[excerpt] (11 page)

“Lucian St. James, at your service! Before I forget, Serina, tonight is the dinner I asked you to attend.”

As he sat with his hands strategically cupped across his loins, Serina had all she could do to not go to him, remove his cover and finish what they began downstairs.

“You will turn many a head with your beauty and elegance, Serina.”

She choked on laughter. “You too shall turn many a head if I don’t go retrieve your clothing.”

Teasingly, he flashed her a quick peek of the remainder of his withered shaft. “You think?”

“Oh, Lucian!” Serina bent to kiss him one last time because he looked too handsome in only his birthday suit. “After supper tonight, don’t forget you owe me dessert. You are my dessert.” She bit him lightly and walked out of the room.

Chapter Five

After Lucian returned from the manor with fresh clothing and gifts, Raven flat out told him she wasn’t about to waltz into the restaurant looking like the zombie she felt like and having to answer every busy-body’s question in the establishment about her horrendous past few days. Even though she felt better, her appearance left nothing to the imagination that she’d been to hell and back. Her neck held four distinct puncture wounds she couldn’t explain without getting hauled off to the asylum. Her plan? She would stay with Duncan and Molly and be a third wheel, like it or not.

“Serina, I’ve something for you. You’ll be needing it soon unless you were planning on taking me up on my idea and wearing nothing at all to dinner.” Lucian stood in the hallway to her bedchamber with three lavish boxes, wrapped in silver and gold paper.

“Is it only you up here or do we have company?”

“Yes, and why would that make a difference?” Lucian’s voice held an edge of amusement to it. Again excitement built within his body by her voice alone, and a single hope of what may come. Both of them sweaty, breathless and sated like never before worked for him!

The door to the bedroom opened to Serina wearing only a mischievous grin. She warned, “Enter at your own risk,” as she reached for him and dragged him wide-eyed into the room.

Lucian closed the door behind them and placed the gifts on the dresser, then stood before her speechless.

Serina extended her hand to him and whispered, “Where is everyone?”

He had to clear his throat a few times before he managed, “Umm...in your garden, awaiting your beautiful presence.”

“Then they’ll have to wait a bit longer.” Serina drew Lucian to her, and with her index finger, she motioned him closer to her mouth. “I’m not asking this time, m’lord,” she whispered as she undid the buttons on his shirt. Once she could touch his chest, she began to lick him, soft caresses to his nipples, barely grazing them with her teeth. She enjoyed the way they swelled and protruded as she suckled. She had the same effect on hers. As her mouth explored his chest, her hands found the buckle of his trousers. Easily they slid to the floor. A small smile graced her lips.
His nipples weren’t the only thing that swelled.
Serina slid his shirt from his shoulders, and admired the man before her. “I don’t want you to move a muscle, Lucian. I want your legs to go weak, the way mine did earlier.”

“I believe that’s already been accomplished, m’lady.”

“Before we were formerly introduced, m’lord―” Serina sank to her knees in front of him, and tossed her hair off to one side. “―and I was snoozing in your lap, or so you thought.” She stroked the smooth muscle before her. “I read your mind and you thought I had an entirely different purpose for being in your carriage.” Serina gave a long steady stroke over the length of his shaft.

“Umm.” He grabbed her hair to steady himself.

Serina flicked her tongue over the tip of his penis, and then covered him with her mouth. He was soft yet hard. A fabulous conflict. As she tightened her lips and slid him farther into her throat, she tapped into his mind to find out what he experienced. She needed to know if what she was doing was what he wanted. All he could focus on was her mouth and how rapturous this was. She eased her way back up his shaft and swirled her tongue fast over his swollen head. His grip tightened in her hair.

So far so good!

Again she descended, harder, deeper until he was well past her tonsils. As she ascended she licked his shaft like he was a crème ice, and she enjoyed him just as much if not more. With pursed lips she went down again. How she did it she’d never know, but she consumed the entire length of his shaft and she even managed to tickle his sac that hung below.

Throughout her wily endeavor, he squirmed, laughed and pleaded, “Please don’t stop!”

