by Editor
Lucian ran his fingers through Serina’s wavy auburn locks to rouse her. With a gentle touch, he traced the outline of her body, over her back, her ribs and lower to her hips. He slid his hand over her bottom, and enjoyed the soft, supple firmness. For a split second, he envisioned her naked, lying across him while he gently spanked her. He laughed aloud.
He thought about undressing her in her febrile state. All right, he agreed “feverish” was a lame reason, but if she came around that’s what he was sticking with. Then better judgment kicked in and he decided to keep her clothed...for now. What if she woke up naked and began screaming? Glancing at his soggy predicament of tattered trousers, a black shawl draped oddly across him, his shirt shredded, frustration set in. He squinted, while his fingers puttered with his five o’clock shadow and his free hand slapped her lush little behind.
Lucian went back to his puzzle. Who was this woman with soft sensuous curves he would love to skim with his fingers and memorize with his heart? Why was she face down, buried within his loins...asleep, no less?
Why was his sister snoring to the high heavens in the carriage? He’d seen her at the party with a shandy in hand, and he knew all too well it only took one to get her glassy-eyed and giggly. Therein lay his answer.
Where the dickens did Duncan disappear to? He rubbed his jaw in thought. Oh wait, the last time he saw Duncan he’d been playing craps with a few friends with a nice mountain of winnings in front of him. Probably enough to buy London Bridge, not that England would ever sell her.
And more importantly, was this little woman going to finish what he hoped she’d started? She’d obviously attempted to rip off his clothing in a heated passion. Wish I remembered it.
“Excuse me, Miss.” Lucian gave her a gentle shake. “Would you be so kind as to remove yourself so as I may try to regain my composure? Mind you, you were a tad bit rough with my attire. These did have buttons on them at one point.”
Serina stirred.
Dizzy and disoriented, Serina couldn’t quite figure out where she was. Blinking, she tried to see past some large, silky, dark object blocking her view.
After she rubbed her eyes, Serina reached out to examine what obstacle threatened to poke her eye out. With a solid grip on the steel shaft Serina froze. Slowly, she rolled her eyes upward at the tumescent erection still blanketed in silk. She couldn’t move a muscle to save herself, but then, obviously, she couldn’t stay there with her face buried in the man’s loins, either. Her fingers opened with reluctance.
What do I do to get out of this sticky situation with my dignity intact?
Nothing came to mind...Well, that wasn’t exactly true. One thing came to mind. Her eyebrow lifted in a non-prim, non-proper fashion.
Serina licked her lips. Truth be known, she’d read his mind and had seen what he’d wanted from her. He wanted Serina to take him, all of him, into her mouth, lick the length of him, taste him, nibble her way down his shaft and capture his more delicate parts, and ultimately drive him over the edge. She was pretty confident she could grant his wish.
Instead, heart racing, she turned her head away.
“Sir, I know this looks completely enormous…” Dear God! Serina bit her tongue and covered her mouth, disbelieving she’d uttered such gibberish.
Lucian laughed wholeheartedly which compounded her embarrassment.
“I mean outrageous. I know this appears scandalous, but please give me a minute of your time before you say anything or judge my reasons for being here like this. I swear ’tis not as it seems.”
“I believe, Miss, you’ve already had a minute or two from what I can see. I’ll leave the final judgment until you’re finished.” He smiled smugly.
Someone thought his vain sense of humor funny. Serina rolled her eyes.
“Oh no, Sir. Is that what you think? I was not! A lady would never.” She attempted to sound appalled. Oh, Serina. You lie. You most certainly were thinking that and you would... “Let me try this again. Lord St. James, I am Dr. Serina Spencer. Your sister and you sort of fell into my lap and were in need of emergent care.” She gazed up at him, a wall of muscle, and she felt like the little slip of a thing she’d heard Molly call her. The man was sheer, rugged beauty she wanted blanketed across her body, stoking her already heated desires.
“Well, Dr. Spencer,” Lucian gestured to her position in the carriage. “Your story is backwards, dear, for who is in whose lap?”
