Girl in the Beaded Mask Read Online Free PDF Page B

Hatton Hall had been his favorite place in the world, so full of laughter and fun. So different from the cold, quiet rooms of his family’s house. He had thought of it so many times over the years, thought about going back and seeing them again. Seeing Lulu.
    But then he would remember his last visit there, the black wreath on the door and Lady Hatton’s red-rimmed eyes. He knew only one thing then—he lived, and Bill died. Hatton Hall was gone for him.
    Lulu didn’t seem to think so, though.
    He looked down at her head on his shoulder, the glow of her red hair in the golden light. Sweet, passionate Lulu. Did he dare hope? Could he let himself?
    They stopped on the shadowy, quiet landing and he couldn’t stop himself. Seeing her, holding her, it was like a force of nature he couldn’t hold back. Lulu swept over him like a hurricane.
    He bent his head and covered her mouth with his. Her lips parted in surprise, and he swept his tongue past them to taste her deeply. She was so sweet, like lavender and cocktails and the country night air. She was the innocence and wonder he had lost, and found again in her tonight.
    She curled her fists into the front of his jacket and pulled him closer to her as she answered his kiss with a passion of her own. Their feet grew still and he forgot where they were, who he was, he forgot everything but her , and how it felt to make love to her.
    To come alive again with her. She was his magic sorceress.
    Suddenly he desperately needed to see her face, to hold her and know it was her. To show her the life-changing tenderness she had shown him.
    His kiss slid from her lips, skimming over her soft, pink-flushed cheek until he could whisper in her ear.
    â€œCome somewhere quiet with me,” he urged. She went still, glancing over his shoulder to the crowd downstairs, and at first he was afraid she would refuse. That she would leave him alone again.
    Finally she nodded and gave him a smile. “I will.”

Chapter Six
    Lulu heard the click of the door as David closed it behind them, leaving them in the darkness of a deserted bedchamber. She nervously smoothed her gown as she studied the room, the shapes of the old-fashioned four-poster bed, the chaise, the tall carved fireplace, all shadows in the moonlight that streamed from the window.
    Up here, the noise from the party was muffled, like the distant echo of a constantly moving ocean tide. She could hear the soft sound of his breath, the roar of her heart. They were alone again, and this time it was different.
    Now he knew who she really was.
    She heard the lock turn in the door and his soft footsteps on the thick carpet as he crossed the room to stand right behind her. His arms slid around her waist and drew her back against his body.
    Lulu’s eyes fluttered closed as she felt his hand slide, hard and hot, over her belly and he lowered his head to kiss the side of her neck. His breath was hot and quick against her ear, and she thought she could feel his heart pounding through her. He held her close, and they were all alone, the only two people in the whole world.
    She had never felt more wonderfully alive than she did in this moment! Everything sparkled like fireworks, and the world was a beautiful place again for one night.
    The tip of his tongue lightly touched the nape of her neck, and she shivered. His kiss slid ever so slowly to the curve of her shoulder just where it was bared by the thin strap of her dress. He nudged it out of his way and it drifted down her arm.
    â€œSo beautiful,” he said hoarsely, and in his words she suddenly felt beautiful.
    She spun around in his embrace to wind her arms around his neck. He pulled her up against him and their lips met in a hot rush of desperate desire. She had needed him so much for so long, and now she wanted him to need her, too!
    She held on to him tightly and felt his tongue trace the curve of her lower lip, lightly, teasingly, before he pressed inside to