The Perfect Seduction Read online

  He held his breath, straining to control the crest, trying to stave off his own attainment to prolong and savor the stunning depth of hers. She was just easing back to earth when he caught the movement at the edge of his vision and delay became impossible. He arched up, driving deep, filling her, and surrendered his own control.

  "Carden'" she gasped, tightening around him again, arching into his possession.

  Fulfillment came hard and swift, tearing a moan from the center of his soul and saturating his senses. He desperately struggled to breathe, to claw his way back to the reality of where they were, to clear his vision so he could save her from certain ruin.

  "I feel compelled," she said softly, her breasts rising and falling in winded cadence as she smiled down at him, "to point out that my skirt is bunched in my hands. I'm afraid I've thoroughly rumpled it."

  God, that he had an eternity to savor the wonder of her.

  But he didn't. "It takes time for wrinkles to set. And we're out of time."

  "No," she said, settling her hips closer.

  The friction was exquisite, the temptation every bit as compelling as the danger was looming. "Yes," he countered, quickly lifting her hips and shifting beneath her so that common sense had a fighting chance. "I can see the steps from here and Lord Fraylee is leading another man's wife down this way."

  She squeaked and started and he caught her arms to keep her from tumbling to the ·floor in her haste to leave him. Choking on his laughter, he crushed her lips with a quick kiss and then set her onto her feet even as he turned her toward the rear of the greenhouse and whispered, "Out the back door. Now! Hurry! I'll be right behind you."

  Sera ran, her skirts high above her ankles, her heart in her throat, her legs wobbly and weak beneath her. The door opened without resistance and she dashed through it and into the cool night air beyond. A small copse of trees lay straight ahead and with her last measure of strength she dashed into the safety of the shadows. Her hands braced against the smooth bark of an elder, she gulped air and waited for her panic to pass and her nerves to settle.

  She was insane. Completely, utterly, certifiably insane.

  And she had never, ever in all of her days felt as wildly, wickedly, deliriously happy.

  The giggle rolled up her throat and she quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, desperate to contain the sound.

  Another rolled in its wake, growing into a full-fledged peal of laughter. She covered her mouth with both hands and tried to choke it back. And failed. They came in waves, rippling through her body and bringing tears to her eyes.

  Good Lord, she couldn't breathe again. That realization went a small way toward sobering her, but not enough. She was still trying to contain her merriment and catch her breath when Carden loped into the shadows and caught her around the waist.

  Whirling her about, he planted his back against the tree and pulled her hard against the length of him. She flung her arms around his neck and looked up at him, at his unholy grin, and then sagged into him, laughing silently as she buried her face in the front of his shirt.

  "Are you alright, angel?" he asked, caressing her back and planting kisses to the top of her head, his heart hammering every bit as frantically as her own.

  She looked up at him. "I hate corsets," she rasped, mercifully too breathless for her giggles to make any sound.

  Carden drank in the unbridled joy in her eyes, reveled in the sweet satisfaction of holding her in his arms. There was no other woman on earth like her. God only knew why she'd accepted him as a lover but he wasn't going to risk losing her by looking for an answer any better than that.

  "I'll have you out of that corset as soon as we get home," he promised. He cast a quick look at the house over his shoulder. Lady Luck had smiled on them so far, but he knew that with every second they tarried, they tried her patience.

  "But right now," he said, giving her a quick kiss, "you have to get back to the dance before Barrett decides to play protector and come looking for you. I'd really rather get through the evening without my nose being smashed."

  She didn't want to go back to the loud and too bright world of Lady Hatcher's ball, didn't want to step out of the wondrous circle of his arms. But it was the price to be paid before he could fulfill the promise of being together again. She nodded and eased away, letting her hands slide down the solid strength of his chest.

  He caught them and lifted them to his lips. Brushing a kiss over the back of each, he smiled and released them, saying softly, "Turn around, angel, and let me fix your hairpins."

