Praise for the novels of Lorraine Beaumont
”Irresistible characters, fresh voice and a hero to die for…what’s there not to like!” Jamie Scott, Award Winning Author
“The paranormal romance that centers the story and pulls you into its embrace like a lover you had forgotten how much you enjoyed kissing. There is mystery and more than anything there is the need to find out what dark secret lies at the core of it all. A paranormal romance for those who are not afraid of the dark!” Sookie Stackhouse Reviews
“Time Travel at its finest! This is by far one of the best books I have read in the past year and I read a lot of books.” Barbara McCarthy
“Redemption, acceptance, magic, mystery… a riveting story, enthralled me from the first page all the way to the end. I didn’t want it to be over!” Bewitching Reads
“Romance is the name of the game in this book. This book delivers what we all want, more romance and excitement in our life. I am very well pleased with this book and the excitement it has brought me. This book had me unwilling to put it down until I turned the last page, as I was so enthralled with the plot. The author of this book knows how to deliver the goods in this romance novel.” Crowlady
Other titles by Lorraine Beaumont
Ravenhurst Series
Time Travel Romance
Forgotten Time
Shadows of Yesterday
Time to Remember
Dreams of Tomorrow
Now and Forever
Ravenhurst: A Victorian Christmas
Ravenhurst: A Modern Day Christmas
Stand Alone Books in the Ravenhurst Series
His Wicked Ways: Lucian
Lost in the Highland Series
Scottish Time Travel Romance
Lost in the Highlands, the Thirteen Scotsman I
Lost in the Highlands, the Thirteen Scotsman II
Briarcliff Series
Paranormal Dark Urban Fantasy
Elyograg
Gargoyle
Degare’
Blood & Fire
Edenbrooke Hollow Series
Paranormal Time Travel Romance
We Three Witches, a Good Spell Gone Wrong
We Three Witches, Something Wicked This Way Comes, Book Two
New Series in the Works
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AUTHORS NOTE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY ONE
CHAPTER FORTY TWO
EPILOGUE
Dear Reader –
EXTRAS
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
AUTHORS NOTE
The seventh book in the Ravenhurst is a standalone book, which means it does not have to be read with the other books in the series. However, if you would like the full Ravenhurst experience you can grab Forgotten Time, Book 1, free.
This is a work of fiction.
His Wicked Ways, Lucian © 2017 Lorraine Beaumont
Ravenhurst Series © 2012 Lorraine Beaumont
Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are figments of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.
Text Copyright © 2017 Lorraine Beaumont
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, record-ing, or otherwise without the express written per-mission of the author.
SMASHWORDS EDITION
CHAPTER ONE
They say ‘good things come to those who wait.’ Personally, Lucian Scott thought that was a crock of shit. It seemed like he had been waiting a lifetime for his luck to turn around. Granted, some of his misfortune was his own fault.
He had an appetite for the finer things in life but not the money to acquire them, which he thanked or blamed, depending how one looked at it, on his father and his tightfisted brother, Reed. The rest he blamed on Cecily, the one woman he had ever told he loved—bitch.
“Jesus.” He threaded his fingers through his thick shoulder length hair as the familiar ache of betrayal bubbled to the surface again.
“This is what my life has come to.” Sighing heavily, he looked around the room he had rented. The furnishings were sparse at best and only consisted of a bed, chair, desk, and an old tube television that sat cockeyed on a faded dresser. Heavy pattered yellow curtains hung crookedly on the far wall, and a tan metal air conditioner/heater was underneath the window that made a knocking sound every time it kicked on.
Dropping his hands, he lifted up a bottle of whiskey and poured two glasses. A mirror was on the wall behind the bed. He assumed it was to make the small room seem larger but it didn’t really help. A lone floor lamp stood in the corner for no other apparent reason than to take up space, because when he tried to turn it on, it didn’t work. An ugly print of some animal was on the other wall, with a mountain scene and a stained multi colored shag carpet covered the floor.
Lifting his glass, he downed the contents and then refilled it. It seemed like a lifetime ago that he was back in England, begging his brother to help him out of yet another mess that he had gotten himself into.
The latest was a gambling debt. He owed some lowlifes from the underbelly of society quite a bit of money; if it wasn’t for that, he would have never entertained the notion of returning home to Ravenhurst—he hated it there. But he had a plan and it was a damn good one, too, until Cecily, “the Bitch” as he now referred to her as, betrayed him for money. He hoped Karma came and bit her in the ass like it was doing to him now.
