Midnight Kisses (Midnight Series) (7 page)

“He never touched you? But you talked about your son
 . . . 
”

“
His
son! Christopher is Matthew’s child from his first marriage. His first wife died when Christopher was still a baby.”

Devlin grabbed her chin, pulling her close to him, and looked her straight in the eye.

“He never
 . . . 
loved you? In the way a man loves a woman?” he asked, and his voice was breaking, sounding almost fearful.

Embarrassed, Danielle shook her head.

“Men usually don’t find me attractive. Not even my own, as it turns out.”

Shocked about her confession, furious at the man who had made this wonderful woman feel ugly and worthless, and deeply relieved that Langston never laid a finger on this woman that he, Devlin, worshipped and desired more than anything, he pressed his lips over her mouth as if he were dying of thirst in the desert and she was the rain.

Danielle was trying to resist, didn’t want to allow this irritating man to kiss her yet again without her permission, but this time she didn’t have the strength left. His kiss took her breath away. For too long she had been longing for this. His tongue parted her lips, and Danielle shuddered when he beckoned her to come and explore his mouth with hers. And, even though she could never forget the shame she had felt in his arms, there was nothing right now that she lusted for more than to return his kiss.

Devlin noticed the change taking place in Danielle. He rejoiced when he realized her complete surrender. At the same time, a tender feeling came over him that he couldn’t quite place. He wanted to comfort her, show her how beautiful and desirable she really was, and what it was like to experience true, unadulterated passion.

His hands hugged her small waist and wandered up her back all the way to the back of her neck.

Danielle felt her pulse quicken. The cold night air permeated her dress, but her skin went up in flames wherever Devlin was touching her. His hands left her body tingling and ablaze, and never-before-experienced feelings rose up inside of her. She pressed herself against him, demanding ever more of his delicious body heat. Timidly, she placed her hands flat against his chest and enjoyed the pleasant shivers running through her.

“You’re so beautiful,” Devlin moaned, kissing her lips and the soft, hypersensitive skin on the side of her neck. Danielle clung to him tightly, surprised at the delight his words were giving her.

“Devlin!” she panted with mock outrage when his hand boldly closed around her breast.

“Weston? Lady Langston?” they heard their names being called from the door of the dining room, and immediately pulled apart.

Frantically, Danielle tried to smooth down her dress and get her feelings under control.

“Out here, Bosworth,” Devlin replied to the question as to their whereabouts, and sauntered over to the patio door to give Danielle another moment to re-collect her thoughts. “We’re admiring this beautiful, starry night. You should come and join us.”

“Please forgive us, we had no intention of neglecting our duty as hosts,” Colin started to explain by way of an apology. “Eliza is not feeling well. She has asked me to please excuse her absence.”

“Don’t worry about it, Bosworth, we’ve kept ourselves
 . . . 
entertained
. Haven’t we, Lady Langston?”

His burning eyes rested on Danielle who felt that anyone watching them must immediately realize what had happened between her and him. Why did he need to look at her like that?

“Yes. Right
 . . . 
No, we weren’t bored at all,” she stammered. “I sincerely hope that Eliza is feeling better.”

Apparently, Devlin was a lot more experienced than she in glossing over situations such as these, for the amused look on his face didn’t seem the least bit concerned.

“It was a lovely dinner, and I thank you for the invitation. Perhaps you prefer to withdraw to keep Lady Bosworth company? I would be sorry to call it a night already, but rest assured that I would fully understand. As I’m sure Lady Langston would, too.”

Colin seemed relieved when he looked over to Danielle, who nodded.

“I sincerely apologize. Under no circumstances would I want you to think you’re imposing in any way.”

“Nonsense! Your concern about Lady Bosworth is clearly written on your face. You need to be with her right now. Lady Langston, should we empty our glasses and then take our leave?” Devlin suggested gallantly, escorting Danielle back to the dining room.

“Please, no need to hurry. Since Lady Langston is staying with us anyway, you are more than welcome to take your time. Or
 . . . 
” Colin seemed to come up with an idea, “
 . . . 
there really is no reason to leave in such a rush, Lord Weston. Especially since you’ve only just renewed your acquaintance with Lady Langston. If the lady agrees, why don’t you take a leisurely brandy in the chimney room without me before you leave?”

“What do you think, Lady Langston, should we
 . . . 
deepen
our acquaintance?”

If Colin noticed the husky sound in Devlin’s voice or the slight emphasis in his words, he didn’t show it while waiting for Danielle’s reply.

“Well
 . . . 
I
 . . . 
”

“Lady Bosworth would be more than relieved if the evening didn’t end so abruptly on account of her not feeling well,” Colin explained.

“Well, in that case
 . . . 
Would you be so kind, Lord Weston, as to accompany me to the chimney room? A little nightcap to end the day does sound delightful,” Danielle finally caved in.

Chapter 6

The scent of physical pleasure filled the air. The shimmering light illuminated her uncovered breast, and dark shadows were dancing over her naked flesh when the man moved and made the candlelight flicker.

“I hope you are satisfied with me, sir?” she asked, placing the tips of her fingernails on his bare chest. Lazily, she traced the outline of his nipple, until he had enough and pushed her hand away.

“Knock it off! Get dressed and find out if Lou has arrived. I’m tired of waiting.”

Slowly and sluggishly, Lulu peeled herself from the bed, slipped into a bright red dressing gown, and started combing through her long, red curls with her fingers. How she hated this filthy scumbag for treating her this way! After all, he didn’t even pay after he mounted her like the grunting, overfed pig that he was. And yet, as far as she knew, he still hadn’t given them so much as a hint.

Lulu snorted with contempt. Perhaps Lou would soon enough draw the same conclusion she had and simply cut his losses.

