His Wicked Embrace novel Chapter 15

"The red one. And the blue one, of course," Lawrence said, his eyes sweeping over Zehra from head to foot. She curled her arms around her waist as she stood on the small dais in Madame Ella's viewing area. Mirrors flanked her, and she caught glimpses of herself gazing back in wide-eyed wonder. The gowns were lovely-no, beyond lovely. They were extravagant in quality, yet not overdone in ornament and style.

Lawrence crossed his arms over his chest as he prowled in a small circle around Zehra. "What do you think, Madame Ella?" The modiste was tapping her chin with a finger, also studying Zehra.

"Any bold colors will do, my lord. Anything pale would not do justice to her coloring. And those eyes... You must buy sapphires. They will reflect the stunning shade quite well."

"Agreed. I'll have three carriage dresses, four evening gowns, four day gowns, and several chemises and other underpinnings. Matching gloves, of course. We will stop at the milliner and shoe shops next."

"Really, Lawrence, I cannot ask-" Zehra began.

"Don't say another word, or I'll double the order." Lawrence winked at the modiste, who started to laugh.

"We can have half the gowns ready in a few hours since we had some ready-made dresses on hand and the rest in a few days. You can take the nightclothes and the gown she's wearing now if you like."

"Perfect." Lawrence waited until Madame Ella had left them alone, and then he approached the dais. It put Zehra at an equal height to him, and she had to admit she rather liked looking at him eye to eye. Yet as he drew near, her stomach fluttered with fresh nerves.

Had she been foolish kissing him earlier that day? She didn't think so, but it had been wild, scandalous, and entirely inappropriate. Had she done that to anyone back home, her father would have fought the man for her honor, and if he had survived, her father would have forced him to marry her.

She blushed, thinking about marrying Lawrence. She didn't even know him, not in the way she wanted to know the man she planned to marry. Not that she would marry Lawrence or any man, for that option was lost to her now. It was the true reason why she had kissed him, why such a fierce desperation to live at least a short time on her terms was overpowering. It had been a thank-you kiss, a kiss of passion, and a kiss goodbye all at the same time.

Perhaps I can know pleasure and happiness with him, know the touch of a man of my own choosing before...

Before she was sent back to Persia. Even if the people who had broken up the ring managed to catch Al-Zahrani, she would find no freedom back home. Her parents' fortunes had been taken, and she would have no claim to them. At best she might find work as a commoner.

At worst, Al-Zahrani was still free and would find her.

"I can't help but wonder what you are thinking about when you seem so distant." Lawrence cupped her chin in one hand and curled his other around her waist, his fingers swirling soothing patterns on the rose-red muslin gown she wore.

"You wouldn't wish to know my thoughts," she said, sorrow growing inside her so strong for a moment that the bleakness almost consumed her.

And then his lips were on hers. Though it started much like her own kiss earlier that day, something more soon crept into it. A heat and hunger stirred in her until she lost all thoughts of the past. There was only him, his kiss, his touch, his arms around her. She pressed against him, craving anything he could give her. He held her, keeping her from falling off the dais as their lips parted. His silly grin was an echo of the happiness that was filling her, making her a little dizzy.

"What was that for?" she asked, smiling as she bit her lip.

"My father used to say a good kiss could cure anything. Especially a fit of the blue devils." He stroked a playful fingertip down her nose. His hazel eyes were merry, like firelight reflecting on honey.

"Blue devils?" She'd never heard such a silly turn of phrase.

"It's when you feel a bit down. Did it work?"

"Oh!" She giggled. "Yes, it certainly did." All it had taken was one good kiss and she'd almost forgotten what distressed her.

"Good." He stroked the pad of his thumb over her lips, his eyes fixed on her as though he was thinking about kissing her again. She would not have minded, except the dressmaker cleared her throat from behind Lawrence.

"The gown and other clothes are all packed. I can have them delivered to your residence this afternoon if you wish." Madame Ella lifted a hand to brush a strand of her dark silvery hair back into place.