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Authors: Victoria Vane
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his
spicy sandalwood and male scent, but at the same time wanting
nothing more than to drink him in. Her body tensed at his warm
breath caressing her neck as softly as the words he murmured
against her hair. “There is no need to be coy. There is at least one
other, far better option for you to consider…and all you have to do
is whisper one simple, little word.”
One simple, little word. It was as if she’d fallen into her own
erotic dream. You only have to say yes, and I will lay paradise at your
feet. She quivered inside as he fastened the clasp. His lips scorched
her nape, firing an agonizing ache in her womb and a descent of
hot, wet heat that dampened her thighs. She dared not open her
eyes. She dared not even breathe for fear of breaking the seductive
spell woven by her satyr’s words, his caress, and the brush of his
lips. His hand was metaphorically outstretched, and Diana felt
the word taking shape in her mind, flowing outward, and form-
ing itself on the tip of her tongue.
“There you are, darling.” The voice of the duchess shattered
the illusion with stark reality.
“Bloody hell! God damned bloody hell!” Diana heard DeVere
growl through his teeth.
She looked up to find Caroline paused on the threshold be-
tween DeVere’s bedchamber and the sitting room. She shot Diana
a virulent look “Why Baroness! What on earth could you be doing
all alone with Lord DeVere in his private apartments? One could
come to so many wicked conclusions, you know. I wonder what
your husband would say?”
“That’s enough, Caro!” DeVere snapped. “The lady and I had
some private business to discuss.”
She chuckled. “Darling, there is only one kind of business I
know of that requires you to put your hands on her body.”
“You presume falsely, duchess. I was having trouble with the
clasp.” Diana knew her protest was as feeble as her alibi. “But
our business is most certainly complete.” Diana rose, anger at her
own weakness fueling her words. “I see how mistaken I was to
come here. I had even been forewarned what manner of man you
are. Now I know there is only one kind of gallantry you under-
stand. A good afternoon to you, my Lord DeVere.” Diana crossed
the room in a fury of swishing silk.
49
The Devil You Know
Caroline swiftly took the place she had abandoned by the vis-
count’s side.
“Four o’clock,” he said, just as Diana’s hand touched the
doorknob.
Diana spun around. “Excuse me?”
“I will see the mare run at four o’clock.”
She almost forgot to breathe. “Then we have an agreement?”
“A conditional agreement,” he responded. “I won’t allow you
to hazard what little remains in your possession unless I deem her
a true prospect to win.”
“It is hardly your decision what I do with my jewels or my
horse, but you won’t be disappointed,” Diana said.
The corner of his lips twitched. “I hope not. Twice in one day
would surely be more than I can bear.”
50
Chapter Six
“Darling, when you return to town after entertaining these
rustics, don’t you think we should make it official? I am three months out of mourning, after all. Not that our...arrangement
is any particular secret.” Caroline chuckled as she traced circles
around the flat disk of his nipple.
Her words sounded a deafening alarm in his head, pulling
Ludovic abruptly from his sex-sated stupor. He regarded Caroline
from under a deceptively hooded gaze. “Official?” he drawled.
“Of course. Now that Beauclerc no longer stands in our way,
we are at last free to be together.”
DeVere answered dryly, “By my count, we have already been
together in as many ways as is humanly possible. Thus, it appears
to me the good duke was never any true obstacle.”
“You are entirely too wicked.” She laughed and raised herself
up to straddle his belly. She rubbed her mons against him with a
purr, reaching a hand behind to guide him into her, but not
spicy sandalwood and male scent, but at the same time wanting
nothing more than to drink him in. Her body tensed at his warm
breath caressing her neck as softly as the words he murmured
against her hair. “There is no need to be coy. There is at least one
other, far better option for you to consider…and all you have to do
is whisper one simple, little word.”
One simple, little word. It was as if she’d fallen into her own
erotic dream. You only have to say yes, and I will lay paradise at your
feet. She quivered inside as he fastened the clasp. His lips scorched
her nape, firing an agonizing ache in her womb and a descent of
hot, wet heat that dampened her thighs. She dared not open her
eyes. She dared not even breathe for fear of breaking the seductive
spell woven by her satyr’s words, his caress, and the brush of his
lips. His hand was metaphorically outstretched, and Diana felt
the word taking shape in her mind, flowing outward, and form-
ing itself on the tip of her tongue.
“There you are, darling.” The voice of the duchess shattered
the illusion with stark reality.
“Bloody hell! God damned bloody hell!” Diana heard DeVere
growl through his teeth.
She looked up to find Caroline paused on the threshold be-
tween DeVere’s bedchamber and the sitting room. She shot Diana
a virulent look “Why Baroness! What on earth could you be doing
all alone with Lord DeVere in his private apartments? One could
come to so many wicked conclusions, you know. I wonder what
your husband would say?”
“That’s enough, Caro!” DeVere snapped. “The lady and I had
some private business to discuss.”
She chuckled. “Darling, there is only one kind of business I
know of that requires you to put your hands on her body.”
“You presume falsely, duchess. I was having trouble with the
clasp.” Diana knew her protest was as feeble as her alibi. “But
our business is most certainly complete.” Diana rose, anger at her
own weakness fueling her words. “I see how mistaken I was to
come here. I had even been forewarned what manner of man you
are. Now I know there is only one kind of gallantry you under-
stand. A good afternoon to you, my Lord DeVere.” Diana crossed
the room in a fury of swishing silk.
49
The Devil You Know
Caroline swiftly took the place she had abandoned by the vis-
count’s side.
“Four o’clock,” he said, just as Diana’s hand touched the
doorknob.
Diana spun around. “Excuse me?”
“I will see the mare run at four o’clock.”
She almost forgot to breathe. “Then we have an agreement?”
“A conditional agreement,” he responded. “I won’t allow you
to hazard what little remains in your possession unless I deem her
a true prospect to win.”
“It is hardly your decision what I do with my jewels or my
horse, but you won’t be disappointed,” Diana said.
The corner of his lips twitched. “I hope not. Twice in one day
would surely be more than I can bear.”
50
Chapter Six
“Darling, when you return to town after entertaining these
rustics, don’t you think we should make it official? I am three months out of mourning, after all. Not that our...arrangement
is any particular secret.” Caroline chuckled as she traced circles
around the flat disk of his nipple.
Her words sounded a deafening alarm in his head, pulling
Ludovic abruptly from his sex-sated stupor. He regarded Caroline
from under a deceptively hooded gaze. “Official?” he drawled.
“Of course. Now that Beauclerc no longer stands in our way,
we are at last free to be together.”
DeVere answered dryly, “By my count, we have already been
together in as many ways as is humanly possible. Thus, it appears
to me the good duke was never any true obstacle.”
“You are entirely too wicked.” She laughed and raised herself
up to straddle his belly. She rubbed her mons against him with a
purr, reaching a hand behind to guide him into her, but not
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