Scandalous Deception (Russian Connection 1)

“And that is why I did not protest,” she said.

“What the devil is that supposed to mean?”

“Stefan is the one person in the entire world that I would never, ever willingly hurt.”

His fingers tightened on her chin. “And you think it did not hurt to have you leave him?”

“Not nearly so much as it would have if I had stayed. I…I cannot give him what he desires from me, and it is unfair to allow him hope that I will eventually change my mind.”

A dangerous satisfaction smoldered in his eyes. “So you do not intend to become the next Duchess of Huntley?”

“No.” She did not have to feign her regret. Only a fool would not realize her life would be far simpler with Stefan as her husband. “Someday, Stefan will meet a woman who will make him realize that what he feels for me is nothing more than friendship and a measure of guilt for leaving me in the hands of Thomas Wade. I could never have made him truly happy.”

“Of course you could not have.” His fingers eased their punishing grip to stroke the line of her jaw. “You were never meant for the dreary life of bucolic bliss. You possess the spirit of a true adventuress.”

“I most certainly do not!”

Her rebuff did nothing more than stir his predatory nature, and with a smooth motion, he was settled on the seat next to her with his arms wrapped firmly about her waist.

“No?” He brazenly stroked his lips over the lingering scar on her temple. “What other woman would have possessed the daring to sneak into a Courtesan’s Ball and blackmail one of the most feared gentlemen in all of London?”

Without thought, her hands lifted to clutch at the lapels of his jacket. Her entire body was stirring to exquisite life at his touch.

“It was not daring, it was desperation.”

He chuckled as his mouth shifted to explore the sensitive pulse just below her ear.

“Why will you not admit that you have a taste for excitement?”

She hissed softly as a jolt of pleasure nearly sent her tumbling off her seat. It would be so easy to drown in the sensations that were flooding through her.

Too easy.

“Good God, Edmond, my mother ruined my life in her quest for excitement,” she managed to mutter. “Do you truly believe I would want to walk in her path?”

His hands trailed down to softly cup the curve of her back, his tongue circling the shell of her ear.

“Your mother was a vain, weak woman who indulged her selfish whims without regard to who she might hurt. You could never be like her.” He gave her lobe a sharp nip. “You possess courage.” His lips trailed over her cheek. “Intelligence.” He nibbled the corner of her lips. “Strength.”

Brianna fiercely ignored the flutters in the pit of her stomach. She desperately wanted to close her eyes and allow herself to drown in the heat that Edmond offered, but the mere mention of her mother was enough to harden her resolve. She would not be ruled by her passions.

Not ever.

“Edmond.”

His tongue teased her mouth, urging her lips to part. “Mmm?”

Brianna planted her hands on his chest and arched away from him.

“You said we would be leaving for Russia,” she said, seeking the first distraction that came to mind. “Why?”

“Does it matter?”

“Of course it does.” For the first time since Edmond had casually tossed out the information that he intended to haul her to Russia, she actually considered the ramifications of such a trip. She frowned at the realization of how her presence would be perceived in society. “I will not be pranced through the Czar’s Court as your mistress.”

“Why not?” He appeared genuinely curious. “If you are determined to shun marriage and live in solitary splendor, then what does it matter if the world knows that I have taken you as my lover?”

Her blood froze at the mere thought of the whispers and finger-pointing that would forever follow in her wake. It was bad enough that she would inevitably be known as the woman jilted by the Duke of Huntley. To add the notion that she had been tossed aside by Stefan to end up in the bed of his younger brother…