will you sleep?”
Lucien’s gaze intensifi ed. Her skin prickled, not in fear,
but a diff erent, foreign sensation. His gaze dropped to her
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lips. Th
e silence grew heavy. Pregnant. Her tongue darted out
to moisten her lips.
Lucien cursed, long and loud, even as he eyed her lips
avidly. “Don’t do that.”
“What?” Rosalind backed up. Th
is time, he stepped
closer and raised one hand to trace her lips with his fi ngers.
“Th
at,” he whispered. “Oh, Rosalind. What am I going
to do with you? I’m trying to do the right thing, but you
make it diffi
cult.”
“I am your wife.”
“I know. But I didn’t want to care for you.”
Rosalind chewed on her bottom lip while she considered
his words. He’d loved his fi rst wife. Was there room in his
heart for her too?
His thumb brushed across her bottom lip. Th
en he bent
his head. Rosalind swallowed, her heart jolting in erratic
beats. He lifted his other hand to cup her head, his dark eyes
intent. Serious.
He’d kissed her before. She knew what to expect, yet this
time seemed diff erent and full of unexpected tension.
“Are you sure you want to sleep in here tonight, Rosalind?”
His voice was low. Husky. Dark eyes glinted in the softly can-
dlelit room, holding silent questions he hadn’t voiced.
Rosalind was certain. She nodded, turning slightly to
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nuzzle his hand and press a soft, moist kiss to his palm. “I’m
very sure.”
He lowered his head and drew her against his chest.
Apprehension swept through Rosalind when her body
touched his. Now that Lucien was fi nally acquiescing, she had
no idea what to do. Apprehension stalked her mind. What if
she did something wrong? What if she compared unfavorably
with his fi rst wife . . . with Francesca? Th
e thought made her
tense, horror fl ooding her thoughts. What if she did some-
thing so wrong he never let her enter his chamber again?
“Having second thoughts?” he murmured. He was so
close now his warm breath wafted across her cheek. Port
and the faint tang of tobacco, plus a scent that was uniquely
Lucien made her sigh and relax.
“I’m not sure what to do next. I sort of know what hap-
pens, but what if I do the wrong thing?” she asked.
Lucien chuckled and the sound made her lips curl up at
the corners. “I know exactly what to do,” he said.
An intriguing dimple winked at the corner of his mouth
to entrance Rosalind. She lifted her hand to run her fi ngers
over the small dent. Instantly, images fl ooded her mind. She
gasped. Her gaze fl ew to Lucien’s. “I have no clothes on!”
Th
e dimple reappeared. “I know.”
Her brow creased in a frown. “You have clothes on.”
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THE SECOND SEDUCTION
Lucien grinned, and when Rosalind was about to speak,
he placed a hand over her mouth. “Shh,” he murmured. “You
talk too much.”
Th
e candles fl ickered. Lucien lowered his hand, pressed
a fl eeting kiss over her mouth. “Can you read my mind all
the time?”
“My grandmother taught me to block. I can block most
thoughts as long as I’m calm. Sometimes they slip in, but I
have to be touching the person.”
“I’d say we’re going to be touching,” he murmured, an
undertone of laughter in his voice. “I’d better watch what
I’m thinking.”
Th
is teasing, laughing Lucien was a stranger to Rosa-
lind. Relaxed and approachable, he made her crave more of
the same in the future. His gaze remained fi xed on her face,
making her self-conscious. She sighed, knowing she’d do as
he said, and trust.
Lucien placed his hands on her shoulders and took half
a step back. Slowly, his gaze trailed downward to linger on
her lips. Heat bloomed on her skin. Rosalind sucked in a
breath as his gaze moved lower. It was as if he caressed her.
She wanted to fi dget, but a strange lethargy held her in place.
Suddenly, her clothes were heavy, cumbersome. And Lucien
seemed to know.
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“Let me play maid tonight,” he murmured. He pushed
her down onto a walnut chair. In the dressing table looking
glass, she saw their twin refl ections. Lucien appeared dark
and somber in his usual black attire, while her blond hair
glinted in the candlelight.
Lucien’s fi ngers deftly removed the two ivory combs that
fastened her hair. His fi ngers worked through her long blond
locks until they spilled about her shoulders.
“I’ve thought about seeing you like this,” he confessed.
His hand smoothed across her hair. A relaxed sigh drifted
from Rosalind as his fi ngers combed and gently massaged her
scalp. She eyed his refl ection in the looking glass. His hair
was tied back, highlighting his intent face. She liked it best
when he allowed his hair to hang loosely about his face, the
curls springing to life.
“Stand for me, Rosalind.”
