Claimed By Chaos

by Abigail Graves

  “Then we’d just have to do everything we could to make sure you were never exposed.” There was no humor in her voice. Mirabelle may not have been a spy or an assassin but there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do to protect her family. Giselle’s eyes grew wide for a moment. “I think you care very deeply for my brother, Giselle. And I think that the two of you could be very happy. I want that for the both of you, very much. I also think that if you made up your mind to be happy with Alastair, you would protect that at all costs.” She watched as Giselle became distant. Mirabelle knew she had given her a lot to consider so she remained silent as she worked on her hair. After a few moments Giselle frowned and shook her head.

  “I still think Alastair would be happier with someone else. Even if my past wasn’t what it was, the burden of my family would be an added frustration that he shouldn’t have to endure. I’m sure that there are plenty of women that would suit him better.” Her eyes found Mirabelle’s in the mirror. Mirabelle rolled her eyes and snorted.

  “Two things: One, I defy you to find any person that doesn’t have some sort of flaw, personally or in their past that must be forgiven or accepted. Do you know that Lucien was publicly, in a gossip sheet, declared to be “The ton’s most talented and wicked rake?” Women would actually share with me, in rather explicit detail, the things they had done with him. And many of them were married.” Mirabelle appreciated Giselle’s stunned expression.

  “That’s… that’s appalling!” Giselle gasped.

  “I know!” Mirabelle agreed. “The ton is full of hypocrites and idiots but that is aside from the point. If I can overlook that and you can overlook all of Alastair’s idiosyncrasies, he can cope with being married to a Capet. Though I think that he would just avoid the whole thing, honestly. Unless you were to drag him around Town and host dinners and balls, he’d just hide in his library and pretend you were just plain old Mrs. Spencer. Though you’d be Lady Spencer, technically… but you get my point.” Mirabelle nudged Giselle playfully but she looked as if she was a world away. She blinked rapidly before her eyes met Mirabelle’s.

  “All of that would be lovely but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s all unnecessarily complicated. I’m sure that even with his idiosyncrasies, as you call them, he could find many more suitable women to marry.” Giselle became absorbed with the pins in her hand. Mirabelle suspected she was trying to hide how effected she was at the idea of Alastair with someone else. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling.

  “Which brings me to my second point. There’s never been anyone else, Giselle.” Her head snapped up and Mirabelle smiled. “Until the night Alastair met you, he was very opposed to the idea of marrying. None of us had ever seen him so much as look at a woman, let alone flirt with or court anyone.” Giselle was visibly shocked. This will definitely knock her off her feet. “In fact, there have been times when we’ve suspected that he didn’t actually like women. I know some among the ton have speculated that he prefers men.” Mirabelle almost laughed, if Giselle’s eyes grew any wider, they might fall out of her head. She shook her head furiously.

  “Oh, no, no, no, no, no… Alastair definitely likes women.” Giselle’s mouth opened and closed several times as she struggled to put her thoughts together. Mirabelle suddenly found her curiosity very piqued and she leaned closer and held her breath. Giselle did not disappoint. “I think he’s been with a lot of women, Mirabelle. We haven’t… yet, but from what I’ve experienced so far…” She licked her lips and breathed deeply as she swayed. She was clearly effected. Mirabelle was as well. She dropped onto the stool.

  “Huh… Are you sure?” She looked up at Giselle who nodded emphatically. “Who knew?” Mirabelle mumbled. “He’s so restrained and quiet. I’ve never really seen him excited or do anything spontaneous. Not that I’ve spent a lot of time imagining Alastair in that way but I would think he’d be very…” She couldn’t even get her mind around it.

  “Insatiable, powerful, vigorous… wicked.” Giselle shivered and Mirabelle’s mouth dropped.

  “Really?” She couldn’t believe they were discussing the same person. “He’s so peculiar about everything and sex is so… untidy and there’s so much touching. He doesn’t even like to be hugged.” Mirabelle looked up to find Giselle frowning at her.