  She obediently turned and let him set the loose pins, realizing that it was an intimacy no man had ever wanted of her before. Because Carden had no equal among all the men she'd ever known. And, no matter how long she lived or how hard she looked, she would never meet another man like him. "Carden? Thank you."

  "For fixing your pins?"

  "That, too. But mostly thank you for making me feel so ... " Sated. Wild. Gloriously special. She sighed.

  "Wonderful. "

  He slipped his arms around her and nuzzled the curve of her shoulder. "So you'd be willing to do that again?"

  "Oh, yes," she said, looking up at him over her shoulder.

  "Can we?"

  His grin was wicked. "I'd be more than happy to oblige you."

  "When?" she pressed, turning in his arms and threading her arms around his neck.

  He laughed and gently set her from biro. ''Try not to look so deliciously blissful and find Barrett. Plead a headache or something, but get him to take you home. I'll meet you there."

  Her eyes brightened. "In the conservatory?"

  He must have sold his soul at some point and just didn't remember it. No. Sera couldn't be a gift from God. Only the devil would have given him the woman of bis every hedonistic fantasy.

  "I'll be waiting for you at the front door. I'm not promising any room in particular." He grinned and added" "Although I can think of several distinct advantages to a feather bed and satin sheets."

  She stretched up on her toes and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his lips. The slow touch, the luscious taste of her, reignited the heat of desire.

  "Go, Sera," he said, firmly setting her away and holding her at arm's length. "Now. If you don’t, I’m going to lay you down right here."

  "As threats go," she observed, leaving him, "that's not much of one, Carden Reeves."

  He laughed and Sera walked on, back toward the bright lights of Hatcher House. It didn't matter if he loved her, she decided as she went. He made her happy with whatever portion of his heart he could give. It was enough. She was going to cherish every moment she had with him. And when the joy stopped shining in his eyes, she'd walk away with the most precious memories any woman ever possessed.

  CHAPTER 19

  She stopped when she saw the two of them standing together beside the potted palms. Singly, either one of them wouldn't have been daunting, but Barrett and Aiden together would require a great deal of mental agility and she wasn't quite sure she was up to the challenge. Whatever chance she might have had of slipping away unnoticed was dashed when John Aiden turned, saw her, and grinned.

  "Give me strength," she whispered past a brave smile as she made her way to them.

  "Seraphina!" Aiden exclaimed. ''Every time I see you, you look more beautiful than the last. You're positively glowing this evening." He looked over his shoulder. "Isn't she glowing, Barrett?"

  "She is, indeed," he answered, struggling to control his smile. "Moonlight walks in the garden seem to agree with her."

  She could feel the heat fanning over her cheeks and realized too late that she should have given the pretending... that-you-haven't part a bit more consideration than she had. There appeared to be far more involved in the facade than smooth skirts and perfectly coiffed hair. Whatever that aspect was, she clearly wasn't executing it very well at all. They both knew. She could feel it.

  "Did Carden set a time for having you home?" Barrett asked, his smile breaking free. />
  She blinked, not certain how to respond, not sure just how far the pretending extended. Was she supposed to claim that she didn't know Carden was there? Or that they'd accidentally met in the greenhouse and done nothing more than exchange pleasantries about the weather?

  Was she supposed to give up the pretense at the first suggestion that it was a failure?

  She hadn't thought to ask questions and Carden had assumed that pleading a headache would be sufficient.

  Looking back and forth between them, she confessed, "I honestly don't know what l 'm supposed to say."

  The two men exchanged a quick look and then Aiden took a tiny step back and gestured for Barrett to proceed.

  "Seraphina," he began, "I know Carden. I don't always approve of the things he does, but most of the time I understand why he does them. He would tell it differently, but the fundamental truth is that he came here this evening because he couldn't bear the thought of your being out with anyone but him. And, most importantly to put an end to it in his own inimitable fashion. He would have seen to the resolution the night Aiden escorted you out, but the tunnel business interfered. I just hope that you had the good sense to make some demands of him while you two were in the gardens setting matters straight."