She rose on unsteady legs. His deft fi ngers dealt with her
gown and petticoat. Laces unfastened and tapes were untied
as if by magic. Th
e silken fabric dropped to the fl oor with
a soft whoosh. Rosalind chewed on her bottom lip, anxiety
rising once more. Lucien tugged her back against his chest,
his mouth nuzzling behind her ear. Velvet fabric tickled
her back. Hot, moist breath fanned her neck and the sensa-
tion did little to aid her wobbly legs. Th
e heat in the room
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THE SECOND SEDUCTION
intensifi ed, despite her lack of clothing. Muscles constricted
with alarm, but the feeling of his lips on her heated skin was
not unpleasant. A shiver moved down her body.
“Don’t be frightened,” he murmured.
“I’m not,” she said, and knew it for a lie. It was hard to be
brave when the future looked so hazy.
His hand toyed with her chemise strap. He turned her
to face him, cupping her head until she looked up to meet
his gaze. His eyes were wild and stormy. Hot. Her pulse
skittered, her tongue darting out to moisten her dry lips.
Lucien gave a soft laugh as if he found her nerves amusing.
Rosalind stiff ened.
“Relax. I’m not laughing at you.” He smiled and brushed
one fi nger over her quivering mouth. “Your face is easy to
read. Your emotions give you away.”
Lucien bent his head, closing the gap between them. Th
e
touch of his lips was diff erent from what she expected. His
kiss was soft and fl eeting, tentative, as if he was trying not to
scare her. His lips moved over hers, then she felt a fl ick of his
tongue across her mouth. Startled, she opened her mouth and
his tongue swept inside.
Smell. Taste. Her senses bombarded her as she experi-
enced being close to Lucien. Curiosity burned inside her and
greedily, she wanted to try everything. Her hands fl uttered
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before settling on his shoulders. His black jacket was rough
to the touch while his velvet waistcoat felt soft and luxurious.
Her hands slipped under the waistcoat to discover the white
linen shirt beneath.
“Would you like me to take my waistcoat and shirt off ?”
Rosalind considered the idea. “Yes, please,” she whis-
pered. Heat suff used her face, but Lucien didn’t seem to
mind. Her brow creased momentarily. Th
is was nothing like
the scenario her aunt had described. Dark. Together in bed.
Pain for a short time. Th
en, blessedly alone.
Candles sputtered in the wall sconces. Rosalind shifted
to allow the light to shine on her husband.
Her mouth rounded as Lucien’s shirt dropped down his
arms and whispered to a puddle at his feet. Her gaze rose to
meet his. “You’re beautiful.”
“Don’t let that get around,” he said dryly. “I’ve worked
very hard to scare all the women away with my ugly scars.”
Her hand hovered over the bare skin of his chest. “Can
I touch you?”
His laugh was short, his voice husky and low. “Please.”
Dark hair grew on his chest. It was soft under her fi ngers.
She edged closer, near enough to press her nose against his
chest. His scent fi lled every breath. Something mystical. Ori-
ental. Th
at was it. Th
e scent reminded Rosalind of the small
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THE SECOND SEDUCTION
sandalwood boxes that hailed from the Orient.
His hands tugged her against his chest. Instead of the
scratchy cloth of his jacket, his skin was smooth. Warmer.
Hot to the touch. Her mouth opened and without thought,
she kissed him in the middle of his chest. He groaned and
tightened his hold.
Th
en, he laughed. “You, madam, are going to be the
death of me with your questions and your curiosity. Come,
let us lie on the bed before my knees give out.”
“Oh, do your knees feel wobbly too? I thought perhaps
I’d drunk too much wine,” Rosalind said.
Lucien made a small choking noise.
“Are you all right? Should I hit you on the back?”
Lucien laughed hard, then. He wiped a splash of moisture
from his eyes. “When I fi rst saw you, I knew you’d be trouble.”
“I know my gift is a curse, but I do try not to be a
nuisance.”
“I know you do, sweetheart.” He snatched her off her
feet and took three hurried steps toward the bed. Rosalind
dropped to the mattress and bounced lightly. Th
e mattress
dipped as Lucien sat on the edge of the bed. He slid off her
pink satin shoes and dropped them to the fl oor. Th
e sensa-
tion of his hands on her legs made her freeze. His hands slid
up her legs until he came to her garters. Deft movements
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SHELLEY MUNRO
untied them in a trice. Th
en he peeled down her stockings,
his calloused hands smoothing them to her ankles, sending
a shiver through her body. Her pulse raced, her body awash
in sensations she’d never experienced before. And, there was
much more to come. Pain. Would she bear it? Sighing, she
decided, yes. To have a child of her own to love she would
bear any amount of pain.
Lucien removed his shoes and stockings while Rosalind
watched with avid curiosity. His hands settled on the fasten-
ing of his breeches. Hesitation skirted his face.
“Is it necessary to take off your breeches?” Rosalind asked.
