A Christmas Seduction (6 page)

“I have no idea to what you are referring.”

“You are a poor liar.”

Meredith took a deep breath. “Very well, I want to win. Is that so terrible?”

“No, not at all. I’m pleased to see that you have some humility lurking deep within that cavern you call a heart.”

“What?” she seethed.

“Nothing.” He shrugged. “Now, if you’ll follow me, they are distributing the clues and I want to get the first one.”

Stunned by his rude remark, she followed him wordlessly as he withdrew a clue from the selection a footman held on a silver tray. “This will do. Now follow me.” He walked to a torch and glanced behind him. “When the gun is shot, we can read it and start off toward the first clue.

“I have a heart. I just don’t waste it on you,” Meredith asserted, trying not to grab the clue from his hands and hold it to the light… just in case it was readable through the envelope.

“Good to know about its existence. It had been a burning question in my mind for so long,” Lucas drawled in a bored tone. “You must not take my barbs so seriously, one would think you had no sense of humor.”

“I have a perfectly acceptable sense of humor.”

“And here you go again.”

“Stop insulting me!” Meredith poked him in the chest.

“Stop rising to the bait!” He leaned down towards her,  challenging her.

“I wouldn’t rise to the bait if you didn’t lay it out!” She bit off the words, leaning forward as well.

“Children?” The Duchess of Ashbury’s voice interrupted their argument, and Meredith noticed just how close they stood. Flecks of amber laced the iris of his eyes, and the shadow of a beard accented his jawline, yet she forced these enticements out of her mind and leaned back, away from temptation.

“Yes, Mother?” Lucas asked sweetly, no repentance in his tone.

“Can I trust that there will be no bloodshed?” she asked, raising a brow.

And it was an honest question… because there had been bloodshed in the past.

Never much.

But nevertheless…

“Of course, Duchess,” Meredith answered, smoothing her skirt and forcing her posture into a stiff control.

“Lucas?” She turned to her son, her head thoughtfully tilted. The expression on her face wasn’t one Meredith would ever like to fall under.

“None what so ever.” He held up his hand as if swearing an oath.

“Lovely. Now, if you two are finished bickering, I believe I’ll give the signal to begin?”

At Lucas’ nod, she raised a hand and a footman sounded the gunshot.

Lucas ripped through the wax seal and opened the first clue. Forgotten was the recent argument as Meredith laid a hand on his shoulder and lifted herself upon her tiptoes to get a better view of the clue.

“
Where music takes its leisure in the cool spring
,” she read aloud.

“Hmm…” Lucas’ dark brows drew over his eyes. “Music… spring.”

Meredith re-read the missive, heart pounding, as other pairs darted away into the semi-darkness.

“I’ve got it! Come!” Lucas grasped her hand and pulled her towards the hedge maze. However, they passed the entrance and went around the corner towards the garden gate. ”It’s the birdbath,” he whispered quietly.

“Birdbath? Are you certain?” Meredith questioned.

“Yes. Think on it.” He turned to her, his features shadowed yet illuminated just enough to see the delight in his expression. “The music is the song birds, the cool spring is the water that’s drawn from the spring and put into the birdbath.”

“Oh.” She blinked. “That’s actually quite brilliant.”

He froze mid-step. “Pardon?”

“Nothing.” She waved her hand and walked on.

His warm hand grasped her wrist. “Oh, that was anything but nothing.”

She paused and turned to face him, trying to ignore the way the torchlight flickered across his features and made the smolder in his eyes more prominent. “You are more intelligent than I assumed.”

“Ah, you see… that is not what you said.” He pulled her wrist till she took a few steps towards him.

“Then why ask for me to repeat it if you heard correctly the first time.”

“I’m helping your humility grow.”

“I assure you it is the proper size.”

“I have doubts. You said I was brilliant.”

“No.” He pulled her closer still till his boots brushed the hem of her dress. “I said, ‘That’s quite brilliant.’ I was complimenting the riddle.”

“You can pretend all you want… but just know this.” He bent toward her, his gaze tenderly studying her. As much as she told herself to back away, she found herself staying in place and inclining forward as well.

“Know what?” she asked, her tone breathless.

