Read Her Wanton Wager for Free Online

he drawled. "Those sound like tired lines from an insipid play."
    Drat the man. Those were lines from her manuscript. In truth, she'd shelved The Perils of Priscilla for two reasons: as part of her self-improvement plan, yes, but also because she'd found herself sadly short on inspiration. Her own hum-drum existence provided nothing original or exciting to write about. To have Hunt catch onto that fact riled her.
    "The point is," she said through clenched teeth, "my affections are already taken."
    "Dear God, what has affection to do with anything?" He sounded genuinely surprised. "We're talking about lust here, not love—if indeed the latter exists. Which I doubt."
    She stared at him with jaw slackened. Did he just say the word lust in her presence? And what sort of a person did not believe in the existence of love?
    "Love does exist," she sputtered.
    "In novels," he agreed, "and the minds of feather-brained females who read them." 
    Percy held onto the fraying edge of her temper. Barely. "I wouldn't expect a man like you to know anything about love and romance."
    "Perhaps not. But I do know human nature."
    "You do not know me."
    "Really." His look turned level, challenging. "Would you care to wager your brother's freedom on that?"
    She blinked at him. "I beg your pardon?"
    "I am asking whether or not you are willing to back up your righteous convictions by engaging in a little bet," he said. "To sweeten the deal, I'll make the stakes your brother's debt."
    Don't listen to him. It must be some sort of trick.
    Just to be safe, she scooted behind a coffee table, rattling the bowl of fruit on its surface. An apple wobbled at the top of the pile; if need be, she'd pelt him with it.
    She inched closer to the fruit. "Explain yourself. What kind of a bet?"
    "A wager of seduction, if you will." He stood on the other side of the coffee table. Scarred and foreboding, all he lacked was a cape and a cackle to make the perfect rogue. "My carnal skills pitted against your notions of love and fidelity. In short, I shall attempt to divest you of your virginity, and we shall see if you can resist."
    "That is absurd," she said, "and of course I could resist you, you arrogant ass!"
    "Then prove it. If you win, I'll release your brother's vowels. If you lose,"—his nostrils flared—"you will deliver your brother and his deed to me forthwith."
    "Do you think I came into the world yesterday?" she retorted. "I am well aware of how a villain's mind works. In this so-called wager, what is to stop you from drugging me or tying me up or resorting to some other dastardly means to claim your victory?"
    "My, what a wild imagination you have." His slow smile made her belly quiver like an aspic. "But that wouldn't be sporting, would it? I enjoy a fair challenge, Miss Fines. You have my word that I will not coerce you in any way. Ask anyone: my word is my bond."
    Even her brother had said that Hunt was a man of his word. That he never forgot a favor or a debt. Which was precisely what made Paul's position so precarious. She chewed on her lip. There must be some hidden angle to all of this. Something she was missing ...
    "So you are saying you'd abide by my wishes? That, according to the rules of the wager, you would have to … desist when I tell you to?" she said skeptically.
    " If you tell me to. Of course, I would have the option of trying to change your mind."
    Hah. As if that would happen. "Without force, you say. And if I were to win, you would truly return Paul's vowels?"
    Hunt nodded.
    "Hypothetically speaking, how would this wager be carried out?" she said. "Clearly, I could not be seen with you. My reputation would be torn to shreds."
    Her belly lurched as potential consequences flew through her head. Mama would murder her. Lord Charles would never give her another glance. In the eyes of the world, she'd be revealed as wicked and ill-bred—and she'd be ruined forevermore.
    "My empire is built on discretion," Hunt said smoothly, "so do not