feeling shaken to
the depths of her being. Her insides turned
warm and her pulse quickened.
Without stopping to think, she moved
her hands up to twine her arms around
Lucas's neck. She liked the scent of him,
she realized. She also liked the feel of his
strong shoulders under her hands. She
was acutely aware of the heavy, masculine
bulge outlined by his tight breeches.
" This," Lucas whispered," is going to
prove a most interesting association." The
anger seemed to evaporate from him in
that moment, leaving only the desire his
eyes alive and glittering with it.
Do you think so?" Victoria was feeling
very daring now as she looked up at
him. The recent rush of euphoric relief
engendered by the close brush with danger
was meshing with another kind of thrill, a
new and unfamiliar thrill, a thrill of deep
sensuality. She felt oddly weak and realized
she was clinging to 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 man who 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
the depths of her being. Her insides turned
warm and her pulse quickened.
Without stopping to think, she moved
her hands up to twine her arms around
Lucas's neck. She liked the scent of him,
she realized. She also liked the feel of his
strong shoulders under her hands. She
was acutely aware of the heavy, masculine
bulge outlined by his tight breeches.
" This," Lucas whispered," is going to
prove a most interesting association." The
anger seemed to evaporate from him in
that moment, leaving only the desire his
eyes alive and glittering with it.
Do you think so?" Victoria was feeling
very daring now as she looked up at
him. The recent rush of euphoric relief
engendered by the close brush with danger
was meshing with another kind of thrill, a
new and unfamiliar thrill, a thrill of deep
sensuality. She felt oddly weak and realized
she was clinging to 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 man who 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
Similar Books
