Megan Derr - Runaways.pdf - Megan Derr - nemerie

Runaways

By Megan Derr

Published by Less Than Three Press

permission of the publisher, except for the purpose of reviews.

Edited by Michelle McDonough

Cover art by Megan Derr

This book is a work of fiction and as such all characters and situations are fictitious. Any resemblance to

actual people, places, or events is coincidental.

Electronic edition February 2010

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 978-1-936202-17-1

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Runaways | Megan Derr

Orrw}| sighed as he read the letter over again, though he had all the important bits

memorized. He'd known what the letter would say even before he'd foolishly opened it. Obtain an Earl

indeed. He snorted softly, almost amused, except that the tacit ‘or don't bother coming home’ rather

depressed any good humor he had not yet lost.

How, he wondered morosely, did he get himself into these situations?

Even if he pretended for a moment that a lord or even a wealthy merchant or some such would want

him, there was no way he could ever dare to seek one out with the hope of a match. It was generous of

his uncle to have been willing to pay for him to join them in the city, as a companion to his cousin—but

everyone knew that Addison had been granted the honor only because he stood no chance whatsoever

of outshining his handsome, outgoing cousin.

What was he to do? If he came all this way and simply went back, nothing gained, his family would be

furious—for all the wrong reasons, of course, but furious all the same. They expected him to waltz into

the city and make a good match, and bring the new wealth home.

Yet if he dared to do anything but cater to every whim of his cousin, his Uncle would send him home

with ears ringing from a sound boxing. There was no possible way his Uncle would tolerate Addison

doing better and succeeding where Blaine, despite his many charms, was still failing.

Once he stopped pretending that anyone would want him, the matter went from hopeless to nigh on

pathetic.

Really, all he'd wanted was a chance to see the parts of the city that did not include ballrooms and tea

parties. Once his uncle was finished with him, Addison would never have another chance; he would be

returned home to his life at the post office, and the opportunities to see museums and the parks and

the famous historic site would be lost forever.

He kicked idly at the stone path which wended its way through the park. It was nothing but small

footpaths here, well away from the main thoroughfare where everyone walked to show off and make

fun of those not quite up to par.

Addison was sick of it. Sick of the parties. Sick of watching his cousin charm and cozen every available

Runaways | Megan Derr

person in his vicinity. Sick of being the ugly, unfortunate cousin on whom his Uncle had been

considerate enough to take pity.

Maybe Blaine would stay sick another couple of days, and Addison would be able to sneak about doing

as he pleased. But he suspected he was lucky to have gotten this one day. He still had not decided quite

how to spend it, though he would milk every possible second.

Breakfast, definitely. Now that it was growing light out, he could slip off to a coffee shop or something

and have breakfast out for once. Then perhaps a bookstore or two, or maybe he'd just go straight on to

the museums, the royal library…

The sound of boots scuffing on stone drew his attention, and he looked up just in time to see someone

come through the hedges. A lord, by the look of him, but Addison barely had time to look before the

man was abruptly sitting next to him.

"I apologize in advance for my forwardness," the man murmured—and then kissed him.

Addison made a choked, muffled noise, and tried to pull away, but found himself impeded. Long fingers

sank into his hair, curling along the back of his head, keeping him perfectly angled as his mouth was

thoroughly plundered by a perfect stranger.

"Well, I never!" said a sharp, ringing voice.

Startled, Addison again tried to pull away, but the man kissing him was having none of that.

Not really certain what else to do, Addison went along with it, hoping that if he was agreeable long

enough eventually the man would unhand him.

Despite his reluctance in the venture, going along with it was not a terrible ordeal. No one had ever died

from being kissed after all, and he could think of any number of worse ways for a stranger to bother

him. And it was not a terrible kiss at all, though Addison conceded he had no kisses to which he compare

it.

Still.

The mouth moving with his was warm and soft, and tasted of cinnamon and coffee, and Addison flushed

to realize he was noticing how a man tasted but it was becoming more and more difficult to pull away

from the mouth feasting upon his and when precisely had he tangled his fingers in the front of the man's

jacket?

"Honestly, Jewell!"

Finally tearing away, the man—Jewell—smiled ever so fleetingly at Addison, then turned toward the

woman doing the shrieking. "What, Tina?"

The mysterious Tina, well turned out in a bright red walking dress, matching feathers bobbing from a

pert hat, had white-gloved hands planted on her ample hips. Blue eyes were narrowed at Jewell, mouth

pinched, cheeks pink with anger. "I cannot believe you."

Megan Derr - Runaways.pdf

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