First Sinners

Book 0: Sinners Club

by Kate Pearce

Genres: Erotic & Steamy Romance; Historical Romance

Synopsis

Their identities a secret, they are men of mystery with hidden pasts and dark passions. Welcome to the Sinners Club. . . Secret Desires Faith Pelly is tired of being the responsible daughter. She longs for adventure with a man who will introduce her to the secrets of carnal desire. But she never dreams she will meet the Savage Rake who flirts with her, seduces her and takes her as his own. . . Dark Secrets Asked to investigate charges of treason, the Earl of Westbrook attends a house party determined to discover the truth. That includes using all his sensual wiles on the lovely Miss Pelly, a beguiling young woman eager for erotic excitement with a man who will fulfill all her secret fantasies. And he plans on being that man. . . Sizzling Praise for Kate Pearce "Sinfully hot. If you like your romance hot as you return to the Regency era, where behind the scenes anything goes, then grab Simply Carnal for your reading pleasure." — Romance Reviews Today "The passion of Pearce's erotic tale is focused and intense. . .. Their sex encounters and fantasies. . .steam up the pages." — Romantic Times on Simply Shameless 28,000 Words

Release date: November 26, 2013

Publisher: Aphrodisia

Print pages: 87

Sample

Cornwall, Pelly Manor

From her seat against the wall, Miss Faith Pelly studied the imposing form of the Earl of Westbrook, the so-called Savage Rake, as he conversed with her father and younger sister. His dark head was bent attentively as if entranced by every word that sprang from Margaret’s perfect lips. Faith’s own mouth curved in disbelief. Margaret might be beautiful, but she hardly had much of an opinion about anything. But then why did she need one? Her prettiness was enough to draw men like Westbrook to her. She simply reflected back a man’s inflated opinions of himself.

Faith sighed and stared at the clock on the wall. If she was lucky, she could steal away to the library, and forget about comparing herself to her sister. She loved Margaret, but it sometimes seemed her family was so busy trying to catch a rich husband for their more beautiful daughter that they made no effort to find a suitable match for her.

Not that she needed a husband. From what she had observed in society, a husband merely constrained his wife to obey a set of antiquated rules, and merrily went his own way, ignoring them himself. How many men openly took mistresses? How many times had she seen her own mother crying when reading the gossip columns about her father’s latest trollop?

The clock struck ten, and she rose to her feet and slipped quietly toward the door. The only person who noticed her exit was the Earl of Westbrook, but he was hardly in a position to stop her from leaving. She realized she was disappointed in him for his interest in Margaret. At dinner he had revealed himself as something of an intellectual and a world traveler. When she’d attempted to draw him into conversation, either her mother or her sister had intervened to draw the discussion back to the superficial and trivial gossip they adored. It had been quite frustrating.

She hurried along the drafty corridors to the library, which was on the side of the house that faced the sea. Rain lashed at the ill-fitting windows, and the smell of seawater permeated the stone passages. Her parents hated the old house, but didn’t have the funds either to improve it, or knock it down. That was one of the reasons why they wanted Margaret to marry well, and why the Earl of Westbrook was being treated like minor royalty.

He was attractive in a very un-English way. His skin was tanned; his eyes even darker, and he had the most sensual mouth Faith had ever seen on a man outside her dreams. Although he smiled, it never reached his eyes. Despite his reputation as a notorious womanizer, up close Faith had detected a coldness and distance about him that confused her.

Her heart rate sped up as she opened the library door, lit a candle, and kindled the fire that lay ready in the grate. It would hardly heat the immense space, but she had her shawl and her book to read, and if that didn’t make her feel warm, something was wrong.

She retrieved the small, leather-bound volume from its hiding place and settled down in the window seat. Opening the book at a random page, she studied the illustration with great interest. It appeared as if one woman was entwined with three men . . . how was that possible? She turned the book upside down and viewed the engraving from a different angle. It still made no sense. Heat coursed through her, warming her cheeks and the secret place between her thighs she’d learned could give such pleasure.

Giving up her attempt to understand the picture, she read the text, but that didn’t help much either. Turning the page, she studied the next erotic illustration and allowed her hand to settle between her legs. Time passed and she heard nothing but the crackle of the fire and the sound of the tide turning and crashing on the cliffs below.

A gentle cough made her jump, and she thrust the book into the folds of her skirt.

“I do apologize for disturbing you, Miss Pelly. I didn’t realize the library would be occupied at this time of night.”

“Lord Westbrook.” She shot to her feet, shoving the incriminating book down the side of the window seat beneath the cushions. “You startled me. May I help you with something?”

He leaned against the door frame and regarded her, his dark brown eyes considering. “At dinner your father mentioned that he had a collection of journals and artwork from an ancestor who traveled to India with Clive. He said he had put them out for me in the library.” His smile was self-deprecating. “I doubt he imagined I would seek them out so soon, but I didn’t feel sleepy, and thought to amuse myself by looking through them.”

Faith approached the desk that sat at one end of the library. “Ah yes, I found those items for you yesterday. I placed them here on the desk.”

“You did?”

He sauntered toward her and she realized again how tall he was when she had to look up at him.

“Indeed, I act as the family librarian and historian. If there is anything you wish to know about the origins of the Pelly family, or this house, I am the one to ask. My father prefers to live in the present, and busies himself with the daily matters of running the estate.”

“As any proper English gentleman should.” He bowed and she caught a hint of warm spice and leather. “I’m sure I will have some questions for you, Miss Pelly.” He hesitated, one hand on top of the pile of books. “I’d prefer to read in here. My bedchamber is rather cold. Will I be disturbing you?”

“Not at all, my lord. I was just about to retire for the night.”

“You do look a little . . . heated, Miss Pelly.” He smiled down at her and she couldn’t look away. “Perhaps you do need your rest, or at least the comfort of your bed.”

She needed to retreat from him, that was certain. In her present aroused state, his manly presence was rather too intoxicating.

“Good night, my lord. I hope you enjoy the books. If you have any more requirements, please do not hesitate to ask me.”

“Thank you.” He bowed again. “Good night, Miss Pelly.”

After his companion had fled the library, Ian closed the door and stared thoughtfully at the window seat. He’d entered the room a few moments before he’d had the thought to announce his presence by coughing. He’d found himself enthralled by the sight of the eldest Pelly daughter engrossed in reading something, her lips moving with the text and one hand cupping herself between her thighs.

Not quite what he’d expected to see at all, but most arousing.

What on earth had she been devouring so avidly?

He walked over to the window seat and spent a moment searching amongst the cushions, before pulling out a leather-bound book. He sat down and opened the pages, smiling as he saw exactly what the minx had been up to. . .