Belong To Me (book 4) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (2 page)

“I don’t rightly know.” She shrugged. “Are you a night rider?”

“I have a better idea. Since you are the Devil, I shall be Hell.”

Lost in a dream, she gazed into his masked face. “If you are Hell, I’d gladly become wicked just to be with you.”

He tightened his hold on her and she brushed against his chest. They danced entirely too close, but she didn’t protest. It was as if a warm blanket of comfort had wrapped around her. All humor disappeared as longing crept into her, weakening her resolve. The foreign flutter in her chest uplifted her and gave her energy. Silently, she cursed her body’s weakness. This was not the way she wanted to react. She had to be in control—not him.

“Mademoiselle She-Devil? May I ask you a personal question?”

“What is that?”

“Are you by chance taken?”

Afraid to make a sound, she held her breath. Should she lie to him? Yet it was too soon to tell him the truth. With a firm decision, she buried her secret deep inside her, and would not give a hint to her true self. “No, I’m not taken.”

“Who is the man that was with you and your friend?”

Her heart flipped with the knowledge he’d been watching her. “Which man?”

“The one dressed as an ancient God.”

“He’s my friend’s escort.”

The music came to an end and she leaned into him, not wanting to leave his arms. Warm, peppermint breath breezed across her cheek and tickled her.

“I’d like it very much if you belonged to me tonight.” His words came out as a request, but his tone held more of a command.

Charlotte’s heart soared. Never in her life had a man’s voice or touch affected her like this, and although it scared her,
the
new sensation stirred something from within. She wanted more—wanted him to feel the same urgency flowing through her right now. The three days after she’d married
him,
her body had never reacted with such a demand like it was doing now.

“I think, sir, you are indeed the devil and not I, for your words are tempting me far greater than I expected.”

His face moved forward and she thought he meant to place a kiss on her cheek, which she’d gladly accept. Instead, his lips brushed her earlobe, sending chills down her spine.

“I’ll show you sin if you’ll let me,” he whispered in her ear. “Give me the word,
Chère
, and I’ll take you to a most pleasurable place.”

Without waiting for her to answer, he withdrew and escorted her back to Allison. Charlotte’s heart pounded with every step. She’d never experienced this passionate longing, and heaven help her, she wanted it with her husband, this devilish, seductive man. She wanted him to love her, wanted him to be the father of her children...the way it should have been when they’d repeated their marriage vows.

Chiding her thoughts, she quickly pushed them from her mind. That would never happen. She didn’t want a man in her life that had trampled her heart.

“Until we meet up again, my sweet She-Devil.”

He bowed over her hand and gallantly kissed her knuckles, and then leaned into her ear. “We have much to discuss…later.” He pulled away then turned and left.

She glanced at the spot his lips had made on her gloved hand. Her mouth turned cotton dry.

Allison clutched onto her arm. “Good heavens, Charlotte. Is he not absolutely wicked?”

Charlotte’s gaze followed her husband through the crowd. “You cannot fathom how close that is to the truth.”

“What happened?”

Charlotte smiled. “He made me feel things I’ve never felt before.”

“Did you charm him?”

“I highly doubt I could accomplish such a feat with a man like Ian, but his words touched deep within my soul. He was certainly charming me. I may not have to work too hard tonight to get him where I want him.” She met her friend’s stare. “Which reminds me...did you secure a room for me?”

“Up the stairs, the third door on your left. The room will be vacant and nobody will disturb you.”

Charlotte breathed a little easier. “Splendid. I’m grateful you have connections here. Everything seems to be falling into place now.”

“Then I shall not worry about you for the remainder of the evening.” Allison winked and left Charlotte’s side, wandering toward George
Fauxley
who stood with a group of men.

Charlotte waited anxiously as the next hour slipped by. While she turned suitors away who’d come to ask for a dance, her attention remained on her husband. As Ian swept from person to person in conversation, his lithe movements held her captivated. His deep laughter filled the air and sent her heart into an erratic rhythm. People seemed to like Ian. Since leaving her side, he hadn’t danced with anyone, and she smiled from the knowledge.

Earlier, Allison had assured her that Charlotte could charm Ian. She’d had doubts, but no more. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her and she couldn’t stop watching him. Closer than she realized, her goal was finally obtainable.

The night wore on and he periodically looked her way. Even though the mask shadowed his eyes, she suspected his thoughts were indecent. The prickly sensations racing up her spine made her ever so conscious of the desires pulsing through her.

Why had she waited so long to experience this? Her widowed young friend, Allison, had led the wild life, moving from one lover to the next, which Charlotte had thought she’d wanted once upon a time. But the more she watched her lonely companion, who had never found true love, the more Charlotte wanted a family. She yearned for Ian to see the woman she’d become, and yes, heaven help her she wanted him to suffer as she had suffered.

As if examining a painting, she studied her wayward husband. He carried himself like a gentleman and his genuine smile charmed many. Holding his drink, his lean fingers caressed the stem of the champagne glass.

He turned and captured her stare—and held it. Time stood still. The tinkling of laughter dimmed, and she felt as if she were floating. She couldn’t stop herself from remembering his scent, his voice, and especially his touch. Without breaking their stare, he placed the glass on the tray as the butler
passedand
then moved in her direction. With each step he took toward her, her heart pounded until he stood in front of her yet again.

He mocked a small bow.
“Bonjour again, Mademoiselle She-Devil.”

“Greetings, Sir Hell.”

A deep laugh escaped his throat, sending another round of tremors shooting through her. This feeling rejuvenated her, assuring her that she could accomplish her seduction...and enjoy doing it.

“I thought you might like to take a stroll outside for some fresh air,” he boldly suggested.