  “He does take the time to fold things and make sure they are in their place but I think that calms him. Because of his condition, it takes him some time to adjust to being touched but once he does, he’s affectionate and incredibly sensual.” Giselle was so defensive of Alastair that Mirabelle couldn’t help but feel touched.

  “What do you mean ‘because of his condition’?” Mirabelle asked cautiously. Giselle’s brow furrowed and she looked at her as if she had invented her own language.

  “You know how he’s so sensitive to touch. And I suspect sounds and bright light as well. Don’t you?” Her mouth fell open as Mirabelle shook her head and Giselle sagged against the vanity.

  “I just thought he didn’t like being hugged because he thought he was too old for such things or it was to do with his aversion to anything emotional.” Mirabelle explained. Giselle shook her head slowly.

  “He’s very sensitive. If he isn’t expecting it or it’s too much, too quickly, being touched hurts him.” Giselle whispered and Mirabelle gasped. “It’s almost excruciating at first, I think. Even holding hands is difficult for him.”

  “But he’s able to touch you and he lets you touch him?” Mirabelle’s voice was shaky and weak. She felt like crying. Giselle bit her lip as she blushed.

  “He has no problem touching me. As for me touching him, he’s trying. He usually keeps his clothes on. I’ve been able to get him to remove his shirt twice.” She sighed and looked Mirabelle.

  “My God, I feel like I barely know him. First the tattoos and China and now I find out he’s got this whole secret passionate side and that he’s suffered this condition in silence his whole life.” Mirabelle couldn’t decide if she had failed her brother of if he needed a kick in the balls for hiding so much. She didn’t know how to react.

  Lucien. It would all make sense once she talked to him. Mirabelle decided to set her emotions aside until she could discuss everything with him. There was one thing she was very certain of.

  “Giselle.” She waited until their eyes met. “He needs you and I think that you need him too.” Mirabelle didn’t wait for her to protest or try to find an excuse to leave. She stood up and went to the wardrobe. “Put that aside for later, you have to wear it tonight. Let’s see what else we have in here.”

  “You knew!” Mirabelle gasped as she pushed against Lucien’s chest. He fell back against the mattress dramatically and laughed.

  “Gilles let the bit about the women slip the night before he left and Alastair only told me about his condition yesterday.” He tried to pull her to him but she refused to be distracted.

  “What did Gilles say?” Mirabelle couldn’t believe that Lucien hadn’t said anything about it. He shrugged as he rolled on his side and reached for the edge of her bodice. She slapped his hand away and he scowled.

  “Alastair has been with a lot of women. If you think about it, it’s not that surprising. You know how he is, he has to learn all there is about everything and practice until he’s an expert at whatever it is he’s studying. Apparently, he was very thorough and academic in his approach to women and sex.”

  “How many is a lot?” Mirabelle couldn’t help it, really. Lucien shook his head.

  “It was a lot. That’s all you need to know.” He looked at her sternly and she pursed her lips.

  “A lot, like you? Or more? What do you consider to be ‘a lot’?” She attempted.

  “There is no way I’m answering that.” Lucien replied as he tried to slip his hand beneath her skirts. She swatted his hand away and he pouted. “Please! We haven’t since yesterday morning.” He whined. Mirabelle snorted as she scooted back.

  “You’re the one that drank half a bottle of scotch
and had to spend the better part of two days sleeping.” She pushed against his shoulder as he tried to lean closer. “This is important, Lucien! My brother is some sort of secret sexual savant and has a terrible disability and I’m the last one to know. Why didn’t you tell me?” Lucien groaned as he flopped back on the bed.

  “Mirabelle! He just told me about his condition yesterday, and this is really the first time we’ve talked since then. And why in the world would I discuss his sexual experiences with you?” He squeezed the bridge of his nose. “I can’t believe we’re discussing this at all.”

  “We tell each other everything!” Mirabelle argued. He rose on his elbow.

