His Wicked Seduction novel Chapter 23

"Not a penny until the conditions are met, and there is dirt falling upon a grave."

Horatia's heart shot into her throat as she struggled to listen to the low voice on the other side of the garden hedge.

"Oh my God," Horatia hissed at the same time that Lucien growled, "That bastard!"

Lucien pulled Horatia by the hand back through the hedges and once more into their room.

"We have to leave now," he said in a tone rough.

"I can see myself home." She couldn't keep her voice from shaking.

"No chance of that, Horatia. I'm taking you to Godric's."

Horatia froze.

"How...how long have you known?" Her hands flew to her mask, still firmly in place.

"How long have I known what?" Lucien asked as he grabbed his overcoat and cloaked it around her shoulders.

"How long have you known it was me?" She fought to remain calm, despite the wild gallop of her heart, and clutched his coat tighter around her.

"Since you walked in the door."

Horatia's stomach pitched straight towards her feet.

"What we did...that was..." She had no words to say anything more. "And you knew!" Her tone came out more accusatory than she intended. She had meant to seduce him after all.

"Tonight was a lesson for you to be careful around men," Lucien replied. "A lady of your standing shouldn't be here. What would Cedric think if he found out?"

"What about the garden? The stars? Was it all a lie?" Horatia's lower lip shook, but the anger she wished she could summon did not appear. She was bruised and hurting inside. Why was it whenever Lucien was around to wound her she lost the urge to fight? Was it because she cared so much about him that she didn't want to quarrel?

"Everything that happened tonight was a lie. Deep down you knew that. I gave you what you sought while retaining your virtue, at least in the most literal sense. Others would not be so considerate. I was playing along for your benefit."

"My benefit? Don't you dare cheapen what happened between us!" Horatia winced at the shrillness of her own voice. Her right hand raised as though to slap Lucien. "I won't let you!"

"Go ahead, my dear. Strike me for my villainous ways and my dastardly schemes. But we have more serious matters to attend to." Lucien waited patiently for her to slap him but Horatia, tears stinging her eyes, merely shook her head and took a step back.

"Even though you deserve it, I could never willingly hurt you." She turned away from him. This only seemed to infuriate him, however. He chased her to the door, grabbed her shoulders and spun her around.

"I don't want you to feel anything for me," he hissed. "Not love, not pity, not even kindness. Do you understand?"

Horatia managed a sad smile. "I understand. But it doesn't change how I feel." Her words seemed to light a fire within him.

He pressed hard against her, hands raking up and down her body. Lucien forced his mouth down over hers, scorching her with the violence of his kiss. Horatia melted into him, knowing he hated her for it. He cupped her bottom, jerked her tighter into him, demanding with his aggression that she scream and fight him off. It was as though he ached to wound her but nothing could compare to his betrayal of her heart.

"Fight me, damn you!" he snarled. "Strike me. Hate me." But Horatia offered only soft lips and yielding caresses until he pulled away.

She raised her chin, unafraid and determined to prove it to him. "I won't. You're trying to frighten me on purpose. It won't work. You'd never hurt me."

The growl at the back of his throat was wild and warning her to stay away.

Glowering, he moved her aside so he could open the door, then pulled her along by the wrist until they were leaving the Midnight Garden's townhouse. Lucien called for the footman near the main door to summon a hackney.

When the coach rolled up, Lucien shoved her inside and instructed the driver to go to Half Moon Street. He didn't apologize. Didn't say a single word. He tore off his mask and when he caught her staring, he leaned over and ripped off her mask as well, then tossed both onto the floor. She kept her eyes on him.

"Stop looking at me!" Lucien shouted. Horatia flinched, but did not look away. "Did you hear me?"

"I suspect all of London heard you." Her tone was surprisingly cool. She was rather proud of herself, standing up to him so.

"Then do as I say."

"I may care for you, but that doesn't mean I have to obey you. Especially when you are being so rude. It's not as though we're married."

"Heaven forbid I ever suffer that fate."

Despite his cruel words Horatia could not do as he asked. She was unable to look away from the depths of his hazel eyes. He had no idea just how alive she was when he touched her. Even his roughness made her burn with desire. She longed to fight back, to match his passion, but until he loved her in return, she could not give in to that side of herself. There would be no turning back if she ever showed him the darker side of her nature-the secret, forbidden desires she longed to fulfill in his arms. It was better if he never know how truly alike they were.