|
Enter Contest

He was a nobleman. she was a commoner.
It was the perfect recipe for perfect sin.

Perfect plan...
He was the
ultimate rake.
But Randall
Clayton, seventh Duke of Beldon, harbors a hidden motive for
seducing the fiery-haired, passionate Caitlin Harmon. Rand is on a
mission to find a murderer...and it's leading straight to Caitlin's
father.
Perfect Seduction...
She was the ultimate temptation.
Cait Harmon, the feisty, intellectual daughter of an American
adventurer, is certain she will never fall in love. But one dance with
the powerful, compelling Duke of Beldon, and Cait's heart is lost
forever.
Perfect Sin...
Theirs was the ultimate love.
They were the talk of London, until passion and betrayal tore them
apart. Now Rand must embark on the quest of a lifetime: proving to
Caitlin that love is the most powerful treasure of all.
Excerpt:
"Better, Caitlin?" Geoffrey's pale, thin fingers worked the
aching muscles in her shoulders and Cait gave up a sigh of relief.
"Much better. You've a valuable talent, Geoffrey."
A familiar deep voice boomed in from the doorway. "An extremely
valuable talent," Rand drawled, anger dripping from every word.
Geoffrey's hands fell away and Cait spun toward the doorway.
"Rand...I-I didn't hear you come in."
"Obviously not." A look of fury darkened his brown eyesnearly to
black, and she remembered the night she had been with Geoffrey at the
opera. Well, she hadn't done anything wrong that night and she wasn't
doing anything wrong today. She straightened and came to her
feet.
"Lord Geoffrey was merely being kind. I've been working in this icy
basement for hours. My entire body is stiff and ore." She
flashed
a tight smile at Geoffrey. "I appreciate your help, my lord."
Rand strode toward her. "As you said, I'm sure Lord Geoffrey is
quite
talented."
Cait ignored a ridiculous urge to run. "Yes, he is."
"I might suggest, however, that his talent would be better used on
someone else." Rand stopped directly in front of her, his
warning more
than clear. "And since you have been working so long, I think it
is
time for you to you quit."
She glanced at the heavy Roman manuscripts on the table, work she was
doing for her father. "I can't quit yet. I have more
translations to
finish. I have yet to--"
"Whatever you have to do, it can wait until later." Gripping her
arm,
he hauled her toward the door. "If you will excuse us, Lord
Geoffrey."
To Geoffrey's credit, he placed himself in front of them, intent on
blocking their way. It was a brave thing to do,considering the
ferocious expression on Rand's face.
"I don't believe Miss Harmon is ready to leave."
Rand's hard gaze pinned Geoffrey where he stood. "Is that so?"
The younger man's face went pale and Caitlin suddenly felt sorry for
him. She forced herself to smile. "His Grace is right, my lord.
I've
worked far too long for one day. Thank you for stopping by.
It was
very kind--"
Rand propelled her out the door before she could finish and didn't stop
until they had reached his carriage. He lifted her up and
settled her
inside, climbed in and slammed the door.
Cait's temper, already near the edge, shot up a dangerous notch.
"What
in heaven's name do you think you're doing? You may be a duke,
Rand
Clayton, but you don't own me. I'm not one of your simpering
women,
bound to do exactly as you command."
A muscle jerked in his cheek. "And I am not some besotted young pup
like Geoffrey St. Anthony. I won't stand quietly by while you
throw
yourself at another man."
Fury made the world turn red. "Throw myself? Throw myself!
Let me
out of here this instant. I refuse to listen to another word!"
Though
the coach was already moving, she lunged for the door.
Rand swore as he caught her, dragging her hard against his chest.
"You
little fool. Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
At the moment, she was far too angry to care. "Geoffrey St. Anthony
had only just walked in. He saw how tired I was and--as a
friend--was
merely trying to be helpful."
Rand's burning gaze moved over her, pausing for an instant on her
breasts, making them tighten beneath her muslin gown. "You want
that
sort of help, Cait? I'm more than willing to see you get it."
He
caught her face between his hands and his mouth crashed down over
hers.
For a single stunned instant, she was too surprised to move. Then
she
started to struggle, determined not to submit to his anger. Rand
pinned
her against his chest, holding her easily, and the taste of him, the
heat
of his powerful body, the sensuous movement of lips over hers, slowly
eroded her struggles.
Hot, hard kisses left her breathless. Wet, hungry kisses turned her
insides to mush. His tongue slid into her mouth again and again,
demanding she give in to his will. Heat sank into her belly and
her
body began to quiver like the string of a tightly drawn bow.
She barely noticed when he lifted her up and settled her on his lap,
arranging her so she straddled his thighs. It only faintly
occurred
that the curtains were drawn and that what he meant to do was highly
improper.
The shocking truth was, Cait no longer cared.
◄top
of page► |