Sitting on the side of the bed, shame and embarrassment kept Charity Blythe from looking anywhere except at the floral rug on her bedroom floor. She slid the straps of her camisole back up on her shoulders, covering her breasts. Once again, she’d failed to please Edwin, her betrothed.
Before he’d stood up, straightened his clothes, and left the room, Edwin had called her cold. He’d called her selfish. And once more he’d reminded her that if they were ever to marry, she would have to show more initiative and spirit in the bedroom.
Charity sighed. Thinking about her experience of just ten minutes ago, brought with it another flush of embarrassment and more warmth than his fumbling caresses ever had. Instead of pulling her shirtwaist back on, she got up from the bed and walked over to the oval mirror in the corner, in her skirt and camisole.
Her face was pleasant enough. Her hair was her crowning glory. It hung in chestnut waves down her back and over her breasts. Her skin was unfashionably golden from the time she spent out of doors--time she loved, riding her horse Moonlight in the bosque. Luckily, Edwin was agreeable to her riding excursions. One of the few things he was agreeable to.
She examined her small, firm breasts, pushing against her camisole. They literally ached for something. Some sort of soothing, yet every time Edwin touched her there, she felt like cringing, pulling back. But, he was too strong for her. The times when she tried to pull back, he’d hold her fast as though he hadn’t even noticed her reticence, and continue pinching her nipples and squeezing her breasts one at a time, back and forth. He’d study them intently as he touched her, as if trying to unlock the secret of his frustratingly, unresponsive fiancé.
The one time he’d gotten as far as trying to thrust his penis inside her, it hurt her so badly that she had bitten his shoulder to make him stop. For some reason he’d paid attention to her that time.
Empowered by frustration, Charity reached up and slid one strap back down to her elbow. The afternoon sun shone through the window warming her exposed breast. The warmth lulled her, helped her to relax away some of her tension. She closed her eyes and the moment she did, the image of a faceless man appeared in her mind. Her fanciful thinking had always been prone to daydreams.
In her daydream the man approached her, smiling a kind smile. He stopped in front of her and raised his hand to her bared breast. First, he held it from beneath, gently lifting, weighing it with reverence. Then as softly as a butterfly wing, he began to brush his thumb lightly back and forth over her nipple, making it hard and much more sensitive. The sensation made her knees a little wobbly. She wished he could keep doing that for a long, long time. He dropped her other camisole strap and went to pleasuring both of her breasts at once. New and extremely pleasing sensations ran from her engorged nipples to the tight place between her legs, her woman’s place. His touches felt so unearthly good.
Why couldn’t Edwin’s touches make her feel this way? Was she only able to become aroused in her day dreams?
Her dream lover lowered his head and pulled a nipple into his warm, wet mouth and sucked at her flesh with purpose, causing her to moan out loud.
“Char-i-ty!” Edwin’s loud voice surged up through the door. “Come down here. I have something I need to discuss with you.”
Charity shook her head to clear her thoughts. She looked in the mirror in front of her and gasped. Her camisole was down around her waist, and she was massaging the soft flesh of both breasts with her own hands. She’d never done that before and a strong measure of scandal reminded her of her duty.
“Charity!” he boomed even louder.
Quickly she righted her camisole and donned her shirtwaist, tucking it into her skirt as she left the room. Holding up her skirt she made haste down the long staircase.
“Please join me in the withdrawing room,” demanded his disembodied voice.
She followed the sound of his words. It was always awkward after one of their dismal attempts at relations. He’d want to talk about it, to lecture her. He would ask uncomfortable questions, and tell her what he expected of her using vulgar language that embarrassed her terribly.
She sat on the sofa next to him resting her clasped hands in her lap. “Edwin, I really am trying. This is still very new to me, and I’m working hard to get used to it all. Really I am.”
“Charity, we’ve been engaged for three months and I have yet to fuck you. It’s my right to fuck my fiancé. I need to know what I’m getting.”
She cringed, hating it when he used that word. At the same time, she wanted to learn to do her part in bed.
“So I’ve taken a step to help you with your problem.”