“The only one you are fooling is… yourself,” he whispered.

Her eyes flickered closed as he started to close the small distance between them.

“Here it is! The birdbath! I told you!” Hugh’s voice burst through the moment like ice water, and Meredith pulled away, her heart hammering.

“Ah, I see you two figured out the clue as well,” Lucas answered, sidestepping Meredith and withdrawing the next clue and breaking it’s seal. “Too bad you’ll need to wait till we read the next clue.” He waved the envelope in the air, a defiant expression on his face.

“Well, be quick about it! I aim to win!”

“Me, too.” Louisa gave a silently competitive grin to her sister.

“A moment of privacy, if you will.” Lucas pulled Meredith’s wrist gently into the darker shadows. “Let us see what it says.”

“
To the middle I’ll go, but I’ll not have to go through any rows
.” Meredith read, her brow furrowing as she considered the words.

“It’s not the maze. That’s full of rows.” Lucas mused.

“The garden. The center of the garden! You know, where the—”

“The stone statue is! Yes! You know…” He tilted his head, just slightly, “You’re smarter than I expected as well.” With that, he tossed the envelope and clue into the air and ran toward the statue in the middle of the garden, chuckling as Hugh called foul behind him.

“That won’t stop them for long.” Meredith glanced behind her in time to watch Hugh grasp for the discarded clue.

“No, but I’ll take any advantage I can get.” Lucas replied, his tone thick with amusement.

“Do you think we’re in the lead?”

“Not sure, it is paramount that we continue quickly!” To punctuate his point, he paused and swept Meredith up in his arms and started to jog toward the middle of the garden.

“Put me down!” she insisted, keeping her voice low lest they attract unwanted attention.

“You’re far too slow to keep up. I had no other option since I simply must win.”

“You most certainly had other options!” She punched him in the arm with her fist.

“None.”

“Liar.”

“Oh, look! We’ve arrived.” With abrupt motions, he set her on the ground and searched the statue for another clue.

Slightly wobbly, Meredith righted herself and began searching as well. A crisp white envelope peeked from beneath a nearby bush with a small cherub as guardian. “I’ve found it!”

“Give it here.”

“No. Patience is a virtue. Plus, you’ve read the last two,” she accused as she slid open the envelope.

Lucas tried to swipe it from her hands, but she held tightly and spun away, trying to read the contents.

“
Edges and lines make up my design, but when you’re within, you’re lost like time
,” Meredith read the words quietly.

“Well, what does it say?” Lucas asked impatiently.

“It’s the maze, but…” Her brow furrowed as she considered the last part. The maze was quite large; the clue was somewhere specific within…

“Well, what?” Lucas placed his hands on his hips, drawing Meredith’s eye to the broad shoulders and trim waist he boasted.

“Er… has your mother added a clock to the maze of recent?” She shook her head, trying to dispel the feverish thoughts.

“Clock? No…” He rubbed his chin. “But a sundial! She added one last summer. It’s in the — wait, let me read this.” He snatched the missive from her hands. After reading it quickly, a smile broke through and as his gaze lifted to meet hers, merriment danced within. “I know exactly where this is. Hurry along or else I’ll be forced to carry you once more, only this time I’ll toss you over my shoulder. The maze being narrow and such.” He winked and ran off.

“Wait!” Meredith called, then fumed as he ignored her. Running as fast as her miserable corset would allow, she met him at the entrance to the maze.

“Stay close, it’s quite easy to find oneself lost within.” He wagged his eyebrows and held out a hand.

“As if I haven’t played in this very maze a thousand times,” she replied with a sarcastic hint to her voice.

“My mother changed it last year.”

“Pardon?” Meredith asked as they wound around the first corner, and just as he said, it was clear to see that her usual path through the maze was re-routed.

“It was a simple redesign, but she thought it would be a good change since we all have memorized the way out.”

“I’m assuming you know the rerouted exit?” she asked as they wound around another bend in the hedge. The night was thick with darkness; even the moonlight seemed small as the hedge closed in upon them. “Where are all the torches?”