She wasn’t about to. Knowing she could bring this man to his knees in ecstasy empowered her.

“More, Serina. Bite me. Lick me. Take me into you.”

Serina took him at his word and nibbled, licked and sucked with unrestrained fury as he thrust his nob repeatedly down her throat. The quickened rise and fall of his chest and groans that echoed through her room suggested the end was near.

“God, woman!” He groaned. “Either I’ve died and gone to heaven or you’re the ultimate devil in disguise.” Watching the little enchantress in front of him working her magic, sucking his essence from him the way she did, he realized what he thought would take place in the carriage and what she did here and now, well, there was no comparison. The pressure built and his climax erupted.

That fast. Short but sweet.

Serina closed her surprised eyes as a hot, thick liquid exploded down her throat. She stumbled briefly, but regained her rhythm and for the first and only time in her life,
gracefully,
finished what she started.

Lucian pulled her to her feet, lifted her in his arms and tossed her atop her bed. He followed and blanketed her with his body and her lips with his.

“I thoroughly enjoyed that. Thank you.”

“I had a sneaky suspicion you did.” Serina leant forward and kissed his chin.

“M’lady, I’ve never felt this way before. I know my heart belongs to you. Don’t answer me until after dinner tonight; think this through.” Lucian got up from her warm body and walked over to the boxes handing her the smallest of the three. He knelt down on one knee.

Serina glanced between Lucian and the box, and she fought the tremors going through her body.
Is this how love works? I find this beautiful man almost dead, save him and his sister and then begin to make the kind of love one only dreams of in their heart with him? And now, here he is on his knee before me proposing while I’m still naked and sweaty—oh for the love of God! I’m sweaty? Doesn’t this just happen to everyone, every day? Well doesn’t it?
Her mouth hung open. Not her best look, but if he was serious about the proposal he might as well get used to it.

Serina opened the shiny box and just stared. The ring, it belonged on a queen’s royal delicate finger, not her calloused one. She looked at the princess cut diamond, surrounded by two trillion-shaped dark stones in awe. “How did you know I’ve dreamt of this very ring?” Her eyes filled with tears.

Lucian placed his fingers to Serina’s lips. “I love you. Some things in this life are disputable, questionable, even doubtful. My feelings for you are none of those. You make my heart beat, you make me laugh and you most assuredly drive me crazy. I have felt nothing for so long I feared I never would until I met you. You opened my world to me three days ago.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Would you give me your heart to share, your soul to mate with, your love to cherish for an eternity, your desires mine and only mine to fill? Spend each day and night allowing me to love you, to make love to you? Hourly works!” Lucian winked as he brought her hand to his mouth and kissed every knuckle.

“I don’t have to wait.” Serina scooted to the edge of the bed. “I want to be able to look into your eyes for eternity, Lucian. They are a direct path to your soul, and mine recognizes yours as if you’ve lived inside me. You have my heart as I have yours. And my temple is yours any time you want it. As for the hourly arrangement? You’ve forty-eight minutes until our next joining.” Serina kissed Lucian with every ounce of love she could pour into him. “The ring, Lucian, what color are the two stones on the sides?”

“Emeralds, the exact color of your eyes, a deep, earthly, green. Do you really adore it?”

“It is perfect. What are the other two boxes?”

“Don’t know. Let’s have us a look, shall we?” Lucian sat on the edge of the bed watching her reactions, hoping he’d made her happy.

Serina opened the two remaining gifts only to stand there wide-eyed. Her dress was a graceful mix of silk and satin with delicate lace. The front had a scoop neck allowing minimal cleavage to peek out, which suited her just fine. Crystal beads embellished the bodice of the dress and the back of the gown was gathered, held with a clip of white gold with inlaid gems. Serina had never seen anything so elegant, let alone wear it. The shoes were satin with pointed toes and a slight heel making it easy to walk or dance the night away in.
If only!

“Lucian, this is the most precious thing I’ve ever seen.” She held the gown in front of her, admiring it. “What exactly would you call this color?” she asked, feeling her face flush. “In case someone asks.”

