Reticules, women of dubious backgrounds, and Shehanne Moore.

Today I am thrilled to have as my esteemed guest, Scottish author and great friend, Shehanne Moore. Shehanne writes smexy historical romances - no frills, fainting, or fluttering of eyes here. Her 'ladies' - the heroines of her novels - display qualities some would describe as conniving, sluttish, and dishonest. But most readers embrace the feisty heroines, loving their strength of character, their humour, their choice of men, and their get-up-and-go. She calls them the Sisterhood.

When I spoke to Shehanne, she said she'd like to get readers of this post involved in a mystery, with a wonderful prize for those who solve it. It's not a difficult problem to solve, and it is a lot of fun.

Here's what Shehanne said when I screwed up my eyes at the mention of the word 'reticule', not sure I'd ever heard the word before.




So? Just what is a reticule exactly? Before anyone should get too excited, like one of my blog readers did that day, it’s a woman’s handbag.


My heroines carry them a lot in my book. Being a historical author you try to give a little authenticity. I’m just not sure that any of my heroines would carry one like that one. Dress Like this either. I mean I just cannot imagine my heroine Lady Fury taking a swing at the hero, Captain Flint, dressed like that.   

Noelle Clark, a million hugs for inviting me to your lovely blog today. I haven’t brought the hamstah dudes along which means they will moan more than ever and you just might have to ask them back. I haven’t brought my reticule either. What I have is a little picture of four bags.

And I have four heroines. So I am wondering how easy it is from the description to match the heroine to the bag. 


We can get to the contents later. Fury’s is likely to be a brick given the amount of swipes she takes with that bag, whereas my new heroine, Lady Malice, well, she likes to keep cards in hers.  Her business cards.

So, what do we know of these ladies? 

Lady Fury

Well, the heroine of the Unravelling of Lady Fury as you might guess has a great fondness for silks, satins, perfumes,  spending money she does not have, dressing in evening gowns at ten in the morning and despite everything, the hero.  She’s a lady, don’t you know? At least she things she is and her taste reflects that. She’s also a pirate’s lady….

Next up, Kara McGurkie from His Judas Bride.

Well, the title speaks for itself, doesn’t it, if you think about these things brides have?

Her bag probably contains a wedding garter…for strangling the groom with.

Did I also say my heroines are a bit like that?

Kind of ready to commit murder if need be?

Sapphire, the heroine of Loving Lady Lazuli, doesn’t quite go that far but like Fury, she does have a corpse to dispose of.

What can I tell you about Sapphire? She’s an ex jewel thief, doing the poor grieving widow bit. But her reticule isn’t very likely to have anything in it. God no. She’s more than likely to plant her ill gotten gains on you…although there was that one time she didn’t…. 

Finally, last but not least we come to Malice, owner of Strictly Business, a strictly business like business, I  turn a blind eye to, and heroine of The Viking and The Courtesan.

Malice isn’t quite all she seems and I think her reticule reflects that fact.  

We’ve been talking reticules. I think it’s time for an extract concerning one.  

She snapped her reticule open. In it, in addition to the other things ladies kept in their handbags, was a gauze square. It was not the one she had worn that night she attempted to seduce him, obviously. That had been trodden underfoot or tied around the head or hips of some Viking, or other. But it was similar. The gauze square was nothing to her business card.
That she removed and pressed into his hand.
        “I believe you contacted this agency.”
“Malice...” The manner—the starkly horrified manner-- in which his brown eyes roamed it, spoke oceans.
“Yes?” She shrugged her scantily clad shoulders.
“That was... That was...”
“Obnoxious of you. Especially the lies you told. About me.”
“But, Malice...”
“Yes, Cyril?”
“Malice, whatever, whoever said such things about you...”
She held up a gloved hand. “Cyril, before you go further, there is something you should know.”
“Yes?”
“I am Strictly.”

Now I asked if you could guess whose handbag is whose? I’ve also numbered them. So why not guess in the comments box here, leaving your email addy and I’ll draw  a winner from those who are right. 

