, Adam Falzon is in it. The head of an old-world family with a reputation for ruthlessness, he looks like a fallen angel. As attracted as I am to him, I’ve come to suspect that Adam is hiding secrets of his own more deadly and dangerous than I ever want to know. I don’t dare give into my feelings for him.

  But I may not have a choice. With every beat of my heart, he is drawing me further into a web of dark desire. My chances of escaping are slipping away. Worse yet, I’m no longer sure that I want to.

  Read a preview of CHOSEN here

  This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright 2018 Josie Litton. All rights reserved.

  TEMPTING GEMMA: PART TWO

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