A Christmas Seduction (7 page)

A powerful sense of possession swept over her. He wore her kiss.

Hers.

“You are a thief because that which you take, I fear I’ll never regain. The question is…” He glanced back to her, pulling her from her thoughts.

“Yes?” she asked, entranced by the flame of attraction in his eyes.

“The question is… do I want it back? And the answer? No.” He led them around a bend and down a narrow path. “And do you know why?”

Meredith shook her head then answered, “No.”

“Ah, Meredith…” His voice was laced with amusement. Without warning, he led her around another turn in the maze, and pressed her against a stone column. Kissing her soundly, she melted into the welcome warmth he offered. “I have a secret as well… you see.” He kissed her once more, teasing her bottom lip before releasing it. “I’m a thief as well. And what I stole, I’ll never give back. Ever.” He kissed her once more, quickly, yet thoroughly, and led them away, the exit looming before them.

“And just what did you steal?” Meredith asked once her senses came back into focus.

He paused just before leaving the maze, his gaze locking with hers.” Your heart.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

L
UCAS KEPT HIS GAZE
ahead, searching for the small cellar. He didn’t want to see the expression in Meredith’s eyes after such a bold announcement. Part of him was afraid; the other part knew she needed space. It was odd, to come to the realization that he knew someone so well… and was known so well by her. It was terrifying, delightful, and completely insane. Yet it was the truth. Meredith had watched him from a young age grow into who he was now. Granted those years were full of warfare, but that didn’t inhibit them from knowing each other.

Known. What a strange word that would be, the premise for love. But it was the truth. Meredith knew him. She knew his likes, dislikes; she knew his fears and what truly made him irate. And now she knew what ignited passion within him, what aroused him further and the flavor of his kiss. It was so simple, yet… not. Because he’d been honest in his earlier teasing; she had surely stolen his heart, yet part of him feared that she held his heart far tighter than he was able to hold hers.

It was an alarming prospect. Yet, what choice did he have? He could easily compromise her… it would be a delightful solution. At even the thought his body responded, tightening, and reminding him of her soft and feminine form pressed against his.

But it wouldn’t be the same… he wanted her to choose him. Not have any other option. Yet her kiss tasted of surrender. Did she not meet his invitation?

“I don’t remember this cellar being so far from the maze.” Her voice interrupted his thoughts.

“The cellar didn’t move. The exit to the maze, however, did,” he replied.

“Oh. I suppose that makes sense.”

“Nice to know you believe me.”

“It’s a risk I’ll have to take,” she answered, her tone belabored. But he could easily tell that she was amused, simply flirting and teasing him.

How he loved that! Life with Meredith would never be dull.

Heaven forbid.

“Your adventurous spirit has paid off, see?” He pointed to the dimly lit entrance to the cellar.

“Race you!” Meredith released his hand and ran towards the entrance, trying to attain the envelope first.

Laughter erupted from him at her attempt to run in her gown. She truly did quite well, but it was not the same as when they were young and unencumbered by corsets and cravats.

His predatory instinct kicked in, and after giving her a moment of a head start, he gave chase, anticipating the glory of sweeping her into his arms once more.

He accelerated, caught up with her, and, just as he was about to wrap his arms around her, she came to a complete stop!

Blowing past her, he almost tumbled upon the grass, his balance completely compromised. Her laughter teased him as she quickly sidestepped where he foundered and ran onward toward the cellar.

“Foul!” he called out through his mirth.

“Slow!” she called back,

“We’ll see about slow,” he muttered, racing to catch up with her. The cellar was only a few yards before them when he caught up with her, but rather than sweep her up; he simply passed her, grabbed the envelope and held it up high over his head.

“You never were very fast.” He shook his head, a smile teasing his lips.

“You never could stop gracefully,” Meredith answered, and then she jumped, trying to grasp the envelope.

“You’re quite short.” Lucas waved the envelope, dipping lower then raising it when she jumped again.

“You’re freakishly tall,” she accused, her eyes narrowing, her gaze darting between the envelope and his face.