The book isn’t available till 29th July but I do happen to have a free copy of The Viking and The Courtesan for that person. 

Pre-sale links. 

http://amzn.to/1M7Mh3R

http://amzn.to/1gz67YL

BLURB 

In 898 AD she wasn’t just from another land. 

Wrecking a marriage is generally no problem for the divorce obtaining, Lady

Malice Mallender. But she faces a dilemma when she’s asked to ruin her own. Just how businesslike should she remain when the marriage was never consummated and kissing her husband leads to Sin--a handsome Viking who wants her for a bed slave in name only?  

She came from another time. 

Viking raider Sin Gudrunsson wants one thing. To marry his childhood sweetheart. Only she’s left him before, so he needs to keep her on her toes, and a bed slave, in name only, seems just the thing. Until he meets Malice. 

One kiss is all it takes to flash between two worlds

But when one kiss is no longer enough, which will it be?  Regency London? Or Viking Norway? Will Malice learn what governs the flashes? Can Sin?  

Where worlds collide can love melt the iciest heart?

BIO

When not cuddling inn signs in her beloved Scottish mountains alongside Mr Shey, Shehanne Moore writes dark and smexy historical romance, featuring bad boys who need a bad girl to sort them out. She firmly believes everyone deserves a little love, forgiveness and a second chance in life. 

Shehanne caused general apoplexy when she penned her first story, The Hore House Mystery—aged seven. What didn’t she work at while pursuing her dream of becoming a published author? 

Visit her blog to find out about past releases and hear more about her forthcoming time-slip, The Viking and The Courtesan.
historical,

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The good, the bad, and the ugly of mouldy cheese and its effect on Lady Fury

In the olden days when ships were powered by sail and at the mercy of the winds, travel was a long and arduous affair. A brisk mistral, a terrifying typhoon, or the dreary doldrums, all dictated how long it would take to get from Port A to Port B.

Fresh food only lasted a few days at best, and so most ship larders stocked crudely preserved goods. Weevilly biscuits; maggoty vegetables; salted meat which required soaking to bring it back to anything that looked like meat; and cheese covered with a grey-green fur. Yes, mouldy cheese!

Our good friend, Lady Fury, would have had to endure these culinary horrors. No wonder she is an ill-tempered and – difficult – woman! Today – Moldy Cheese Day - The Unraveling of Lady Fury is showcased on the Etopia Press Facebook page. To win a copy of Shehanne Moore’s fabulous book, just click here and leave a comment on Etopia’s page. Simple.

As for Lady Fury’s long sea voyages with Captain Flint I have some advice her ladyship. At great expense to the management and in honour of Moldy Cheese Day, I have come to dear Milady Fury’s aid and, with the people over at Curd Nerd, have a solution to the problem of mouldy cheese.

The Curd Nerd gurus agree that in the wonderful world of mixing together milk, cultures and bacteria you can end up with some pretty funky looking new friends living on your cheese. So visit their site to find out about all the different varieties of mould, and what you should do about them.

Bon appetit!

http://etopiapressblog.wordpress.com/

A letter from the Black Wolf of Lochalpin

No-one was more astonished than my stable and writer mate, Shehanne Moore, author of the Unraveling of Lady Fury, to get the fantastic word her new book, His Judas Bride, is coming out,  2^nd August from Etopia Press.

So was I to receive by special delivery a letter from the hero of that book. Especially when it says this about him....

‘Good was not something he looked like he was much accustomed to being. Except perhaps in bed.’

He’s one of the Brotherhood of Wolves ,

the guardians of Lochalpin Glen.

In fact he’s their leader, the Black Wolf, and not the only one to write to me.  I’m going to be sharing these letters every few days, so keep popping back.  

 

Dear reader, I want to share with you my letter from this man. Here it is:

 

So, I emailed Shehanne immediately, to let her know about the letter I received. Here's what Shehanne says about the Black Wolf - and she knows him better than most.