She swallowed hard, clasping her hands tighter in her lap.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’ve made an appointment for you with a physician, a Dr. Dillon Ramsey. He will give you an examination to make sure there is nothing wrong with you, and that your body is functioning properly, then he’ll make some recommendations to you on how to perform your upcoming duties.”
“I’m working on it,” she said, her anger flaring.
“A good woman submits to her man in their bed.”
“I’m aware of that, and I’m trying. But I don’t want anyone else to know about my...problem.”
“It’s too late for that. I’ve already discussed it with the doctor.”
# # #
Charity sat in the waiting room clutching her reticule. Edwin had dropped her off and told her he’d be back for her in an hour.
A woman with a smiling baby on her lap sat across from her. She looked over at Charity and nodded hello then leaned down and kissed her child on the top of the head. Pain pierced Charity’s heart. How would she ever be able to have children if she couldn’t even complete the actions involved in starting one?
The woman and baby were called in next and their appointment lasted only a few minutes. Upon exiting she waved kindly, saying good-bye to Charity as she left the office, leaving her the last person waiting.
Just then the nurse came out of the examination room and stopped in front of her desk. “Hello, Miss Blythe. Dr. Ramsey will be with you in minute.” She picked up a clipboard and excused herself.
The door to the examination room opened again, and out stepped the doctor. She recognized him instantly as one of the other riders who frequented the trail she and Moonlight traveled on their rides. Oh, no. That’s going to make this even more horrible.
She’d imagined a grandfather image. A man who, after a discreet examination, would pat her on the shoulder and tell her there was nothing wrong with her, and all she needed to do was to just keep trying. Not the handsome stranger from the trail that she had to admit she’d had an errant thought or two about.
Dr. Ramsey walked over and sat down next to her on the bench. When he turned toward her she noticed his eyes were a deep blue, and kind. His black hair was cut in the modern style, but he used no oil to hold it in place so a few waves fell over his forehead. He clasped his hands and leaned over resting his forearms on his thighs. Then he turned to her and said, “Miss Blythe, I’m Dillon Ramsey. I know the thought of this kind of exam must be very unsettling. I’ll do my best to make you as comfortable as I can.”
“I appreciate that,” she said feeling a blush creep up her cheeks.
“Shall we get started?”
Still clutching her handbag, she cleared her throat. “I suppose.”
He stood and motioned toward the exam room. She followed. After she entered she turned around, half expecting to see a torture chamber, but her gaze was greeted with the normal sights--an exam table, a coat rack, and a cabinet filled with medicines and instruments.
“I need to get something from the store room, please sit up on the exam table and loosen both your undergarments as well as your outer clothing, but you don’t need to remove them.” He smiled again with encouragement. “I’m hoping not having to disrobe will ease your discomfort some.”
“It does, Dr. Ramsey, thank you.” She nodded and began to unbutton her blouse as the door closed behind him. She loosened her skirt and then hoisted herself up on the table and waited. Well, at least he seemed genuinely concerned about her.
He returned to the room with a small cobalt blue glass bottle in his hand and placed it on the counter. Then he stepped up to her from behind and she felt his hands come to rest on her shoulders. “I want you to relax. So, I’m going rub your shoulders while I interview you about your relations with Mr. Payne. Is that all right with you?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
He smoothed his warm hands over the tops of her shoulders and up and down her upper arms as he spoke. His voice was gentle. “Tell me about what happens in your bed with him.”
“Well, nothing really. That’s the problem.” His hands were a comforting balm, not an additional cause of anxiety as she’d expected they might be.
“How do things start when you attempt to have relations?” His thumbs stroked up and down the back of her neck.
“Well, I guess like everyone else. We sit on the side of the bed, he opens my blouse and undergarments and touches my breasts.”
“Is there any kissing?”
“No, just the breast touching.” She thought she heard him sigh.
“How does he touch them?”
“I guess his favorite thing to do is pinch my nipples because he does that quite a lot.”
“Hmmm.” He stopped for a moment then resumed to long slow strokes across her shoulders. “How else does he touch them?”
