His Wicked Seduction novel Chapter 5

Horatia was more reserved and subdued than Audrey. She had few friends and often spent her days reading or riding. The cats would join her in a window seat or a chair and curl their tails around their bodies, purring with unconditional love. Being around them she forgot her troubles, forgot that she desired a man who was nothing but cold to her.

The front door knocker rapped. Audrey flew past the open study door, her face beaming with excitement. It seemed her sister had recovered from her scolding. Horatia hesitated before joining her in the hall. She knew Lucien would be there, and as always, she was torn between wanting to see him and dreading his callous disregard of her. Taking a deep breath, she went out to meet her guests.

Her eyes always found Lucien first. Among the group of handsome men standing in the hall, he alone enraptured her. With dark red hair just long enough to curl above his collar and burning hazel eyes, he was temptation personified. Horatia would happily fall at his feet and offer her body, heart and soul to him as tribute. But he'd reject her, just as he always did.

Lucien's gaze fixed on her while the rest of the crowd headed towards the drawing room. He remained still, tracking her every breath, every move. The gleam in his eyes startled her as a flash of heat went from her breasts down between her legs. Her face flushed. Lucien answered with a cold smile, as though he knew exactly what he'd done to her.

Lucien offered her his arm, and she hesitated only a moment before crossing the hall and dropping her fingers onto his sleeve. He tucked her arm more firmly in his, the warmth of his fingers burning her skin. She glanced about, wondering if anyone would notice, but no eyes looked her way. Unable to resist, she leaned into him, settling her arm in the crook of his, relishing the warmth where their bodies touched.

"Shall we?" Lucien's voice was soft and dark. A tone more suited for the bedroom than the hall.

Her throat went dry, but she managed a shaky nod.

After dinner Lucien and the other men opted to play whist, but he couldn't focus on the cards. The ladies in the far corner of the room had his attention. Ursula, one of the Sheridan girls' lady's maid sat in a chair, reading from a thick tome, oblivious to her young charges. Horatia and Audrey sat on either side of Emily, the young Duchess of Essex. Emily and Horatia were clad in shimmering gowns, while Audrey's was a light pink muslin. Their heads bent close as they whispered, making him think of three fairies who escaped from the court of Queen Mab in Romeo and Juliet. Occasionally one shot a glance at the men before returning to their secretive conversation.

Lucien would have paid anything to be a fly nestled on the wall close to them-to better see Horatia's lips part and form each word, just as much as he'd love to have those lips wrapped around his aching shaft, sucking him to sweet oblivion.

Christ. Lucien forced his gaze away from her.

"What do you suppose they're talking about?" Charles asked him.

It seemed he wasn't the only one dying of curiosity.

"God, I wish I knew," he admitted truthfully, just as Audrey broke into a fit of giggles.

Charles waggled his fingers at Audrey and blew her a kiss. Audrey blushed and quickly turned her back on them.

"You ought not to encourage her, Charles. She's young and impressionable." Lucien remembered all too well the perils of having a lovesick child follow him about.

"What is there to encourage? The little sprite hasn't the least bit of interest in me." Charles smiled wryly. He leaned back in his chair in a picture of relaxed ease.

"What? Are you sure? I always thought maybe she..." Lucien trailed off when he noticed Audrey's head turn in a very definite direction, and it wasn't towards Charles.

"Oh dear," Lucien kept his voice low. Audrey clearly had eyes for Godric's half-brother, Jonathan.

"Oh dear, indeed. We best watch out for fireworks. Cedric will rip Jonathan to pieces." The smug look on Charles's face nearly made Lucien laugh.

"You want him to get caught, don't you?"

Charles yawned. "This month has been a dead bore as you well know. After Tisdale gave his notice I just haven't been out as much unless it's with you. Watching Cedric chase Jonathan about town over Audrey's honor would certainly entertain me."

Lucien's humor fizzled. If Cedric ever found out that he wanted Horatia-in ways that would bring a blush to a courtesan's cheeks-Lucien was a dead man.

When the men finished their game of whist and downed the last of the brandy, they decided the evening was at last over.