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Authors: Sunny Andrews

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BOOK: Midnight Masquerade
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Irritated as his possessiveness, especially since he
found
the woman he had been searching for, she scrunched her brows and shot back,
“No, he is
not
the man who made me cry, and just so you know,
I don’t think that man would ever dream hurting me. He makes me laugh, not cry like
some
men.
Henry is courting me, I would expect a man who was interested in me to show signs of it.”

“Tell me the
man’s name
who made you cry Lia
, and bollocks, you won’t marry Henry.
I don’t care if he’s courting you or not, you won’t marry him.

Raising a brow, she pressed her breasts against him
as they danced to a soft romantic waltz
and whispered into his ear so only he could hear, “I will marry who I want Alastair,
you
don’t have a say in it. As far as the man toying with my heart, I’ll never tell you.” Feeling his fingers dig into her hip she could tell he didn’t like her answer. Brushing off his possessiveness, she added, “You should instead, focus on the woman who is
acting
like your future duchess. I agree with my brothers Alastair, she doesn’t fit you, I think you know that too.
You have
artfully
avoided marriage for years, are you going to tell me that that little spoiled blonde is the one that brings down the
Golden Duke
?
I don’t think so Alastair. She doesn’t have
the
brass to be your duchess, and she certainly doesn’t have the tact, patience or heart to be one of the next grand dames of London if you do marry her.
You deserve far better than her, do
not let her make a fool of you any more than she’s already done.

“I don’t know what I feel anymore.
She says she’s the virgin widow I’ve been searching for, but everything in me tends to disagree.
You were right about her hair, my Andromeda had dark hair, there was no way that woman was wearing a wig. If Porsche is lying, how does she have so many details about that night?” Sighing, he held her tighter, “This entire thing is a blasted mess.
I need to get out of here, w
ould y
ou like to walk with me outside? I need a drink and fresh air.
” He offered quietly.

She had never seen him so
flustered in her life
,
he had shown her real emotion and held nothing back. Feeling connected to him on an emotional level
and feeling the exact same way there was no way she was going to deny being alone with him for a few stolen moments.
Amelia
had promised her brother she would say something to Alastair, and she had. She had given him many hints if he only turned on his
brilliant
detective brain. She could tell he was confused, he had Porsche telling him she was the one, which he assumed he had deflowered the young lady and felt duty bound to offer for her. On the other hand he could tell something wasn’t right, his head and heart were in a battle.

Nodding, she exited the floor with him as the song drew to a close, slipping outside into the west garden with him
they didn’t say anything as he expertly had her out the door without anyone noticing
. Holding hands with him her pulse raced as they silently walked deep into the garden.
She had so much she wanted to say to him, feeling an immense guilt for not telling him weeks ago she didn’t know what to say.

Entering the dark garden she took a glass of champagne off the waiter

s tray as they gracefully passed by.
Sipping
the cool bubbly liquid her mind was spinning. Hand in hand with her lover they disappeared
into the dark garden, not a soul
around.
With stars high in the sky, the sound of her silk skirts ruffling
as she walked was the only sound. In the distant the band could be heard, the farther they walked the quieter it was.

Letting go of her hand moved so quickly she barely had time to react. Wrapping his arm around her waist he
slammed her against his chest as he tucked them into a darkened alcove, safe from any wandering eyes. Dropping her glass in the movement
,
she instinctively grabbed onto his muscular arms. Feeling his hand run up her ribs, over her breast and cup her jaw she looked into his eyes as her pulse quickened.

“Alastair, what are you doing?” She asked breathlessly, never in all the years she had known him had he ever done such a thing.
Completely
in shock,
she stood
still in his arms
as
he ran his thumb across her jaw.

“I don’t know
any more
Lia
.”
Pulling her up,
he claimed her mouth with hunger
.

Completely lost in his kiss, it took her seconds to react to his touch. Running
her hands up his chest and into his hair, she grabbed a fist full of his glorious hair and moaned as his tongue ran into her mouth.

To
him, this was their first kiss, to her, it awoken everything she had been trying to tamp down for weeks. True to four weeks ago, his kiss
made her weak in
the knees as she held onto him. The kiss brought back every vivid detail of that night like a tidal wave.