“Well he squeezes them, too.”
“Do you find his attentions to your breasts pleasurable?”
“At first I was excited about the prospect of that kind of touching, because no one had ever touched me there before and I’d heard stories about how wonderful it could be. But, his touches leave me, well they leave me cold.”
Ramsey ceased his massage and walked around in front of her. “The first thing I need to do is check your breasts for responsiveness. Perhaps you have problems with sensation? Would you please open your blouse and pull up your camisole?”
Charity was embarrassed not so much at the fact that she was about to bare her breasts to a stranger, but that she was feeling warm all over at the prospect. She pulled apart the front of her unbuttoned blouse and pulled the bottom of her camisole up out of her skirt, exposing her stomach then stopped.
“Would you like some help?” he asked, his voice soft with encouragement.
She nodded.
The doctor reached for her undergarment and lifted slowly, his fingers grazing her stomach and breasts as he pulled the fabric up to her breast-bone.
She looked up into his eyes. As he examined her breasts his gaze grew more serious.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing. You are very well formed,” he said clearing his throat. He reached out and with his palm, cradled her breast. Then just like in her day dream he brushed back and forth over her tight nipple with his thumb, causing her to tremble with pleasure.
“Am I hurting you?”
“No, it...it feels very good. Is this how it’s supposed to feel with Edwin?” She let her head fall back a little and enjoyed his touch.
“Yes, actually. Does he ever put his mouth on your breasts?”
“No, just the pinching and squeezing.”
He shook his head but didn’t say anything. She felt such conflict inside. She was a spoken for woman, but something about his touches made her want to shed all of her clothing, and have him touch her everywhere.
“Has he ever kissed you between your legs? Or asked you to put his phallus in your mouth?”
“People actually do that?” .
“Yes, many people find it to be very satisfying, but I’m getting ahead of myself. Your breasts are perfectly formed and quite responsive. There are no problems there. What about intercourse? Does it feel good for him to enter you with his phallus?”
“He’s never entered me completely before. It...it hurt too much.” This discussion was so embarrassing.
He frowned at that. “Lie back. Pull your skirt up to your waist and I’ll check you.”
Her heart beat faster at the thought of him touching her down there. Edwin had never touched her down there with his hands.
Ramsey stood at the end of the examination table and beckoned her to scoot her buttocks down to the end. When she did, he steadied her hips in the center and grasping her shins he bent her knees up and apart. A soft draft of air made her realize that her folds were hot and moist, and totally exposed.
“I’m going to check sensation here as well. You will need to relax even more than when I checked your breasts.”
“Yes, doctor.”
Sliding his thumbs up over her outer folds he parted her lips and opened her to him. “Everything is perfectly normal here as well.” He pressed his finger firmly against the knot of flesh high up between her inner lips and the resulting sensations were so exquisite that her bottom came up off the table. “Oh!”
Removing his hand from her, Ramsey leaned over her, looking angry. “Such as shame that a woman as responsive as you are, is matched with a man who doesn’t give you near the attention or consideration you deserve. There is nothing wrong with your sensations here or any other part of you. You are perfect.”
“Please, let me feel what I have been missing. Please.”
“Miss Blythe, this you must do for yourself. It will help you to learn how you like to be touched.”
“I’m not sure I understand. What do you want me to do?”
Ramsey turned to the cabinet and grabbed the blue bottle he’d brought in earlier. He removed the small cork and the scent of lavender wafted into the air around her. She wondered what he was going to do with the oil. Stepping back between her legs he poured a few drops of it right on the place he’d checked just before. “Now, I want you to touch yourself between your legs. Right at the spot where I poured the oil.” He took her hand and draped it over her mound. “Rub up and down right here. Try different touches and then you can tell Edwin how you like to be touched.”
She ventured a pass over the slippery, sensitive spot and the surprising sensations made her warm all over. They made her mouth water, and made her ache for more.
“Keep going,” he urged. “Keep stroking up and down.”
