Read Online Seduce Me by Robyn DeHart - Free Book Online
Authors: Robyn DeHart
Tags: FIC027050
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he’d brought with him. But somehow their dismay had seemed clearly aimed at him.
As if they hadn’t seen him in years and had never expected his visit.
Fielding Grey was a most curious man, Esme decided. She would rather enjoy learning more about him, but for the time being,
she’d have to settle for investigating his home. Where would he put the box while he rested and bathed? Starting at the door
closest to the back of the house, she worked her way through the myriad halls. The home was spotless and the rooms fairly
standard: a couple of parlors and a library, a room she’d longed to further explore as the books beckoned her like new friends,
but she forced herself to keep moving. She then came upon a conservatory, a billiards room, and a study.
She had nearly closed the door on the study when she spied Thatcher’s tattered bag sitting on the massive mahogany desk. Slipping
inside the room, she assured herself that no one was watching, then closed the door behind her. After a cursory glance to
make certain she was alone, she quietly made her way to the desk. And before she knew it, she was seated in the large leather
chair.
The stiff chair was exceedingly uncomfortable and so large that her feet dangled several inches above the floor. She ignored
the fact that she felt more like a girl than a woman. Gently, she retrieved the box and set it in her lap.
Pandora’s box!
Esme stifled a giggle, again feeling very much the young girl with a new toy. Every time she looked upon it, the carvings
became more and more beautiful. She ran her fingers across the gold, reveling in the feel of it. Then she heard it—a whispering.
Just the faintest of sounds, like a voice being carried on a wind. She whipped around to look behind her but found no one
there. Straining to listen to the voice, she was unable to decipher any of the words.
“Hello? Anyone there?” she asked. Yet there was nowhere in the room for someone to hide and only the door through which she’d
entered.
She shook her head and looked at the box. Again she heard an unmistakable whisper. It was a sound filled with the promise
of fulfilled longing. Suddenly she was overtaken by the sweetest yearning. With a sense of hope and the possibility of joy.
Although the words were still undecipherable, she could have sworn she’d heard her name. But that was impossible.
She continued stroking the box, tracing each engraving, noting each detail. Something pricked her finger and she drew it back;
a fleck of blood bubbled from a tiny cut. Strange, considering the gold was perfectly smooth. She lifted the box for a closer
inspection and noticed a slight abrasion in the metal near the etching that matched her pendant.
Her heart quickened. It was as if the box were asking her to open it—no, begging. One little peek wouldn’t hurt. For so many
years she’d longed to open it, how could she now deny herself this moment?
She had the opportunity; she had the key.
She scanned the room once more before removing her necklace. Carefully she lined her pendant piece up with the carving, then
took a deep breath before pushing it into place. She heard something give way within. Slowly she exhaled.
In one swift movement she opened the lid and squeezed her eyes shut. She waited for a swarm of locusts or screaming—something.
Nothing happened.
One eye popped open to inspect the inside of the box, then she opened the other.
Empty.
There was nothing inside the box. She waited a moment to see if she felt any different, to see if some invisible power had
settled over her. But she felt nothing.
Disappointment poured through her, and she was about to close the lid when she noticed something at the bottom. It looked
as if it too might open, so she slipped her hand inside. Something touched her. She pulled back. A shimmering gold bracelet
dangled from her wrist. It was beautiful. Thin and unadorned, the band was simple and
As if they hadn’t seen him in years and had never expected his visit.
Fielding Grey was a most curious man, Esme decided. She would rather enjoy learning more about him, but for the time being,
she’d have to settle for investigating his home. Where would he put the box while he rested and bathed? Starting at the door
closest to the back of the house, she worked her way through the myriad halls. The home was spotless and the rooms fairly
standard: a couple of parlors and a library, a room she’d longed to further explore as the books beckoned her like new friends,
but she forced herself to keep moving. She then came upon a conservatory, a billiards room, and a study.
She had nearly closed the door on the study when she spied Thatcher’s tattered bag sitting on the massive mahogany desk. Slipping
inside the room, she assured herself that no one was watching, then closed the door behind her. After a cursory glance to
make certain she was alone, she quietly made her way to the desk. And before she knew it, she was seated in the large leather
chair.
The stiff chair was exceedingly uncomfortable and so large that her feet dangled several inches above the floor. She ignored
the fact that she felt more like a girl than a woman. Gently, she retrieved the box and set it in her lap.
Pandora’s box!
Esme stifled a giggle, again feeling very much the young girl with a new toy. Every time she looked upon it, the carvings
became more and more beautiful. She ran her fingers across the gold, reveling in the feel of it. Then she heard it—a whispering.
Just the faintest of sounds, like a voice being carried on a wind. She whipped around to look behind her but found no one
there. Straining to listen to the voice, she was unable to decipher any of the words.
“Hello? Anyone there?” she asked. Yet there was nowhere in the room for someone to hide and only the door through which she’d
entered.
She shook her head and looked at the box. Again she heard an unmistakable whisper. It was a sound filled with the promise
of fulfilled longing. Suddenly she was overtaken by the sweetest yearning. With a sense of hope and the possibility of joy.
Although the words were still undecipherable, she could have sworn she’d heard her name. But that was impossible.
She continued stroking the box, tracing each engraving, noting each detail. Something pricked her finger and she drew it back;
a fleck of blood bubbled from a tiny cut. Strange, considering the gold was perfectly smooth. She lifted the box for a closer
inspection and noticed a slight abrasion in the metal near the etching that matched her pendant.
Her heart quickened. It was as if the box were asking her to open it—no, begging. One little peek wouldn’t hurt. For so many
years she’d longed to open it, how could she now deny herself this moment?
She had the opportunity; she had the key.
She scanned the room once more before removing her necklace. Carefully she lined her pendant piece up with the carving, then
took a deep breath before pushing it into place. She heard something give way within. Slowly she exhaled.
In one swift movement she opened the lid and squeezed her eyes shut. She waited for a swarm of locusts or screaming—something.
Nothing happened.
One eye popped open to inspect the inside of the box, then she opened the other.
Empty.
There was nothing inside the box. She waited a moment to see if she felt any different, to see if some invisible power had
settled over her. But she felt nothing.
Disappointment poured through her, and she was about to close the lid when she noticed something at the bottom. It looked
as if it too might open, so she slipped her hand inside. Something touched her. She pulled back. A shimmering gold bracelet
dangled from her wrist. It was beautiful. Thin and unadorned, the band was simple and
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