“The dress and shoes are chartreuse, a slight cross between yellow and green. It’s all right, Serina, I’ll coordinate your clothing for you every day so you needn’t worry. We can make labels for your clothing to match colors or keep certain outfits hung together and washed separately.”

Serina closed her eyes, mortified. She admitted, “Me mum used to do that for me, set me clothes out for me that is. It’s been dreadful without the help. I’ve no clue what I’m wearing. I can tell black and white but that’s all, other than your eyes. Father Butler gave me a light sapphire ring a while back and told me it was sky blue. Oddly, he told me I’d meet a man with the same color eyes and your eyes look the same shade. Am I right?”

Lucian brought her hand to his lips and kissed her. “Yes, you are. Father said that, hey? Smart man. I’ll always be there to help you. One box to go!” He inclined his head towards her dresser.

In her last box lay a necklace of emeralds and diamonds that left Serina beyond flabbergasted. “Lucian, did you pinch these gems from London Tower? I’m serious. The Queen will certainly be looking for these.” Serina placed the jewels to her neck and glanced in her looking glass. “We’ll be needing some of the Bobbies to escort us about town this eve. I’m almost speechless. ’Tis truly a rare occasion.”

“I have no doubt,” he teased. “Go dress, m’lady. I’ll go freshen up and await you in your garden. I do realize that you will look stunning in the dress and the jewels, but they do not make you beautiful, for you already are. You are the icing on the cake, and that is my favorite part!” Lucian gently kissed Serina’s cheek and reluctant to leave her, headed to the bathroom.

****

When Serina entered into the garden, Lucian couldn’t take his eyes from her. He stood, and crossed to her.

“My dear family―” Lucian held his arm around Serina’s shoulder. “I would like to introduce my fiancé, Dr. Serina Spencer, to you. She has accepted my proposal of marriage this afternoon.” He couldn’t contain the grin on his face.

Raven flew across the garden to Serina and hugged her. “I won’t mess up your hair or dress, Serina. I promise, but I have to hug you. These past days of our lives have been hellish, yet I believe everything happens for a reason. Serina, I’ve always wanted a woman for my brother who is a lot like myself. I’m teasing, Luce.” Raven peeked out around Serina and gave her brother a devilish wink. “No really, someone intelligent, funny, sincere, and beautiful inside out—me again.” Raven fanned herself, laughing.

Lucian tapped the back of Raven’s head.

“And my brother found you. I am honored to call you my sister.” Raven chastely kissed Serina.

“Raven, I’ve always wanted a sister.”

“Well now you’ve got one,” Duncan piped in. Duncan approached Serina and lifted her off her feet. Holding her eye-level, he said, “May the gods help you, Serina, you’ve got a sister all right.” Duncan lifted a mischievous brow to Raven. “I’ve cared for and loved these two my entire life, Doctor. You are now placed within my heart and my care for all time.” Duncan planted a big kiss on her forehead and set her down. He made his way to Lucian and tossed his arms around him, and proceeded to pull Lucian away from everyone’s ears. “We should head to town soon, Luce. You two will miss your dinner altogether if we delay much more. Oh, I heard through the grapevine there’s a storm brewing. Watch out for your black cloud.” Duncan thrust his hands palms up, gesturing,
who knew
!

“Nothing, my old man, shall spoil my evening, not even her.”

“Just watch yourself. Or more so, watch your lady. That other wench is a viper.”

Lucian noted his concern, sparking his own. “I know this is an odd time to bring things up but, Duncan, stay close by the women tonight, please? What if that thing comes back after Ray?” Seeing the worry in Duncan’s eyes, Lucian realized he’d scared him. He felt guilty for doing so, but he wanted them safe.

Hearing the tail end of their conversation, Raven butted in, “We’ll be fine tonight, Luce. Now you two ride off into the sunset, have a nice supper and bring us impoverished folks home some scraps and peppermint patty-cakes, got it? Skedaddle now.” Raven pushed them toward the carriage.