Forbidden (Scandalous Sirens) Read Online Free PDF Page B

themselves.
    She couldn’t help it. She drew in an audible, shuddering breath.
    “Your waist really is that small,” he said. His voice was hoarse. “I wasn’t sure, what with tight lacing…” He frowned. “Why do you bother wearing a corset at all? You certainly have no need of one.”
    “A proper lady wears one.” Her own voice was thick with wanting, with demon desires. “Vaughn, the danger in this…if your father were to—”
    “You’re in no danger with me, Elisa,” he murmured. “I just want a sample of you, a taste. To remember.”
    He pulled up at her waist a little, as if he was about to lift her off her feet and bring her closer to him, and she bowed backwards instinctively. Her head fell back. The power behind his controlled, slow lift told her of the untapped potential of his body and she knew her own response was the equivalent of offering herself to him, but she was helpless to prevent it. She was mortally aware of his restless thumbs, barely a fingertip away from her breasts which longed for his touch.
    “Oh, but the pleasure I could give you.” His voice was so low she barely heard it, but she saw his lips mouth the words as he lowered his head towards her.
    “No, Vaughn, you cannot. Please, I beg you.”
    His mouth hovered over hers.
    She added hastily, “I am to be your stepmother.”
    Vaughn hesitated and she felt her feet touch the floor once more as he lowered her. She put her hand against his shoulder, intending to push him away, but the hot flesh beneath the shirt sent a weakening wave of longing through her. Such strength and size poised above her, with the potential to explode with energy and drive…
    He lifted his chin. “You truly intend to marry him, Elisa?”
    “Yes,” she said, as steadily as she could, thinking of Raymond and the reason she was willing to live her life out in this place. “Yes, I do,” she said levelly, looking him in the eye. “Let me go, Vaughn. You and I both know you could force this issue—you are much stronger than I. But I will do nothing to stop you except to ask that you do not.”
    “And at the same time raise that odious pending marriage as a shield.” His tone was dry.
    “Thank you,” she said quietly, trying to calm herself and ignore the sizzle of unfulfilled desire in her nerves.
    He had not moved, but his eyes had narrowed again. It was not lust that hooded their gleam, but quick thought. “Come riding with me tomorrow.”
    “What? No, no…that would not be respectable.”
    He shook his head, silencing her. “A simple ride, Elisa. I am offering you what no one else in this echoing mausoleum has bothered to think of offering you since you arrived here. A day of doing what you like. A day of riding.”
    “No, I don’t think so.”
    “By the morrow you’ll have your hair up and your boots on, and there will be no moonlight and silence to beguile me. I will be completely trustworthy…like a proper soon-to-be stepson.” The last was added with a sour note she could not fail to miss.
    She swallowed. A whole day of riding. And Vaughn had given her the key for keeping him at arms length. Any mention of her marriage to Rufus soured any yearnings he might have.
    It was a simple matter. She had to agree to a day of innocent pleasure and he would let her go. Then she could run back to the safety of her room.
    “Say yes, Elisa,” he growled, bringing his mouth towards hers.
    “Yes!” she said breathlessly.
    She was released with such alacrity she staggered and reached out to the window frame for support.
    He straightened. “If you know anything of men at all, Elisa and I know you do, then you will go back to bed now.”
    She did know about men. Regardless, a response came readily to her lips, but she bit it back and turned without a word. She hurried towards the door, her heart trip-hammering at the closeness of her escape.
    “Elisa?”
    A single, soft hail and she found herself halted halfway across the room as effectively as