“Tall, dark, and handsome has never been issued as complaint before.”

“Tall, annoying, and passable is a little more likely.”

“Oh? Is that how we are to play?” He lowered the envelope until it was just in front of her face and wiggled it.

“Give me that!” She swiped for it and failed.

“Not till you take back that nasty lie you told.”

“What lie?” She bit out.

“About me.” He shrugged, waving the envelope again.

“I don’t want to win that badly.” She took a step away, arching a brow.

“You just admitted you lied.”

“I did nothing of the sort!”

“Yes, you did. You simply said you didn’t want to win that badly, leaving the assumption that you want to stick with your lie more than you want to win. If you were simply telling the truth, your answer would have been more along the lines of, ‘To take back my words would be the only lie.’“ He finished in a falsetto voice.

“That was awful.” She shook her head, but a giggle escaped at his theatrics.

“I never was one for the theater.”

“No… your mother would have to blackmail you to get to you to darken the door of Drury Lane.”

“She still does,” he admitted.

“Some things never change.” Meredith grinned, her expression without guile.

“Some things do.” He held out the envelope, like a peace offering.

Her eyes darted from the envelope to his, then back. Slowly she took a step forward, then another, till the clue was within reach. She plucked the envelope from his hand. The delicate white lace of her glove brushed against his sleeve. He hadn’t felt it; yet the fleeting touch stirred him to distraction.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

Her gaze locked with his, the air humming with energy. Somehow, she broke the spell and looked away, breaking the seal with her fingers.

“
You’ve reached the end, which is only to say you’re finally ready to begin.”

“Well said.” He reached out and clasped her hand. And to his delight, she didn’t shy away, but tightened her fingers around his hand in return. “Shall we find my mother and claim the victory?”

“How do you know that someone hasn’t already won?”

“I’m confident, and of course, we were the ones that broke the seal.”

“You always were overly self assured.”

“I always will be. You should take note.” He led her along back toward the center garden.

“I’ll add it to my volumes on your person.”

“I always knew you were secretly obsessed with me,” he whispered in her ear, biting his laughter when she gasped.

“Was not! You started this whole — thing,” she sputtered, her face blooming with color.

“And you are ending it?” he asked. Though he spoke jokingly, part of him shivered in anticipation of how she’d respond.

“A true thief doesn’t return what’s been rightfully stolen,” she answered, winking and tugging on his hand to increase their pace.

“And you are a true thief?” he asked, pleasure coursing through him.

“True enough.”

His gaze scanned her face as the moonlight illuminated the delicate lift of her smile, the enchanting crinkle of her eyes. She was astounding, both in wit and in form, and she would be his.

He’d see to it.

CHAPTER NINE

S
URE ENOUGH, THEY HAD
won the contest, much to Louisa’s dismay. Although, Meredith did find it suspicious that Hugh and Louisa were the last to finish the scavenger hunt. Hugh’s gaze lingered on her sister, not so unlike the way Meredith often caught Lucas watching her. It was an altogether dizzying sensation. So when the evening activities ended, it was with high anticipation that Meredith sought out both her sisters.

“Louisa?” She knocked softly on her sister’s door, glancing down the darkened hall, hoping no one saw her in her night robe.

“Yes?” Louisa’s voice responded through the thick wood.

“May I come in?” The door cracked open slightly.

“Meredith? Why in heaven’s name are you in your nightclothes! Someone could see you?” The door opened wider, displaying her sister, still fully dressed but not in the dress she’d worn that evening; rather, a walking gown of soft muslin.

“Why are you not ready for bed? It must be near one in the morning!” Meredith studied her sister.

“I wasn’t tired.” Louisa shrugged, but her gaze darted down the hall.

“Liar.”

“Snoop.”

“Are you meeting Hugh?” Meredith pushed her way past Louisa and into her room.

Louisa reluctantly closed the door, and turned to face her sister. “That’s none of your concern.”

“Do you realize this is
Hugh
…?” Meredith crossed her arms, studying her sister.

“You do realize you’re being quite the hypocrite. Lucas is just as attentive as Hugh… more even.” She hitched a shoulder.