Lord St. James wore a grin the devil himself would envy. She realized he was toying with her and enjoying every second of it. Oddly, so did she. Serina decided to get up and out of the carriage before anything more embarrassing happened. With one arm to each side of his body, she pushed away from him and lost her footing in a puddle of water. About to say, “Oops,” she slipped fast and forward directly onto the man’s welcoming silken-covered erection. She became all arms and legs trying to get off him.
Lucian grabbed her forearms and steadied her.
“Oh, by the Goddess, I’m so sorry,” she prattled. “Oh, I’m so…” Serina tossed the shawl aside and grabbed his penis a second time, lifting his warm shaft to inspect it...Still solid! “I didn’t hurt you, did I? I’m utterly mortified.” Feeling a slight pulsation coming from beneath her fingers, she glanced back towards her hand. He was bubbling over with joy, literally.
The small gestures of her hand along with the warmth of her breath was all it took, and Serina knew Lord St. James was in no way injured, and that all body parts worked just fine. His head fell backwards, and he sucked in a huge gulp of air with a languorous glaze to his eyes.
Good thing you fixed his airway, Serina.
“Oh, Sir!” Serina gasped along with him, no longer overwhelmed with guilt for hurting him, or thinking she had, but now for touching him.
“Umm!” He cleared his throat and gave the chin nod towards his groin.
She released her grip on him, again!
Lucian placed a gentle finger to her lips. “Shush, m’lady. I’m fine. You’ve more than seen to that. You’ve a most peculiar bedside manner.” He couldn’t help but smile as he straightened the shawl, covering himself once more. “I must confess to you, it is very stimulating, finding a beautiful woman in my lap...And a first.”
He placed his fingers beneath her chin and tilted her head upward to get a closer look. He found her ravishing, with a small, slightly turned-up nose, soft facial features, unforgettable glistening, green eyes and lush full lips made for him alone to kiss. That thought caught him off guard, but then it seemed everything about her did. When she laid her head back down on his shoulder to regain her composure, he knew she was thoroughly mortified. With that small movement, Lucian wasted no time and placed his hand back in the silken strands of her hair, savoring the moment.
“I would think that you and I might need a more informal introduction after this evening, m’lady. My name is Lucian and you could start by looking at me. My promise to you, I’ll try not to make any more wise comments or embarrass you more than you already appear to be, but on the rarest of occasions, as my dear sister claims, I speak before I think. You’ve been forewarned.”
Serina glanced up from beneath her lashes just as he winked at her.
Lucian’s gentle whisper sought her out and touched her where no man ever had. He caressed her soul and took possession of her heart.
Oh, bloody hell, what’s wrong with me? Well, genius, how ’bout blood loss and the heat. The heat, yes, indeed, he is an inferno.
“I do have some serious questions for you, though.” Lucian brushed her hair from her face, adding intimacy to the desire that swiftly overcame her.
“My name? Oh, ah…call me Serina.” She shyly met his striking silvery blue eyes. They shone, as if the sun beat directly on them. Melting mercury, she thought. The man definitely had the capability of making a few things melt, her being one of them; her drawers a dead giveaway. Serina stifled a gasp. She could actually differentiate his eye color. Color blind from birth, she hid it as best
she could, memorizing everything in life her mother had taught her, like apples are red, grass is green, dead people are bluish-grey...the important things, to be sure.
His lips, she decided, looked like an invitation to heaven. Serina wanted to kiss that bottom lip and nibble on it just a bit—all right, maybe more than just a bit—have them explore every inch of her body…for starters.
Even through what was left of his trousers the solid muscle of his thighs looked inviting. Serina slid her hands over them once more, just because she could. What was a little more guilt at this point?
Isn’t she a cheeky one? He bit his tongue thinking that only moments before, he’d done the same to her delicate behind. He sat in awe of the woman, wondering how fate had intervened and given him this little gift so nicely wrapped in a scantily-laced robe. His heart had a strange tug to it as he watched her every move. For the first time in his life, he felt alive, possessive. Urges demanded he take her and run. Run far away from everyone in his life and get to know her, to make love to her on the beach as the setting sun cast a golden glow to her soft, flawless skin. Wake with her in his arms and warm her where the sun didn’t shine!
