The Wicked One Read Online Free PDF Page A

for one evening, I think."
    He stood, bowed, and saw her out of his chambers.
    Lucien watched her go, his gaze hooded.  She was wary, now; nervous as a rabbit.  He had no intention of staying out of her affairs, of course.  And she was right:  He was in one hell of a foul temper, a temper that craved action, any action — but, having been thwarted, now growled and paced like a caged beast within him, demanding satisfaction.
    Demanding Eva .
    He summoned Phelps and silently allowed the valet to ready him for bed.  Then he deadened the agony in his leg with another shot of brandy, slid beneath the cool, crisp sheets, and lay there in the darkness, thinking . . .
    Of red hair and slanting green eyes . . . of breasts crowned with coral nipples . . . of seductively flaring hips . . . of skin as white as a virgin's virtue.  Sleep would not come early if at all tonight, but given the nightmares that awaited him there, he was in no hurry to embrace it.
    He stared up into the darkness.
    I will have you — you may depend upon it.
     
     
    Chapter 3
    "I don't know who the intruder was.  Lucien refuses to discuss it," said Nerissa, sidling closer to her beau, Earl Brookhampton, as he expertly steered the horse and phaeton around a chalky puddle of mud glazed with ice late the following morning.  Low, scudding clouds were roiling up and over the downs and she could see her breath in the damp air.  She was glad she was wrapped in wool and ermine and a hot brick toasted her feet, for it felt cold enough to snow and probably would, by nightfall.  "The only thing they found was the intruder's boots, and the rope by which he scaled the tower wall.  Why, I've never seen Lucien in such a cold rage!"
    "Fellow must've had a jolly good store of courage to even attempt such a thing," said Perry, looking up at the darkening sky.  "'Tis dangerous enough to scale the tower, but to confront Lucien — Lucien , of all people! — as well?  That intruder must have had a death wish!"
    "He'll wish he was dead when Lucien finally catches up to him!  Especially since that troublesome aphrodisiac that Andrew invented was destroyed in the attempt.  Lucien is furious!"
    Nerissa rested her head against Perry's shoulder.  The dampness had brought curl to his tousled blond hair.  The wind had bitten into his cheeks, his eyes were as cool and gray as the sky above, and he had never looked more handsome.  She sighed.  Oh, how, how she wished they were already wed, how she wished she could experience the delights of the marriage bed under the tutelage of his warm and capable hands!  She let her heart's wish show in her eyes, and in the next moment he leaned close, cupped her jaw with his fingers, and pulled her head close to his.  She closed her eyes, welcoming the familiar taste and touch of his tongue against her own, the feel of his lips, hard where hers were soft, demanding where hers were pliant.
    But the horse was still moving.
    The kiss could not last.
    A bump in the road broke it, and reluctantly, they both pulled away, Nerissa passing her tongue over her lips as though to seal in the warmth of Perry's kiss.
    He redirected his attention to the road.  "If only Lucien hadn't meddled in the first place, the aphrodisiac would still be safe."
    "Yes, well, we all know that Lucien will meddle as long as there is air to breathe.  I suppose it's all just as well, though.  That potion was far too dangerous.  I mean, look how much trouble it got Andrew and Celsie into!"
    "I'll say it did."  Perry glanced overhead at the incoming clouds, reached into his pocket, and extracted two sweets, giving one to Nerissa and popping the other into his own mouth.  "Poor Andrew would still be a free man if it weren't for that blasted stuff."
    "Uh, Perry, I think there's something you should know."
    He turned and raised a brow.
    "Lucien is growing impatient with us.  He's threatening to take matters into his own hands if we do not set a date, soon."
    Perry's