Passion and Deceit Part: 3 by Leela Atherton

By Leela Atherton

With Rajiv back in London, Maya finally begins to relax, spending quality time with her friend Jay. That is, until an unexpected visitor arrives – Kirti - a traditional Indian beauty, who is hoping to become the future Mrs Maddox! When Kirti arranges a dinner party for Jay, his brother Rajiv returns to Cranthorpe. Despite Kirti’s presence, Rajiv's attraction toward Maya is growing stronger than ever, and he cannot keep away from her. Maya tries her best to resist him, but her desire for him is too overpowering, and she realizes that she has to leave Cranthorpe as soon as possible, or forever lose her self-respect to a man who belongs to another woman . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leela Atherton
• Release date: Apr 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463982785

Leela Atherton

UPDATE July 2020Passion & Deceit, Part 5 & 6, coming during July Smashwords Sale!Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and so many of us in lockdown, I've decided to re-publish Passion & Deceit in Episodes. Part 1 is now published for FREE on the Smashwords Sale! Part 2, 3 & 4 are up for Sale at $.99c each, and Part 5 & 6 will be published this this month!Hope you enjoy reading about Scottish beauty, Maya, and her gorgeous Anglo-Indian Hero, Rajiv!Please share with all your friends, fellow-readers and community as we work through this economic hardship and uncertainty that is touching everyone. It’s paramount that we all come together and support each other right now.As someone who suffers with anxiety, I know how helpful it can be to lose yourself in a good book, and reading has seen me through some dark and dreaded timesHonest Reviews of Passion & Deceit, as well as all the books you’ve read, [old and new], will also assist readers in discovering new books while in living social isolation, so please remember to click that “Review” button and share your pleasure with others.In the words of Mark Coker, “Books are powerful. They have the power to entertain, inspire, inform and heal. They offer safe harbour to readers in need of comfort, distraction, hope and a smile.”Stay safe, stay home.Leela AthertonPS If you enjoy a fun, naughty and purely erotic read, check out Storm Stone’s Profile on Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/HardcoreRomanceAbout Leela AthertonI grew up reading Mills & Boon romances, Anne Mather being my favourite author at the time. Later on I began writing Modern Romances for fun. Passion & Deceit was written with my love for India and all things Indian in mind. Besides reading and writing, I enjoy my work with a non-profit organization; EOA Npc, where I focus on Learning & Development for young people and adults, in Langa Township, Cape Town,Connect with Leela Atherton:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/leelaathertonTwitter: https://twitter.com/LeelaAthertonEmail: [e-mail] Interview: https://www.smashwords.com/interview/LeelaAthertonSmashwords profile page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LeelaAtherton

Book preview

Passion and Deceit

Part Three

By

Leela Atherton

***

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to thank my editors, Lauri Wellington and Faith Caminski, of Black Opal Books, for all their guidance and support.

To the author who influenced me most, from my early teens, Ms Anne Mather, a writer way ahead of her time. My work would not be what it is, were it not for her. Thank you for bringing excitement to a young teenager’s life.

A heartfelt thank you to my friend Karin Ades, who passed away soon after this book was published, not just for her knowledge and support, but for making me believe in myself.

And my sincere gratitude to my true friends (you know who you are) for your support and encouragement on this journey.

Last and most importantly, with love to my husband for believing in my work, and my daughter, for keeping me young.

***

First published by Black Opal Books 2013

Copyright © 2020 by Leela Atherton

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did no purchase it or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

***

CHAPTER 6

Rajiv drove back to London that same day with a feeling of depression hanging heavily over him. He had not seen Maya after that delirious scene in the study and he told himself it was better that way. He desperately needed to put some distance between himself and her. He could only pray that being away from her disturbing presence would get his emotions back into perspective again. It was difficult for him to conceive the effect she had on him. He was simply not the type of man to be so easily overcome with lust. In fact, on more than one occasion women had accused him of being a cold fish. He frowned, realizing that he was suddenly seeing those women in a rather unfavorable light, and that wasn’t fair. But Maya’s unaffected beauty, together with her irresistible sensuality, were impossible to ignore. God, just being around her caused him to break out in a sweat, not to mention how fantastic her body had felt this morning against his. If that damn phone hadn’t rung…

Rajiv gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. It was a good thing that the phone had rung, he told himself, but his body didn’t seem to agree. There was a throbbing ache as his erection swelled against his trousers again, and he was convinced he could still smell her warm feminine fragrance on his skin. Goddammit, she was like a fever in his blood, a fever he could not, for the sake of his brother, succumb to.

***

For Maya the days after Rajiv left were quiet and tranquil. She felt more herself again without him around. She and Jay spent the days together, going for long walks or swimming in the pool. Sometimes they would drive to the village or some other local beauty spot in the surrounding area.

Anna Maddox also seemed to calm down in the absence of her older son, and her behavior toward Maya was a little warmer. It still shocked Maya to think that the other woman had observed something between herself and Rajiv, if what he had said was the truth. Could he have said things to turn his mother against her? Maya wondered. It was difficult to think clearly about anything that concerned Rajiv. Just picturing him in her mind could leave her in a state of emotional upheaval, and so she tried her best not to think about him at all. It was easier during the day as long as she kept herself busy, but it was more difficult at night when her mind and body became tormented with desires she had never experienced before.

Three days after Rajiv had left an unexpected visitor arrived at Cranthorpe. It had been another sunny day with just a few clouds and a slight breeze in the air as she and Jay made their way back toward the house after driving to Steeple Wick to send a postcard to her mother in South