The Second Seduction
Page 28
“Did that hurt?”
“No.”
“You liked it?”
“I did. I do, but I’m not sure how much exploration I
can take.”
Her bottom lip stuck out in a cute pout. He had the
sudden urge to sink his teeth into that lip, then soothe it
with kisses. Hell, he needed to speed up this process before he
went mad. One hand snaked up behind her head, tugging her
fl ush with his aroused body from shoulder to groin.
“Oh,” Rosalind said, moving aside and peering at his
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groin. “Does that hurt?” One small hand crept downward.
She wrapped her hand around his rod, the heat in her touch
making him want to groan out loud. God. Th
at felt good.
And all she’d done was touch him. As if she could read his
mind, her hand moved, exploring him, sliding her hand up
and down until he thought he might go cross-eyed.
Lucien tightened his arms around her. “Sweetheart, no
that doesn’t hurt. Please.” Needing to distract her, he cupped
one breast with his hand and explored her luscious curves.
Th
e scent of fl owers teased at his nostrils. What would she
taste like? He held her away from him, replacing his hand
with his mouth. Hell, she tasted sweet. She moaned softly.
His heart thudded, his hands tightened at her sensual reac-
tion while his mouth lathed her pouting nipple. His plain
English mouse had many hidden qualities that only now he
was coming to appreciate. Th
e pressure in his groin urged
him to make haste, to dispense with the patience, and for
once Lucien was in full agreement. He kissed her, ravishing
her lips, tasting, nipping. Hands explored, shaping her breasts
then moving lower. His hand skimmed the hot, sweet place
at the juncture of her thighs. She stiff ened.
“Relax,” he murmured. “You can tell me to stop at any
time and I will.” If he could. Lucien wasn’t so sure of his abil-
ity to halt, should she ask.
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Still tense, but lying quietly, he stroked down her thighs.
So soft and pale. And bruised, he noted with a frown. One
knee bore a graze while numerous scratches marked the pale
perfection of her thighs. Lucien slid down and touched his
lips to a bruise that had aged to an angry, mottled yellow. He
trailed his fi ngers upward. Warm feminine fl esh greeted his
touch. His fi ngers moved, circled slowly until the tenseness
left her body and her thighs fell apart. Th
e scent of her, sweet-
smelling and delicious, made him tremble. Lucien pressed a
kiss to her abdomen then slid up to kiss her breasts again.
When her hands cradled his head, holding him to her, a surge
of pure lust sizzled through his veins.
“You know it will hurt,” he said, looking down at her
slightly fl ushed face. Her blue eyes darkened, her bottom lip
caught between white teeth.
“I don’t mind.”
She sounded sure that this was what she wanted. But,
she was apprehensive. Lucien covered her lips with his even
as he parted her legs. Take it slow and easy. Slow and easy. He
surged inside her, the sensation almost more than he could
bear after months of celibacy. Her warm, feminine fl esh mas-
saged him. He sucked in a deep breath. Slow.
“Th
at doesn’t hurt,” Rosalind said. She sounded surprised.
A smothered chuckle escaped Lucien as he reached her
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THE SECOND SEDUCTION
maidenhead. “Not fi nished yet.” He battled the need to
thrust hard. A deep breath and gritting of teeth didn’t help
the urgent desire thrumming through his veins. He covered
her lips with his and surged inside her until he was buried
deep. She fl inched. Hell. He pulled away enough so he could
see her face even as he cursed his lack of willpower. He kissed
her hard, moving in soft, measured strokes. Gradually, she
relaxed, and he knew that everything would be all right when
her small hands stroked his back and fl anks. Urging him
on. Her breathing quickened. Lucien stroked a little faster.
Harder. Just when he thought he could hold on for no longer,
Rosalind gasped. Tensed. Tiny ripples massaged his rod.
Lucien thrust once. Twice. He groaned, his heart thumping.
Another thrust. Pleasure fl ooded his body.
“Rosalind.” He held her tightly until his heartbeat fi nally
slowed to normal. Th
en, he looked down. And smiled, be-
cause her small face was radiant.
“Is it always like that? Making babies?”
Lucien tensed, the smile losing some of its crispness.
God, what if they had made a child?
“Lucien?”
His breath eased back out. “No, it’s not always like that.”
“Can we do it again?”
A baby.
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Hell.
What if something happened to Rosalind?
“Don’t leave the castle without me. I mean it, Rosalind. If
I’m not available to escort you, then stay at the castle. Inside.
Not outside, wandering about the gardens.”
Rosalind stared at him. Her mouth dropped open, then
she snapped her teeth together. “What have you done with
my husband?” she demanded.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re not my husband. You’re Lucien’s bossy, evil twin.”
“Th
is is no joke, Rosalind. I mean it. Don’t leave the
castle without me.”