After reading Shehanne's revealing words, I found myself wanting to know more. But I think that it would be remiss of me to give you, dear reader, more details of the Brotherhood of Wolves than any normal person could handle in one day. Therefore, pop back here every couple of days, and I'll share the other letters I received from members of the Brotherhood.

 

If, however, you simply can't wait - visit Shehanne's web site HERE for more sneaky peekies. Not only can you read more at Shehanne's web site, but you can see more pictures of the Brotherhood of Wolves on their own Pinterest board. Just click HERE.

 

Maybe you need to contact Shehanne directly for more information:
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

PLUS!! There's a terrific GIVEAWAY!! 
Yes. Every person who leaves a comment on posts about the Brotherhood of the Wolves between now and release day on August 2nd, will have their name put in a hat and I will draw three lucky winners who will each get a $10 Amazon Gift Card (hopefully used to purchase a copy of His Judas Bride).

 

Summer Sun Award!

My good friend, Shehanne Moore, has bestowed upon me a Summer Sun Award. She's always so

generous and brightens up my life daily. Thanks Shey. It's the middle of winter here in Brisbane, Australia. Mind you, yesterday we hit a top of 24 degrees C, so I'm not really complaining, but it's still winter for us.

But ... as with anything Shehanne does ...  there are rules! And God forbid any of us to neglect to follow them to the letter! So, here are the rules surrounding my acceptance of this esteemed award.

Well, firstly you display the logo and link back to the blog of the person who nominated you. Then you answer the following summery questions before nominating a lucky eight ….one for each sunray on the picture there. Then you must tell the lucky eight and name and display their blog link.
Of course the questions are all summer based.

So here goes. But just to liven things up (I'm a very boring person), I decided to do a retrospective view, and recall some of my happiest memories of summer.
 
1. Favourite song with summer in the title or the words (give the line) –

“Summer Holiday” – Cliff Richard. “We’re all goin’ on a summer holiday”.
(play the video, it's so funny).

2. Favourite book about summer –
“Allison’s Island Adventure” set in the isles of north-west Scotland. Can’t remember the author.

3. Favourite hot summer film –
“Gidget”    

4. Favourite summer memory –
Dad piling us all into the VW Combi and taking us to Wellington Point for a swim. Hey, I live there now!





Sunset at Wellington Point. I can walk here from my house.

Um, not me, but camping on Cylinder Beach.

5. Favourite summer holiday destination –
Camping at Cylinder Beach on Stradbroke Island.




Cylinder Beach, Stradbroke Island, Qld

6. What books will be in your suitcase this summer?

It won’t be summer here in Australia until about November. So, by then, I’ll be taking:

•  His Judas Bride
•  Saving Grace Devine
•  Collared for a Night
•  Share the Moon
•  Finding Butterflies
•  Lost in Kakadu
•  Moonstone Obsession
•  Warrior’s Surrender
•  Rosamanti (Just getting a plug in for my new book).

7. What’s your likely destination this summer?

No plans as yet … maybe to the Sunshine Coast, just north of Brisbane.

Sunshine Coast, Queensland

8. What hottie would you most like to be sharing the hot days and long nights with this summer?
Pietro Lombardi (he’s my hot Italian hero in Rosamanti). Here's a photo of him. What do you think girls?
 

Okay that’s it. I’ve nominated seven people to receive this award. It’s now up to you all to follow Shey’s instructions above

• Sharon Struth
• Louise Forster
• Kendall Talbot
• Cat Cavendish
• EE Carter
• Susan D Taylor AND Susan Arden LOL
• and Lady Fury.

 

And thankyou Shey, for spreading some happy sunshine all around the world. :-) I feel warmer already.

A day in the life of: Author Shehanne Moore

Our travels around the world are proving to be a wonderful way to unite friends from different countries, who share a common love of storytelling. Today, we stay in the northern hemisphere, visiting the beautiful city of Dundee, Scotland – famous for many things, including having built the ship RRS Discovery for Captain Scott and his famous Antarctic Expedition.



