The Gentleman — Elizabeth Reed

This is a steamy historical romance short story (word count 6,422)

Alison is convinced she is having a continuous run of bad luck, with her cousin marrying Luke, the man to whom she had also formed a strong attachment!
Alison, feeling defeated, is just about to accept her cruel fate and head back to the lonely countryside, still a spinster, when Gregory, her good friend from childhood, makes her a tempting offer.
He asks Alison to marry him so he can collect on his inheritance, which he can only do as a married man as the terms of the will makes clear.
In return for Alison's help, Gregory is prepared to make a gentleman's agreement with her. He promises Alison that she will get a taste of adventure and independence if she agrees to his offer.
Ironically, it is only when she comes to find that Gregory has now grown the ability to have an unnerving effect on her senses that she actually considers the possibility of acting on his request -- in an attempt to find out what it would be like to lie with Gregory as man and wife!

Warning: Sexual content included within the story.