Awakened by a Kiss Read Online Free PDF Page A

welling inside him. He’d mastered the pain long ago. He never let it overwhelm him anymore. It was why he preferred to maintain a comfortable level of detachment in all relationships. Especially with women. Being in control both in and out of the boudoir was paramount. He limited the time he’d spend with each female and didn’t allow feelings to be fostered—for either party. His encounters with women were about sex. Mutual pleasure in the moment. The women—utterly forgettable.
    Except his midnight temptress .
    The pretty little conniver, thanks to her potion, had robbed him of his control and branded him with a memory so heated, he couldn’t vanquish it.
    “I care nothing about the lands or title. I care not if he takes it all away.”
    “He knows that about you,” Robert said.
    “I won’t live at Versailles. I’d sooner have him place me in the Bastille. I prefer that prison over the gilded one he has planned for me.”
    Robert sighed. “He knows that about you, too. That is why he sent us to reason with you. He doesn’t wish to take such measures against his son.”
    Adrien turned. “ Jésus-Christ , he has many ‘sons.’ And daughters, too. Why is he so focused on me?”
    “Perhaps it is because you remind him of himself,” Charles responded. “Everyone knows what little regard he has for his heir. The Grand Dauphin doesn’t have the mental and emotional fortitude to take the throne. And though he will succeed him nonetheless, Louis has no respect for him. But you . . . you he respects.”
    Paul nodded. “Probably because you resist him, at times defy him, when others wouldn’t dare.”
    He wasn’t trying to be defiant. He was simply trying to encourage a parting of ways.
    “At least consider joining him at court, Adrien,” said Charles. “There are plenty of women there to entertain you. Please him, and he’ll likely let you select your own bride, and offer a high-ranking position where you will—”
    “Enough of that, Charles.” Robert walked up to Adrien. “Adrien has already made it clear that none of that entices him.” Robert turned to Adrien. “Stay here. A week. A month. Whatever you need. But do consider the matter carefully.”
    There was nothing to consider. He wasn’t going to change his mind, and he was angry that his uncles were even asking this of him.
    “Robert is right,” Charles said. “Stay. Drink. Enjoy yourself—just don’t do so with Madame de Villecourt.”
    “And why the hell not?” Paul asked for him.
    Charles crossed his arms. “Because I heard, while at Versailles, that she is to marry Philbert, Comte de Baillet.”
    “So?” Adrien saw that as no hindrance.
    “The Comte de Baillet is a man Louis holds in high esteem.”
    Paul waved a dismissive hand. “That makes no difference. Everyone poaches.”
    “If Adrien chooses to deny his King—a colossal mistake, I might add,” Charles said, “then I should think he wouldn’t want to give Louis more reasons to be annoyed with him—that is, if he wants to walk away unscathed.”
    His Majesty ruled by intimidation. If there was a way to force Adrien to comply, Louis would have done it. He wouldn’t have sent his uncles to “reason” with him. Adrien was going to walk away unscathed. Louis wasn’t going to strip him of his lands and title or have him arrested or do anything whatsoever to raise the curiosity of his courtiers. To risk having anyone learn that his son had denied his request and hadn’t cowered before the mighty Sun King would, in Louis’s mind, make him look weak. And that he would never do.
    However, his father wasn’t going to simply relent. He was going to quietly, incessantly try to break Adrien and get him to acquiesce.
    No, if he wanted his father to be out of his life—free himself from his clutches—he’d have to press the matter further.
    Philbert de Baillet was going to assist in that regard.
    The man was an ass. He had no backbone to speak of. He’d never call