Shehanne Moore

At the mouth of the Tay River, where it borders on the North Sea, lives Shehanne Moore, author of the hugely popular historical romance novel, ‘The Unraveling of Lady Fury’. So today, as part of the series ‘A Day in the Life of…’ we ask Shehanne to share with us a typical writing day. We hope she’ll share with us the secrets to writing her gritty, witty, as much risky as risqué, historical romance, set wherever takes her fancy. Stories that detail the best and worst of human behaviour, as opposed to pouts and flounces. I’m interested in finding out what inspires Shehanne, what kind of writing regimen she keeps, and where she does the hard work of putting pen to paper, so to speak.

Noelle:Shehanne, welcome to my blog. We’re no strangers, that’s for sure, but we live on opposite sides of the world. I wonder if you can tell us what a typical writing day might be for you. Do you slog away for x number of hours, without interruption? What’s your writing routine?

Shehanne's study

Shehanne : Firstly Noelle, thank you for inviting me onto your blog. I’ve been a fan since your fab book, Let Angels Fly, was  released, so to be here on your blog is something else. One of the nicest things about being a writer is the friends you make despite living oceans apart. So your first question, how I get fingertips to keypad is a miracle. Here is my study. Nice on the surface, but the door doesn’t shut, short of sawing the top off. The lintel is squint. Then there’s the view.
 


The view from Shehanne's study, overlooking the Tay River in Dundee

Despite both, on a good day when I am actually barging on with a new book as opposed to pantsing about with editing and promo, I aim to get a thousand words down. That’s after dealing with the emails, short Facebook post, tweets and whatever blog stuff. Yes, as you will know that is hectic. 

Noelle: Do you plot your stories out from start to finish, then tackle the research? Or are you a pantster, and just start writing as it flows?

Shehanne. Oh, if only I could plot. No, I only ever start with a flash. With Lady Fury I saw her on the landing, very ornate house, abroad, and she needs an heir but her husband can’t oblige. I never ever have a clue beyond that first flash. I liken it to getting on the tightrope next, as I try and write the first chapter--talk about leap of faith. Then, as that starts going down on the page in ways I’ve run screaming from,  I slink off to check some basic facts and see if this flight of fancy is possible. For example, there was something at the back of my mind about the privateers in the US war of 1812 being hunted down afterwards and that fitted well with Flint. So then, at the point the book opens I’m seeing a man down on his luck and desperate, yet a man who once was top of his game. It let me get another step on the tightrope.

Noelle: What in your environment inspires you, or allows the muse to take hold and weave her magic?

The Devil's Staircase, Glencoe, Scotland

Shehanne: Environment is very important to me. Big confession, I have never been to Genoa but having been elsewhere I love the whole Med atmosphere. The warmth, the clarity of light, the scents of citrus, olive and pine, even the noisy crickets. Obviously romance writing means the focus isn’t on that but to me it very important to capture the essence.  My forthcoming book, His Judas Bride, was inspired by Glencoe, which is often considered one of the most beautiful places in Scotland. I spend a lot of time there on hills. The landscape has a sort of grim grandeur and then there is the history of the massacre. I liked the idea of a small clan, an impregnable glen, much as it was at the time the massacre took place. You know, my first sort of proper effort, pen to paper at the age of 13, was about the massacre. Lol. His Judas Bride is set there but I have changed the name. While it’s not about the massacre I am using the idea of a small clan, untouchable, because the glen is impregnable. So, much of Glencoe appears in the book, from the Devil’s Staircase to the Hidden Valley.


The Hidden Valley, Glencoe, Scotland

Noelle: That is a stunning photo. What a beautiful place Glencoe is. You sound like an adventurous person and I can see why you love climing 'hills'. But, given that you live near the sea, do you enjoy sailing on the high seas, dreaming of gorgeous pirate captains like Flint?