With a final contemptuous look at the heavy, naked man in her bed she left the room and meandered downstairs to the bar. She was relieved to see that her boss had finally arrived, for she was worried she would have to do that fat good-for-nothing again, just to humor him.

“Lou, the fat man is upstairs, you know the one Frank is always dragging along. He wants to talk with you,” she explained curtly, before giving her pimp a long, passionate kiss. Lulu hoped he would taste the other man’s spit in her mouth, and it almost made her smile. It was as if fatso were French-kissing him.

“Lulu, dear, what is that man doing upstairs?” the pimp asked in a voice that, after three years, still shook her to the core.
Like rusting metal
, she thought.

“He was getting impatient, Lou. So I allowed him to come and get some,” she explained, bored again and scanning the room for any potential customers.

“I thought I was being very clear when I told you that you’re only to take your regulars up to your chambers?”

Lulu bit her lip. She knew that fatso meant trouble. After that science man had died in her bed, Lou had wanted to deny all of his business associates access to his girls.

“He was hanging around and harassing customers! What would you have me do? Close down
Lulu’s
?” Lulu hissed back, throwing her hair over her shoulder in a theatrical gesture.

Blonde Lulu giggled as soon as she overheard them fight, and winked at her conspiratorially.

All the girls in Lou’s brothel were named Lulu, which was how he wanted it. His name, his girls; simple as that. And not one of the girls would ever dare to close shop, no matter what time of day or night it was.
Lulu’s
was open all night, every night!

“Shut your trap, girl. In the future you will do as I say, or I’m going to cut your wages. Are we clear?”

Lulu nodded and strolled over to the young beau she had spotted, hips swinging. He looked so wet behind the ears that she smelled quick and easy money.

Danielle’s palms were sweaty. Silently, she watched Devlin pour them a brandy. The crackling of the fire further increased her discomfort, for she was very much aware of the relaxing warmth in this cozy room. A big, plush sofa; a thick rug in front of the fireplace; and the pleasant, steady tick of a grandfather clock in the corner all contributed to a snug and comfortable atmosphere. Tasteful oil paintings on the walls and long, heavy curtains only added to it. Devlin’s absolute calm, on the other hand, almost drove her out of her mind. Her body was still shaking from the aftermath of their kiss, and she wasn’t entirely sure what any of this was supposed to mean.

Devlin turned around to the woman who confounded him more than any other woman ever had before. In the dancing amber light of the fire, she was as beautiful to him as she had been that morning in her study, and just as then, the sight of her stoked his desire. But everything he had learned about her during these last few hours forced him to hold back and not, as he usually did, recklessly satisfy his own carnal needs—for her sake. He was surprised at how important it suddenly was to him to not hurt her again, even though his desire to have her had reached immeasurable heights ever since he learned the truth about her and Langston. With an encouraging smile, he handed her the brandy.

“Danielle, are you afraid of me?” he asked when he saw her eyes widen.

“And you find that surprising? You take whatever you want without considering the consequences.”

“Really? You think that? I don’t think I do.”

She seemed to straighten up, getting ready for a fight. He liked it much better than her being afraid. And besides, it suited her so much better.

“Well, I think you’re wrong!” she insisted.

He walked over to the door and turned the key in the lock.

“Danielle, ma chère, I have only ever given you that which your heart desired. You can deny it all you want, but it’s the truth.”

He looked over the rim of his glass directly into her eyes and took a sip. Their eyes locked. She had noticed him locking the door. The fact that she didn’t ask him to immediately unlock it was like a victory already. She knew what he was going to do—knew it, and yet she stayed in the room with him. Was it possible that she desired him as much as he desired her?

“Did you know that I haven’t been able to forget about you all these years? That I’ve always wondered whether you, too, were perhaps remembering me from time to time?” he said hoarsely under his breath.

His eyes darkened with desire, and Danielle found it harder and harder to breathe. His presence was unnerving!

“You’re lying!” she blurted out. “How could you possibly have remembered me? I saw the woman you were with. She was very beautiful! And I was a child. A pale, skinny child!”

Devlin raised a hand up to her hair and pulled out a hairpin.

“You need to take a look in the mirror, Danielle,” he said softly, loosening another hairpin. “It is true. The woman I took out to the garden was very beautiful. But she was no match for you. When I saw you, I couldn’t stop looking. Your big, sparkling eyes reflected the fireworks, and your hair was glowing like a thousand candles. You were the innocence in a cesspool of sin. An untainted wellspring locked within a stinking swampland of money and greed. You were the single ray of sunshine breaking through the fog of depravity of this our venerated high society, and you bathed it all in a golden, purifying light.”

Another hairpin clinked to the floor. Danielle closed her eyes. “All these years I have kept this image of you in my heart, Danielle.” He buried his hands in her hair, pulling her close. “The way you stood before me with your flowing, golden hair and your quivering lips. I will not make the mistake again of letting you go, my sweet Venus,” he whispered before begging for her approval with a soft, tender kiss.

Danielle floated on air. Devlin’s kisses, delicious and full of promise, awakened a desire in her that she’d long thought was dead and buried, and with all the hope for love she had been carrying with her for ten years, she willingly responded to his caresses. She wrapped her arms around his neck and only barely noticed him picking her up and carrying her over to the sofa. Without interrupting their kiss, he laid her down, undid the eyelets behind her back, and slipped the velvet dress off her shoulders. His hands found her breasts, and Danielle gasped when he gently squeezed and stroked her delicate skin.

She dug her nails into his back and threw her head back when he left a trail of delicious kisses down her neck and all the way to her chest. Agonizingly slowly, his tongue circled her rose-colored nipples, breathing his hot breath into her skin, and finally drinking in her freshly opened bud. Danielle arched her back and called his name. She heard Devlin’s throaty laugh from very far away, before he closed her mouth with another deep kiss.