Tempest The Secret of Hvidfeldt Manor - An Erotic Christmas Story

1. Auflage 2019
ISBN: 978-87-26-28785-1
Verlag: LUST
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 100 Seiten

Reihe: LUST

It's December in Denmark and Christmas is fast approaching. For years, Claire has thought of nothing but her job, so Christmas is the last thing on her mind. At the end of the month, she has to present a project to the board, and she has found just the right one. At least that is what she thinks. But when she goes to Northern Jutland to meet the applicant, she gets more than she bargained for. A gorgeous mansion, a handsome manor owner and a mysterious woman in the window... Claire never expected her Christmas to unfold like this! Christina Tempest is a Danish author. Her stories could be best described as erotic romance mixed with exciting elements of mystery.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Tempest, Christina

Weitere Mitwirkende

Hansen, Signe Holst

Leseproben

1st of December
It never failed, every time Claire started to come to terms with the fact that she was living in the city, she was reminded of how much she missed the open spaces. The beauty of the frosty landscape as the afternoon sun shone through the clouds and lit up the pale fields gave her a wistful sting in the heart. But even seeing the grand nature of Northern Jutland was not enough to chase away the thoughts of Claire’s discussion with Karen. Since driving from Copenhagen hours before, she had tossed and turned her friend’s words in her head. She had turned on the radio in the hope of having something else to think about, but the string of classical Christmas songs that had filled her tiny car on the trip had not been enough to chase away her thoughts. Usually, if Claire was still annoyed about a conversation like this one hours later, it was a sign that her sincere friend was right. Damn. Claire was stuck behind two trucks. They were attempting a lengthy manoeuvre of overtaking each other on the motorway. She drummed her fingers on the wheel impatiently. Was she really as dull as Karen had said she was? It had not been that long since she had last had a boyfriend. She signalled off the motorway and counted on her fingers, while a tractor snuck away on the slippery ice on the road. Yeah, okay, so it had been two and a half years. Wow. It did not feel like it had been that long. It was because of her new job with the Aegidius Foundation. Dividing other people’s money for different environmental projects was just about the best thing, Claire knew. Maybe she did not have to spend all her time doing that. Before concluding that Karen was right, and it was possibly time for her to start dating again, the tractor pulled down onto a small gravel road, and the country was open in front of her. Claire gasped. The countryside looked so beautiful in the light of the setting sun. The airy spaces of Northern Jutland were really an overlooked gem. But she doubted this was the right place to follow Karen’s advice of finding a man. The inn was the only place you could stay in such a small town as this, and after she had checked in, she was no longer in doubt: She definitely had to go back to Copenhagen if she wanted to find a man. Astrup was one of the smallest towns she had ever been in. She put her luggage in her room, which was at least warm and had a fantastic view. She was already looking forward to seeing the light come through the large window, and she was grateful that her meeting at the local mansion was late enough that she could stay at the inn until after the sun had risen. It was a pleasure only a few Copenhagen residents could enjoy because the houses were so close together. And she absolutely adored her two-room apartment in the capital, she still found herself missing the light and the space that she remembered from her childhood in the countryside. Downstairs, she looked around the empty foyer. “Can I help you with anything?” the kind receptionist asked. She was a round woman, about fifty years old and in the middle of solving a crossword puzzle. A fact she did not try to hide. “Something to eat?” “We open at six o’clock.” The grey-haired woman smiled kindly at her and did not seem to realise that she had not even asked what kind of food, Claire was interested in. “You can go in and find a table.” Apparently, that meant there was only one place to eat in this town, and Claire was already here. “Unless you want a pizza?” the receptionist asked helpfully. “No, no. Inn food is perfectly fine.” To say that Restaurant Astrup Inn was not well-visited would be to understate things. The place was entirely empty. “A table?” Claire nodded awkwardly. She had gotten used to dining alone after so many years on the job, it was still something else to eat at a completely empty restaurant. Almost empty. When she had received the menu and was looking through