Captain Kydd

Shehanne: If only! I can’t actually swim, so I really should be a damn sight more careful of all these fast flowing rivers I routinely find myself in! Of course Dundee produced its own pirate. Captain William Kydd. I don’t know he was very gorgeous. He looks a bit of a chancer really.

Noelle: Hmm, I agree. The character, Lady Fury, has proven to be hugely popular and well known. She has a voice of her own, and has become quite a part of the lives of all who enjoy reading her blogs. How much of Shehanne Moore is in Lady Fury?

Shehanne: I believe Mr Shey once said –it was on the subject of the time I served broccoli soup on the steak thinking it was mushy peas…. ‘Shey shares a docility in common with her heroines, therefore I said nothing.’ Dundee has a proud tradition of ‘undocile’ women stemming back to when they, not their menfolk, kept the family. My own grandmother wasn’t terribly docile either. She routinely had the police at the door for stotting teapots off of neighbours’ heads. Her hubby’s too. I just amn’t good at creating ladylike heroines.  Like Fury, I will try and keep my temper but if I lose it… 

Noelle: (OK, I'll remember never to upset you.) Given the global nature, and popularity, of Lady Fury, could there quite possibly be a sequel to ‘The Unraveling of Lady Fury’?

Shehanne : Heavens? Gosh. Who knows if I get a flash! 





Glencoe, Scotland



Noelle: You have a new book coming out soon with Etopia Press – ‘His Judas Bride’. Without giving away any secrets, are you able to tell us a little about the book?

Shehanne : Okay, it’s about how far you’d go to get what you want most. Kara, the heroine, pretty well believes she’s invincible. To say life has treated her horrendously is an understatement and she wants something very precious back badly. Things backfire and it brings her into a direct clash with the one man who will stop her, Callm McDunnagh, the Black Wolf of Lochalpin. Not because he’s the most ruthless man in the Highlands, because he reminds her she’s a woman.

Noelle: I can’t wait to read a book set in Scotland, written by someone who obviously loves the hills and mountains as much as you do. This book must be dear to your heart?

Glencoe

Shehanne : I wrote this book before Lady Fury but there were aspects of Kara’s past I knew would make it a hard sell. I know I don’t fit quite the traditional mould, so I was over the moon to sell Fury. But being a very suspicious person by nature, I wanted to see that Etopia didn’t soften my story, that I could trust them with Callm and Kara’s—provided they were interested of course-- because the book and Kara and the Wolf are dear to me in many ways.

Noelle: Shey, thanks so much for coming to visit us here, and for sharing so much of yourself. I love those pictures of Glencoe, and can see why you spend every available weekend up there in the 'hills'. Your next book, His Judas Bride, set in such an inspiring and beautiful location, is sure to be wonderful. Thanks so much. x
Finally, where can readers connect with you – and Milady Fury – and where can they buy your books?

Shehanne : Connect? Ooh, generally up a hill but sometimes here.

Web site  
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Lady Fury's Furious Unravelings Blog
Weebly web site

Shehanne's book, 'The Unraveling of Lady Fury' is available here

BLURB of The Unraveling of Lady Fury 

Rule One: There will be no kissing. Rule two: You will be fully clothed at all times…

Widowed Lady Fury Shelton hasn’t lost everything—yet. As long as she produces the heir to the Beaumont dukedom, she just might be able to keep her position. And her secrets. But when the callously irresistible Captain James “Flint” Blackmoore sails back into her life, Lady Fury panics. She must find a way to protect herself—and her future—from the man she’d rather see rotting in hell than sleeping in her bed. If she must bed him to keep her secrets, so be it. But she doesn’t have to like it. A set of firm rules for the bedroom will ensure that nothing goes awry. Because above all else, she must stop herself from wanting the one thing that Flint can never give her. His heart.

