Free The Letter by Rebecca Bernadette Mance

her actions were those of a foolish child.
    She glared at him. “Maybe…maybe not. No one seemed very interested in the store in the past, so why would you suddenly take an interest?”
    “ I am quite certain that it was pure desperation that drove you to write me that ridiculous letter ... I can only assume that you are very desperate, am I right? So, where does that leave us then? I have something you want and you have several things I want,” he persuaded his voice silky.
    Flushing, Victoria studied the ornate table again. “You are right. I am distressed…but your suggestions are outrageous. I have nothing you want,” she said firmly, refusing to meet his gaze and wishing she were anywhere else but here having this scandalous conversation.
    “ Oh but you truly do have what I want very much…I want you, Victoria, very, very much.” His voice stroked her skin like silk. An inappropriate and most unwanted ache pooled in her lower belly.
    Dear gracious . Was he truly suggesting such iniquitous activities? Victoria knew what went on between married couples and it had seemed somewhat repulsive to her before.
    Before now .
    Thinking about doing all those things with William took her breath away.
    This was a sin.
    Wanting a man … one who said those kinds of things, was a terrible, terrible sin. Yet he made her feel a longing. He made her ache. She should leave right now. But she was incapable of moving.
    “ You cannot possibly be serious,” she whispered, focusing intently on the white linen napkin crushed in her trembling hands.
    Victoria knew she wasn’t a beauty, not like Mandy or one of the many beautiful women he probably knew. What in the world would motivate such a man to say something like that to her… a country mouse?
    “ Look at me sweetheart.” His request was soft and low.
    “ No. I can’t.” Utterly mortified, she closed her eyes against her impulse to look at him. “How can I look at someone who would say such things to me?”
    “ I want to make a deal with you, Victoria.” His uninvited voice penetrated her mind.
    Her eyes flew open, clashing fire with his.
    “ What if I told you I would give you title to the store? What if I told you I would give you enough money to live comfortably without the store?”
    Victoria’s mouth dropped open but she was incapable of speech.
    “ What if I told you I would give you anything you wanted?” He tempted with a deep and thick tone while he reached out and tenderly traced her open jaw with his fingertip. Her mouth snapped shut and she swallowed hard.
    “ And what precisely do you want in return for all of this? One night?” Her whisper was hoarse and harsh.
    “ I want you to belong to me in the intimate way that a woman belongs to a man, but not just one night. One night could not possibly be enough.”
    The image his words provoked stole into her mind like a potent alcoholic drink and Victoria closed her eyes, trembling.
    “ No darling, don’t close your eyes,” he softly commanded. “Don’t be afraid or upset Victoria.” He reached out to caress her limp hand. “I wouldn’t hurt you.”
    Oh, but you could … and would given half a chance.
    “ You are a complete stranger.” Her voice was hushed with shame and her eyes were still closed against his compelling, silver gaze. She shouldn’t even be considering his words, yet she was.
    “ I won’t be a stranger.”
    Heart pounding, she opened her eyes slowly.
    “ I can’t,” she whispered. “The very idea is beyond scandalous.”
    But I want to.
    Yesterday, she would have slapped anyone who would ever dare to suggest such a thing. Today, she was actually contemplating his suggestion.
    “ Why not?” he asked.
    “ Because it is wrong! How could you, Mr. Polite Society even ask such a thing?”
    “ I don’t think you understand at all how polite society works Victoria. There is nothing damning in such an arrangement.”
    “ Maybe in your world that is true.”
    “ You told me you