Eager to learn these lessons she began a slow and careful rhythm over the tiny sensitive knot. She never knew her body held such delicious secrets, and that she could unlock them all on her own. “This is wonderful, doctor.” She noticed she was breathing faster.
“You’re doing well, Miss Blythe. Now, a little faster. Yes, just like that.” He pulled her camisole up to her chest and placed her other hand on her breast. “Now rub your nipple and your clitoris at the same time.”
Her fingers instinctively closed around her nipple and squeezed. Both nipples grew harder instantly. She grasped the nipple tighter and pulled at it. As her excitement increased she noticed that the tip had hardened more than ever before, and elongated too. The new sensations were wonderful.
The faster she rubbed between her legs the more a delicious tension spread from her woman’s place up to her breasts and back again. The incredible heat between her legs grew and grew, spreading throughout her body. All over, the surface of her skin was on fire.
She increased her speed and suddenly an exquisite explosion occurred inside her, causing searing heat to course from her woman’s place all the way out to her fingertips and toes.
She swallowed hard, as the pulsing of pleasure that had spread up through her tongue and lips. She licked her lips. They were extremely sensitive, too. Her breathing came hard and fast, as if she’d just run up the stairs of her house.
Charity opened her eyes to see Dr. Ramsey standing at her side. His expression was tight with what she assumed was contentment over helping a patient.
She sighed deeply then asked, “What just happened to me?”
Ever since Charity Blythe lost her parents a year ago, her grief has thrown her life into turmoil. She had been talked into an arranged marriage to Edwin Payne, the adopted son of her aunt and guardian, Berthe. Berthe controls her inheritance.
The story opens with Charity once again unable to please her betrothed Edwin in the bedroom. All the blame rests on her, and none on her self absorbed betrothed.
He sends her to a doctor to help her discover her problem, the incomparable Dillon Ramsey, MD, who learns instantly that Charity is definitely not the problem. Part of the examination and “treatment” is showing her how to pleasure herself, thus opening the door to Charity’s sensual awakening.
He also realizes that Miss Blythe has gotten under his skin, because after she leaves his office, he can’t stop thinking about her. A woman like Charity might even cause him to end his self imposed exile from the possibility of true love.
The consummate bachelor front is just a cover-up. He’s avoided commitment since ex-fiancée Lucy, left him at the alter two years prior.
Charity and Dillon’s paths cross again soon thereafter when she takes a spill from her horse when riding out on the bosque. He brings her back to his practice to see to her injury, but sees to a lot more than her sprained ankle, and they become intimately closer.
After he has touched her, Dillon becomes possessive, and questions her about her betrothal. Why has it taken place at all, as her and Edwin’s association appears loveless and strained. Charity explains the inheritance conundrum, and her aunt’s control.
In spite of him not wanting to get involved, he goes to her lawyer to try to get information so he can help her. He arrives at the lawyer’s office just as Charity is leaving. She has learned that there is no marriage clause in the will. When he confesses why he’s there, she becomes angry, not sure who to trust, and turns her back on him because she sees him as just another person trying to run her life.
Charity also learned that she has a comfortable stipend to live on until the rest of her assets come through at the end of the year. Armed with knowledge, money and reemerging confidence, she confronts Berthe and Edwin and demands they leave her home immediately.
Alone in her big house, Charity has a lot of time to think about Dillon. While she is still mad at him, she lapses into a fantasy about them being together. After some contemplation and self stimulation, she admits to herself that she cares for him.
In an attempt to get Charity out of his mind, the next day Dillon goes hunting up into the foothills. On the way back home he is surprised by a black bear, and has the opportunity for one kill shot to save himself.
In that moment he is struck by the notion that life is tenuous and you my have only “one shot” at true happiness. He shoots the bear in the eye, killing it, and races back to Charity. He has to tell her of his feelings and apologize for his attempted interference. When he arrives at her house, he’s finds Edwin there. The man is bullying her about breaking their engagement.
Edwin is no match for Charity and Dillon standing in solidarity, so he leaves. Charity and Dillon enjoy dinner together. When finished with their meal Charity takes him upstairs and gives him a bath, after which he takes her to bed, and together they bid farewell to her virginity.
