by Josie Litton
“Steady,” Charles murmured. He cast a quick look around the oversized space with its coffered ceiling, large stone fireplace, and elaborately carved wooden furnishings. A wall of photos near the desk showed Dame Aurelia shaking hands and chatting with dozens of powerful men in Britain and beyond. He spared a glance at them before moving on.
“There’s bound to be a safe here somewhere,” he said.
Gathering herself, Gemma asked, “If that’s where the evidence is, how will we ever get to it?”
Her husband cast her a quick grin. He went directly to the copy of a Holbein portrait of Henry VIII that hung over the fireplace.
“Shocking lack of imagination,” he said as he felt his way around the edges of the frame. “Everyone does it the same way and thinks they’re being clever. Ah, yes, just here…”
The sudden click made Gemma jump. It sounded unnaturally loud in the quiet room. The portrait swung away from the wall on one side, revealing a hollow in the thick stone wall where a large safe rested.
“German, Stockinger 742 Defender Model,” Charles mused. “Good choice if a bit predictable.” He rubbed the tips of his fingers together and smiled at his wife. “I could try to impress you by cracking this thing but there’s probably an easier way.”
She tilted her head to one side and stared at him. Would there ever be a time when he didn’t surprise her? She rather guessed not.
“Why would a banker know how to crack a safe?”
“It’s a useful skill sometimes but we can talk about that another time. Let’s have a look in that desk.”
Moments later, he had found the index card upon which Dame Aurelia had written a reminder to herself of the combination, proving yet again that arrogance is only a synonym for stupidity. Very shortly after that, the safe hung open.
At first glance, it appeared to contain only the payments from the auction and a handful of checks. Gemma’s heart fell. What if her husband was wrong and there was no--
“Here we are,” he said, removing a plastic zip bag in which a dozen plastic thumb drives rattled.
Tucking the bag into the pocket of his jacket, he gazed at his young wife tenderly. Despite the grim surroundings, she looked even more lovely than she had when they first met. How desperately he had wanted her then, never suspecting that what he felt in that instant was only the smallest hint of all that was to come.
On impulse, he crossed the distance between them and took her into his arms. Softly, against her lips, he murmured, “It will be all right, you know.”
She blinked against the sudden sheen of tears and nodded. “I believe you. It’s just this place…”
Later, she would never be able to say exactly what drove her but perhaps it was the need, in that final moment before they left there forever, to replace painful memories with something far brighter and sustaining.
Wrapping her arms around her husband’s neck, Gemma kissed him deeply. They clung together, enraptured with one another. Such was their passion that they might have gone a good deal further were it not for the sudden squeal of outrage that erupted from the direction of the office doors.
“What are you doing…?” A flustered young woman demanded. She was one of the favorites, the blonde with the especially perky tits. But right then she wore an ugly mask of suspicion and outrage.
“You aren’t supposed to be in here!”
Just then it registered on her exactly who she was addressing. Her confusion redoubled. “Oh, my lord, I didn’t mean, that is…” Her gaze moved to the portrait hanging off to the side and beyond it the open door of the safe.
Any doubt she had vanished. Miss Perky Tits took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Her piercing scream rattled the office windows, startled the guests and caused several gentlemen to clutch their chests in sudden intimation of their own mortality.
After that, there was really nothing for it but for Charles to grab his wife’s hand and the two of them to race down the hall to a back exit that fortuitously let out onto the car park. Before the first pursuers could muster themselves, they were in the MG and out through the gates.
In the exhilaration of their escape, the pair were both laughing uproariously when they made a very brief stop at The Strutting Cock to collect their belongings. As Gemma tossed their bags into the car, Charles paid off the obsequious Walter Snivels, apologizing to the innkeeper for the unfortunate destruction of their bed.
“Antique that was,” Snivels whined, counting his money. “Been in the family for centuries. Can’t think how we’ll ever replace it.”
“I wouldn’t be in any hurry to do so if I were you,” Charles advised cheerily as he hopped back into the car.
