Girl in the Beaded Mask Read Online Free PDF Page A

want.”
    David laughed again. Not think of her anymore? As if he could think of anything else! Even now, in the midst of his anger, he could smell her lavender perfume, feel the soft warmth of her against his back, and it nearly drove him mad. That tender longing crept back onto him.
    He wanted to taste her again, feel her arms around his neck drawing him close to her. He felt like a starving man, trapped in a lonely desert, who was given one sweet taste of nectar, and now it was gone again.
    Lulu, Lulu —what had he done?
    He turned back to her and took her gently into his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder and gave a choked sob. He couldn’t hurt her anymore, he had to do the right thing. If only he knew what that was. He never had when it came to Lulu.
    He smoothed her tousled red hair and murmured, “Shh, Lulu, don’t cry. Everything will be okay. I’ve lived like a hermit bear in my cave for so long I can’t remember how not to roar at people. I got carried away, I’m sorry.”
    â€œI’m not sorry,” she whispered. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on as if she would never let go. “Not for making love to you. I’ve been waiting for a long time.”
    Waiting—for him? David could hardly believe it. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and said, “You would make a terrible movie vamp, Lulu.”
    She tilted her head back and grinned up at him. “I know. I lack the wardrobe for it, for one thing. But I’m getting better. I just need a little practice.”
    â€œMinx.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do now? Take me home?”
    â€œDo you want to go home?”
    She shook her head. “Who knows when I’ll get to see Bertie’s party—or you—again. I think I’d like to dance.”
    â€œDance?” he said in surprise.
    She nodded. “Of course! I’ve been learning the Charleston, it’s the latest thing from America you know.”
    â€œI haven’t danced in a long time,” he said doubtfully. He rubbed at his leg, but the old pain had long turned to numbness. He wasn’t sure it could ever feel again, certainly not enough for the kicks and leaps of the Charleston.
    But then he had also thought his frozen heart was dead. And now it felt as if it were touched with a sunny, thawing warmth as Lulu smiled at him and he longed for her so much.
    â€œEven bears can be trained to dance. You did so well before, by the lake,” she said. She let go of him and leaned down to pick up her dress. He caught a tantalizing glimpse of the pale skin of her upper thighs under the edge of his shirt.
    She gave him a teasing grin over her shoulder. “Come on, David. We need to live a little.”
    Live a little —that was exactly what he was afraid of….

Chapter Five
    Lulu leaned toward the bathroom mirror as she carefully applied her lipstick. She was almost shocked that she didn’t look completely different, that her face hadn’t changed to match her heart. But aside from a flush in her cheeks she looked just the same.
    Yet she wasn’t the same at all. She had just made love. With David.
    She wanted to shout the words out loud, to throw out her arms and twirl around. The bathroom was too small for that, though, so she just grinned at herself in the mirror. She tossed the flannels she had used for washing into the covered basket, dropped the tube of lipstick into her handbag and patted her hair into place before she replaced the mask.
    What would happen now? She had no idea. David had looked so angry and appalled by what happened between them. She thought her heart would shatter until he took her into his arms again. She didn’t want to think about the future. She just wanted to think about tonight, with David, and how all her hidden, secret dreams were coming true.
    She unlocked the door and stepped out into the corridor, where a short line of women in pastel silk