His Wicked Seduction novel Chapter 29

Lucien propped himself up on his elbows on the floor, legs crossed at the ankles, watching her through hooded eyes. He'd enjoyed rousing her, but the resigned hurt in her eyes now made him uncomfortable. She was trying to bend back the pages of the novel and her lack of success was distressing her.

"It's just a book. You can buy a new one."

Her brown eyes misted over. "It wouldn't be the same."

"Don't tell me that you've grown impossibly fond of Lady Eustace in the last few minutes." He was trying to tease her but she wasn't smiling.

"It's not Lady Eustace I'm fond of."

Horatia got to her feet, not seeming to notice the rip in her gown near the shoulder. The silver fabric sagged off her left shoulder, exposing part of the creamy mound of her breast. Lucien silently begged for the gown to drop farther. Would her nipple be a soft peach, or a sweet berry red? He ached to know its taste, to explore that nipple with his mouth, his tongue. Would she like to be laved, bitten or sucked on? All of these questions suddenly seemed vital. He had to know the answers. Lucien whimpered in protest when Horatia tugged the ripped sleeve back up, hiding that taunting bosom from him.

"If you'll excuse me." She made to leave but he lunged to his feet and caught the back of her gown, stopping her dead in her tracks. She reached behind her and gripped the wrist that held her gown, digging her nails into his skin. He didn't even flinch at the pain.

"Release me."

"Answer my question." He found himself grinning, knowing she would break. He wouldn't let her leave otherwise.

"You know the answer," she replied, releasing his wrist and crossing her arms. She turned her face away from him.

"You're no fun tonight," Lucien muttered.

"Since when do you ever want me to be fun, or even want me to have fun? As I seem to recall, your life's mission is to rip my heart and soul out and crush them under your boot heels. And congratulations Lucien, you've succeeded. Bravo. Now please let me go, so when I start to cry I may do so in peace. Please, save me the humiliation of breaking down in your presence."

Cedric would never condone that marriage. If Lucien were in his place, he wouldn't have allowed it either. Cedric had seen him sleep with two women at once, and knew Lucien had done things in bed even some of the League shied away from. Stupidly, he'd boasted of such conquests and the cunning methods of seduction he'd used.

No, Cedric would never allow his sister to marry a man like him. Nor would Lucien find a woman who would rouse his passions, but then he'd always known he'd be doomed to a loveless marriage. He'd find some quiet unobtrusive girl, marry her quickly and be done with it. If Horatia saw him married, then she'd be able to move on herself. And the past will be truly buried, he thought.

A sleek, furry, black body appeared in the drawing room doorway. Muff had returned. Lucien, too weary to go and summon a hackney to return to Half Moon Street, decided to stay here, warm by the fire, still burning with the memory of Horatia's form against his. He walked over to the couch against the wall, puffed a few pillows and threw himself down on it. The fire crackled, the only light in the room after he'd extinguished the candles. Muff gave an odd little chirp and pounced on Lucien's chest.

Lucien, like Cedric, was a lover of all animals and he scratched the wizened cat behind the ears. The responding purr was loud but soothing. As sleep started to close in on him, he wondered if he could spend the rest of his days as a bachelor, with nothing but a cat like Muff for company. Or perhaps he would spend his days at the Midnight Garden, whose ladies were always eager to make his dreams come true.

It wasn't ladies he dreamed about however, but one teary-eyed beauty in a torn silver gown. A Cinderella whose Prince Charming had not danced with her at the ball, nor kissed her before the clock struck midnight. In the dark moonlit palace of his dreams, he held a lone silver satin slipper and wept, for what he did not know.