“Where are we going?” Gemma asked. She didn’t really care; anywhere would do so long as it was with him. Still, she didn’t think he should have it all his own way.
With a saucy grin, she settled back in her seat, eyed her husband and said, “By the way, I do believe it’s my turn to drive.”
Only one more episode left!
TEMPTING GEMMA Part 9
Gemma goes to town! And London will never be the same again!
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Sneak Peeks
TEMPTING GEMMA is part of my Austen series. Continue reading for a sneak peek at other books in that series.
His Lordship’s Downfall
With profound apologies to Jane Austen, who through no fault of her own inspired this tale of dark contemporary romance. Although M/F, monogamous and HEA, this story is far more explicit than any I’ve written before. Sexual exploitation, casual misogyny, brazen revenge, graphic language including frequent appearances of the c- word, and the use of unconventional devices for intimate purposes are only a few of its many sins. Read solely at your own discretion.
Lord Adrian Burleigh is a handsome, autocratic aristocrat with a taste for excess. In his world--where a modern-day British Empire still rules most of the globe--there are no limits for a man of such wealth and power. His privileged life is comfortable, controlled and predictable. Until, that is, he decides to acquire a “pet”.
Early on, the reader is likely to conceive a desire to do terrible things to Lord Adrian despite--or because of--his wicked appeal. Rest assured, the arrogant lord will receive his just deserts. Of course, because this is a romance, he will be the better man for it.
Read a preview of HIS LORDSHIP’S DOWNFALL here
Tales of the Odalisque
Welcome to the Odalisque, the world’s most exclusive club intime. Kindly leave your inhibitions at the door (clothing is optional). If this is your first visit, a few words of explanation may be in order. The tall, lithely muscular and all-around stunningly handsome man lounging at the bar is the club’s founder and owner, Lucius Belmont. “Luscious Lucius” some call him. Others are more inclined to mutter about his resemblance to Lucifer. A word to the wise, enjoy your visit but do nothing to vex him. Especially not now.
Lucius is pre-occupied with a problem unlike any he has encountered before. That rarest of creatures--a virgin--has wandered into his circle of debauchery. Natalia Bollinger is everything she should not be--exquisitely beautif
ul, unbearably arousing, and uncannily able to penetrate all his hard-won defenses. But Natalia is guarding secrets of her own that will pit her against Lucius in an epic showdown of vice versus virtue. Before your visit is over, limits will be tested, lines will be crossed, and all the rules will be broken. Take a seat. The show is about to begin!
Although inspired by my earlier work, “His Lordship’s Downfall”, also available on Amazon, “Tales of the Odalisque” is a standalone novel with no cliffhanger. You need not have read “His Lordship’s Downfall” to enjoy this story but of course, I hope that you will do so. Please be aware that while this story is M/F, monogamous and HEA, it contains explicit sexual scenes that some may find disturbing. Read at your own discretion.
Read a preview of TALES OF THE ODALISQUE here
I also write a dark romance series that you may enjoy. Continue reading for a sneak peek at CHOSEN:
Chosen
My name is Grace Delaney. I was born into this country’s most admired political family. When I was sixteen, the media dubbed me “America’s Princess”. I hate being called that, all the more so since I discovered the terrifying secret hidden behind my family’s glittering public image.
A few months ago, I graduated from college determined to make a life of my own. But now, suddenly, Adam Falzon is in it. The head of an old-world family with a reputation for ruthlessness, he looks like a fallen angel. As attracted as I am to him, I’ve come to suspect that Adam is hiding secrets of his own more deadly and dangerous than I ever want to know. I don’t dare give into my feelings for him.
But I may not have a choice. With every beat of my heart, he is drawing me further into a web of dark desire. My chances of escaping are slipping away. Worse yet, I’m no longer sure that I want to.
Read a preview of CHOSEN here
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.
Copyright 2018 Josie Litton. All rights reserved.
TEMPTING GEMMA: PART EIGHT
All Rights Reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the author constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property.
If you would like to use material from this book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission can be obtained by contacting the author at [email protected].
