A Deal with Lord Devlin by Jennifer Ann Coffeen Read Free Book Online Page A

exquisitely decorated with gold-leaf wallpaper shining against dozens of candelabras. There were only two pieces of furniture in the room: a dark mahogany wine case filled with bottles, and the largest settee she had ever seen. Upon closer inspection, Charlotte realized the sofa was large enough to sleep on.
    “Is this supposed to be a bed?” she asked, wondering why anyone would ever fashion such a strange piece of furniture. “I can’t imagine why your father would wish to sleep in this tiny room.”
    James cleared his throat several times before answering. “I don’t think it was used much for sleeping.” He yanked on his collar as if suddenly hot. “But yes, it is most certainly a bed.”
    The real reason for the late Earl’s secret room hit Charlotte like a slap of her fan. “Oh,” she breathed, both scandalized and impressed.
    “He wasn’t very discreet about it.” James looked so embarrassed that Charlotte didn’t dare smile.
    “You can imagine how my relatives felt.”
    The sacred Devlin family reputation. Charlotte wondered if she would ever escape from it. And what about James? Was he as obsessed with the Devlin name as the rest of them? Considering he was consorting with a divorced woman, it certainly didn’t look that way. A small glimmer of hope fluttered in Charlotte’s heart, but she immediately stamped it out.
    No more foolish thoughts! Her past and his duties would never allow them to be together. But they were alone now, and Charlotte was going to make the most of it.
    With a defiant toss of her curls she stepped into the late Earl’s boudoir, eager to explore.
    “I think your father had every right to do what he pleased,” she said, running a hand along the gold silk cover on the bed. “This was his home, after all.” She looked up to meet James’s eyes. “Now it’s yours.”
    James swept her into his arms before she could blink. Crushing her lips against his, he held her against him in a possessive show of passion.
    Still kissing her, James was slowly lowering her onto the bed when Charlotte placed a small, gloved hand on his chest.
    He immediately drew back, steadying her on her feet. “Is something wrong?”
    She slowly shook her head, feeling infinitely brave. “Don’t move.”
    He obeyed. As he stood completely still in front of the gold-covered bed, Charlotte slowly circled the Earl. She didn’t touch him, but she felt the heat radiating from his skin, scorching her like a flame.
    It was delicious torture. The minutes slid by, arousing them both with each turn Charlotte made around his trembling form. She knew she was achieving her goal when James whispered a few dark threats as she passed in front of him again. After making him suffer just a bit longer, she finally struck. Standing directly in front of him, Charlotte got a firm grip on the perfectly starched edge of his neckcloth and yanked it with all her strength.
    “I dislike the Mathematical,” she said, letting the now ruined tie drop from her fingers.
    He looked completely stunned. “It took my valet two hours to properly tie that,” he sputtered.
    “A waste of time!” she cried. “And this hairstyle is totally unsuitable for you. Why, it has been curled more than mine.” Stretching to reach the top of his head, she ruffled her hands through the poufed locks.
    Enjoying her newfound power, Charlotte’s hands slid around his ears and down his neck, continuing their sensuous exploration.
    “I have never in my life seen such an ugly waistcoat.” She yanked open the front, popping one of the buttons in the process. “I’m surprised you can breathe well enough to speak! And this shirt is absolutely absurd. Even my Grandmama doesn’t wear so much lace.” She held up the cuff of his sleeve.
    James looked down at the frilly fabric with a helpless shrug. “My valet said it was all the rage.”
    With a single pull, she ripped the lace cuff off his shirt and tossed it over her shoulder.
    “In fact, if you ask