When Dillon leaves for work, Charity engages in a happy female pursuit she’s neglected for a long time, she goes shopping. After helping herself to some new clothes with her newly discovered money, she goes home to discover her housekeeper and groomsman engaged in congress right on her living room sofa. She enjoys watching for a bit, then goes upstairs to her room. Her housekeeper Cecilia knocks and enters the room as Charity as she is emerging from the bath. Cecilia helps her dry off and then helps her understand more about her body, as she and Charity explore each other.
Not able to stay away from Charity, Dillon returns while this is going on, and joins the women. Both he and Cecilia work together to bring Charity to orgasm. Cecilia leaves, and Dillon needs to know what the experience meant to Charity. She tells him it was wonderful in its pleasure, but that it won’t happen again because she realizes she in love with him. They make plans for an assignation four days hence, a ride and picnic down by the Rio Grande River.
They become closer and closer through time spent together, and their physical interactions. They declare their love and decide to marry. They also decide not to have sex again until after the wedding.
Dillon leaves after dinner the night before their nuptials. As she’s getting ready for bed, she hears heavy footsteps on the stairs. Happily thinking it’s Dillon going back on their abstinence agreement, she arranges herself nude on the bed. Terror grabs her when the door opens and it’s Edwin. He kidnaps her, planning to ransom her for the money he and Berthe believe they deserve.
Dillon shows up to the house early the next morning to help get things ready for the wedding. When he finds the house empty, his first impulse is that Charity has jilted him as Lucy had. Then he forces himself to calm down, knowing she would never do that and continues his search for her. Seeing her hat and reticule on the table he knows something is amiss, she would never leave for town without them.
He runs to the barn and discovers tracks of two horses leaving the property. He also discovers a tiny rose made of ribbon, a rose from the beautiful nightgown she’d purchased for their wedding night. His journey is slow and frustrating. The ribbon rose trail leads him to town, and the warehouse district.
The trail stops at the last warehouse in the row. He blasts in when through the window when he sees Charity and Cecilia bound and abused by Edwin and his mother. He bursts in, and together he and Charity bring them down. Dillon is shot during the process. The injury turns out to be only a flesh wound, and after it’s attended to, Dillon insists that the wedding go on.
After they are married, they enjoy a sensual train ride to Colorado, and still more physical delights at their hideaway at the Strater Hotel.
Through each other, Charity and Dillon rediscover confidence, hope for the future, and everlasting love.
To My Reader: Charity and Dillon came to me in a day dream, and just begged me to tell their story. They match each other in both charm and sensuality. I just love seeing nice people get the good stuff they deserve. Don’t you? Come join them in their ardent quest for each other.
ISBN: 9781603105392;1603105395 Adobe PDF
9781603105408;1603105409 MobiPocket
9781603105415;1603105417 MS Reader
9781603105422;1603105425 HTML
9781603105385;1603105387 ePub
Review: Sweet Charity Author: Belle Sloane ISBN: 978-1-60310-539-2 Publisher: Red Sage Publishing Genre: Historical Erotica Format: E-Book
Charity Blythe has done what she thought was expected of her but when she cannot manage to please her fiancé in bed she begins to wonder what is wrong with her.
If it were possible she would break the engagement but in order to inherit what her parents left her she must do as her aunt and guardian tell her and that means marrying Edwin.
Doctor Dillon Ramsey is asked by Edwin to find out what is wrong with Charity since the problem has to be her and not Edwin and after a thorough examination he finds there is nothing wrong with Charity medically but that her issues are more emotional. Can he let her marry a man that doesn’t deserve her?
As Charity and Dillon begin to draw closer to each other Charity soon begins to be the woman she was with more confidence and strength to the point of breaking her engagement to Edwin. But, things are not happily ever after for Charity and Dillon when things go awry for them.
SWEET CHARITY is a perfect title for this book as it was sweet and romantic with one very sexy doctor and an innocent but strong woman who have their ups and downs that keeps the reader entertained. I look forward to what Ms. Sloane brings us next.
