Tainted by Temptation

Author:Katy Madison [Madison, Katy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Historical
ISBN: 9780062017345
Google: EcRhlwEACAAJ
Amazon: 0062017349
Barnesnoble: 0062017349
Goodreads: 9573284
Publisher: Avon
Published: 2011-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Velvet fisted her hands in her skirts, and her face drained of color. Tiny lines appeared in her forehead. “Sh-Should I pack my things tonight?”

Lucian stared at her. It took him a minute to realize her anxiety was because she thought he’d ended her employment.

He waited to see if she would reconsider her options and consent to being his mistress. He despised himself for the weakness, but it had been so long since he’d felt the softness of a woman’s hands on his skin or the drape of her hair over his chest. And damn, Velvet’s hands were slender and feminine, her hair a riot of fire, and her mouth an invitation to sin.

A long time ago he’d sworn off women, but Velvet walked across the floor, and he grew hard and urgent.

He’d sworn off women after Myra’s death, actually. The mention of Myra had been like a plunge into the ocean in the coldest part of the winter. The heat of his anger drained from him. The memories of Myra were raw, and he wouldn’t discuss her. But who the hell had told Velvet? And how much did she know?

Velvet stared at him, her eyes wide and glittering in the darkening gloom. Her trembling chin lifted in defiance. He didn’t understand her resistance to him, but then she wasn’t the first woman to find him objectionable. Another woman in her position would have caved under the pressure and consented to become his mistress, but Velvet was like no other woman.

He finally took pity on her. “Dismissed from the room, Miss Campbell. You may retain your position as governess to Iris.”

“Oh,” she expelled on a puff of air.

“It is probably past time for dinner. You should go fetch her.”

“Certainly.” She tripped toward the door as if afraid he’d change his mind.

His wanting her started all over again. As he watched her reach for the door and cast an uncertain glance over her shoulder at him, he knew he could have her with the promise of marriage.

Marriage.

Lucian sank down in his chair and rubbed his face. The thought had crossed his desperate mind before she mentioned matrimony, before the letter, before she conceded the letter was factual. When she had, he felt as if he’d been punched.

He’d thought the rumors must have been overblown. He’d thought her a victim of circumstance. He’d thought he could claim her child as his or perhaps take her on an extended trip so the birth date wouldn’t raise eyebrows.

He’d expected anything but her admitting to being found naked to the waist, sprawled on a sofa. Yet, her concern had been about Iris. He admired her courage and strength and compassion. Even as he hated her convictions, her firm resolve to resist temptation only made him want her more.

His mind conjured a picture of her, all long legs and milky white skin. He swallowed hard. He still wanted her, but clearly she didn’t want him.

His heart thumped with violence in his chest. The dips in the ocean each morning weren’t going to be enough for him to control his urges.

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