Her heart skipped in a quick beat. The very thing she wanted was within reach. Her mind told her this was wrong, that she needed to reveal her identity first, but her heart argued, telling her not to pass the chance for passion.

“You’re a mind reader?” she asked.

“No, but your thoughts are so sinful that I cannot help but know what you’re thinking.”

Time to take the lead.
Her plan would not work if she didn’t act now. “I fear outside might be too chilly. May I suggest a room upstairs, instead?”

His brows lifted and his grin widened.
“A room?”

“Yes. The hostess has provided me a room for the evening.”

He took her hand, hooked it around his elbow, and led her toward the grand staircase. As they made their way toward their destination, the dim hallway threw discreet shadows everywhere. Anticipation made her palms moist and she clenched her hands into fists.

Thankfully, he’d followed her into the room even as indecent and improper as it was since he didn’t know her identity. Once inside, he closed the door. One small lantern had been lit. Shadows danced on the walls from the flickering flame. A bed sat against the far wall, and a loveseat and coffee table placed nearer to her.

He faced her. In the flickering light, his piercing look set her heart to a wild patter. “So, my darling She-Devil, would you entrance me by telling me something about the woman behind the mask?”

Charlotte tilted her head to the side. “You cannot wait for the unveiling? It’s a little more than an hour away.”

“I cannot.”

She smiled. “I don’t think I shall tell you. However, I’m not from Bath. I’m here with friends.”

“I assumed as much. I’d have remembered seeing a woman so beautiful.” His fingers trailed softly across her cheek.

“How long have you lived here?” she asked, trying to keep her voice from trembling.

“For quite a while.”
His fingers moved from her cheek to her ear lobe. The tingling sensations caused her breath to catch in her throat.

She swallowed hard. “I must admit, I feel awkward being alone with a stranger.”

“But we’re here due to your suggestion.”

“I know...I just...” She swallowed hard. “I’m very nervous.”

He gestured toward the door with a nod. “Then shall we leave?”

She smiled wider. “Alas, I cannot. I fear you have drawn me inside your web of temptation, a place I’d rather be than downstairs with the others.”

“Nay,
Chère
, it’s you who has lured me.” He took a step closer, his fingers trailing further down her neck. “But there’s an urgent need to discuss why I wanted to meet you tonight.”

Her heart stilled. Since he thought she was his informant, how could she seduce him before he discovered she was not who he thought? She couldn’t let him ask questions. “I fear I cannot wait.” She moved to the lantern and turned it lower. “You have pulled me into your power, and I find myself wanting more.”

He shifted in his stance. Could he be uncomfortable because of her forwardness? She hoped so. She would love nothing more than to believe he had not been with other women during their long absence. Nevertheless, she refused to stop charming him now.

“I must confess you are not the person I was led to believe you were.” The tone of his voice was uneasy. “You’ve also trapped me with your charm, my wicked woman, but I really need to ask you some questions pertinent to my investigation.”

She stepped next to him and laid her hands on his black silk shirt. Under her palms, his heartbeat pounded in an erratic rhythm. “You’d rather discuss something as mundane as that when you have me alone? I’m offering you something much more entertaining than talking.”

His Adam’s apple jumped and his body stilled. What if he didn’t take her up on the offer? How could she charm him if he wasn’t willing?

He licked his lips. “I suppose we could postpone our conversation just a little while longer.”

A thrill shot through her chest, stirring a volcanic fire within her bosom. He brought his fingers to her neck again, and this time there was a slight shake to his hand. Perhaps he wasn’t used to seducing women. She wanted to bask in her victory, but it was too soon.

She moistened her dry lips quickly with her tongue. “What would you like me to do with you, sir?”

He chuckled, sliding his free arm around her waist. When he pulled her against him, she sighed heavily. He was a very impressive man—much so than she remembered three years ago.

“Whatever you wish, my dear.”

Tingles ignited and coursed through her, yet she didn’t want to stop the passion spiraling through her. This was not going the way she’d expected, this flirtation was spinning out of control, and she needed to be in control. “You’re making me feel things I’ve never experienced before,” she admitted in a whisper.

His fingers skimmed over the exposed skin at her throat. A warm shiver passed through her. She couldn’t decide which was better, his tender caress or his sensual words.

“Can this be true,
Chère
? I fail to believe you are innocent.”

As his stare daringly assessed her, Charlotte filled with wanting. She yearned to be close to him, to kiss him, to touch him—the husband she had always wanted—here in this magical, private setting. “There’s only one way to find out,” she replied in a voice too husky to be her own.

A deep growl escaped his throat moments before he leaned in to kiss her. When their lips met, sparks sliced through the air and shocked her system into a fevered frenzy. She circled her hands around his neck and crushed her mouth to his. His large palms cupped her face so tenderly, it drove her mad. The need to be accepted by the husband who had so cruelly rejected her on their wedding night overrode all emotions rushing through her.

Long, masculine fingers threaded through her hair and found the tie to her mask, and then released it. He broke the kiss just long enough to gaze upon her features.

She hoped the low glow of the lantern wouldn’t show him enough of her face to remember who she was. His gaze narrowed as his forehead creased. She held her breath. Could he see her at all? And would he recognize her?

Within seconds, he shook his head and his mouth turned upward, pearly white teeth gleaming in the dim light. “You’re absolutely beautiful, just as I’d imagined,” he whispered.

What did he look like? Could he be as handsome as he’d been three years ago? Charlotte pulled on the ties of his mask, but he brought his lips back down to hers before she could see. The mask slid through her fingers as she concentrated on finding the opening to the scarf hiding his hair. The knot came apart and the material floated to the floor. She pushed her fingers through his silken waves, bringing forth his sigh. She remembered his hair being a dusty-blond three years ago. She prayed time had not changed the beautiful color.