Read Online My Wicked Valentine (Club Wicked 1) by Ann Mayburn - Free Book Online Page A

instead of Wicked’s private collection. As they neared the source of
the sound, she began to pick up a marvelous perfume to the air. The colors that
burned in the darkness flared to life when they walked around a corner. Then
her world took on an almost surreal reality as she stepped into an enchanted
garden filled with roses of every description and hue.
    Stunned, she whispered, “Places like this don’t really
exist.”
    “They do in my world.” Isaac let go of her hand and took a
step back. “Go ahead. Everyone reacts this way when they first see the roses.”
    She walked to the center of the massive garden and admired
the black marble fountain depicting a circle of women in old-fashioned farm
clothes laughing and splashing each other. Water lilies bigger than her hand
floated at the edges of the fountain, and she traced her fingertips over their
silken petals while examining the sculpture. There was something familiar about
these figures, but she couldn’t think exactly of what it was. In the dim light
of the moon, the women seemed to almost move among the flowing water.
    But the most wonderful thing of all was the enormous number
of roses. The air was saturated with their perfume, and it was the most amazing
thing she’d ever smelled. Sharp tones mixed with the heavy sweetness of Old
World flowers. The fountain cleared the air enough so it wasn’t overwhelming,
just an amazing olfactory experience.
    A faint glow on the other side caught her eye, and she
wandered over to investigate, curling her toes in the grass and enjoying the
faint scent from the crushed blades. On the opposite side of the fountain lay
an enormous white blanket and two brass lanterns. There was also a plate of
fruit and chocolate as well as a few decadent pastries. Her suddenly empty
tummy growled, and she sighed.
    “This is amazing. Almost perfect.”
    “Almost?”
    She lowered her lashes and gave him the look that never
failed to bring men running. “There is just one more thing that would make this
perfect.”
    He looked amused, but she could sense a sudden tension in
him. His eyes grew darker, and he took a step closer, sitting on the edge of
the fountain next to her. “What would that be?”
    “Could you please help me get out of this corset? I’m starving, but I can’t eat anything with it
on.”
    He shook his head and motioned her closer. “You’re terrible.
Turn around.”
    She did as he asked, then shivered as his fingers stroked
down her back to the top of the lacings. “You know, I find latex to be amazing
stuff. You’re fully covered, but at the same time, it’s like you’re naked. And
curves like yours look amazing in it.”
    She sighed in relief as he began to loosen the corset, and
her lungs filled fully with air for the first time in hours.
    Each little tug set her off-balance, and she found herself
leaning back into him, her thighs braced on the outside by his firm legs and by
the fountain behind her. His movements slowed, and he slid his hands beneath
the now loose waist corset, massaging her lower back.
    “Better?”
    She fought the urge to melt and managed a breathy “Yes” in
reply.
    He laughed and tugged at the corset. “It will be easier if
you shimmy it down instead of unlacing it all the way.”
    Giving in to a wicked impulse, she pulled the corset down
her legs and bent over in an exaggerated slow movement, conscious of Isaac’s
body cradling hers. She kicked the silver corset off and turned around with a
grin that faded at the fierce look on his face.
    His nostrils flared, and he closed his eyes. “Lucia, you are
playing with fire.”
    Startled, she took a step back. “I—I’m sorry.”
    “I don’t mind a bit of flirting, and there is no way I can
be around you and not be attracted to you, but this is not a good idea.”
    “Oh, okay.” Stung by his rejection, she crossed her arms
over her chest in a vain effort to shield her stupid heart. “No big deal. It
would be better if we remained