  “I’m certain we do not.” Lucien looked at her pointedly. “You know everything you need to know about me. I have never deceived you but there are things that are better left where they are. Alastair has always been a very private person. You know this. There’s a lot we don’t know about him and I think that that’s for the better. He has his reasons for not telling us about his condition. As far as any gossip that I may have about either of your brothers, I only withhold what I feel is unfit to discuss with you. And anything to do with other men and sex, I generally classify as unfit to discuss with you.” He raised his brows as he waited for her to accept his explanation. She rolled her eyes and laughed.

  “But this is Alastair! This is like finding out that Maman has been swallowing swords when we’re not around.” Mirabelle insisted. Lucien shrugged.

  “We don’t know how she passes the time, maybe she does.” He managed to keep a straight face until she fell on the mattress and started laughing. He pulled her to him and rose over her. “Why is it so hard to believe that your brother has sex, with women?” He tried to find her lips but she dodged him.

  “I have no problem believing that Alastair has sex with women. It’s the way Giselle described him that is so shocking. It’s like he’s this entirely different person.” She explained. Lucien raised an eyebrow, clearly he thought she was exaggerating. “She said he’s insatiable, wicked, affectionate, sensual… vigorous!” That did it. Lucien raised himself and sat back on his heels.

  “Wicked?” She nodded. “Insatiable?” She nodded again. Lucien’s eyes widened and he shook his head in disbelief. “Well… that is surprising. And this condition of his doesn’t prevent him from being… vigorous? Vigorous?” He looked thoroughly perplexed. Mirabelle nodded.

  “That’s how she described him.” She felt Lucien’s hands stroking her legs beneath her skirts and she bit her lip as she tried to ignore how warm it was making her. “I’m worried, Lucien. What will happen to Alastair if she doesn’t marry him? He needs her.” Mirabelle focused on his eyes but she knew he’d opened his breeches and shifted closer to her. She gasped when she felt his fingers enter her.

  “I need you.” He whispered as his fingers stroked within her. She decided he deserved a little more teasing. She rose on her elbows and looked at him seriously.

  “My brother’s happiness is at stake and all you can think about right now is that?” Mirabelle scolded. Lucien’s grin was wicked as he pushed her back onto the mattress.

  “This is all I can ever think about.” His voice was low and deep. She was helpless to stop the moan that escaped her lips as his erection pressed into her. He chuckled as his tongue tickled her ear. “I also know something very, very important that makes me think that the odds are very much in Alastair’s favor.” Mirabelle shivered and gasped when she felt his thumb caressing her most sensitive spot.

  “What do you know?” She asked breathlessly as she pushed her hands into his hair and pulled his lips to hers. She felt them curve as they pressed against hers.

  “You have to pay my price, first.” Lucien whispered the words and she felt them on her lips. He thrust deep within her as his thumb continued stroking her. Mirabelle struggled to breath as she felt her body tightening.

  “What do you want?” She whimpered as her back arched and she clawed at the sheets.

  “Come for me, my love. I want to feel you squeezing my cock as you shatter.” Lucien growled the words against her neck. Mirabelle felt his teeth dig into her flesh as he thrust harder.

  “Oh, Lucien!” She screamed as her body stiffened. His thumb swirled quickly as he filled her with long, deep strokes.

  “That’s it, sweetheart. Jesus, you’re so tight.” He groaned. Mirabelle felt her nerves burst as lightening streaked through her from the place where Lucien’s body met hers. She felt paralyzed for a moment and then everything within her melted. He clenched his jaw as he continued rocking his hips. “You feel so good.” He wrapped her legs around his waist and cradled her face in his hands as he continued driving into her. His mouth covered hers and his tongue slid between her lips. Mirabelle used her arms and legs to pull him in closer and tightened the muscles within her, gripping his length where he thrust into her. Lucien’s head snapped back. “Dear, God! Mirabelle!” He yelled as his body arched against hers. The muscles in his neck strained as he gasped for breath before his body started to convulse. Mirabelle moaned as she felt heat explode within her. Lucien thrust a few more times as the last tremors of his release rippled through him before he fell onto the bed next to her.

  Mirabelle waited for her heart to settle into its normal rhythm before she rolled onto her side. She pressed her hand against his chest and felt his heart pounding rapidly. He covered her hand with his as he tried to catch his breath.