“Yes, I know the exit. Must you even ask? And as for the torches…” A dark chuckle escaped his lips. “They have a nasty habit of lighting up that which needs to be more… private.”

“Oh.” Meredith felt her cheeks heat with his implication.

“Lucky for you, I’ll not take shameless advantage of cloak of night… yet. I’m far too interested in winning this contest. Then you’ll be subject to my company for far more than one evening’s diversion.”

“Lucky me.”

“Sarcasm does not become a lady.”

“Gentlemen do not—”

“There!” Lucas’ voice interrupted her remark and drew her attention to a small sundial on a pedestal. Sure enough, a moment later Lucas opened the envelope.

“I think this is the last one.” He cleared his throat and began to read. “
Wine is sweet, and smooth indeed, but there is a deeper passion where it can lead.”

“The cellar!” Meredith exclaimed, and spun on her heel to find the little known hiding place.

“Not so fast.” Lucas grasped her hand before she could get away, and halted her escape.

Even in the darkness, his gaze smoldered as he slowly closed the distance between them. “I may have lied.”

“Lied?” Meredith felt her brow furrow even as her heart pounded with expectation at the expression in his eyes.

“Just a little.” He shrugged, his grin widening.

“About?”

“You see… I find I am quite impatient…”

“My, my, how this comes as a surprise.” Meredith tried to lighten the thick tension with humor, but it came up short.

“It’s quite lovely, you know… to be known so well by another.” His hand gently released her fingers and slowly trailed up her arm, sending shivers all throughout her body as his touch danced along till he reached her shoulder. Gently drawing her closer, she was captive in his gaze and stepped towards him.

“Oh?” Was all the intelligent response she could muster.

“Indeed.” His fingers traced her shoulder till they rested against the small of her back, closing the distance between them. “And as miserable as it can be to my pride, for you to know truly every trespass—“

“Since they were against me and my sisters,” she finished, unable to suppress the smile his words provoked.

“To have nothing to hide… no need to pretend. It is quite… freeing.” He leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers. “Intoxicating.”

“Threatening?” Meredith added, startled at her own admission.

He leaned away slightly, only enough to make eye contact. “Terrifying.” His gaze darted to her lips. He bent forward slightly then paused.

Waiting for her to meet him, to acknowledge the passion, to admit the attraction… to be caught, rather than simply chased.

After a flicker of indecision, she met his lips, savoring the sweet warmth that coursed through her the moment they touched. As if only needing the slightest encouragement, his arms wound around her, pulling her in tightly against his frame and commanding the kiss from that moment on. Just as before, his kiss was wild, passionate and powerful, and she gave herself over to the sensations he awoke within her.

His tongue teased her lips apart then dipped within and tangled with her own, enlivening her senses and creating such a burning in her that made her boldly reach up to run her fingers through his dark hair. The texture was soft and thick, adding to the spell of seduction around them. Her hungry fingers traced down his neck to his back, exploring the hills and valleys of his powerful frame. As if her touch further ignited his own arousal, his hands moved from her back, to her waist, then settling on her hips, holding them firmly, and pulling her in till there was no space between them.

As his lips left hers with a tingling sensation, he trailed kisses down her jawline and to her neck, where he playfully nipped her skin. Goose bumps prickled all over, but not from the cold, rather from deep arousal. Even pressed so scandalously against him, she wanted — needed — more. “Lucas,” she gasped, not even recognizing her own voice.

His mouth silenced her words as he ravaged her lips once more, his hands exploring her curves further. “Temptress,” he murmured against her lips, drawing her lower lip into his mouth and biting it playfully.

“Rake,” she quipped, once he released her lip.

“Seductress,” he whispered, slowing the kiss, allowing her to savor the distinct taste of his mouth.

“Rogue,” she countered, stepping closer just as he pulled away.

“Thief,” he accused softly, lifting his gloved hand to tilt her chin.

She drew back slightly. “Thief?”

“Yes, you are indeed a thief.” He lowered his hand and grasped hers, leading them away.

Meredith followed, still trying to figure out his meaning. Her lips buzzed with the after-sensations from their ardent kissing. She could imagine the berry color they boasted from the recent passionate assault.

Surely Lucas’ lips carried the same evidence.