“Yes but…”

“No excuses. I’ll let you have your secrets… but let me have my own as well,” Louisa spoke kindly, her gaze gentling with a soft smile.

It went against Meredith’s inclination, to let her younger sister have a secret, and about a gentleman no less. Yet, even though younger, Louisa was just as much friend as sister, and able to handle her own affairs.

“Very well, though I’ll expect a full report in the morning, mind you.”

“Yes, mother,” Louisa replied with a saucy grin.

“I’ll leave you to your… secrets then. Does Sara have any such secrets or will I find her in her room?” Meredith asked as she walked towards the door.

“I’m not sure. You’ll have seek those answers yourself.” Louisa glanced down the hall once more then turned back and winked at her sister.

The door shut firmly, and Meredith glanced down the hall as well, just in case. Seeing nothing out of ordinary, she padded to Sara’s room, the cool winter air seeping through the stone wall and nipping at her feet. Earlier that evening it had been warmer, but it seemed as if the temperature had dropped. Wrapping her robe tightly around her, she lifted her hand to knock on Sara’s door, but paused upon hearing a creak down the hall.

Sucking in a tight breath, she flanked towards the direction of the sound and watched. Nothing moved, save the flicker of a few candles illuminating the corridor.

She raised her hand once more. “Meredith,” a voice whispered, and she turned towards the sound, seeing Lucas step from the shadows, a grin on his face and his finger to his lips, reminding her to be silent.

“Lucas?” she mouthed, glancing down the hall, then back to him.

His grin widened as his gaze traced her outline from the top of her head, to the bottom of her bare toes, then back. Heat pooled in her belly and warmed her cheeks. He was still fully clothed, but like the night before, his coat was off leaving him only in his breeches and white shirt.

He glanced behind him, then to her once more, crooking a finger for her to come to him.

Did she dare?

Oh, yes…

With a grin, she tiptoed towards him. “And what are you doing at this time of the night?” she asked in a hushed voice as she approached him.

“Wicked things,” he whispered. Reaching out, he clutched her hands and tugged her closer. Immediately he released hers, and moved his hands to her hips, pulling her into him and meeting her lips with a driven, confident kiss. Melting into him, she kissed him back, savoring the delicious warmth of his embrace, and the searing heat of his hands at her hips, at her waist, roaming, and caressing.

“I have something to show you,” he said softly between kisses, nipping at her lips playfully.

“Oh?” she murmured, unable to restrain the smile teasing her lips.

“Yes. Come with me.” He kissed her soundly once more, then released her hips, grasping one hand and leading her down the hall.

“Where are we going?” she asked, feeling the chill of the air anew at the loss of Lucas’ warm body embracing hers.

“You’ll soon see,” he whispered mysteriously, leading her along the hall, down the stairs and into the library. A crackling fire simmered in the hearth, causing shadows to dance against the book-lined walls.

“The library?” Meredith asked, shivering slightly at the warm air within the room.

“In part. Close your eyes.” He turned to face her, smiling and lifting a hand to cover her eyes.

“Why?”

“You always were a curious one.” He chuckled slightly. “I’ll lead you.”

“Into something?”

“No. Though if you continue to ask questions, I’ll consider it.”

“Mean.”

“Nothing of the sort, you’ll be shocked to know I’m attempting to be romantic.”

“Pardon?” she gasped mockingly. “I thought I heard you utter the word romantic.”

Her foot grazed something hard, like a leg of a chair.

“That was a warning.”

“Menace.”

“Don’t you forget it.”

“As if you’d ever let me.”

“As if you’d ever want me to cease being my charming self,” he replied. “Now, if you’ll please just wait right there. Brilliant.” He continued to keep his hand in front of her eyes. The scent of spice and peppermint rose from his skin and wove a spell around her. They paused, and a distinctive chill spread over her as he moved to stand behind her, keeping his hand in place.

“Now?” Meredith asked, partly from curiosity, partly simply to annoy him.

“Ask again, and I shall make you wait longer.”

“Must you always try to have the upper hand?”