Surrender (11 page)

odd caress left Victoria feeling shaken to

the depths of her being. Her insides turned

warm and her pulse quickened.

Without stopping to think, she moved

her hands up to twine her arms around

Lucas's neck. She liked the scent of him,

she realized. She also liked the feel of his

strong shoulders under her hands. She

was acutely aware of the heavy, masculine

bulge outlined by his tight breeches.

" This," Lucas whispered," is going to

prove a most interesting association." The

anger seemed to evaporate from him in

that moment, leaving only the desire his

eyes alive and glittering with it.

 
Do you think so?" Victoria was feeling

very daring now as she looked up at

him. The recent rush of euphoric relief

engendered by the close brush with danger

was meshing with another kind of thrill, a

new and unfamiliar thrill, a thrill of deep

sensuality. She felt oddly weak and realized

she was clinging to Lucas.

 
You don't realize it yet, but you have

handed me the keys to the citadel. I know

your secrets now, and I give you fair

warning, I will use them to court you."

 
Court me?" Victoria woke from her

dazed, sensual reverie.

 
I mean to court you, woo you, seduce

you. I will make you mine, Victoria. Only

the bravest, most determined of suitors

would endure what I shall be obliged to

endure in order to win you, but in the

end I will have you." His smile was slow,

dangerous, and infinitely compelling in the

moonlight.

 
What makes you think I will ever

surrender to you, my lord?"

 
You will surrender to me because you

will not be able to help yourself. You will

never find another man who is willing to

give you what you want," Lucas told her.

 
When all is said and done, you won't be

able to resist me. Now that I know what

you desire, I have you in the palm of my

hand."

 
What is it you think I want, my lord?"

 
Adventure." He kissed the tip of her

nose.
 
Excitement." He kissed her eyelids.

 
And a companion to share it all with

you. The fair tonight was a tame event

compared to the sights I can show you. I

can take you places where no lady would

ever dare allow herself to be seen. I can

show you the side of life no respectable

woman of the ton ever knows."

 
The risks," she heard herself whisper.

It was as though he read her mind.

 
You can explore that other world with

me and no one will ever be the wiser.

You would not want to jeopardize your

aunt's position or your own in Society by

getting caught."

It dawned on her slowly just what he

was offering. The bait he dangled was

irresistible and he obviously knew it.
 
But,

Lucas, if anyone ever found out, it would

be disastrous."

 
What we choose to do in the dark

hours between midnight and dawn will

be a secret only you and I will share.

I'm offering you a bargain, Victoria; one

I do not think you can ignore. I mean to

satisfy your curiosity concerning the wilder

side of life."

 
You must spell out the agreement more

clearly than that, my lord. What precisely

would you have of me in return?"

Lucas shrugged.
 
Very little. A lady

by day, a companion in adventure by

night."

 
I am not so foolish as to believe it will

truly be that simple. You say you would

court me, woo me, but I will tell you

clearly once more that I do not intend

to marry."

 
Very well, we will not talk of marriage,"

he said soothingly." I, as do you, seek a

companion for my nights. I am at your

service. We will spend those nights as

you wish. All I ask is that you save your

adventures for our nights together."

 
You are quite certain that is all you

will require of me in exchange for your

midnight protection and escort?"

 
That is all I ask at the moment. The

rest is in the hands of fate. We will

play games together, Victoria. Dangerous

games. Games unlike any you have ever

played."

She looked up at him, fascinated by the

hooded assurance of his eyes, mesmerized

by the dark promise of his words. Victoria

knew then she should flee, but she could

no more have run from the lure he was

dangling than she could have flown to the

moon.

She was still aware of the edge of his

hand under her breasts and she suddenly

ached to know how it would feel if he

moved his long fingers upward and touched

her nipples. She shivered.

Again Lucas seemed to read her mind,

He moved his hands slowly upward until

he was cupping her breasts. She could feel

the heat of his palms through her waistcoat

and shirt, and, biting back a small cry, she

clutched him.

Before she could summon the strength

to protest, Lucas's hands had slipped

downward again to clasp her waist. She

was left feeling breathless, filled with

an urgency, a longing for more of the

forbidden touch.

 
Well, Victoria? Is it agreed? Will you

play the lady by day and my companion

in adventure at night? Will there be other

evenings such as the one we just spent

together?"

 
I thought you did not approve of the

sort of thing we did tonight."

 
I will admit I was astonished initially

at your boldness and daring, but I have

since recovered myself and it has occurred

to me that nights spent with you will be far

more amusing than any I might spend at

my clubs or in the company of the boring

young ladies on the marriage mart," Lucas

assured her.

She hesitated, but she could feel herself

slipping over the edge of a very high cliff.

 
It must be our secret," she cautioned." No

one must ever know. If my aunt discovered

what I was doing, she would be beside

herself with worry. Nor could I allow her

to be publicly humiliated by my actions.

She has been too good to me and I owe

her more than I can ever repay."

Your secrets will be safe with me. You

have my word," Lucas agreed.

She believed him then. Victoria knew

without any need for proof that this man's

word was his bond. He would not gossip

in the clubs or the drawing rooms. He

would not treat her with anything more

than proper courtesy at the routs and

soirees where they would meet socially.

 
Oh, Lucas, I would so love to explore

the night with you."

He brushed his mouth against hers." Say

yes, Victoria. Say you will take what I am

offering."

 
I must think about it. This is such an

important decision. I must have time to

reflect properly on it."

 
May I call upon you and your aunt

tomorrow? You can give me your final

decision then."

She drew a deep breath, knowing this

was the start of it." You do not waste any

time, my lord."

 
I have never been the type to waste

time."

 
Very well. You may call upon us." She

tightened her arms briefly around his neck,

already knowing what her final answer

would be. Then she released him, feeling

abruptly nervous and even a little shy. She

glanced up at the darkened windows of the

house." I must go in. And you must hurry

on

back to the Lyndwoods" carriage. They will

be wondering what has happened to you."

 
I will simply tell them there was some

difficulty getting over the garden wall," he

said casually.

He bowed gracefully over her hand.

When he raised his head, the moonlight

revealed his faint, slashing smile. And

then he turned, strode to the wall, and

unerringly found the hidden toeholds. In

another moment he had vanished into

the night. Victoria hesitated a moment

longer, wondering just what she had done,

and then she let herself into the dark

conservatory.

Some time later she lay awake thinking

there had been far too much satisfaction

and triumph in stone vale's parting smile.

/ mean to court you, woo you, seduce

you.

She would have to tread warily, Victoria

told herself, but she could deal with her

midnight lord. She would learn to handle

him because she had no choice; she could

not resist what he was offering. She needed

what he was offering.

For the first time in many months,

Victoria enjoyed an untroubled sleep.

Ten minutes after making his exit

from the garden, Lucas alighted from

the Lyndwoods" carriage, said his good

nights, and stalked up the front steps of

the town house he had recently inherited.

His butler, who, along with the rest of the

small staff had been engaged for Lucas by

Jessica Atherton, opened the door.

 
Send everyone to bed, Griggs. I have

some matters to attend to in the library,"

Lucas ordered.

 
Very good, my lord."

Lucas walked into the library, which

contained the few good pieces of furniture

that were left in the house, and poured

himself a liberal measure of port. His

damned leg was aching again. All that

idiotic running about at the fair followed

by climbing that damned garden wall had

set it off.

He swore silently and took a long

swallow of the port, knowing from past

experience it would ease the dull throb in

his upper thigh.

It was not just his leg that ached.

Another part of him was left throbbing

as a result of the garden meeting with

Victoria. He could still feel the softness

of her as he crushed her up against the