Ex-privateer Flint Blackmoore has never been good at following the rules. Now, once again embroiled in a situation with the aptly named Lady Fury, he has no idea why he doesn’t simply do the wise thing and walk away. He knows he’s playing with fire, and that getting involved with her again is more dangerous than anything on the high seas. But he can’t understand why she’s so determined to hate him. He isn’t sure if the secret she keeps will make things harder—or easier—for him, but as the battle in the bedroom heats up, he knows at least one thing. Those silly rules of hers will have to go…

Noelle: Now, my post would not be complete without a map showing where my guests come from.

‎

Book Review: The Unraveling of Lady Fury by Shehanne Moore

The Unraveling of Lady Fury by Shehanne Moore

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I’m not a fast reader, and for that matter, find very little time to read these days. I started reading The Unraveling of Lady Fury with anticipation, as I’d heard so many people talking about it. I wasn’t disappointed!

Right from the get go, I was hooked. The chemistry – and sparks – between Lady Fury and Flint had me ducking for cover. Intense, deep, witty, well written, this is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It has depth, action, riveting characters, devastation and elation. The past weaves its way into the present, causing Flint and Fury no end of trouble, and heartache.

Moore’s character, Lady Fury, is rich, full, and quite amazing. Such a strong character. At times, I was fearful for Susan, Fury’s companion, but then realised she had the upper hand in many situations.

I read this book in record time – for me. I couldn’t put it down. An absolutely must read.

Read this review on Amazon                                    Buy The Unravelling of Lady Fury here!
Read this review on Goodreads

View all my reviews

My guest author today: Shehanne Moore

We live on opposite sides of the world - me in Australia, and my guest in Scotland. Shehanne Moore, author of 'The Unraveling of Lady Fury', talks about the links that bind many Australians to their forebears. In the olden days, when Europeans first came to Australia, convicts were sent here from England, Ireland, and Scotland.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy this guest post from my Scottish mate - and fellow Etopia Press author - Shehanne!

It’s all that Bloody Code’s Fault
 

Firstly I want to thank the lovely Noelle for asking me along here today. One of the pleasures of being an author, is the lovely people you get to meet. It’s even lovelier when they ask you to blog. Of course the downside is you then have to come up with that blog.

Having blogged bad women, food, Jamaican aphrodisiacs,  recipes, pirates, pirates and pirates again, old wives tales, what’s left of my recently released book, The Unraveling of Lady Fury to yak about?

Well, I am visiting Australia ain’t I?  Ever wondered how come you inherited all these convicts from the other side of the globe? Well, blame it on the Bloody Code.

 

Okay so my last blog was about Bull Cod, I’ve not just changed a few letters there to come up with that. The Bloody Code was the 222 crimes in Britain which carried the death penalty. I’m quite astonished, looking at them, the things I’d have been hung for.  I have never impersonated a Chelsea pensioner, or damaged Westminster Bridge, but cutting down a tree anyone?  I’d be dangling with quite a few neighbors on that one. Writing a threatening letter?

Here’s a few others.
* being in the company of gypsies for a month
* strong evidence of malice in children 7-14 years old (Coulda been me here too!)
* stealing horses or sheep
* blacking yourself up at night

No wonder some judges and juries thought it was...too harsh. Why not bestow all these law breakers on Australia instead?  Simple really.

So what has The Unraveling of Lady Fury actually got to do with Botany Bay? Was  Lady Fury one of the 20% of the transportees, many of whom quickly attached themselves to male officers or convicts. A courtesan, as these women were called?  

The answer is nothing. Except the hero gets auctioned off ...behave yourselves, what kind of book do you think this is?...it was a legitimate slave auction in Port Royal, although thinking on his feet, had the authorities known he was the notorious Captain Flint, they’d have hung him instead.  The sad thing was he smiled at all the old dearies in the hope they would buy him. But they didn’t. Plainly they shoulda gone to the UK’s specialists....Specsavers.

