Read Lori Brighton - [The Seduction 02] for Free Online Page A

if he liked the feeling of not knowing what would happen next.
    “Well?” she whispered, that husky voice urging him onward.
    Never one to back down from a dare, Gideon inched so close his hard body pressed to her soft curves. She didn’t even flinch. Had her innocence been a ruse? Could it be that she frequented brothels so often, this was nothing to her? He’d find out soon enough. Slowly, he lifted the netting that covered her face. Green eyes. She had emerald-green eyes surrounded by thick, dark lashes. Eyes that sparkled like gems, sparkled with unease and something else…interest. For one long moment, the world no longer existed.
    Unsettled, he tore his gaze from hers and lowered his attention to the lightest spattering of freckles across her nose. Freckles thatone had to be extremely close to notice. For some reason he found he liked those freckles. He liked her scent. He liked her milkmaid looks. Unable to hold back, he slipped his finger underneath her pointed chin, tilting her head. He breathed in her warm breath right before their lips met. Soft, velvety plump lips that molded deliciously to his mouth.
    She froze underneath him, and he had a strange feeling that she’d never been kissed before. Slowly, seductively, he drew his tongue over her bottom lip. She quivered in his arms. A quick shiver. So, she wasn’t immune to his charms. Her lips parted and timidly her tongue met his. Heated lust dug down deep within his body, clawed at his gut with a primitive urge. A lust that surprised him, shocked him even. A lust that had him drawing back, startled. She glanced up at him, blinking rapidly as if she was just as surprised as he by his reaction.
    “Well,” she said breathlessly. “There you have it. You’ll do well enough indeed.”
    Before he could respond, she turned and pulled open the door. Her backside bumped into his hard groin as she hurried to escape him. He resisted the urge to curse and pull her back.
    Lady Lavender stood in the hall, her eerie gaze on them, ever watchful. He had no doubt that the woman knew exactly what had taken place. In a quick flash, she took in their rumpled state and Mrs. Ashton’s flushed cheeks. Those lavender eyes narrowed as something worked its way across her face. Something he didn’t recognize. Anger…yet more…nervousness?
    Mrs. Ashton jerked the netting down over her fine features. “Thank you, I shall return him within a fortnight.”
    She didn’t wait for Lady Lavender’s response but started toward her Mr. Smith, who was waiting impatiently near the doors. So then, he was leaving after all. He wasn’t quite sure how to feel about the prospect of being free, albeit for a brief moment in time. For years he’d been planning an escape with little success…had his bad fortune finally taken a turn?
    He felt the sudden touch of Lady Lavender’s fingers on his arm. “If you’re not back, you know what happens.”
    It was a threat murmured for his ears only. He felt oddly pleased to see the flash of doubt that shadowed her features. Aye, he questioned his sudden good fortune, but he wouldn’t voice his objections now. “Why wouldn’t I return?”
    “See that you do.” In a swirl of skirts, she vanished into her office, leaving him bemused. He had the oddest feeling that the power he’d coveted over Lady Lavender had just shifted to his side and all thanks to a woman who looked like a milkmaid but kissed like a practiced whore.
    A small smile lifted the corners of his mouth. He glanced toward the doors where Mrs. Ashton waited for him. Strange, indeed. What hold did the little minx have over one of the most powerful women in England?
    He didn’t know, but he sure as hell would find out.

Chapter 3
    Alone.
    They were completely and utterly alone.
    Elizabeth swallowed hard as the realization dawned. She was at his mercy. This man she didn’t know. This man who looked as if he could murder someone without a twinge of conscience. Sweat prickled her