A small choking noise escaped from the depths of his
throat. His mouth twitched as she watched.
“Maybe not,” he murmured. Th
en, grinning, he moved
up the bed, his upper body covering her chest.
Not an unpleasant experience. Th
e friction of her breasts
against the sheer cotton of her chemise made her wriggle.
Heat engulfed her face, her body, and low down in that
place between her legs an ache intensifi ed. She squirmed a
little more.
“Be still,” Lucien ordered.
Rosalind froze, not at his order, but at the strange guttural
groan he emitted. Her eyes widened. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” Again his voice sounded strange. “Hell.”
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THE SECOND SEDUCTION
He lowered his head and kissed her. Warmth surged
from his lips. Flickers of sensation exploded, sending tendrils
of heat from wherever he touched. His hand on her shoulder,
his weight on her upper body — both felt strange, but right.
His mouth traced a path across her cheek, down her neck,
and then, strangely, her ear.
Rosalind melted like a snowdrift under the rising sun.
Who would have thought a kiss on her ear would feel so . . .
so wondrous. One sensation merged into another. His hands,
rough from working with the men in the village, elicited
magical sparks that prickled down her limbs.
“Let me take your chemise off , Rosalind. I want to see you.”
“See me?” One surprise heaped on top of another.
Her aunt hadn’t mentioned taking off clothes. Neither had
Mary. She studied his bare chest and frowned. “Can’t you
Lucien trailed his hand across her shoulder. “I would like
to see your skin, your breasts. I want to touch you. To feel
your skin.” His hand moved a little lower, the lazy movement
of his hand touching one breast.
Rosalind took a deep breath. “I will take my chemise off
if you remove your breeches.”
His grin was wide and instant. He levered away from
her, his hands moving to unfasten his breeches. Lucien’s gaze
325
SHELLEY MUNRO
held a silent dare, along with heat and a strange yearning that
made Rosalind desperate to please him. Her hand hovered at
the hem of her chemise, then she whipped the white cotton
garment over her head.
Th
ey stared at each other for long seconds. Rosalind
reached a trembling hand out to touch. “You’re brown all
over,” she said.
“I go swimming in the sea.”
Rosalind’s gaze fl ew to his. “With no clothes?”
“Th
e water feels like silk against your skin.”
“I would like to do that.” Her tone held wistfulness.
“Can I go with you next time?”
“I’d like that,” Lucien murmured, an undercurrent of
laughter shading his voice. “Come here,” he said. He set Ro-
salind on the bed and leaned over her, pressing his lips to her
shoulder. A shudder sped down her body. He kissed her lips.
His tongue swirled across her lips and this time she k
new to
open her mouth a little. Th
e kisses were sweet and addictive,
rich and heady, tasting of port and summer sunshine.
While he kissed her, his hands were at her shoulders, but
then they moved.
She gasped in a breath, her heart thumping like the waves
pounding at the base of the cliff below the castle. “What are
you doing?” Her aunt had said that marriage bed activities
326
THE SECOND SEDUCTION
were quick, that her husband would leave her bed after ten
minutes at the most. Her brow crinkled. Th
ey’d been here for
some time. All Hastings did was kiss her.
“I want to learn your body, so I know it as well as mine.”
His hand at her shoulder skimmed down her arm.
“Oh.”
“Is that all right?”
Rosalind chewed her bottom lip and considered his
words. “I think so.”
“I’m glad you approve.” He paused to fl ash white teeth
at her in a wide grin. “You don’t have to lie so quiet and still.
You’re allowed to touch me too.”
Th
e idea appealed. A lot. She set out to quench her
curiosity, to search out the similarities and the diff erences
between them.
Lucien couldn’t help the grin. It was the way Rosalind
threw herself into every situation — with a little trepidation
but lots of heart and determination. His mouth quivered.
Let’s see how she handles this.
He rolled, tugging Rosalind on top of him. She squeaked
with alarm, her mouth rounding, her brows shooting upward.
“So you can explore better,” he said. Her hands clutched at
his upper arms, nails biting into his skin. Instead of pain,
arrows of sheer need collected at his groin. He closed his eyes,
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SHELLEY MUNRO
gritting his teeth. Slow. He needed to give Rosalind time, but
the urge to roll her over and thrust into her tight warmth was
almost overwhelming.
Shy, hesitant hands crept across his chest. He could hear
her breathing, the tick of a clock, the occasional splatter of
wax from a candle.
He opened his eyes and the concentration on her pale
face made his heart race even faster. “Kiss me.”
Slowly, she leaned toward him, but instead of kissing him
on the lips, she kissed his chest, his neck. Shy and hesitant at
fi rst, then with more assurance when she realized he wasn’t
going to protest. Her mouth grazed a fl at masculine nipple
and his breath escaped with a hiss. She froze.