“Alastair….” She moaned as his felt his hand run up her breast as he kissed her until she absolutely melted in his arms. Grabbing his waistband, she tugged him closer as she
held onto him for dear life
.
She wanted more, she needed to be close to him. After four weeks of artfully avoiding the man, she wanted to rip off his clothes and kiss his perfectly chiseled chest until he moaned
her
name.
She wanted to feel their chest
s
touch without
fabric between them. She wanted to wrap her legs around his muscular hips and feel him dive into her again.

“Jesus Li
a, what are you doing to me?” Alastair
whispered against her lips as he tightened his hold on her, pressing his erection into her belly.

Closing her eyes she
kissed him softly as she answered, “I
don’t know anymore.”

Growling at her answer, the kiss turned hard as he ran a hand up her thigh as his tongue plundered in her mouth.
Both of them were lost in each other in a hidden corner of the garden. Never in all of her years had she ever experienced anything like this. She had heard stories of ladies meeting their lover in the gardens, in unlocked rooms, but never had she actually experienced the heart pounding desire that laced through her like being in Alastair’s arms under the stars.

She had only dreamt of this, it felt surreal to her. The man who had always obeyed societies rules had thrown them aside for her. His fingers dug into her bare skin as he held onto her, pressing against her as he kissed her passionately. In that moment she, took a deep breath, the words were on her lips to tell him she was his Andromeda just as they heard voices in the distance.

Alastair broke the kiss and took his bare hand off her thigh, settling her purple skirts back to normal in a matter of seconds.
The words vanished instantly as the spell was broke.

Holding her hand to her lips, the consequences of what
had just
happened came flooding back to her. Things with Alastair were about to drastically change,
and he was attached to Porsche and she had been a second away from telling him she was the missing widow he sought.

Turning to flee,
she wrapped her hands around herself and looked at the ground. Walking away, nearly running
,
she felt tears sting her eyes as his arm
wrapped
around her waist.
Pulling
her up against his chest and whispered into her ear, “What are you doing Lia?”

“We cannot do this Alastair. You are nearly engaged, and I just…can’t.”

Kissing her earlobe, he whispered, “Come dance with me angel.”

“We
just
danced, we cannot dance again.”

“We can do whatever the hell we feel like Lia, watch and learn, I will do as I please when it comes to you. Get used to it.” Nibbling her ear, he tugged her towards the crowded house and slipped in as easily as they had disappeared. Entering the dance floor, he slipped his hand entirely too low on her hip and brought her up against his body leaving no air a
t all. It was how lovers danced, after their interlude outside her blood boiled for the man holding her. Sexual need coursed through her body as it awakened under his expert touch.

Closing her eyes she
remembered
that
fated
night
so many weeks ago
. He had taken her virg
inity, blessed her with
six
orgasms
and worshipped her
body
as if she was a goddess
.
Over the past weeks she had went to sleep reliving that very night in her mind.

“Tell me his name Lia.”

“Whose name?”
She asked immediately, confused at his question.

“The man who is my competition.”

 

Chapter 3

 

Riding in the park, the sun was just now cresting the rooftops of London setting the park into warm light as she galloped through
the empty space
. Last night had been so bloody confusing she
hadn’t slept at all, well she had, but it was some of the most restless sleep she had ever experienced.

She had kissed Alastair, as herself, then everything she had been hoping would have happened weeks ago began to start. He finally had cross that line he had religiously refused to overstep for years. She could feel his immediate possession of her in his every move after they came in from the garden. For the rest of the night, Alastair had ignored Porsche entirely, and focused solely on her.

Amelia
felt Pors
c
he’s eyes upon her the rest of the
night.
The man even asked her who his competition was, insinuating that he wanted her. It
was hard to accept
that he was finally looking at her seriously
, as a wife
.
How many years had she been under his nose? How many hundreds and hundreds of waltzes had they shared in each
other’s
arms? She needed
to tell him, soon. Last night
she tossed and turned
,
until she promised herself she would tell him
she was the widow from the masquerade
.
Now
,
the delivery of such a revelation, now that she had no clue how to accomplish.
She had thought of everything from wearing a gown that revealed her birthmark on her shoulder, the same one he had pointed out that fateful night and deemed her Andromeda
,
to whispering into his ear at the ball tonight and letting the chips fall as they might.

