Rogue for a Night Read Online Free PDF Page A

the world spun out of control.

    ~~~

    It had been so long since Lucinda had been kissed that she hadn’t realized how hungry she had been for that type of  touch. For the taste of a man’s lips, for the feel of his muscles contracting beneath her palms. It was unseemly to want this so much, to part her mouth beneath Rage’s and let him dip his tongue inside to taste her in a far more intimate fashion.
    But she did that nonetheless and her knees went weak with his surprisingly gentle exploration. She found herself digging her fingers into his jacket, pulling herself closer, deepening the kiss as a heat came over her that had nothing to do with the rising sun.
    She wanted him. To arch beneath him.
    That stunning and entirely wrong desire snapped her from her fog and with a gasp of breath, she pulled away. He released her immediately and simply watched her as she stood a few feet away, trying to catch her breath and collect her wild, confusing thoughts.
    “Should I apologize?” Rage finally said softly.
    She forced herself to look at him and a sizzle of desire flooded her once more, as did more hot blood to her already burning cheeks. “I-no. No, Mr. Riley.”
    “I think we’ve moved beyond Mr. Riley, Lucinda,” he whispered.
    She blinked at his use of her given name, at how sensual it sounded coming from his gravelly voice and then nodded. “You’re right, of course…” She hesitated.
    Everyone who referred to this man by a name that wasn’t proper called him Rage. But she didn’t want to use that harsh, violent nickname with a man who had just awoken every sense she’d all but forgotten. She’d heard his given name before. Nicholas had said it once.
    “Ronan,” she whispered.
    He stared at her, almost as if he didn’t recognize that name. Then he smiled and she couldn’t help but do the same. Although the situation was still out of control, his smile made her so much more comfortable.
    “I-I don’t know what to do now,” she whispered with an uncomfortable shuffle of her feet. “What to say.”
    Rage nodded. She wasn’t sure what to think of the serious expression on his face. Did he think her silly or foolish? Or perhaps wanton for allowing the kiss to go so far? Was he disappointed she had pulled away? He was impossible to read. Which had probably served him very well in the underground she knew so little about.
    “Neither of us are children, Lucinda,” he said softly and she nearly shut her eyes at her name from his lips this second time. “I think we can be honest with each other, can’t we?”
    She swallowed hard. She wasn’t certain what he meant by honest, nor was she certain she was ready for the kind of honesty this rough man could bring. But she found herself more curious than afraid of whatever he wanted to say to her.
    “I would like to think that honesty could bring us no harm,” she said.
    He smiled almost like he doubted that, but he continued nonetheless. “I want to be honest with you, though I know what I say could offend you and bring to an end the pleasant acquaintance we have shared.”
    “That is ominous,” she replied, trying to keep her tone light even as her heart began to pound against her ribs.
    “Indeed.” He drew in a long breath. “Lucinda, the first moment I saw you, I was taken by your beauty. When I saw you, I could not help but catch my breath. I even thought of you when you weren’t near.”
    Lucinda stared at him. This she had not ever guessed he would say. “Y-You did? I had no idea.”
    He nodded once. “You were another man’s wife and I never would have pursued that interest out of a respect not only for your husband and his brother, but for you. But yes, I wanted you. I want you still, Lucinda. Perhaps now more than ever.”
    She could hardly breathe at this revelation. What he was saying… it was madness! She ought to be offended, as he had said he feared. She ought to turn away from his blunt admission of desire and tell him never to speak