Never Tempt a Scot

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Never Tempt a Scot Page 29

by Lauren Smith


  “You are the first person Devil hasn’t bitten upon first meeting,” a cold voice said from the doorway.

  Harriet’s head flew up, and she saw a tall man leaning in the doorway. His head was afire with deep-red hair that was cut a tad too long, and his hazel eyes gleamed with the fire’s distant glow like topaz. His face was carved with perfect masculinity, but there was a hint of cruelty that hung about his sensuous lips, and anger radiated from his eyes. She bit her lip and tried to still the trembling of her body as she took him in. There was no question—this was the Duke of Frostmore.

  He was not pretty, as some men tended to be. There was certainly nothing angelic about his face or form to bring forth a sense of natural charm. Instead, he seemed to exist in a singularly masculine way that made her sit up and take notice. Fear and curiosity warred with each other as she continued to stare at him.

  “Devil?” It was a foolish thing to say, but no other thoughts in her mind were coherent enough to say. The effect George had on her paled in comparison to this man. Fighting George, had it come to that, would have been difficult, but she could tell with one look that attempting to resist this man would be impossible. She swallowed hard and resolved to be pleasant, but not overly so, lest he think she was a woman he could take to his bed.

  “Yes, my black-haired companion here. I spent a summer in the Bavarian Alps two years ago and brought him back with me. He’s a rather new breed of dog, a giant schnauzer. Devil seemed a fitting name for the brute. He’s torn many a throat from a careless man and even a few careless ladies.” His tone was serious, but she thought—or rather hoped—she saw the glint of teasing in his eyes, a dark, cruel teasing.

  “If that is so, perhaps the fault lies not with the beast but with his master,” Harriet replied, meeting his gaze with courage, despite the fact that deep within she was quivering.

  He’s no different than George. You can handle him.

  She tried to instill within herself a sense of confidence, but her right arm ached fiercely, and her head was pounding with a headache that made even the light of the fire sear her eyes. She had dealt with men like this, the kind who took pleasure in striking fear into a woman’s heart. But Harriet was not so easily shaken.

  Lord Frostmore crossed his arms and leaned lazily against the doorjamb, preventing her from escaping. She felt his eyes rake over her, as if he wanted to rip her clothes clean off her body and ravage her.

  But much to her surprise, the power of those eyes was enough to send a whisper of a dark, forbidden thrill through her as well, something she’d never felt before. George had only ever disgusted her when he looked at her like that, but with this man…something was different. The anger and disdain mixed with lust in the duke’s eyes seemed different. And there was something else in his gaze…shadowed not by evil, but rather by pain. Pain was something she recognized all too well.

  The man snapped his fingers, and Devil trotted out of the room, leaving his master and Harriet alone.

  “Might I ask, Miss…,” he began.

  “Russell, Harriet Russell.” She blurted out her real name without thinking, but it was too late. She couldn’t take it back. She could only pray that if this man indeed knew George, then George would never have had a reason to discuss her, let alone call her by her name.

  “Miss Russell, what are you doing in my house at this ungodly hour?” His lips curved upward as he said “ungodly,” as though sharing some private joke. So she’d been correct in her assumption. He was the Dark Duke, the infamous Devil of Dover.

  “My carriage overturned, and my driver was injured. I sought help from the man who answered the door.” She took a small step back as the duke entered the room and shut the door behind him. She heard the sound of a key turning in the door before he faced her again. Harriet gripped her wounded arm to support it, while also attempting to look relaxed, lest she betray her wounded condition.

  “So my man Grindle let you in, did he?” The duke leaned back against the locked door, eyeing her with increasing interest.

  “Your Grace, I did not mean to intrude, but my driver is terribly injured, and the storm is worsening.”

  Thunder rumbled as if on cosmic cue, shaking the house around them. Harriet tried to remain calm as the duke came closer. He wore buff breeches and a loose white lawn shirt that billowed open at his chest, revealing broad shoulders and a sculpted chest so breathtaking the angels would have wept. His state of relative undress had escaped her attention while she’d been so focused on his face and his dog.

  Harriet took another involuntary step back, her body warning her of the danger that emanated from him. She should not be left alone with him. Daring to look around, she tried to find a bell cord to pull that might summon a servant to protect her if her strength failed her.