“Don’t worry. I promise to take a footman with me.”
Lucien yanked her to him, jerking a surprised yelp
from her. “Not a footman, Rosalind. A footman is no pro-
tection. Me.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she wrenched away from his
touch. “Th
at sounds like an order.”
“It is.”
“But why? Nothing has happened to . . .” She trailed off
as she registered his glare.
“Nothing? You were shot at, someone pushed you over
a cliff , the maid pushed you down the stairs, and someone
watches you whenever you’re in your chamber.”
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“You forgot being pushed out of bed.”
“Dammit, Rosalind. Don’t be fl ippant. You could have
been killed.”
“I didn’t think you cared.”
Lucien sat up in the bed and glared at his troublesome
English mouse. Didn’t care? “You’re my wife,” he snapped.
“Not a servant,” she countered sweetly.
Lucien did not wish to discuss the matter. He didn’t want
to explain. Instead, he did the only thing he knew would
distract his wife. He lurched at her, grabbing her, and tucking
her against his naked body. His mouth slammed down on
hers, gentling when she responded. Perhaps they would make
a baby after all — if that was the only way to keep her safe.
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XVII
Rosalind bound
ed into the breakfast room, eager to see
Lucien. Her face fell when she found the room empty of
people save a maid. She’d thought Lucien would remain by
her side, but instead he’d left like a thief in the night. Disap-
pointment stabbed her, spreading niggling doubt. What if
Lucien regretted last night?
Th
e maid bobbed a quick curtsey. “Would you like a pot
of hot chocolate, Lady Rosalind?”
“Th
ank you, Janet.”
Th
e maid bustled from the room, and Rosalind helped
herself to eggs before taking a seat at the table.
Footsteps in the corridor made her head jerk up, but the
new arrival was Charles. Justin arrived shortly.
Rosalind grinned at the two bleary eyed men. “Just
THE SECOND SEDUCTION
returning or leaving?”
“A night out,” Charles muttered.
Justin grunted.
Rosalind arched a brow, her nose wrinkling at the scent
of cheap perfume and stale tobacco that originated from their
clothes. “Coff ee?”
“Th
ank you. You’re looking very fetching today,” Charles
said. “How are you getting on with Lucien?”
Heat converged in her cheeks. Rosalind concentrated
on pouring the coff ee without spilling it. Th
e maid returned
with a pot of chocolate. Rosalind poured a cup for herself.
She blew on the hot liquid before taking a cautious sip.
“Ah,” Charles said. “Will you be announcing the immi-
nent arrival of an heir soon?”
Justin sipped at his coff ee, aff ecting a bored look. “I’m
sure they will tell us when they’re ready. You don’t need to
prod for information, Charles.”
“Am I embarrassing you?”
“Yes,” Rosalind said. On purpose, no doubt.
Justin yawned, holding a languid hand up to cover his
gaping mouth. “I’ll change the subject. A group of us are
going on a picnic. Would you like to come?”
Rosalind glanced out the window. A shaft of sunlight
pierced the dusty glass, dust motes dancing about the fl oor.
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Th
e thought of remaining indoors on such a lovely day made
Rosalind grimace.
“You don’t have to come,” Justin muttered, fi ghting an-
other yawn.
“No, it’s not that. I’d love to go on a picnic. When are
we to leave?”
“In an hour. Can you be ready by then?” Charles asked.
“Yes.” Lucien’s order gave her pause. No, she’d be safe in
a group, with both Justin and Charles present. “Yes, I’ll meet
you in the courtyard in an hour.”
An hour later, the carriage clattered from the courtyard.
Charles smirked. “Lucien looks more relaxed these days.
It’s good to see him smile again. How is his memory?”
“Is Lucien’s memory returning? Th
at’s good news.” Justin
snapped a whip as he directed the pair down the dark avenue.
His loss of memory haunted him. Rosalind had seen
his troubled expression when he thought he was unwatched.
“No, I don’t think so. At least he hasn’t said anything.”
Justin glanced at Rosalind. “He would tell you.”
She blushed, and Justin grinned. He tapped the rumps of
both horses with the whip to quicken the pace. A soft breeze
tugged at her hat as the carriage raced along the cliff top
road. Th
e sea appeared calmer than normal. Th
e usual roar
of the waves breaking at the base of the cliff was muted. In
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THE SECOND SEDUCTION
the distance, Rosalind saw a ship in full sail.
Rosalind smiled at Charles. “I didn’t ask where the picnic
is being held.”
“Lady Helena and her mother are organizing the picnic.
It’s being held on the edge of the beech forest on their land.
You’ll enjoy the scenery. Th
ere’s a brook with good fi shing.”