What in the name of the Queen happened to me tonight? Not as much as I’d have liked to! Lucian, you’ve only just met the woman. Act like a gentleman.
Having never before experienced anything remotely like this, Lucian found himself in a quandary. He’d never given another woman the time of day, let alone a second glance. He’d had a vision years earlier of a woman, his passionate mate. And here she sat flashing him with the most remarkable smile, an interesting attitude, and those bountiful breasts. Jesus, they’re so inviting. So soft. So sensuous. So in need of my undivided attentions. Lucian threaded his fingers together for fear he would actually reach out to fondle her without an actual invitation to do so.
Just the thought of Lucian... His name spelled divine. Oddly her breasts began to ache, her nipples firm and pressing free from the robe. When a cooler breeze hit her she glanced down. Her jaw dropped.
Out of the robe! For the love of God.
“Don’t get embarrassed, Serina. Casually look down and just tuck the only thing that’s bigger than your mouth back in its place. I realize ’tis the challenge of a lifetime you’ll spend eternity fighting.”
Lucian grinned. “Personally I think they’re beautiful and wouldn’t mind seeing them more often.”
Serina snapped her head up. “Excuse me?” Her eyes went wide, taking the man in. “Did you just see my—never mind that. Did you read my mind?”
“As much as I wish I could read minds, Serina, especially yours, I cannot. You just said all that nonsense out loud, luv. Once you’re all tucked back in, would you answer some questions for me? Need any help? Willing and able, at your service.”
I bet you’re able! The weight of his gaze as he sat back and stretched reminded her of a prowling cat, hungry to devour its prey. That, I imagine, would be a fancy feast!
“Lucian, let me start by telling you what happened here tonight and then see if you’ve any unanswered questions.”
Lucian interrupted, “I wish Raven would come out of her stupor. She’s had a little more drink than she’s used to tonight. She sleeps like the dead. This is rare for her. And where, in the name of God, is Duncan? Last time I saw him, he had enough coins in front of him to...He’s probably met some woman, or at least I hope he did. The man’s been to hell and back, but that’s a story for a different day.”
Lucian’s demeanor changed before her eyes. The smile—gone. His silver-blue eyes—the calm before the storm. “Is that what you think happened to you tonight?” She asked confused. Could the man honestly have no clue what happened to them? “Both you and your sister will be fine. Mr. Thomas is safe with my neighbor. Lucian, listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you. A vampire attacked you both. You were both in pretty rough shape. But tonight, Sir, was your lucky night, in more ways than one.”
Lucian glanced to his sister, then to Serina, studying her.
“Did you say ‘vampire’? How much spirits have you indulged in, Madam?”
Serina raised her voice, “Pardon me? Do not doubt me, Lord St. James. These creatures are very real and very deadly.”
Lucian gently brushed Raven’s bangs from her face. He tilted her head to the side and gasped upon seeing a large bloody bruise with two puncture wounds in her neck.
“She’s fine. Trust me.”
“Doesn’t look fine.” Lucian stared in disbelief. “You wouldn’t lie to me? Then why hasn’t she come round? A vampire you say?”
Serina continued, “She’s gaining her strength. I swear to you, I took care of her.” She leaned over and placed her hand atop his, hoping to calm him. She found the spark still there, ready to be rekindled as a warm pulse flowed between them. The look he gave her when the jolt shook his body almost made her laugh. “That’s a story for a different day, luv.” She smirked. “I gave you both a blood transfusion. She’ll likely require another one tomorrow. Theory has it that it takes three bites in a relatively short period of time to become an indentured servant to a vampire. All it takes is one nasty blood-drenching bite to become undead.” Serina poked his chest with her finger. “You came close. I put you back together again, hopefully better than Humpty Dumpty.”
“Humpty Dumpty? What a pathetic name.”
Serina cocked her to one side. “You’re pulling me leg, right?”
“About what?”
