The Seduction of Gretchen: Paranormal Erotic Romance (Anam Céile Chronicles) by Rosalind Scarlett Read Free Book Online Page A

finally
meet you.”
    “I agree, Monsieur… Lucius,” I promptly corrected myself.
    He merely continued smiling at me, turning my knees to jelly. 
Though his demeanour was one of refinement, I could also immediately sense
something else lurking just below the surface, though exactly what it was, I
did not know.
    “Won’t you please have a seat?” he suggested, placing his
hand upon the cushion beside him.
    I swallowed, the thought of being even closer to him nearly
too much to handle.  Regardless, I knew that if I wanted even more from him, I
had better gain control of myself.  Taking another deep breath, my hands went
to the sash at my waist which held my robe closed and began to loosen it.
    Much too courteously, Lucius held up his hand to stop me. 
“That will not be necessary, Gretchen,” he stated rather abruptly.  Then
smoothing over his tone once more, he continued, “Let us become better
acquainted, shall we?”
    I was puzzled.  After all the lust filled gazes we had exchanged,
he did not want me nude?  Brushing it aside for the moment, I walked towards
him and sat upon the settee beside him. 
    Oh God, how can I possibly be this close to him and not
want more from him?
     “So then, you are French?” I enquired for want of something,
anything to begin the requisite conversation, my voice shakier than I had hoped
it would be.
    “Oui.  I live just outside Paris,” he replied proudly. 
“Have you been there?”
    “No, I have not.  But I hope to one day.”
    “And perhaps one day you shall,” he remarked rather
cryptically. 
    What does he mean by that?
    My heart began racing as I considered the possible scenarios. 
In attempt to disguise my nervousness, I grinned at him, which I realised came
out far more profound than I had intended.
    “There is no need for anxiousness, Gretchen,” he stated
calmly, placing his hand over mine.  I shivered at his touch, but not because
of the coolness of it.
    Is he able to read my mind, as well?
    I chuckled.  “Oh, I am not anxious,” I fibbed.
    Raising his brow, Lucius just tilted his head and stared at
me as a father who had just caught a child in a lie.
    “Well, maybe just a little,” I corrected, a coy smile
touching my lips.  “To be quite honest, I have waited a long time to finally
meet you, Lucius.”
    He remained silent for a long moment, leaving me to wonder
what he must be thinking.
    At last, Lucius spoke.  “Yes, and I, as well.  Although I
promised myself I would not.”
    His words caused the knots in my stomach to tighten.
    “Would not what ?” I enquired, a bit confused.
      Sighing, he replied, “Succumb to my desire to be closer to
you.”
    Oh!
     Well, that was certainly something to take in!
    “But you are here now…” I validated.
    “Oui,” Lucius confirmed in defeat.  “I never said I was a
strong man.  Clearly, I was unable to resist my desire to know you any longer.”
    What in the world am I supposed to say to a declaration like
that?
    “Well then, I must confess, I am glad you are not a strong
man.” I smiled at him mischievously.
    “I just had to give myself a chance to spend some time with
you, Gretchen,” Lucius expanded.  “My curiosity got the better of me.”
    “And?” I prodded, my hand caressing his leg.  I was not
about to let him leave me hanging like that! 
    Lucius looked back at me curiously for a moment before
placing his hand over mine firmly, hindering my ascent up his thigh.  “You are
most certainly a tempting woman, Gretchen,” he said.  And then so quietly that
I was not sure if he had actually meant for me to hear it, he added, “Tempting,
indeed…”
      That is all he has to say?  What am I supposed to make
of that?!
    “However, I believe it is time for me to go now,” he
declared suddenly, rising to his feet.
    I did not understand.  It just did not fit everything I had
imagined our first encounter to be.  I wanted to give him everything of myself,
wanted him to taste