Authors: Editor
Serina decided then and there, she’d recruited an ally. She liked Payton and adored the way he’d called her Lucian’s lady. And more importantly, she was thankful that he sided with her.
“Payton, your wisdom is worthy of someone taking heed. Hopefully Lord St. James will listen to not one, but the two of us.” She cast Lucian a reprimanding glance.
“Serina, I will speak with the constable tomorrow. I promise.”
Serina gave him
the look.
“Cross my heart and hope to die!”
“Ah! Don’t say that. Hope to die? Do you have a death wish?”
“Can we please go now?” He crossed his eyes as he walked past the chef. “Payton, I’ll take your words to heart. I appreciate your honesty. Most people treat me with kid gloves, always afraid to approach me. Thank you for treating me as a man, not some daft nephew of the Queen. ’Tis refreshing.”
Serina’s jaw hit the ground for a second time. Payton held the same pose.
“If you ever tire of the work here you are welcome at my manor as chef. I’ve enjoyed many of your meals. Lord knows my sister and Duncan can’t cook.” Lucian added, “We’re at a loss. Come by tomorrow if you would like to look about. But you better hurry up before ‘they’ kill me and you lose your offer.” Lucian tried to make light of the situation, but his smile faded fast. “Come, Serina.” He held his hand to her.
“Excuse me—did you just say the King’s nephew? Oh, bloody hell,” Serina muttered. “These are the
Queen’s
gems aren’t they?”
“Actually, I said the daft nephew of the Queen. There is no blood that binds me to the King Consort.”
“I’m marrying an almost prince?” Serina said dreamy-eyed. “How did I miss that?”
“Lord St. James,” Payton called, snapping Serina out of her mini trance. “Would you be so kind as to give these to your sister? I know how she fancies them. I hope she is well.” Payton handed Lucian a bag of the mint Pattie cakes.
Lucian nodded. A knowing glance passed between the two men. He fast realized Payton would indeed be stopping by tomorrow to acquire the position in his manor, just as long as his new position wasn’t atop his sister, he’d be fine.
Having said their farewells and blowing Tess a quick kiss, Serina headed home, her fiancé safely tucked by her side. From the carriage, she watched people strolling the sidewalks, holding hands, some in intimate chatter cuddling, others laughing and enjoying the cool night air. It left her ripe with jealousy.
“This isn’t fair, Lucian. We’ve just met. I can’t believe someone would kill you just because you’ve royal blood running through you. It makes no sense.” Angry little tears blurred her vision. She scooted closer on the seat, needing to feel him beside her.
“It makes absolute sense, Serina. For centuries people have killed and been killed to wear the illustrious crown of jewels, to be placed upon a pedestal and told you are worthy of treatment that does not befit the rest of your countrymen? No man is above another. We are all equal in the eyes of the Lord. I realize this goes against every social class and moral I’ve been raised by but ’tis what I believe. Most days it, the crown, reminds me of Jesus’ thorned headpiece. Power, freedom, glory, servants at your beck and call, never having to apologize or have a worry, well, other than the obvious—losing your last breath to some scoundrel. This life is believed to be Utopia by many. It has been this way since the dawn of time. Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Queen Mary...We take the good with the bad with a stiff upper lip. Ha! I have ne’er wanted the responsibility. I will not place my family in harm’s way, ever.”
Finished with his rant, Lucian slowed the carriage as they passed a small lake. With the full moon glowing and a light breeze, shimmering waves sailed across the water, Lucian pulled the reins on the horses and the carriage rolled to a stop. He hopped off.
“Come with me? This is one of my favorite hideaways. No one ever bothers me here.” Lucian helped Serina down.
After spreading a blanket under a tree, Serina snuggled between Lucian’s legs and leaned back. They relaxed by the water for quite some time without speaking, both content. “Are you warm enough?” he asked as he rubbed her arms.
“It’s beautiful here. I’m fine.” Serina bent her head back to see Lucian’s face. That small movement sent her hair falling down over her shoulder and into her face. Lucian swept it back, tucking it behind her ear.
“Would you look at the manor on the opposite side of this lake? By the goddess, it’s fit for the Queen. Wonder who lives there?”
To tell her or not to tell her the home was his? Surprise won out. “I am so sorry I’ve dragged you into my personal wars with would-be assassins. I should have told you I live with this threat every day of my life. There are seven of us that still have this hanging over our heads like a guillotine; the Queen, her three daughters—best to avoid them if you can, and our cousin, André. He resides in Paris. Once in a blue moon if we’re lucky we hear from him. My mother and her twin, Chyna, are the Queen’s younger sisters. My parents were murdered, and my aunt Chyna went missing just before their death and ne’er resurfaced. The Queen has naught to do with Raven or myself. Hasn’t for eons. I believe she’s responsible for my parents’ execution. She knows this so she won’t come near myself, as she fears for her own life. I’ve cared for Raven for the past eight years now.”