  "Demands," Aiden added quietly, "of a non ... romantic nature."

  Sera considered them, realizing the full ramifications of having male friends. They didn’t pretend ignorance or that physical attraction didn't exist. They minced only what words they bad to in order to preserve the essence of her female sensibility. And all they asked of her in return was that she trust them and approach matters in the same way.

  "Seraphina," Aiden pressed, "did he at least promise you fidelity?"

  She nodded and then bravely admitted to her single fear. "Not that I expect it to last overly long."

  "I think he might surprise us," Barrett offered, looking decidedly pleased.

  "As his friends and yours," Aiden said, "we'll do all that's in our power to see that he doesn't throw-away the best thing that will ever happen to him."

  Barrett nodded in silent affirmation.

  "Thank you both," she whispered, deeply touched and knowing that, male or female, she'd never in her life had such good-hearted and devoted allies.

  Barrett glanced toward the main entry and a mischievous grin stole over his face. "What do you suppose he'd do if I didn't get you home until the wee hours of the morning?"

  "Or, better yet, noon tomorrow," Aiden posed, joining the game.

  "Carden should be the least of your concerns," she counseled, putting a quick end to their sport. "I'm the one who will do injury if I'm not spirited away from here in the next few minutes."

  "Our coach awaits us," Barrett said, laughing softly and offering his arm. "Shall we go make some excuse to our hostess?"

  "Don't plead a headache, Sera," Aiden suggested. "No one is going to believe it. You look entirely too . . . " He smiled at her and winked. "Glowing."

  She laughed even as the blush swept over her cheeks and Barrett led her off to find Lady Hatcher.

  It was an impulsive decision and not without potential consequences, but Carden leaned forward and rapped the end of his walking stick against the wall of the carriage anyway. As it rolled to a stop alongside the queue of other waiting vehicles, he opened the door and vaulted onto the roadway.

  Sera saw him and the brilliance of her smile evaporated what few qualms he'd had. Barrett on the other hand ...

  His step faltered and, judging by the quick frown and the speed at which he warned Sera away and spoke to her ...

  No, Barrett wasn't pleased with the change in plans; be was focusing on the possible repercussions. With Seraphina's back to him, he couldn't see her face as she looked up at his friend, couldn't gauge what she was thinking, what she might be saying. But when Barrett scowled, cocked a brow, and then sighed, Carden knew that she'd won the contest. He'd never had a doubt.

  Glaring the entire way, Barrett brought Sera to him.

  "What a timely and convenient coincidence it is for us to meet like this," Carden said, offering Sera his hand.

  "Since Sera and I are going to the same place, it would be ridiculous to have two carriages make the trip. I'll see her home, Barrett"

  Barrett didn't say anything and Sera filled the taut silence,

  saying graciously, ''Thank you for the lovely evening, Barrett. I do hope you' ll go back and enjoy what remains of the party."

  Summoning some grace of his own, Barrett managed to sound almost genial when he replied, "It was my pleasure, Seraphina. And yes, I will."

  Handing Sera into the dimly lit carriage, Carden knew that Barrett was biting his tongue and waiting. He closed the door and stepped off to the side, half expecting his friend to swing a fist at him.

  Instead, Barrett leaned close and in a low growl announced, "You and I are going to talk tomorrow."

  Knowing precisely what the concerns were Carden nodded and quietly replied, "How is early in the afternoon for you? In your guest room as I’m putting away my things?"

  It took several long seconds, but Barrett finally eased back, having apparently recognized the proposal as a serious one. "That's a capital idea," he said, still openly assessing him. “The best you've had in quite some time. Congratulations. And thank you."