CHAPTER TWO
Lake Lure, North Carolina
“You just don’t do it for me anymore.”
Molly Fitzgerald stuck her finger in her ear and wiggled it around.
“What?” She was sure she’d heard him wrong.
“I tried. I really did.” Dan climbed from bed. His muscled torso flexing as he lifted his shirt, pulling it down over his head.
“What?” She couldn’t seem to understand what he was saying. Didn’t he just make love to her? His dick seemed to be working well enough just a few minutes ago. She gathered the sheet tighter under her arms.
“Come on, Moll’s,” he said in a placating voice. “You knew this was coming. I could tell.”
“You, you, could tell?” She sounded belligerent. Granted, he was right on one count. Sex was never as good for her as it was for him, usually. He was more of a hit and run type of guy. And if she didn’t help
herself along fast enough she would miss crossing the proverbial finish line.
Actually, if she were to be honest, she had missed crossing over the finish line for most of their relationship. But she loved him…and he loved her, so that didn’t matter…
Or did it?
Dan smoothed the pleats in the front of his tan pants.
She hated those pants.
When he wore them, he reminded her of a glorified Zookeeper.
“Chin up, Moll’s,” he said. “It’s not like we can’t be friends with benefits.” He waggled his brows and gave her a toothy grin, which used to make her heart go pitter-patter. Now, though, she realized, the brow/grin thing reminded her of one of those monkeys at the zoo he’d taken her a few times, the ones that like to throw their poop.
“What about the wedding?” She couldn’t believe how pathetic she sounded.
“Oh that.” He sat down, grabbed up his Dr. Who socks, and pulled them on. “I guess…” He sighed audibly. “I can still be your date.”
“You guess?” Her stomach twisted.
“Yeah,” he said. “I know how embarrassed you get when you have to do something alone.”
Molly thought about all of the times she got herself over the finish line…alone. Apparently, she wasn’t as embarrassed as he thought, but then again, he was usually already asleep when that happened.
“No.” Molly shook her head adamantly back and forth, fighting back a sudden rush of tears. “I can’t believe this.”
His brow hitched up a notch. “Now Moll’s,” he placated. “Don’t go getting all blubbery on me. You know I can’t stand to see you cry.”
Molly choked back her tears, her face burning. “Are you out of your mind?”
“Hey, I was just trying to do you a favor, for old time’s sake.”
“Old time’s sake?” she repeated.
“Yeah, listen,” he said. “This doesn’t have to get ugly. Marshall and Peggy are my friends, too.”
Molly could barely catch a breath. “They were my friends first.”
“Yeah, so,” he snapped. “What’s your point?”
“You shouldn’t go to the wedding.”
“Sorry.” He shook his head. “No can do. I promised Marshall that I would be his best man.”
“You can’t break a promise to Marshall but you can break the thousand promises that you made me?” She gaped at him.
“I did no such a thing.” His face turned red.
“Really, how didn’t you?” Molly felt like her face was on fire. “You said I was the one.” Her lip started to quiver and she bit it.
“God,” he exhaled. “You are such a pain in the ass.” He stood up.
“Me!” She clenched the pillow in her lap.
“You just had sex with me and then told me I didn’t do it for you anymore. Don’t you think you should have mentioned that prudent piece of information before we had sex?”
He shook his head. “You make what just happened sound cheap. I was just trying, in my own way, to say goodbye—soften the blow.”
Molly shoved her hands through her hair and pulled. “God, Dan. You’re such an asshole.”
“See, this is why we don’t work. You’re a name caller.”
“Asshole!” she screamed.
“Bitch!” he yelled back, grabbed his jacket off the chair and slung it over his shoulder.
“Who’s the name caller now, Dan?”
“I’ll call you about the wedding.”
“Don’t you dare call me,” she warned about to lose it completely.
“Now, Moll’s,” he pacified. “Don’t get your panties in a wad.”
“My panties in a wad!” she echoed and grabbed up her lacy red ‘special occasion’ panties he had given her on Valentine’s Day instead of the chocolate she asked for and balled them up.
She threw them at his head. She missed.
Her panties fell soundlessly to the floor. “Take them and shove them up your ass!”
“You’re such a child.” He raked his hand through his sandy blonde hair, making it stand at awkward angles.
“Get out!”
“Just to be clear…” He paused at the door. “I guess it’s a no go on the wedding then?”
“Why yes, Dan,” she dripped sarcastically. “That means it’s a no go on the wedding.”
“I’m still going.”
“Yeah, so am I.”
“Moll’s…” He gave her a sympathetic look.
