title: Fear & Trembling
author: Amelie Nothomb
description: "'Ingenious... With great delicacy, Nothomb updates the age-old divide between East and West in this delectable little book.' O, The Oprah Magazine; 'Nothomb is the latest enfant terrible of French letters... She has an acidic yet passionately romantic view of human nature.' Elle"
  						    	
  						        	--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
zlib_text: ![](Images/image00238.jpeg)
  
  **His arm moved across to**
  
   **shield her, pulling her in yet**
  
   **closer.**
  
  Amelie could have moved away
  
  again, but she did not, nor did she
  
  protest when Lord Elyot’s hand slid
  
  beneath the cape in front of her,
  
  settling upon her waist and sending
  
  its warmth immediately through the
  
  silk. It moved in the lightest of
  
  caresses, and she responded, shifting
  
  and edging at the infringement, but
  
  not knowing whether to stay or flee—
  
  wanting to do both, yet feeling herself
  
  yield to the heady excitement.
  
  As if he could sense her dilemma, he
  
  firmed his hand upon her waist,
  
  holding her back, telling her to stay,
  
  while his other hand came to rest
  
  upon the beautiful curve of her hip,
  
  lightly stroking and smoothing where
  
  no one could see. And as Amelie
  
  continued to call out her good-nights,
  
  to smile and pretend that her heart
  
  was tranquil, all her awareness was
  
  alive to that gentle movement sliding
  
  upon the fine fabric of her gown,
  
  exploring like