Read Silver Storm (The Raveneau Novels #1) for Free Online

way, but she could
not. In desperation he forced his fingers under the low neckline of
her gown. He gasped when his hand closed over her breast, but she
was only conscious of a chafing discomfort. After poking her two or
three times, Morgan pulled the offending hand free.
    "You are so beautiful!" he breathed. "You
will never know how much I love you. I would face a thousand
redcoats by myself just to—"
    Devon felt a stab of panic when he bunched up
her skirt and caressed her leg. Her mind and heart were a jumble of
warring emotions: guilt, affection, revulsion, forbidden desire for
another man. Reminding herself that Morgan loved her and was going
to war, she managed to endure his fumbling. Labored breathing was
loud in her ear, and she could see the drops of perspiration
beading on his forehead. She felt so sorry for him, but as his
fingers groped upward, her control began to dissolve. Morgan pushed
her back against the bench, panting and clutching at her until it
seemed that she was covered by wet lips and hands.
    She had to free herself, or go mad. "Morgan,
Morgan, please, let me up," she cried. "Morgan!" She pushed his
face away with all her might.
    Clutching at thin air, he toppled sideways to
the wooden floor and Devon jumped to her feet. "I am truly sorry,
but I just cannot. I am frightened. Please, don't look at me that
way."
    Thoroughly humiliated, Morgan crawled back
onto the bench and crouched there, afraid to meet her eyes. It was
bad enough to lose all control with a female, but to do it so
clumsily and then be rejected... The shame was too great to be
borne.
    Devon's heart was torn with pity. Feeling
safe now, she hurried to comfort him.
    "I don't understand!" he cried, blinking back
tears. "Why don't you feel what I feel? When I am with you, I can't
think clearly. I can only think of you, your touch, your scent and
softness...how much I want you! Why isn't it the same for you?"
    They were sitting side by side, Devon holding
tight to his hand. He stared at the summerhouse wall as he spoke,
which was a great relief to her, since she was blushing profusely
at his words. Morgan was describing exactly her feelings of less
than a day before, when Andre Raveneau had kissed her.
    "I don't know what to say, Morgan," she
blurted. "I'm sorry! I wish—Maybe it just takes time. I have
heard that it's different for boys..."
    "Do you think that could be the answer?"
    "Oh, yes! It's not your fault! It's me, I am
sure of it. Listen, by the time you come home, I will be older.
More prepared."
    Morgan brightened considerably. "Will you
wait for me? Truly?"
    "Of course I will!" They hugged, Devon
overflowing with love. "We'll be married the day you return. Then
we'll save for our ship, unless we can somehow get the money while
you are away! We'll sail to the West Indies and run on the beaches
and swim in the ocean!"
    Morgan cut off her bright dreams with eager
lips that sent chills of revulsion rather than passion down her
spine. When the kiss ended at last, he moved to nuzzle one of her
ears, and she struggled to ignore the awful sensation of his steamy
breath.
    "I love you, Morgan," Devon said loudly, as
if to convince herself. "I promise you!"
     
     
     

Chapter 4
    ***~~~***
    September 6, 1781
    Devon awoke before dawn, opening her eyes to
darkness. Rolling onto one hip in her narrow rope bed, she
scrutinized the stripe of sky that was visible where the curtains
parted. Five o'clock, at least. It wouldn't be long until her
mother called her.
    Time had passed slowly, and this new autumn
found Devon restless and uncharacteristically unhappy. It had been
only ten months since Morgan's departure to fight in Tyler's
militia. Devon had clung to her guilt and her promise, reinforced
by each glimpse of the feared Captain Raveneau. Whenever she heard
that the Black Eagle was in port, she wandered the twisting
lanes helplessly until she caught heart-pounding sight of the man
who seemed to be her weakness. Yet she invariably stepped