Passion Over Time Read Online Free PDF

His mind kept returning to a singular, maddening thought.
    Why hadn’t she come to him in his rooms at City Tavern?
     
    * * * *
     
    Beth awoke, twisted in sweat-soaked sheets, listening to the ancient clock in the hall chime twice. She was exhausted from the evening’s scare but she remained awake.
    Beside her, Ruth snored in a growling, rumbling tone. She shouldn’t complain about being cramped for space. It was better to be sleeping here in the larger bed. When Ruth’s husband was in port, Beth slept with her nieces in their narrow bed beyond the screen and bore them putting their cold little toes on her back.
    She sighed. It was just as well to be awake. Even when she had fallen asleep, she hadn’t had any restful sleep. Silver eyes and strong features had dominated her dreams once more. Again and again, her New York gentleman leaned over her, his cock pressing between her legs, poised to enter her.
    Her flesh ached to receive him, to be stretched and filled by him. Again and again, she clutched his broad shoulders, wrapped her legs about him, only to have the vivid image fade and to awake to the stuffy bedchamber.
    Today’s inglorious experience of nearly casting up her accounts from sheer panic on Mrs. Philips’ back stoop seemed hazy, distant. As though it hadn’t even been real.
    Only her dreams seemed real.
    Only he seemed real.
    And he was still in Philadelphia.
    Tension rippled through her pelvis, her nub was tight, her channel was an empty, aching void. She crossed her legs then slid her hands down her front and pressed.
    It wasn’t any good. Her flesh clenched and clenched and wetness slicked her inner folds. The distant ticking of the clock, marking the long moments, seemed to amplify her need.
    And what of his need too?
    Did he lay awake, sorry that she hadn’t come to visit?
    A little fission of alarm raced in her heartbeat at that thought. But she couldn’t deny it. This evening, she had caught his look, distant and slightly wistful. Loneliness was etched into his expression and had reached into her deeply.
    Despite her heated blood, an answering ache welled in her chest. Unbearable heaviness.
    That stiff, formal bearing of his. These things spoke so strongly to her. He was a gentleman who truly needed a good, jolly fucking. Often. Every chance he could get.
    He needed adventure and release in his life just as much as she did.
    Well, that wasn’t her responsibility, was it? But the notion aroused something in her. Empathy melded with lust to create a bittersweet sort of longing. Oh, she’d never felt its like.
    She wanted him here.
    Rose snored loudly.
    Beth startled into awareness of her surroundings, the squalid chamber.
    Oh, heaven forbid he should ever come here!
    But she did wish to go to him…
    No, no, it is not possible. Once. That’s all you dare give any gentleman.
    With her legs still twisted in the sheets, she rolled onto her stomach and lay there.
    Please, God, let me sleep.
    She closed her eyes tightly.
    Sweat rolled down her back, itching. She squirmed and her nipples brushed against her nightdress. The coarsely wove muslin inflamed her already aroused flesh. Darts of fire flared from those pebbled peaks, flashing down through her stomach into her pelvis. The empty ache between her legs increased.
    He had driven into her with such passionate force. No man had given her such a strong, lasting orgasm.
    Stop it! Just stop it!
    She pressed her mons again and gained a slight relief from the throbbing ache.
    Sleep. I need sleep. Morning will arrive too early as it is.
    She closed her eyes, more softly this time, and focused on breathing slow and even, focused on releasing her tension with each extended exhalation. Warm, gentle darkness enfolded her and drew her deeply into slumber’s embrace.
     
    He stared down at her, his silver eyes beautiful as starlight. His jet-black hair fell over his broad forehead. The flicking firelight cast shadows over his rugged cheekbones and long, lean