Free Passion Over Time by KyAnn Waters, Natasha Blackthorne, Tarah Scott Page B

arse.
    What was she doing here, risking that sort of rejection, that sort of hurt, all over again?
    But no, this was not about love.
    She would never love a man ever, ever again.
    This was about victory.
    Oh, after today, after the way she was going to pleasure Grey Sexton, he would rue his casual treatment of her. Beg her to reconsider. But she would never, ever meet with him again.
    It would be her conquest. Not his.
    She was going to win.
    And it would be her sweetest victory. Ever.
    She stripped her clothes off before climbing into the bed. Spice and musk and man wafted up from the sheets. The scent evoked such a sharp craving, it forced her to press her thighs together.
    She’d never wanted a man so much.
    If she wasn’t careful, if she wasn’t careful…
    She pushed the unnerving litany out of her mind and tossed back more of the wine, while ignoring the fear hammering in her chest. After a time, the room swam and her stomach lurched.
    Oh, so much wine might not have been wise. Yes, she’d forgotten how rich fine Madeira could be. Her eyes grew so heavy…
     
    * * * *
    Marie watched Grey Sexton as he stood in her parlor, with his hands in his pantaloon pockets. His face looked pale, strained. “I have been preoccupied of late, I know.”
    She nodded. She had just sent the boy with her note to Sexton’s rooms not but a quarter hour before Sexton himself had shown at her door. He couldn’t possibly have received it. She felt some relief over that.
    “I have neglected you,” he said.
    “You are a busy man.”
    “You mentioned that you wanted to visit your family in New Orleans.”
    “ Oui .” She smiled.
    “Soon war with Britain will come. Safe travel may quickly become impossible.” He reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a velvet purse. A very heavy velvet purse. “You may be as generous with your family as you wish and shop as much as your heart desires.”
    Of course he would approach this with money. It was his way. She took no offense. She’d known him since he was a young man of twenty-three, and more importantly, she understood him. She cared for him, yes. But she did not love him. She’d never be such a fool as that.
    And she wasn’t such a fool as to reject his weighty purse.
    “There’s a Sexton ship leaving for New Orleans in seven days. You will have the captain’s cabin for your sole use.”
    She raised her brows. She hadn’t known of any Sexton ships leaving for New Orleans any time soon. He’d likely done some complicated rescheduling.
    He wanted her out of Philadelphia. As soon as he could arrange it.
    Perhaps it should have hurt. But this was long overdue.
    “This is fair?” he asked.
    She nodded. “Oh, more than fair.” She sighed. “I am getting no younger.”
    He grinned, that pure sunshine grin of his. It could still make her catch her breath.
    “You’re a lovely woman.”
    “How kind you are. But we have known each other a very long time. Every time I go home, my cousin, Andre, asks me to marry him.”
    “The shopkeeper?”
    “Yes, he has been successful. He is like you, younger than I and very handsome.” She gave a slight shrug. “Perhaps this time I will accept.”
    His eyes widened. Ah, so he hadn’t been expecting a permanent separation. Just a little pause. She felt a measure of her own power return to her, knowing now that she would leave him with a little of her pride intact. She laughed softly. “I do not envy her. You will not be an easy man in love.”
    He froze then drew his dark brows together sharply. “What the devil are you talking about?”
    She laughed again. “You are in love.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Grey stared down at Beth’s sleeping form. He’d had a busy morning. First receiving the news from the insurance man that The Philadelphia Pride was damaged beyond repair. Then Marie…
    You are in love.
    Delivered in her calm tone, the accusation had burned his ears. He hadn’t dignified it with a response. She, of all people, knew he