The Seduction by Julia Ross

Author:Julia Ross
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-02-24T09:21:33+00:00

HE RELEASED HER. INSTANTLY JULIET PRESSED HER HAND TO her lips. Sweet fire burned over the backs of her knuckles and licked at the center of her palm. Clenching her fingers into a fist, she stood bereft, abandoned in the night. Her corset constricted, laced tightly around her ribs where it forced up her breasts. Was that why her heart ached?

Everything she had said about the duke's son was true. It was worth anything, even this further destruction of her reputation, to disrupt his plans and force his public repudiation. Lord Edward would never forgive her, but he would also never pursue her again after what she had done downstairs.

Yet she did not intend for one moment to truly allow this rake's misuse of her body.

Her pulse raced. It felt like panic. She swallowed.

There was something else the duke's son had said to her when he' d told her about that base wager in London: Ι knew Gracechurch would never succeed with you. You could neuter such a popinjay with the lift of one eyebrow.

She had almost done it in the open carriage, when she had pretended to be unmoved by his kisses and seen that fleeting vulnerability cross his face. Let Alden Granville think he had secured her favors. Let him think he had won his wager and saved his fortune. Then let him find himself impotent in the face of her scorn! She would humiliate him, destroy him, strip him of his pride and conceit, and leave him shattered.

Black night filled her vision. She could hear his steady breathing. His keen, masculine scent filled her nostrils. She had inhaled it like fresh air when she'd first come up behind him in Sir Reginald's drawing room. The other men were doused with strong perfume. In contrast, Alden Granville carried only the bouquet of fresh water, like a fast-flowing brook, mixed with some indefinable maleness that she wanted to draw deep into her lungs. Damn him that he had used all of that beauty to deceive her!

"There can't be much time left," she said into the breathing silence.

Something clunked as it hit the floor. The sound echoed in her heart in a small burst of panic.

"What are you doing?"

"Removing my shoes," he replied calmly.

Metal made a small clink.

"What was that?"

"My smallsword. Ι don't usually wear it when Ι make love." His voice teased, full of confidence. Damn him!

"You are getting undressed?" Her voice was too high, almost a squeal. Juliet swallowed again and took a deep breath.

"Does that alarm you?"

That slight shush of satin must be his waistcoat sliding from his arms. She could imagine it, the rose-and-silver embroidery folding, dancing as it was shrugged off his strong shoulders and back.

"Ι don't- Νο, of course I'm not alarmed!" Yet she stood frozen in the dark.

Something fine and soft rustled, tiny sounds as if the bells in the pattern on his lace rang in Some almost inaudible, miniature world.

"Then you will be glad to know Ι have now shed my shirt. My breeches come next.

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