  “Well?” She asked. Lucien smiled and held up his hand signaling that he needed a little more time. Mirabelle drummed her fingers impatiently on his chest. Eventually, he rolled and pulled her against him. He pressed his lips against hers as his arms closed around her.

  “Giselle is a virgin.” He whispered.

  Mirabelle was certain she must have resembled fish out of water. Her mouth was wide open and her eyes blinked rapidly as she tried to make sense of what she’d just heard. Her lips started to form into the shape of a question but she wasn’t sure which to ask. She felt Lucien start to shake with laughter.

  “Well… that’s very… goodness!” Mirabelle gasped. “But she’s so…”

  “I know.” He replied.

  “Wow.”

  “I know.”

  “I’m furious with Alastair.” She whispered. Lucien sighed and held her tight.

  “I know.”

  Chapter 35

  Alastair was already exhausted and at the end of his patience when Mirabelle cornered him in the sitting room. He’d spent all day trying to get a moment alone with Giselle but she was avoiding him. He was about to knock on her door after he was done dressing for dinner but he heard Mirabelle instructing the maid in regard to Giselle’s hair. Alastair backed away quickly and made his way downstairs. Lucien saluted him as he walked in.

  “Glad to see you survived.” Alastair grumbled as he settled into one of the armchairs. Lucien smiled as he took the chair next to his. He yawned as he stretched.

  “I’m still tired as hell. I don’t know how we did that every night when we were younger.” He groaned as he pressed his hand to his stomach. Alastair looked at him out of the corner of his eye and shook his head.

  “I did not drink like that every night.” He said as he looked at the clock. For the first time in years, he wanted to go to bed and sleep.

  “I didn’t mean ‘we’ as in you and me. I meant it collectively. Most young men go to Town and make asses of themselves. Drinking, women, gambling… all the things you were smart enough to avoid.” Lucien smiled as he shut his eyes. Alastair suppressed a yawn and looked at the clock again. Why are they taking so long? He wondered.

  “If they don’t hurry, I’m going to skip dinner and go to bed. I’m so bloody tired.” Alastair admitted. Lucien cracked an eye open and shook his head. Alastair narrowed his eyes at him. “Unlike you, I got up early. I barely slept and I’ve had a rather frustrating and disappointing day.” Lucien grimaced as he sat up and leaned close.

  “I wouldn’t, if I were yo
u. Your sister’s not too pleased with you at the moment. In fact, you might…” Lucien cleared his throat and sat up straight. Mirabelle swept into the room and went straight for Alastair. Lucien rose and tried to intercept her. “You look lovely this evening!” He leaned in for a kiss and Mirabelle offered her cheek impatiently.

  “It won’t work, Lucien.” Mirabelle warned as she stepped around him and glared at Alastair. “You! How could you?” She hissed. Alastair frowned as he stood.

  “I’m not sure what you’re referring to.” He crossed his arms and stood his ground. It was never good to let Mirabelle think she had the upper hand in an argument.

  “Of course you aren’t! How many things are you hiding that would make me angry?” She yelled. Alastair felt his temper stirring. Of all the times for her to start a fight…

  “Nineteen.” He replied. Mirabelle’s head pulled back in confusion.

  “Nineteen?” She asked. Lucien made a choking sound as he tried his best not to laugh. Alastair looked at Mirabelle pointedly.

  “I can think of nineteen things that I am certain would make you angry.” He clarified. Mirabelle’s eyes widened and her fists clenched at her sides.

  “Shit.” Lucien whispered. Alastair’s eyes flicked toward him and then back to Mirabelle. Shit, indeed. He concurred. She started to charge at him and was about to push him, he braced himself as her hands froze in front of him. She flung them in the air and cursed as she turned on her heel and began pacing.

  “Maybe you can explain to me why you’ve hidden your condition from everyone that loves you!” She yelled. Alastair’s ears rang and he stepped back in shock and looked to Lucien. He shook his head softly. It wasn’t me.