  “Are you all alone this night, Miss Russell?” The duke was only a foot from her now, peering into her eyes.

  He cupped her chin, raising her face up as he studied her. She tried to retreat, but the settee was right behind her now, her calves pressed against the base of the cushions. Lord Frostmore reached up with his other hand to undo the clasp of her cloak at her throat. The thick fabric collapsed at her feet in ebony waves of coarse wool. Harriet felt suddenly naked beneath his gaze, despite the pale-pink muslin gown she wore.

  “I am alone, save for my driver,” she answered. He would know the truth in her eyes if she tried to lie, and she refused to be cowed by him. The duke’s hand at her throat dropped slowly to her chest and then to the rising flesh of her breasts. His fingertips traced a burning line over her skin before he withdrew his hand.

  “You should never travel my roads alone.” Lord Frostmore released her chin and turned to face the fire, no longer looking at her.

  “I am not afraid,” Harriet declared boldly.

  He chuckled softly. “You will be before this night is through.” He said this to himself, as if his words were not a warning but a dark promise.

  “You would not dare touch me.” Harriet’s tone remained steady, despite her rising concern. She wanted to convince herself that he would do her no harm, not with Mr. Grindle and the other servants as witnesses. The duke turned back to face her, a cruel kind of delight shining in his eyes.

  “I would do more than dare, my dear. Do you not know in whose house you stand?” He returned his focus to the fire, but she knew his attention was still upon her, as though he waited for her to scream or faint dead away like some ninny of a girl.

  “You are Redmond Barrington, the Duke of Frostmore.” She did not think it wise to mention his other names. The duke gave a wide smile as the firelight played with shadows on his face. Had she made a mistake in coming here? But what choice did she have? She couldn’t leave Mr. Johnson injured in the midst of a dangerous storm. She’d face this devil and do whatever she had to survive the night.

  * * *

  Want to know what happens to Harriet and the Duke of Frostmore next? Grab the book HERE!

  Other Titles By Lauren Smith

  Historical

  The League of Rogues Series

  Wicked Designs

  His Wicked Seduction

  Her Wicked Proposal

  Wicked Rivals

  Her Wicked Longing

  His Wicked Embrace

  The Earl of Pembroke

  His Wicked Secret

  The Last Wicked Rogue

  Never Kiss A Scot

  The Earl of Kent

  Never Tempt a Scot

  The Seduction Series

  The Duelist’s Seduction

  The Rakehell’s Seduction

  The Rogue’s Seduction

  The Gentleman’s Seduction

  Standalone Stories

  Tempted by A Rogue

  Bewitching the Earl

  Seducing an Heiress on a Train

  Devil at the Gates

  Sins and Scandals

  An Earl By Any Other Name

  A Gentleman Never Surrenders

  A Scottish
Lord for Christmas

  * * *

  Contemporary

  The Surrender Series

  The Gilded Cuff

  The Gilded Cage

  The Gilded Chain

  The Darkest Hour

  Love in London

  Forbidden

  Seduction

  Climax

  Forever Be Mine

  * * *

  Paranormal

  Dark Seductions Series

  The Shadows of Stormclyffe Hall

  The Love Bites Series

  The Bite of Winter

  His Little Vixen

  Brotherhood of the Blood Moon Series

  Blood Moon on the Rise (coming soon)

  Brothers of Ash and Fire

  Grigori: A Royal Dragon Romance

  Mikhail: A Royal Dragon Romance

  Rurik: A Royal Dragon Romance

  * * *

  Sci-Fi Romance

  Cyborg Genesis Series

  Across the Stars

  The Krinar Chronicles

  The Krinar Eclipse

  The Krinar Code by Emma Castle

  * * *

  Buy these books today by visiting www.laurensmithbooks.com

  Or by visiting your favorite ebook/paperback book store!

  About the Author

  * * *

  Lauren Smith is an Oklahoma attorney by day, author by night who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She knew she was destined to be a romance writer when she attempted to re-write the entire Titanic movie just to save Jack from drowning. Connecting with readers by writing emotionally moving, realistic and sexy romances no matter what time period is her passion. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including: New England Reader’s Choice Awards, Greater Detroit BookSeller’s Best Awards, and a Semi-Finalist award for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award.

  To Connect with Lauren, visit her at:

  www.laurensmithbooks.com

  [email protected]

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