Free Dare to Love by Jennifer Wilde Page A

must have been a sad child.”
    â€œNot sad, at least not often. Defiant, feisty, proud, especially when the other children taunted me. My aunt loved me inordinately, and because she loved me so she didn’t hold too tightly. She let me roam wild, gave me a great deal of freedom.”
    I moved over to the flat gray rock by the water and sat down, spreading out my blue skirt. Brence came to stand behind me, and I tried not to tremble. The back of my head was level with his chest. He rested his hands on my shoulders, fingers gently squeezing my flesh. I could see our reflections in the pool, silvery, shimmering, distorted by the ripples. Several moments passed in silence, and then Brence lifted my hair and stroked the nape of my neck.
    â€œAnd what are you dreaming of now?” he murmured.
    â€œI—I’d rather not say.”
    â€œYou’re trembling.”
    â€œI can’t help it. I wish I were older. I wish I didn’t feel so—so nervous.”
    â€œThere’s no need to be nervous, Mary Ellen.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œWhat a bewitching child you are. Child, woman, a bewitching combination of the two. The moment I laid eyes on you, I knew this was meant to be. I’ve tried very hard not to fall in love with you.”
    He continued to stroke the nape of my neck. A delicious languor began to swell inside, spreading through me with a prickling sensation, glorious torment that grew and grew.
    â€œI never meant to fall in love with you. There’s no place in my life for love just now. I have things to accomplish, things to achieve, and any kind of attachment could only be a distraction. I’ve fought it. I’ve tried to deny it. You’ve bewitched me, Mary Ellen.”
    I watched the shimmering reflections in the water, listening to that deep, melodious voice that seemed to caress me just as his hands caressed, and I turned, looking up into his eyes. They were dark, glowing with need, with warmth. His lips parted, curving into a lovely smile. He pulled me to my feet, drawing me into his arms. How many times had I dreamed of this moment?
    â€œI should have left Cornwall immediately,” he said. “I should have known what would happen. I love you. I’ve never loved before. I’ve had many women, and I enjoyed each one, but none of them meant anything to me. They were mere diversions. Would that you could be merely a diversion, too.”
    His arms went around my waist, clasping me loosely against him, his head tilted to one side as he peered down into my eyes. My heart seemed to stop beating, and the languor inside turned into an ache, the torment unendurable, unendurably sweet. I rested my palms on his shoulders and looked up at him and held my breath, afraid to breathe, afraid reality would dissolve into a hazy blur and I would awake to discover that this, too, was a dream.
    â€œI love you, Mary Ellen. I never thought I’d say those words.”
    â€œI—I’ve waited.”
    â€œIf only you weren’t so young. If only you weren’t so damned vulnerable. You’ve never known a man, have you?”
    I shook my head.
    â€œOf course you haven’t. You’ve probably never been kissed.”
    â€œNot—not really. There were schoolboys at the academy dances. They used to take me into the gardens. One of them—one of them tried to kiss me, but I didn’t let him.”
    â€œI’ll bet you slapped his face.”
    â€œHard,” I said.
    Brence chuckled, and then he sighed, and then his arms drew me closer and he leaned down until his lips were almost touching mine.
    â€œI’m glad I’m the first,” he crooned.
    His mouth covered mine, moist, firm, lightly brushing at first, skin caressing skin with gentle pressure. I tilted my head back and he held my waist with one arm. His lips pressed mine, probing, demanding response. As the ache spread into the marrow of my bones and sensations burst