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Trying to survive in a terrifying world alone, unable to speak, Kyra is a mystery to everyone. Dangerous memories lurk in the shadows of her mind, haunting her nightly dreams. From her first dangerous encounter with her new overlord, Kyra remains wary of Marquess Caleb Damon. Her only friend at the manor is Serena, a woman who holds her own dreams of finding love and commitment.

Caleb Damon was asked to take Kyra into his home when her adopted mother past away. But, he never imagined how quickly he'd come to desire the possession of her heart. Fighting his own inner demons, Caleb remains distant, unable to cope with Kyra's curious stares and confusing nightmares. Though he tries to keep his distance, he is unable to resist searching for the answer to the one question everyone wants to know.

Who is Kyra?

Torn in the midst :

Caleb could not break this moment between them. Perhaps it was simply desire that held him where he was, but he couldn't pull away from her. Her sleepy eyes were so trusting, so curious... It awakened a need deep within him. For the first time in a very long time, he craved such close companionship from a woman. He wished to know nothing more than this desire to feel the first touch of a young woman's lips

Lowering himself to her, he neared her and swallowed against common sense. He knew this was wrong even as he let go of his inhibitions. He closed his eyes for a second longer, wondering if in the light of day, would he do this? When he opened them, he stared deeply into her eyes, wishing he could read her thoughts. How he had come to be this close to her, he didn't remember anymore.

Unable to deny the greater need within him, he fought against reason and sanity. His hand reached up, brushing the softness of her chin before his fingers laced through her hair. Did she know that he wanted to kiss her? Was she aware of how much he...d been affected by the touch of her fingers on his lips?

Her eyes hesitantly lowered to his lips and he was lost. He had seen her look of uncertainty when she...d been touching him. Was she still remembering that morning in the garden? He wanted more than anything to erase that memory from her mind. He wanted to show her that he was far from a monster. He wanted to remove that trace of fear from her eyes.

His fingers locked in her hair, promising himself to let go if she turned away. He was caressing her as he looked into her eyes. His lips nearly touching hers, he breathed, "Just once, Kyra..." He wished to kiss her just once...

Between Jacob and Serena, there are no easy answers:

He was single of his own choosing. He could have made an effort to find a woman if he'd wanted, but he hadn't been looking. Instead he'd been driven to focus his attention solely on a woman who could never be his. The frustration of it ate at him only because he felt he'd been wasting away his whole life for nothing.

"It isn't fair," she spoke sadly. Tears welled in her eyes and she fought against them weakly. She didn't know what drove her on this way, but before she could stop herself she was telling him, "I will never know true love. You at least have that chance. I am to be paired with a man who is without emotion. I'm going to spend my life never knowing..."

She broke off suddenly. She held her hand to her mouth for a moment as tears fell from her eyes. She saw him draw closer in concern, but she pushed back from him shaking her head.

"I will never know what it is. I am to have none of it and they really don't care at all," she cried softly. Her eyes turned away from his as she closed them and let the tears fall.

Jacob again stepped closer to her. He couldn't stand by and watch her fight against such sorrow alone. He raised a hand to her chin, willing some of his strength into her with his touch.

Serena swallowed and looked back up. She was surprised by the feel of his hand touching her face. It reminded her of that moment outside. Her eyes fell to his lips as she remembered his kiss and her lips parted in reaction.

Something in the room seemed to still around them. Just as it had that day, a strange air of closeness settled between them.

Copyright Notice:

This novel has been a work in progress for nearly two decades. Throughout the end of the 1990's and the first few years of the new millennium, visitors of http://www.intersoap.com were able to enjoy reading Silent Mysteries as it continued to grow as a work in progress. The book was eventually moved to its new home, housed solely on the author's website http://www.thequietcorner.com until work on it was completed in 2007. It was never officially published as a completed work until now.

Silent Mysteries Copyright © Reg. # TXu - 928 -068 December 3, 1999 by Leanne Elise Smith. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the form of brief quotations which may be used within the body of reviews or articles pertaining to a review of Silent Mysteries. For questions or comments concerning any use of this text please contact the author.