A Wild Night's Bride by Victoria Vane Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Victoria Vane
because he didn’t want her? She wondered if she had taken the act too far.
“If that is truly your wish, Miss Willis , far be it for me to deny you.” His manner, only moments ago warm and relaxed, shifted to stiff and cold, making her regret her words.
Phoebe accepted his arm again with a profound physical awareness of him, a feeling she’d never experienced before. He seemed so different from any other man of her acquaintance, and, certainly, the antithesis of the rake she had set her sights on. She had chosen DeVere as her best prospect, yet after only this short time in Ned’s company, she couldn’t help fervently wishing that he was DeVere. Though she believed he felt the same powerful magnetism between them as she did, when she had asked for an introduction to his friend, he had obliged, thus proving her feelings unrequited.
She should feel triumphant that her goal was within easy reach, but was rather strangely deflated and harboring doubts about the entire arrangement. In truth, it was as if her appetite had been whetted for beefsteak...only to be served liver instead.
C HAPTER S IX
When they reentered the receiving room, an entirely new scene greeted them. The room was a shambles. Articles of clothing littered the trees, and male and female bodies slumped everywhere in a drug-like stupor of satiation.
“Where do you think to find him?” she asked.
“Look no further.” Ned inclined his head toward the dais with a glower. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
For surrounded by women and sprawled like a god, or more aptly, a satyr, on the queen’s throne, naked as Adam with a floral wreath on his head and phallic scepter in hand, was Ludovic, Viscount DeVere.
Lacking any sense of shame, he idly caressed the breast of the woman who held his cup to his mouth whilst another knelt between his knees fondling his manhood. To Phoebe’s shock, he seemed to positively glory in the dissolute decadence, as if he were Bacchus incarnate with the entire night tailored for his own sensual gratification.
The moment had come, and she found herself hesitating. Dear God in Heaven. What would Kitty do now?
“You shouldn’t see this.” Ned growled. “I would be more than pleased to call a hack to take you home.”
Grappling with her feigned sangfroid, Phoebe swallowed. Hard. “But whatever for?” The cool response commanded a supreme effort. “I sought DeVere, and here he is.” She couldn’t help slanting a glance at Ned. His jaw was clenched, his pulse throbbing visibly in his neck.
“You really wish to go through with this?” he asked in an undertone. “You see how he is. He’ll only use you and cast you aside.”
“What does it matter? As long as I get what I need, we shall call it an equal trade.”
“I don’t believe you mean that!”
“But, indeed, I do,” she replied, directing a brazen gaze to DeVere and endeavoring to keep it above the impressive staff jutting from his nether region. “For needs must—”
“When the devil drives?” Ned flicked a bilious look from Phoebe to DeVere.
“You might say that.”
“Very well,” he replied, tight-lipped. “If that is what you wish, far be it for me to deny a lady .” Ned made a mocking obeisance to the would-be demigod. “My lord DeVere.”
“Ah, Ned!” Ludovic cried in a voice slurred from drink. “I wondered where you’d gone. You’ve returned with a companion?”
“Only because the lady expressed a wish to make your acquaintance.”
Ludovic gave Ned a sardonic arch of his brow. “How extraordinary. Did she, indeed?” He abandoned the nearby breast to appraise Phoebe. “Charming.”
She realized she had passed muster when he waved away the woman between his legs and flashed her a bedazzling smile. “What is your name, my pet?”
“Kitty,” she replied.
DeVere threw back his head with a guffaw. “Kitty? How delightfully apropos!” His erstwhile companions forgotten, he patted a muscular thigh. “Come then,
“If that is truly your wish, Miss Willis , far be it for me to deny you.” His manner, only moments ago warm and relaxed, shifted to stiff and cold, making her regret her words.
Phoebe accepted his arm again with a profound physical awareness of him, a feeling she’d never experienced before. He seemed so different from any other man of her acquaintance, and, certainly, the antithesis of the rake she had set her sights on. She had chosen DeVere as her best prospect, yet after only this short time in Ned’s company, she couldn’t help fervently wishing that he was DeVere. Though she believed he felt the same powerful magnetism between them as she did, when she had asked for an introduction to his friend, he had obliged, thus proving her feelings unrequited.
She should feel triumphant that her goal was within easy reach, but was rather strangely deflated and harboring doubts about the entire arrangement. In truth, it was as if her appetite had been whetted for beefsteak...only to be served liver instead.
C HAPTER S IX
When they reentered the receiving room, an entirely new scene greeted them. The room was a shambles. Articles of clothing littered the trees, and male and female bodies slumped everywhere in a drug-like stupor of satiation.
“Where do you think to find him?” she asked.
“Look no further.” Ned inclined his head toward the dais with a glower. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
For surrounded by women and sprawled like a god, or more aptly, a satyr, on the queen’s throne, naked as Adam with a floral wreath on his head and phallic scepter in hand, was Ludovic, Viscount DeVere.
Lacking any sense of shame, he idly caressed the breast of the woman who held his cup to his mouth whilst another knelt between his knees fondling his manhood. To Phoebe’s shock, he seemed to positively glory in the dissolute decadence, as if he were Bacchus incarnate with the entire night tailored for his own sensual gratification.
The moment had come, and she found herself hesitating. Dear God in Heaven. What would Kitty do now?
“You shouldn’t see this.” Ned growled. “I would be more than pleased to call a hack to take you home.”
Grappling with her feigned sangfroid, Phoebe swallowed. Hard. “But whatever for?” The cool response commanded a supreme effort. “I sought DeVere, and here he is.” She couldn’t help slanting a glance at Ned. His jaw was clenched, his pulse throbbing visibly in his neck.
“You really wish to go through with this?” he asked in an undertone. “You see how he is. He’ll only use you and cast you aside.”
“What does it matter? As long as I get what I need, we shall call it an equal trade.”
“I don’t believe you mean that!”
“But, indeed, I do,” she replied, directing a brazen gaze to DeVere and endeavoring to keep it above the impressive staff jutting from his nether region. “For needs must—”
“When the devil drives?” Ned flicked a bilious look from Phoebe to DeVere.
“You might say that.”
“Very well,” he replied, tight-lipped. “If that is what you wish, far be it for me to deny a lady .” Ned made a mocking obeisance to the would-be demigod. “My lord DeVere.”
“Ah, Ned!” Ludovic cried in a voice slurred from drink. “I wondered where you’d gone. You’ve returned with a companion?”
“Only because the lady expressed a wish to make your acquaintance.”
Ludovic gave Ned a sardonic arch of his brow. “How extraordinary. Did she, indeed?” He abandoned the nearby breast to appraise Phoebe. “Charming.”
She realized she had passed muster when he waved away the woman between his legs and flashed her a bedazzling smile. “What is your name, my pet?”
“Kitty,” she replied.
DeVere threw back his head with a guffaw. “Kitty? How delightfully apropos!” His erstwhile companions forgotten, he patted a muscular thigh. “Come then,