Slowing her horse she pulled to th
e side of the woo
ds and tied up, at this time of the morning there was no one about to bother her. Securing her trusty steed, she rolled her neck and looked across the vast expanse of Hyde Park
, it was empty and peaceful
.
In a few hours this park would be teeming with the masses, thankful for the time to reflect in the beautiful park she set out about her walk.
Wanting to stretch her tired muscles
, Amelia crunched through the thick wood
s and sorted through how to tell Alastair
.

Lost in her thoughts, the sound of men shouting caught her attention and stopped her in her tracks. Looking up, she saw two men ahead of her through the woods, the tone of their conversation made the hair stand up on the back of her neck. Although she couldn’t
hear what they were saying, it was clear it was a heated argument between the two. Slipping
behind a large tree Amelia
peered around the old oak and watched from a safe distance,
th
e hair stood up on her arm as she
witnessed
the taller man pull a gun and promptly shoot the other man square in the chest.

It happened so quickly the other man didn’t see it coming, c
overing her mouth as to not shout, she moved back behind the tree and closed her eyes.
Fear consumed her, she was alone
with
no weapon to defend
herself
, s
he had just witnessed a murder
with her own eyes
.
Leaning against the tree as
still
as possible she waited
until she heard the murderer walk out of the woods
as tears ran down her face
.
If he found her, there was no doubt she’d meet the same fate of the man lying dead ahead of her.

How
many times had her brothers warned
her about
venturing solo in London? How many times had they told her she wasn’t safe? Now she understood.

Waiting long enough to ensure the shooter had fled the scene
,
she ran through the woods back to her
mare and untied her with all due hast as her hands shook in terror. Pulling herself onto her tall horse she kicked her horse into acti
on and galloped out of the park towards her home.

Riding hard the streets were still empty as she drew close to her home
, she felt tears falling down her face as panic and shock ran through her veins. Her heart was pounding as she raced into the stables, seeing Alastair
talking to the stable hands the last of her defenses crumbled. Relieved to see his face
she began to cry earnestly as she galloped into the stables.

“Whoa Lia, what the hell is wrong?” He asked, seeing the fear in her face immediately. He was at her side in an instant pulling her off her horse, refusing to let go of her until she answered.

“I just saw someone murdered in the park, he
.
.
.he
, he
shot him.
I was riding, and got off my horse to walk when I was in the woods.
Th
ere were two men arguing, I hid
behind a tree and
the other man shot him!
I came straight back here
after the shooter left the park
, you have to send someone
Alastair
!”

“You were in the park alone again? Jesus Lia, do you have a death wish? Do you know how easily you could have been kidnapped, raped and
murdered?
” He yelled, looking down at
her like she had lost her mind as he held her tight.

Blinking, she knew his words were true, what shocked her was his anger.
More tears poured down her face as she stood before him, feeling his anger in full.
He
never
yelled at her, never in all the years she had known him. His anger was palpable.


We need to tell your brother and call the guards
immediately.”
Kissing her forehead, he took her hand and
walked her into Gideon’s house without another word. Holding his hand, she felt safe yet so ashamed of her actions. She had been warned numerous times about venturing out alone, and now she was the sole witness to the shooting.

Entering the main
corridor
, Alastair stopped dead in his tracks and turned into her, cupping her face he kissed her as if his life depended on it. Instantly throwing her hands around his neck, she felt the fear and panic disappear as he kissed her back into the real world.
With his arms around her
,
every bad thought slipped away, replaced by the euphoric pleasure of his touch and kiss.

“Lia, you scare
d
me to death,
I’m so sorr
y I yelled at you love.
I just can’t handle the thought of you being unprotected, it makes me very uneasy.”

“I’m sorry, truly, I am.”

Running h
is hand down the length of her back
he gripped her ass and lifted her against his body
as he kissed her softly, pressing
her into the wall, “I missed you,” whispering into her ear as he broke the kiss.

“You just saw me
hours ago at
the ball Alastair, less than six
hours ago
.”

“That is too long. Why didn’t I kiss you years ago?”

“What?” She asked, confused
by his
question as he pinned her up against the wall, desire floating through her body at Alastair being so commanding and raw. He wasn’t hiding his desire for her at all, it was exactly what she had always wanted to see.

