Free Violet (Suitors of Seattle Book 7) by Kirsten Osbourne Page B

leaned toward him again and brushed his lips with hers.
    He put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her away from him gently.  "Things will go too far too fast if you keep that up.  Go back to Edna.  We'll talk more later."
    Violet stood looking at him for a moment, wondering what she'd done wrong.  Finally she nodded and without another word left the room.
    Jonas watched her go, wondering what he'd just gotten himself into.  He never mixed business with pleasure, and he never became involved with young virgins.  He'd done both.  Life was either about to get very interesting or absolutely terrifying.
     
    *****
     
    When Violet got back into the small room she shared with Edna, the older woman had put all of their things away, neatly hanging Violet's traveling clothes in the armoire in the corner of the room.  She was sitting on the top bunk, her hat beside her.  "I like it up here," she called down to Violet.
    Violet smiled up at her, doing her best to keep her emotions from her face.  "Are you going to be able to get down from there?"
    "Oh, yes.  I think so."  Edna peered over the edge of the bed happily.  "Is Jonas a good kisser?"
    Violet stared up at the older woman.  "I don't know," she answered honestly.  She had no way to compare him to anyone else, so she really didn't know.
    "He didn't kiss you?  Your lips look swollen."
    Violet blushed, wondering at the older woman's frankness.  Did she want her kissing Jonas?  "He did kiss me, but he's the only man who ever has, so how do I know if he's a good kisser?"
    Edna got a faraway look in her eyes.  "Did he make your stomach tingle?  Did you feel his kiss all the way to your toes?  Did you want to keep kissing him forever?"
    Violet gaped at Edna.  "That's exactly how I felt!  How did you know?"  It was like the older woman could read her mind.
    Edna laughed softly.  "That's how my Harry made me feel.  I may be old, but I sure do remember what it felt like to be held in a young man's strong arms and be kissed senseless.  Did he kiss you senseless?"
    Violet let out a little giggle.  "I think he did.  But then he pushed me away.  Do you think he doesn't like me?"
    "Oh, he's probably just trying to save your reputation.  People worry too much about reputations and not enough about just living life.  What did he say?"
    Violet repeated Jonas's words about going too fast.  "I'm not sure exactly what he meant, though."  She hated that she was so innocent.  Hopefully this trip would take care of that for her.
    "He meant he's worried that if he keeps kissing you the two of you will end up fornicating.  I think you should go for it."
    "Fornicating?"  Violet had heard the word of course, but she didn't know exactly what it meant.  She knew it was forbidden, though.
    "Premarital relations, love.  You do know what that means, right?"
    "Oh, yes, of course."  She had a vague idea at least.  Her sisters had talked enough that she wasn't totally in the dark.  They all seemed to talk as if they enjoyed it. 
    Before Violet had left, Hyacinth had talked to her about the mechanics of lovemaking, saying something vague like, "Just in case the two of you can't wait to come home to marry."  Why did everyone assume she was going to marry Jonas?  She barely knew him!
    "Oh, good.  I'd explain it to you, of course, but I couldn't answer questions well, because I've never really done it myself.  I wanted to.  I came close."  Edna shook her head sadly.  "Poor Harry."
    Violet blushed.  "Yes, poor Harry."  She sat down on her bed, tucking her feet under her, liking the idea of being able to talk without actually seeing Edna or the older woman seeing her blushes.  "Tell me about Harry."
    "Oh, Harry was wonderful.  He wasn't perfect, mind you.  No man ever is, but Harry came close.  I was in my thirties, and already a spinster when I met him.  He was a lumberjack who worked for my father.  He came to supper one night, and I thought he was the most