A Time of Wanting

Although Maggie wasn't little George Olafsson's mother, she loved him as much as if she had been - and there was no way she was going to let the child's bullying uncle Gunnar take him away from her. Then Gunnar suggested that the practical thing would be for Maggie to marry him - but could she consider it, even for George's sake?

SHE KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO BE KISSED... And suddenly she was greedy for it. Her mouth became dry, and her tongue flicked out to moisten her lips. Her eyes closed, and behind her lids they filled with tears, but she remained motionless under Gunnar's hands. Tomorrow, she decided muzzily, she and George would fly back to England. A woman was built to take just so much, and she thought she'd reached her limit. Then another mad thought slid into her mind. Tomorrow she would be gone, so now she should take just a little of what she had been wanting. Only a very little, nobody would ever miss it-and then she stopped thinking and only felt as his lips pressed hers. She felt his hand at her shoulder, slipping off her dress...