“If I wouldn’t have been so damn proper and stubborn, I would have known
you
were the one years ago.”

“Alastair…” She couldn’t believe that he had just said that.
Her heart pounded as she clung to the vibrant man. He was radiating sex and drenched in charisma that she could not deny. Very real sexual tension crackled between them, she knew he felt it too.

“No question about it Lia.”


But Porsche
…” She didn’t even get to finish her sentence before he cut her off, pressing harder into her.

“Porsche is not the woman I seek Lia, you, you have to feel what I do? Whatever it is between us, it is
raw and right
, I can’t be the only one feeling it!”

“You are not.”
She admitted freely, his blue eyes dazzled the moment she agreed with him. His grin made her want to lose all control and run away with him right this moment
and strip all his clothes off. She should have told him, right then and there. Confessed her sins to him and put the lie behind her, yet she hadn’t.

“What
are your plans for
this afternoon?” He asked, running his thumb across her jaw as he kissed the tip of her nose.

“I have an afternoon ride with Lord Divenroth.” She offered quietly, she knew he wasn’t going to be happy
with
that information. Given he had always been possessive of her, she knew now that they had stripped away their friendship, something very real was happening between them. He would not be pleased to know other men were courting her.

“Is he my only competition?” He asked, driving his hips into her.

“No.” She answered playfully, seeing his jealousy made her feel hot.
Quite surprised that the possessive man wasn’t forbidding her to ride, she kissed his jaw in appreciation.

Tugging her towards the library, “We need to talk to your brother about what you saw, the guards need to be called and you have to give a report on what you saw. I’ll sta
y by your side the entire time.”

“Thank you Alastair for being here.” Hugging him tightly she felt him rest his chin on her head and sigh.


You are most welcome love, I just wish I would have been with you in the park. Tis too dangerous Lia, seriously, you’ve avoided disaster and death enough in your life, when are you going to
learn?” His question was from
the bottom of his heart, his tone told her he was
n’t ordering, he wasn’t shaming. H
e wa
s genuinely concerned for her.
Clearing his throat, he kissed the top of her head as they arrived at the library door, “
Enjoy your ride with Divenroth today my sweet, but think of me
,
knowing I woul
d much rather you be by
my
side, than his. You should put me on your suitor list, but you should also know, I will not lose.

Much l
ater that
night, Alastair
found himself d
ancing
with Porsche
as
he felt her lean
into his chest as she fluttered her eyes up at him. She might have claimed to be his Andromeda, but he was positive she was not the woman who charmed the pants off him, literally.
He was the goddamn leader of the war office, in charge of
thousands of spies; did this silly
girl really think she could fool him?
She had worn a gown that showed off her shoulder, and the lack of a b
irthmark that his true lady had was the nail in her coffin. He had no doubt she was not the one he deflowered. Feeling free of any social or moral responsibility to Porsche it was all he could do to tolerate being around her.
Whoever that woman was, the true widow whose virginity he had taken was now buried in the past.
Now that he had Amelia, all others were dead to him.

“What is wrong darling?” Porsche
purred into his ear
, her attempt to seduce him was
almost laughable.
Stiffening at her overdramatic attempts on him, he created
even more
space between them as they danced. She had seen the connection between him and Amelia
last night
and was
threatened
, as she should be.

Last night a
fter his two dances with Amelia, Porsche had interrogated him on his friendship with the youngest Somerset
sibling
. Porsche had done her best to try to taint Amelia’s name, which only angered him. He had known Amelia for years, she was a lot of things, but she was not a loose woman, or a spoiled br
at like Porsche appeared to be. Not only was Amelia his best mate’s sister, she was also one of his very close friends, and now more. Anyone who spoke a bad word about her would be dealt with accordingly.

“I wonder if you could give me some detail of that night at Van
Allendale’s
party, piece together some of the puzzle for me?”
He asked,
he wanted to catch her in a lie, it would make it easier. She could very well tell the Ton he took her virginity and he’d be forced to offer for her, even though it was a lie.

“We’ve been over this Alastair, what more do you want me to say about that night you took my virginity? I stayed hidden for weeks so you would know it wasn’t a marriage trap. You enthralled me that night, a most gracious and giving lover.”

BOOK: Midnight Masquerade
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