Annette gives this book
Blurb: After the death of her parents, Charity Blythe finds herself trapped in a loveless arranged betrothal set up by her guardian. Her intended is a selfish, thoughtless man who sends her to a physician because he’s unhappy with how she responds to him when they attempt relations.
Dillon Ramsey, MD helps her unlock the secrets of her body. Through that self awareness Charity has other realizations as well. Her mouth watering interactions with Ramsey help her find her way back to the strong, assertive person she was before her parents’ accident.
Review: You have the dilemma of Sweet Charity. In an erotic tale about a woman discovering her body and sexuality, the author Belle Sloane uses a mixture of innocence and sultriness for the main characters Charity and Dillon to perfection.
RATING:
Sweet Charity
Belle Sloane Historical erotic romance Available from Red Sage ISBN: 978-1-60310-539-2 September 2010
In the 1910 Albuquerque, New Mexico Territory, Charity Blythe lived a horrible life. She had a guardian since the death of her parents. Her Aunt Berthe was her guardian. Edwin, her adopted son, was Charity's fiancé. Her aunt told her that she couldn't get her inheritance unless she married. Berthe chose Edwin for that honour. However, he was rude, crude, and mean. He refused to marry her until he was convinced she could perform her "wifely" duties. When she didn't respond to him, he sent her to a special doctor.
Dr. Dillon Ramsey was unlike any doctor I've ever been to. His job was to test her abilities to respond to a partner. He found there was no problem other than Edwin's ineffective pursuit of Charity. He fell for her himself and, through a series of events, they started looking for answers to this bizarre situation.
This book by Belle Sloane is my first by this author. This book was well written and interesting to follow. There were several surprising events which took place during the book. There was also a ménage which was totally unexpected. Her characters were strong, well developed and totally engrossing. Some parts were, however, a little hard to believe—such as the initial doctor's visit.
The sensuality of this storyline was quite graphic. The story was compelling and very interesting. I recommend this book for anyone who likes historical romance with vivid sensuality. Sloane is definitely an author I would love to read again.
Overall rating: Sensuality rating: Explicit
Reviewer:Brenda Talley
Sweet Charity by Belle Sloane Erotic Historical Romance- Sept.2010
4 ½ stars!!!!
This book was surprisingly moving. Charity is ashamed of her body because her fiancée, Edwin is rude and vulgar. But she must marry him or she will not inherit and be left destitute. But Edwin is turned off by her lack of ‘initiative’ and sexuality. So he refuses to marry her unless she sees a doctor to find out what is ‘wrong’ with her. This book explores her sensual awakening as the good doctor, Dillon Ramsey helps her with her problem. And surprise, they have a lot of chemistry! (Charity also has a chance to see how people who enjoy sex and respect each other feel.) When Charity goes out for a ride to break free from her troubled thoughts she has an accident and the Dillon rides to the rescue and their attraction for each other strengthens. When she overhears her aunt and Edwin in a heated conversation, Charity begins to suspect that her aunt has lied to her about having to marry to retain her fortune. She decides to take charge of her life and check the will. Meanwhile Dillon also suspects something is wrong and is determined to find a lawyer to check after Charity’s best interests.
This story gives whole new meaning to ‘playing doctor’ and Dillon and Charity have a lot of fun. The hero was very heroic! I enjoyed reading as poor Charity realized what an a## her fiancée is and gains the self confidence and self respect to get what she wants and not let others choose for her. Even though this was a short story I felt it was complete and the characters were fully fleshed out. The author does an expert job of making you care for them. I liked Dillon because while he is masterful in the bedroom he never seemed overbearing or pushy. He was the perfect knight in shining armor to a damsel who decided she would take control of her own life! This story has a lot of scorching scenes and there is a short f/f scene.
This was a delightfully decadent and thoughtful story from an author that I will be keeping an eye out for. I loved it. It has a real plot, dastardly villains, and a lot of sizzling sex to keep your attention. Oh, yeah!
Reviewed by Steph form the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
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