it, Claire noticed a tall man who had apparently stepped through the door right after her. He sat at a table in the corner and ordered with a quiet mumble without even looking at the menu. A regular, apparently. He was handsome in the healthy, outdoorsy kind of way. Light, wavy hair, strong jaw and a distinctive nose. He looked up, and Claire quickly lowered her gaze, but their eyes had met for a second. He nodded shortly and looked away. She felt a blush form on her cheeks, he had no way of knowing that she had just sent a text to Karen. Ok, you’re right. I have to find a man. While she waited for her food, the phone buzzed, and she turned it over to read the message. If you haven’t found a guy within the next week, I’m setting you up! Deal? She smiled and answered quickly. A week?! It takes longer than a week to find a boyfriend. The answer came before she even had time to put the phone down. Who says, it has to be a boyfriend? Welcome to the 21st century, C. It’s okay to sample the menu… After the message, she added three emojis: A winky face, one with its tongue out and an eggplant. Claire laughed and put the phone back in her purse without answering. Then she looked up and met the man’s eyes again. They bore into hers before she had time to look away, and the feeling that washed over her was impossible to miss. When the waiter came over with both hers and the stranger’s steaming plates and put them down on their respective tables, she made a quick decision. Before she had time to regret it, she slung her purse over her shoulder, took the plate and cutlery in one hand, and the glass in the other, and walked towards the stranger’s table. “Yes?” he said and looked up, as she was suddenly standing in front of him in a gesture that way more forward than her usual style. She already regretted it, but it seemed right. As if there was no way back. “I was just thinking …” the energy had already left her. Why was she standing in front of a strange, but very handsome man, who was clearly just trying to enjoy his meal in peace and quiet on Restaurant Astrup Inn? “ … since it’s just the two of us,” she finished lamely and wished she could disappear into thin air with her food and club soda. For a moment, he just looked into her eyes, maybe he was looking for an excuse to get rid of her; perhaps he was surprised about her gumption. Then he smiled warmly. “Excellent thought,” he nodded towards her bottle of club soda, as she sat it down on the table. “But I think we deserve to drink something more festive.” He raised his eyebrows questioningly, and Claire nodded quickly. “Absolutely.” If the waiter was surprised, he fought bravely to hide it, as Claire’s new dinner partner called him to order a bottle of white. “White or red?” the handsome stranger asked. “White?” Claire said and looked at his plate of venison. “Oh, maybe it doesn’t really fit with…?” “Could not be a better fit,” he said and sent her a calm smile. “Let’s just get your best Sancerre for this lovely lady and a large beer for me.” The waiter nodded and disappeared quickly. An awkward silence followed him. “What’s your name?” Claire asked and immediately regretted it. She was supposed to look adventurous, and suddenly she was asking such obvious and annoying questions. “Forget it!” she interrupted, just as he was about to answer. He looked confused. “No name?” She smiled and shook her head. “Sorry. I was just thinking… maybe this is one of those kinds of meetings, where you can be whoever you want to be?” Just like that. The cat was out of the bag. She could not have been more direct about this only being for tonight, could she? Luckily, the waiter came back with their drinks and interrupted, before Claire’s stranger had time to answer. She gratefully took a sip of her white wine. He tasted his beer, nodded with appreciation and started their conversation again. “Do you want to be someone else?” “Sometimes.” She fought the urge to look down. “Don’t you?” Instead of answering, he held her glass out to her, and they clinked their glasses together. After a few mouthfuls in silence that Claire had a hard time decoding, he finally spoke. “Who do you want me to be tonight?” he said and looked thoughtful. “You’re clearly a woman who knows what she wants, and who isn’t afraid to go after it.” He gestured his arms towards both of them, clearly indicating that this was a result of her initiative. “You may be right about that.” Claire wanted him to continue. She tried to listen to his deep, calm voice, telling her about the woman she wished she was. “An urban woman,” he said. “A woman who can be dangerous for a poor countryman like me.” “Maybe,” Claire said and twirled her glass between her fingers. “But you look like a man who isn’t afraid to take chances.” When he did not answer, she continued, “What do you want to be?” “Help me.” The answer came immediately. “Hmm. You’re a man who...