Lucas.
“You don’t realize it yet, but you have handed me the keys to the citadel. I know your secrets now, and I give you fair warning, I will use them to court you.”
“Court me?”
Victoria woke from her dazed, sensual reverie.
“I mean to court you, woo you, seduce you. I will make you mine, Victoria. Only the bravest, most determined of suitors would endure what I shall be obliged to endure in order to win you, but in the end I will have you.” His smile was slow, dangerous, and infinitely compelling in the moonlight.
“What makes you think I will ever surrender to you, my lord?”
“You will surrender to me because you will not be able to help yourself. You will never find another manwho is willing to give you what you want,” Lucas told her. “When all is said and done, you won’t be able to resist me. Now that I know what you desire, I have you in the palm of my hand.”
“What is it you think I want, my lord?”
“Adventure.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Excitement.” He kissed her eyelids. “And a companion to share it all with you. The fair tonight was a tame event compared to the sights I can show you. I can take you places where no lady would ever dare allow herself to be seen. I can show you the side of life no respectable woman of the ton ever knows.”
“The risks,” she heard herself whisper.
It was as though he read her mind. “You can explore that other world with me and no one will ever be the wiser. You would not want to jeopardize your aunt’s position or your own in Society by getting caught.”
It dawned on her slowly just what he was offering. The bait he dangled was irresistible and he obviously knew it. “But, Lucas, if anyone ever found out, it would be disastrous.”
“What we choose to do in the dark hours between midnight and dawn will be a secret only you and I will share. I’m offering you a bargain, Victoria; one I do not think you can ignore. I mean to satisfy your curiosity concerning the wilder side of life.”
“You must spell out the agreement more clearly than that, my lord. What precisely would you have of me in return?”
Lucas shrugged. “Very little. A lady by day, a companion in adventure by night.”
“I am not so foolish as to believe it will truly be that simple. You say you would court me, woo me, but I will tell you clearly once more that I do not intend to marry.”
“Very well, we will not talk of marriage,” he said soothingly. “I, as do you, seek a companion for my nights. I am at your service. We will spend those nights as you wish. All I ask is that you save your adventures for our nights together.”
“You are quite certain that is all you will require of me in exchange for your midnight protection and escort?”
“That is all I ask at the moment. The rest is in the hands of fate. We will play games together, Victoria. Dangerous games. Games unlike any you have ever played.”
She looked up at him, fascinated by the hooded assurance of his eyes, mesmerized by the dark promise of his words. Victoria knew then she should flee, but she could no more have run from the lure he was dangling than she could have flown to the moon.
She was still aware of the edge of his hand under her breasts and she suddenly ached to know how it would feel if he moved his long fingers upward and touched her nipples. She shivered.
Again Lucas seemed to read her mind. He moved his hands slowly upward until he was cupping her breasts. She could feel the heat of his palms through her waistcoat and shirt, and, biting back a small cry, she clutched him.
Before she could summon the strength to protest, Lucas’s hands had slipped downward again to clasp her waist. She was left feeling breathless, filled with an urgency, a longing for more of the forbidden touch.
“Well, Victoria? Is it agreed? Will you play the lady by day and my companion in adventure at night? Will there be other evenings such as the one we just spent together?”
“I
“You don’t realize it yet, but you have handed me the keys to the citadel. I know your secrets now, and I give you fair warning, I will use them to court you.”
“Court me?”
Victoria woke from her dazed, sensual reverie.
“I mean to court you, woo you, seduce you. I will make you mine, Victoria. Only the bravest, most determined of suitors would endure what I shall be obliged to endure in order to win you, but in the end I will have you.” His smile was slow, dangerous, and infinitely compelling in the moonlight.
“What makes you think I will ever surrender to you, my lord?”
“You will surrender to me because you will not be able to help yourself. You will never find another manwho is willing to give you what you want,” Lucas told her. “When all is said and done, you won’t be able to resist me. Now that I know what you desire, I have you in the palm of my hand.”
“What is it you think I want, my lord?”
“Adventure.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Excitement.” He kissed her eyelids. “And a companion to share it all with you. The fair tonight was a tame event compared to the sights I can show you. I can take you places where no lady would ever dare allow herself to be seen. I can show you the side of life no respectable woman of the ton ever knows.”
“The risks,” she heard herself whisper.
It was as though he read her mind. “You can explore that other world with me and no one will ever be the wiser. You would not want to jeopardize your aunt’s position or your own in Society by getting caught.”
It dawned on her slowly just what he was offering. The bait he dangled was irresistible and he obviously knew it. “But, Lucas, if anyone ever found out, it would be disastrous.”
“What we choose to do in the dark hours between midnight and dawn will be a secret only you and I will share. I’m offering you a bargain, Victoria; one I do not think you can ignore. I mean to satisfy your curiosity concerning the wilder side of life.”
“You must spell out the agreement more clearly than that, my lord. What precisely would you have of me in return?”
Lucas shrugged. “Very little. A lady by day, a companion in adventure by night.”
“I am not so foolish as to believe it will truly be that simple. You say you would court me, woo me, but I will tell you clearly once more that I do not intend to marry.”
“Very well, we will not talk of marriage,” he said soothingly. “I, as do you, seek a companion for my nights. I am at your service. We will spend those nights as you wish. All I ask is that you save your adventures for our nights together.”
“You are quite certain that is all you will require of me in exchange for your midnight protection and escort?”
“That is all I ask at the moment. The rest is in the hands of fate. We will play games together, Victoria. Dangerous games. Games unlike any you have ever played.”
She looked up at him, fascinated by the hooded assurance of his eyes, mesmerized by the dark promise of his words. Victoria knew then she should flee, but she could no more have run from the lure he was dangling than she could have flown to the moon.
She was still aware of the edge of his hand under her breasts and she suddenly ached to know how it would feel if he moved his long fingers upward and touched her nipples. She shivered.
Again Lucas seemed to read her mind. He moved his hands slowly upward until he was cupping her breasts. She could feel the heat of his palms through her waistcoat and shirt, and, biting back a small cry, she clutched him.
Before she could summon the strength to protest, Lucas’s hands had slipped downward again to clasp her waist. She was left feeling breathless, filled with an urgency, a longing for more of the forbidden touch.
“Well, Victoria? Is it agreed? Will you play the lady by day and my companion in adventure at night? Will there be other evenings such as the one we just spent together?”
“I
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