Fool. In such a hurry to leave the castle, she’d neglected
to ask the important where. Now she would have to listen to
Lady Helena’s digs all afternoon and her veiled innuendos
about witchcraft. A pity she couldn’t prove the other woman’s
perfi dy. “Lady Helena thinks I’m a witch.” She could, how-
ever, make life uncomfortable for Lady Helena.
Justin choked on a laugh. “We’d heard.”
Charles cocked his head, surveying her with clear inter-
est. “Are you a witch?”
“Of course not,” Rosalind scoff ed.
“You have a cat.” Justin urged the horses on. “A black cat.”
“Th
e two of you are as bad as Lady Helena,” Rosalind mut-
tered. “Th
e idea is nonsense. I don’t wish to discuss it further.”
Charles’ mouth quivered as he fi ddled with the silver lace at
his cuff s. “Th
ere’s a lot we’re not allowed to discuss with you.”
“We’ve arrived,” Rosalind announced.
“So we have.” Justin halted the carriage and leapt to the
ground. He held his arm out to Rosalind and she placed
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her hand on it. Th
e warmth from his skin seared through
her fi ngertips, usually a sure sign that she would have a
vision whether she wished it or not. Rosalind instinctively
attempted to block the vision. But, Justin’s thoughts pierced
the fl imsy barrier in her mind. Hot. Furious. Out of control
fragments battered her mind. Dark, ugly thoughts that made
her inhale sharply.
Hawk.
Her feet hit the ground, but her legs had the consistency
of melting snow. She stumbled.
Justin tightened his grip on her forearm. “Is anything
wrong, Rosalind?” He smiled, his face a smooth mask of con-
cern. He released her arm and stepped back.
Th
e instant he let her go the vision faded. “No . . . noth-
ing’s wrong.” To her horror, she stuttered.
Justin’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve gone as pale as Charles’
shirt.”
Rosalind forced a laugh. “A little dizziness. I must have
got up too quickly.”
Charles stepped up beside her and took her arm. “Do
you wish to return to the castle?”
“Of course not. I’m fi ne.” She needed to think. Was she
jumping to conclusions? Justin’s thoughts were of Hawk, but
that didn’t mean he was Hawk. A lot of the village people
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THE SECOND SEDUCTION
thought of the man. Doubt see-sawed within. “Is that Lady
Helena and her mother arriving now?” she asked, wanting to
direct the men’s attention elsewhere while she grappled with
the problem.
“It is, indeed.” Justin took possession of her other arm.
“Shall we?”
Rosalind smiled but tensed inside. Concentrate. Block his
thoughts. She needed to calm herself, and use logic to discover
Justin’s connection with Hawk.
Th
ey strolled toward the approa
ching carriage. It was
followed by a procession of others. Passengers and servants
disgorged from the vehicles. Lady Helena approached with
mincing steps, her nose wrinkled in a frown.
“Lady Rosalind, I didn’t realize you were attending our
small social gathering.” Her smile was bright as it touched
the two men but faded when redirected at Rosalind. “It’s
very selfi sh of you to monopolize the company of two
eligible men.”
“Lady Helena.” Rosalind inclined her head sharply before
turning a beseeching look at Charles to divert the chit’s at-
tention. Scheming hussy. When she could prove the charges,
she’d call Lady Helena on her treachery. Somehow.
Charles closed one eye in a wink and off ered his arm.
“Lady Helena, allow me to escort you.”
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“Nicely done,” Justin murmured, extending his arm to
Rosalind.
“Th
ank you.” Rosalind drew in a quick breath and
opened her mind. As slow and cautious as a blind man, she
allowed the thoughts and memories to come. Th
e surge of
black jealousy, of tangled, traitorous thoughts made her want
to rip her arm away. But, she steeled her nerves, determined
to learn the truth.
“How far do we need to walk?” she murmured.
Justin stopped and turned to study her face. “Are you
still dizzy? You’re still pale.” He glanced over his shoulder and
checked the path in front of them. “Are you increasing?”
“You and Charles have no right to ask such a personal
thing,” Rosalind burst out. “When Lucien and I have happy
news to impart, we’ll tell you.”
His face froze momentarily before he smiled. “I’m sorry.
You’re right. My only excuse is that Charles, Lucien, and I are
more brothers than friends. Lucien is the fi rst to wed and that
changes things a little.”
His thoughts jumped in agitation. Pictures fl ickered
through his mind so rapidly Rosalind had diffi
culty keep-
ing up. Bother. Snapping at him had stirred his thoughts so
much she felt as though she was adrift on rough seas.
“Do you think you’ll marry soon?”
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His mouth twisted. “My mother wants me to.”
“But . . .”
“It’s complicated.”
Th
e fog that clouded his mind lifted without warning,
leaving a clear picture for Rosalind.
Hawk.
Th
e man stood on the deck of a sailing ship, his hands