“About Humpty?”
Lucian shook his head no.
Serina inhaled his fragrant breath. With that thought, she realized she was in trouble. She grabbed his rugged chin covered with a faint shadow of whiskers and raised her eyebrows as she looked into his eyes. “Fairy tale published in 1810?” she said with a question in her voice. “Please tell me you know fairy tales. Come on, Lord St. James. Every child has been told it. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall…” Serina waited to see if he would finish the tale or if he truly hadn’t heard it. A few more seconds passed. “Later, I’ll read you the tale. There’s two theories. First is about an egg and the second about King Richard, murdering wastrel that he was.”
“Ooh, a bedtime story?” Lucian winked. “You don’t care much for the royals, do you?”
“They’re all daft. Incestuous group, I’ve been told. Just look at the Queen’s husband. Too many uncles and brothers in that pot. Anyway,” Serina continued, “I believe that creature wanted you dead.” I certainly wouldn’t. Worn out atop me definitely, but never dead. Again, she smiled coyly. “And your sister, well…count your blessings. Your driver’s rattled, but he’s fine.”
Raven St. James stirred. She blinked a few times and then rubbed her eyes. Her fingers lightly rubbed the wound upon her neck and she winced.
“Lucian?” Raven’s voice sounded raspy, and raw. She looked around the coach, her eyes wide as she noted a few bandages on her brother. Setting her sights on Serina, she asked, “What’s happened to us? Are you all right? Why’ve you a naked woman in here? Did she hurt you? What did you do to his clothing?” she accused Serina.
“I’m not naked,” Serina snapped in self-defense, knowing she really didn’t have a leg to stand on with that remarkably oh-so-intelligent rebuttal. “And—” she paused, pointing her finger at Raven while she attempted to think of something—anything that made some sense. Instead she gave Raven an ill-fated grin.
Seeing Raven’s facial expression, lips scrunched, both her eyebrows arched towards her hairline and her finger pointed at her see-through robe, Serina tried again to secure the garment. Failing miserably, she went in search of the afghan. Out in the street. Serina groaned. At this point she no longer cared about her attire, or lack thereof.
Raven pulled herself into the corner of the seat and hugged her knees to her chest. “Lucian, answer me.”
Lucian reached over to Raven and pulled her to him.
“Lucian, where’s Duncan? Is…?” Raven’s voice quieted.
�
�Ray, this beautiful woman saved our lives, and we owe her. I only have a limited version of the evening’s events, but she believes a vampire attacked us.”
“A what?” Raven squeaked. “Don’t even tell me you believe her.”
“Vampire. Let me finish, Beauty. She was kind enough to give you and me her blood.”
“You’ve gone stark, raving, mad, Lucian St. James,” Raven declared.
Serina extended her hand. “Raven, my name is Serina Spencer. I’m a doctor. I work at the hospital’s morgue. They are real, the vampires, trust me. I dealt with one just this morning.”
With a hint of sarcasm, Raven asked, “This one’s a gem, Luce. Where did you find her?”
Lucian and Raven exchanged a glance in which he clearly stated Raven should back off. He added, “I do believe her, Ray.”
“Truly?” Her tone defeated. When Lucian nodded, Raven made the sign of the cross over her heart.
“Why don’t the two of you come into my home and freshen up? Raven, would you care for tea? I really need to get out of this coach and replace some of the fluids I gave you two, before I pass out again.” She glanced at Lucian, a small curve formed upon her lips. “Please, come in.”
Lucian let go of his sister and jumped out of the carriage. He found it hard to believe that moments before he had almost met his death. He felt better than he had before the attack. He held out his hand to Serina to help her down. The moment she slid her small hand into his, power rippled through his body. He embraced the energy. Letting go of her hand, Lucian wrapped his hands around her tiny waist and brought Serina to him, allowing her to slide down the front of him—slowly, as she brushed against the thickness of his unwavering erection until her feet hit the ground. He held onto her for a moment, not at all embarrassed in showing her he had feelings for her…until he realized the silk shawl she’d draped across him now lay on the road by his feet.