A Taste of Honey Read Online Free PDF Page A

appeared to be drunk as they tottered back and forth nearly bumping into her silent and still form as they passed by.  None of the men seemed to really notice her as she crept along the shadowed walls of the houses she passed.  Her dark velvet cape caught none of the light as she moved by slowly, making it harder for her to be seen.
    Another set of drunken men stumbled toward her direction singing loudly.  Noticing a small alleyway Katherine ducked into it to avoid the men.  She held her breath, pushing herself tightly against the wall as she waited for them to pass by.  Then deep in the alley Katherine heard a noise and turned her head to watch and assess the new potential threat.  One of the alleyway doors swung open to reveal a tall man stepping out into the night.
    A small amount of light from the doorway flashed momentarily on the figure who was dressed in a top hat and long overcoat, before the door swung shut once more plunging her and the man back into darkness.  He turned, walking towards her and the only exit from the alley.  Before she could decide whether or not to step out and make her presence known his eyes caught sight of her cloak as it swirled in the breeze.
    “Amelia?” he called out to her.  His pace quickened until he was running at her like she was a shadow that might slip away into the night.  “Amelia!” he screamed as he got closer.  “Amelia!”
    Her instincts told her to run but as she moved to comply, she found that her cape had been snagged on a metal pipe coming up from the ground.  Pulling at the thick fabric she fought to free herself.
    Instead of slowing down, the man let the full momentum of his running halt with the pressure of their collision.  The force of his body against hers slammed her into the brick wall hitting her head and making her dizzy as he spun her around to face him.  The hood of her cape had fallen low over her face until she was unable to see anything, making her even more disoriented.  “Stop coming to see me Amelia,” he whispered fiercely in her ear and as Katherine smelled his breath she could almost taste the thick whiskey flavor.  It frightened her to realize how drunk he was and that he might not discover his mistake right away due to his confused state.
    I'm not Amelia, she tried to say, but still couldn't catch enough breath to speak it.  If he could see my face he'd know that I'm not her.  He'd let me go, she thought as she struggled to speak.  With what little strength she had, she pushed against him, trying to catch her breath while in his viselike grip.  His hands had only become more possessive as they sought to mold her body against his in a way that shocked her and excited some dark place within her.  He was gentle with his movements while still pinning her against him.  He cradled the small of her back with his hand until she felt her abdomen press against his and her body warmed at some secret knowledge that she did not yet possess.  The other hand came to her hood, slowly pulling it back and then touching the soft hair that spilled out from its confinement and down along her shoulders.
    “I can't keep seeing you like this,” he whispered into her hair as he ran his fingers through it, lightly pulling it back so that the weight of her head rested in his palm.  His lips ventured lower to rest on Katherine's temple.
    She knew then that he was going to kiss her.  Still trying to breathe, Katherine was considering her options when his soft lips landed on her own like a light butterfly landing on a petal and she stilled at the touch.  The pressure lasted only a moment before her lips were released.  His mouth hovered lightly over her own, shifting back and forth across the tender surface making her lips tingle and then open with a small shaky moan.  This was not like the kisses that she had seen others share.  It was delicate, beautiful in many ways.  His tongue dipped within and he stilled for a moment, before brushing