Dare to Love by Jennifer Wilde

Author:Jennifer Wilde
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781497698208
Publisher: Open Road Media

XXVI

For a moment I was absolutely paralyzed. Finally I managed to stumble over and light one of the lamps, and when I turned around to face him my heart was pounding. Still elegantly attired in his maroon suit and satin waistcoat, he stood there smiling smugly. I was angry, so angry I couldn’t speak, and I was frightened, too. His eyes glittered, and there could be no doubt about his intentions.

“Everything they say about your beauty is quite true,” he remarked. “I’ll grant that. You’re gorgeous. A whore, of course, but a gorgeous whore. I can see why Franz has been so bewitched.”

“Get out of my room,” I said.

“You seem upset, Elena. Why should you be upset? Isn’t this what you wanted?”

“Get out.”

“Franz assured me you were in an amorous mood. He said you required attention and that he was a bit tired himself. He went on up to his room to get a little sleep. I told him I’d be glad to fill in.”

“I don’t believe—”

“He sent me to you. Franz and I are very close, you see, like brothers. We share everything.”

“Leave my room this minute!”

Wagner laughed a dry laugh and moved closer. I backed against the dressing table, my hand closing around the silver handle of my hair brush. His eyes were dark, gleaming with malicious intent. His bronze hair was burnished by the lamp light, a rich red-brown, and his face was all sharp planes.

“You should be flattered,” he said. “One day you’ll boast about this. You’ll brag about the night you slept with Richard Wagner.” He moved closer.

Gripping the hair brush tightly, I swung it out, intending to slam it across his temple. His hand flew up and his fingers closed about my wrist, squeezing, twisting. I winced and dropped the hair brush. Bringing my wrist down, he gave it an extra twist. Pain shot through my arm. He smiled, and his eyes were filled with satisfaction. He enjoyed giving pain.

“Franz—Franz will kill you,” I whispered.

“I told you, he sent me. He didn’t want you to pine.”

“I don’t believe you!”

“Ask him yourself—in the morning. You’ll have to do it promptly, though. We’re leaving at ten, Franz and I, going back to Dresden for a day or so, and then we’re taking a walking tour together.”

“You’re lying.”

“Afraid not, Elena. Franz has finally decided to leave you, something he should have done weeks ago.”

“Let go of my wrist!”

“Frightened?” he inquired. “I should think you’d be elated. I’m much better in bed than Franz could ever hope to be.”

He was tall and lean and lithe, with the wiry strength of most slender men. The fingers tightened around my wrist were like steel. There was no way I could pull free. I knew I had to keep calm, but the anger and panic continued to mount, and I began to tremble inside.

“I’m going to enjoy this,” he informed me. “That first night I saw you, I wanted you. I wanted to drag you out of the opera box and take you on the floor, use you the way I’d use any other whore.

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