 

Blurb

Rule One: There will be no kissing. Rule two: There will be no touching…

Widowed Lady Fury Shelton hasn’t lost everything—yet. As long as she produces the heir to the Beaumont dukedom, she just might be able to keep her position. And her secrets. But when the callously irresistible Captain James “Flint” Blackmoore sails back into her life, Lady Fury panics. She must find a way to protect herself—and her future—from the man she’d rather see rotting in hell than sleeping in her bed. If she must bed him to keep her secrets, so be it. But she doesn’t have to like it. A set of firm rules for the bedroom will ensure that nothing goes awry. Because above all else, she must stop herself from wanting the one thing that Flint can never give her. His heart.

Ex-privateer Flint Blackmoore has never been good at following the rules. Now, once again embroiled in a situation with the aptly named Lady Fury, he has no idea why he doesn’t simply do the wise thing and walk away. He knows he’s playing with fire, and that getting involved with her again is more dangerous than anything on the high seas. But he can’t understand why she’s so determined to hate him. He isn’t sure if the secret she keeps will make things harder—or easier—for him, but as the battle in the bedroom heats up, he knows at least one thing. Those silly rules of hers will have to go…

EXCERPT

Fury sat down and dipped the quill into the ink. She detected the faintest trace of nerves. It must be the fact Thomas lay in the cellar. Why else would a man, so great, so stalwart, so worldly as Captain Flint be nervous of her?

   “Well, yes,” she said, listening to the pleasing scratch of the nib on the soft paper.

“Babies are not always made in a night. Of course, you wouldn’t know that, being you. It will take time.”

“All the more reason then to just get going. After all this time, sweetheart, you don’t know how eager I am.”

He strode across the tiled floor and the ink trailed a long dark path across the paper as he dragged her to her feet. Had it blobbed it might have been something to worry about. But she was very set on this. And calm. As calm as one could be having this man in her bedroom, knowing what was coming next out of dire necessity, her husband in a box in the cellar and her cast off, potential lovers on their way out the door.

“No, James.” She held a hand up between their lips. “There will be no kissing.”

“No kissing? Why in hell not?”

It displaced her calm to see him grin. She would have preferred that he was indignant. Especially as he was a man who thought he could settle all his arguments—with women anyway—with a kiss. But she kept her face cold, blank.

“Because.” In some ways she was cold. Cold with rage.

“Aw, come on Fury, didn’t you like my kissing? Hmm?” His breath, hot and male, brushed her fingertips. He wrapped his arms around her, splaying his hands across her back, so her hand might as well not have been there for all the protection it was.

But she was calm. Didn’t she have to get into bed with him after all? So, even the impulse to squirm was one she would squash. When she thought of all he had done to her, she would give him nothing. Not even the knowledge she found his proximity so unsettling that she sought to pull away.

“Your kissing was fine, in its way, I suppose. But kissing is a sign of affection.”

“How do you make that out?”

She knew exactly why he scratched his head. Their love-making had been torrid. It had been sensual. It had been shaming. And it had been absent of any affection. Certainly on his part. So, why on earth would a kiss be a sign of anything? To him anyway. She was the damn fool who had thought it had. Who even now was forced to concede the pleasure it would be to take her hand across his face to assist his understanding of her feelings. The impertinence of the damn man, the stinging ignorance.

“It just is.” She eased the distance between them a whisper. “So there will be none. Not now. Not at all.”

“All right then. Saves time. It means—”

“Rule two.” She saw his eyes freeze as he readied himself to yank off his shirt. She persisted anyway. Why not? In many ways she walked a tightrope here. If she paused it might be to her detriment. “You will be fully dressed at all times.”

“What? How the hell am I meant to—”

“I am sure you will manage. You managed plenty before. But I do not desire to look at your body before, during, or after. Nor in any shape or form wandering about this house in just your breeches. Is that understood?”

He dropped his hands from his shirt and glared, so he must have. “You wanted to look at it plenty before. In fact, it makes my head spin, just how often you—”

True. But that was then. “Rule three.” Clasping her fingers around the cool edge of the dressing table

to create another inch of distance, she continued.

“Rule three? You mean there’s more?”

“I will not touch you in any place, intimate or otherwise. I will lie. You will perform.”

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