Molly bit back the tears clouding her eyes. “Just go, please.”
“Are you okay?”
“Oh yeah,” she sobbed. “I’m just peachy.”
“You don’t sound too…peachy.”
She choked back her tears. “Wow. What a brilliant deduction, Sherlock.”
Dan shook his head and opened the door. “Grow up.”
“Shove it!” she yelled after him, but it was too late, he had already shut the door.
CHAPTER THREE
Lake Lure, North Carolina
Lucian poured himself another drink as his mind drifted of its own accord back to the night with Cecily that everything changed.
Ravenhurst – Cabin in the Woods
“You want something?” he asked.
Cecily didn’t say anything but instead reached down and grabbed the bottom of her t-shirt and pulled it over her head. Next, she removed her pants.
The firelight shifted, making shadows dance across her naked flesh.
Lucian’s gaze traveled down the length of her slim but curvaceous body. Then back to her face. “What’s this about?”
“What does it look like?” She bit her lip and knelt between his open legs. Reaching down, she yanked off his boot and dropped it to the floor.
She repeated the action.
The second boot hit the floor with a reverberating thud.
Lucian leaned back in the chair, holding the arms. The metal on his belt made a tinkling sound as she hastily unbuckled it. “What’s the hurry?” he asked, lifting his hips as she yanked his jeans off.
Cecily stayed silent and instead, reached up and pulled down his black boxer briefs.
He stood up, stepped out of them, and sat back down.
She slid her hands up his muscular legs, the hair coarse and wiry. She wet her lips and then took the tip of his rigid erection into her mouth.
“Damn, baby,” he breathed, pulling in a sharp intake of air. He reached down and slid his hands into her short hair.
She swirled her tongue around the head and then sucked the flesh hard, taking him all the way to the back of her throat.
“Fuck yeah! That’s it,” he gritted, lifting his hips and pressing forward as far as he could. Gathering her hair in one hand, he moved her head back and forth over his length.
Back and forth, she moved her mouth, suckling, dragging her warm tongue across his flesh and then nipping him with her teeth just enough to give him flashes of pain to prolong the sweet torture she was inflicting on him. When she took him all the way in again, he held still.
“Not yet, baby,” he murmured, barely breathing. “I want this to last a bit.”
Reaching down, he pulled her up against him. The fresh glaze of passion simmered in the depths of his dark eyes as he looked down at her, smoothing her hair away from her face.
“Not yet,” he whispered, huskily, once again, and ran his thumb gently over her bottom lip. “So sweet,” he breathed, cupping her face with his hands, and then he leaned forward and claimed her mouth with his own.
Cecily had been waiting for this kiss. It was sweet, soft, gentle, and held meaning, but it was too late and she couldn’t stand it. She broke away from him and sat on the table.
A confused look flitted across his face accompanied by a flash of pain.
She had never seen that look before and did not welcome it now. It made her feel even worse. She pressed her hands on the table and opened her legs wide. The glimpse of pain she had seen on his handsome face turned quickly into something
she recognized.
Lucian walked up to her and gave her one of his sexy smiles. She expected him to slam into her body, take what he wanted. Make it hard, fast, but instead he did something she was not prepared for.
He knelt down in front of her and pulled her forward. “Lucian what are you…Ohm!” she moaned, shocked, gripping the rough edge of the wood with her hands. His mouth came down against the sensitive flesh between her thighs, making her arch up off the table.
“Lucian…” she cried his name as he slid his warm tongue inside her body, eliciting tremors of ecstasy to spiral through her, pushing her beyond the moment, beyond herself, making her writhe…clench.
Gasping in pleasure, she gripped the table harder as he pushed her thighs further apart and slowly inserted his finger.
Her entire body clenched. “Oh Lucian…” she moaned his name, jerking against his hand.
“Yeah baby,” he said.
“That’s it,” he murmured, sliding his finger back inside. “Let go,” he coaxed her onward, lowering his mouth back against her soft flesh and with one last lash of his tongue, he pushed her so close to the edge she thought she would slide right on over.
He pulled back and sat on his haunches. He smiled up at her. “You want me now?”
Now this was the Lucian she recognized—the one that liked to play games by leaving her on edge. She squirmed, closing her legs slightly. She was on fire. Hell, she was tempted to finish herself off at this point. Slowly, she reached down between her legs…
Lucian grabbed her hand and stood up. “Oh no baby, what is the fun in that?” He nipped her lips playfully and reached down between her thighs, toyed with her quivering flesh. “If we go, we should go together…right?” he murmured against her lips.
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