  "I'm not doing it for you or me," he pointed out, reaching for the door handle. "And if I could think of any other way, I wouldn't be doing it at all. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon. "

  With that he opened the door, climbed inside, and promptly closed the world away. As much as he wanted to drop down on the seat beside Sera and take her into his arms, he listened to the voice of reason and chose the opposite seat. There were issues they needed to discuss, hard realities that had to be faced and accepted, and he wanted them disposed of before they reached Haven House. None of it was coming with them into his bedroom.

  As the carriage began to roll, she settled back into the cushions and slowly moistened her lower lip with the tip of her tongue. "I thought you were going to wait for me at the front door."

  His loins tightening, he gave her what was becoming a many-layered truth. "I decided that I couldn't wait that long to see you again."

  "Barrett says we're courting scandal in being seen leaving together, that a lady never leaves a social affair with a gentleman other than her escort without inviting tawdry speculation."

  "He's absolutely right," he admitted. "Does it bother you?"

  Sera considered him, knowing that her initial instincts were correct; he didn't intend for the ride home together to be another breathless, mindless seductive interlude. This time was for taking care of the more businesslike aspects of their relationship. And since it had to be done sooner or later ... Carden was right; sooner was probably better.

  "As I pointed out to Barrett on the walkway ...Whatever scandal arises from my being seen leaving in your carriage as opposed to his will be completely forgotten in the scandal that erupts when they learn that my husband is still alive. That scandal will be completely unforgettable.

  "Yes, it will, and there's nothing we can do short of murder to avert it. But, for the sake of the girls, we'll do everything we can to temper it. To that end, I considered having you all move to Honoria's house, but decided that I didn't much care for the notion of Honoria as a constant chaperone."

  ''Thank you."

  "So the next-best solution," he went on crisply, "is for you and the girls to stay in the house with the staff and I'll go live with Barrett until I can find another townhouse of my own."

  Sera arched a brow. "And allow the gossip mongers to drive you from your own home? That hardly seems fair or right."

  He seemed to mull over the notion and then countered, "Or until we can buy or build you your own house."

  Her own house. It was a notion she'd never contemplated.

  Largely, she knew, because it had never been even the remotest of possibilities. ''That's what men do for their mistress
es," she mused aloud.

  "Mistresses are dependent on their lovers for financial support," he clarified, his voice pensive. "You're a woman of independent mind and means, Sera. If you want a dozen residences, you can afford them. You don't need me for anything."

  "Yes I do, Carden."

  "For what?" he quietly taunted. "For what do you need me? Name one thing."

  She needed to see his smile, to hear the rich timbre of his voice and the heady joy of his laughter. She needed to see him with his shirtsleeves rolled up and bolding a glass of brandy in his hand to know that no matter what happened he would keep everyone safe. She needed the way she felt when he made indecent proposals, when he touched her, when he looked deep into her eyes and dared her to be wanton. She needed with all of her heart, to love him and hope that he would come to love her in return.

  And she knew that that most fragile hope would be crushed and all of it would be lost if she answered him honestly. It was the one risk she wasn't willing to take.

  But be did deserve an answer. If for no other reason than to spite him for thinking she'd fail in her search to find one for him.

  His heart skipped. The light in her eyes ... the sweet, deliciously predatory shadow of her smile ... He watched her slide forward on her seat; his blood surging hot and wild. Her hands went to his knees and he instantly, fully hardened.

  "Do you want me to tell the driver to take the long way home?" he asked, his heart pounding furiously as she moved into the space between his legs. Her hands slid slowly up his thighs. ''The advantage in that being?"

  Setting aside his walking stick, he took her wrists in hand and gently stopped the progress of her magnificent torture. "I'll have time to get you out of your hoops."

  She leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss to the hollow beneath his ear. "And the advantage of taking the shorter way?" she whispered. That he could last that long. Why the hell had he given her a choice? "We'll have a little more time than we had in Lady Hatcher's greenhouse. But not much."