“Lucian, I’m sorry your life has borne witness to such tragedies.” She reached up and touched her lips to the tip of his nose. “To new beginnings.”
“Cheers, m’lady.” Lucian bent forward and found her lips soft, warm and inviting. His heart heavy with the knowledge she feared for him, it upset him that the magic of their first evening together had been ruined, that he couldn’t promise her the fairy tale would last forever. He couldn’t have promised her that even if he wasn’t royal.
“You are the spark to my flame, Serina. You ignite my very soul. You are a cool and gentle breeze, calming and tranquil, and you most assuredly are the eye of a storm. Everything about you radiates an untamed spirit. I want to lie here with you for the rest of this night and watch the sun grace every sensuous curve of your body in the morrow. Would you do this for me?” Lucian pulled her onto his lap and moved his hands to her face. He whispered, “I love you, Serina Spencer, and I’ve ne’er loved another.” He kissed her again, finding her tongue, deepening his kiss, and memorizing her sweet essence as if it were their last kiss.
“Just promise me one thing, St. James.”
Lucian held his breath waiting...expecting any second that she would bring up the constable, and he didn’t want get into that discussion again. Choking out each word he said, “Whatever m’lady wants, it is so.”
“You’re a lousy liar, Lord,” she teased. “Don’t let any spiders crawl on me. I really loathe them. They’ll send me running in ten different directions. And about the constable...We’re still on for that trip in the morning.” Serina kissed him before he could protest. “You forget my powers, silly man.”
Torn between going home and staying right where he was, Lucian made a quick mental check on his sister.
Raven, is all well?
We are fine; all for our sweet tooth still has cravings. You at the lake?
How did you know?
Lucian, I’m in your head more than you most days, sweetie. Speaking of which?
I’ve your mint cakes, little one, although if you continue to eat them I’ll no longer be calling you little one
.
As long as you’re fine, we’ll see you in the morn. Good night. Sweet dreams, Ray.
Good night, my imbecile.
Lucian enjoyed the evening, talking, laughing and eating all the treats they were supposed to bring home to Raven. With Serina asleep, entwined within his arms, he nodded off not long after her.
Lucian awoke dodging acorns as squirrels dropped the tiny bombs while ravaging the tree for nuts. He glanced over his lady. She lay comfortably on her side with him spooned perfectly to her back.
He pushed Serina’s hair away from her neck and kissed her, then nibbled. His lips traveled over her shoulder, over her collarbone and made their way back to her neck.
His arm had other plans. By its own design, it began a slow descent around the front of her dress finding the firm swell of her bosom. Her breasts felt soft and smooth under the satin and silk fabrics. Yet with the slightest caress, he found they awoke hungry for his attention. Her reactions instigated his body’s reaction. He hardened in mere seconds.
“Good morning, my wild rose. Can you think of anything, anything at all that you might possibly want or need this beautiful morning that I, Lucian St. James, may personally take care of for you?”
Serina attempted to whip her head around to face him but only made it half way. The damned grin upon his lips was irresistible, his disheveled morning hair as untamed as he. Her heart flip-flopped. “Only one thing comes to mind, my lover.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re on my hair. I’m tied down.” Serina pointed to the locks under his arm.
“One of my other fantasies!”
Lucian’s eyebrows shifted. Serina recognized the non-prim, non-proper suggestion, and she bit at the smirk forming on her lips. Wasn’t a bad fantasy at all as long as it involved silky restraints and a promise of passion. “Of course one other thing does come to mind.”
He shifted to free her hair. “Please don’t say the constable.”
“We’ll discuss him, but not until you’ve taken me in your arms and had your way with me. Fair enough?”
Lucian wasted no time and crawled to her feet. “Fair enough.” He sorted through the layers of fabric her dress held until he found flesh. “My, what delicate feet you have. All the better to…” He popped her toe in his mouth and sucked on it through her giggles. After kissing each little digit he ran a nail down the center of her sole. Serina laughed, bucked and squirmed trying to break his grip but he tightened his hold.
“Ticklish, try again.”
“You lie back and watch the clouds and listen to the birds sing while I wash away every lucid thought you own.”
“Aye, you’re a wee bit cocky don’t you think?”
Lucian glanced to the solid bulge and taut material his trousers held. With a charlatan’s pout he asked, “A wee bit? Oh, m’lady, you’ll find out soon enough.” He proceeded with a slow sensual massage, his fingers kneading their way up the length of her calves, inching his way up her thighs and still farther north. Lucian took cover beneath her dress and disappeared.
Serina laughed. “You remind me of a kitten stuck under the covers of a bed.”
Lucian purred. “I believe I’ve found some catnip under here.” Wrapping his hands around her ankles he lifted her legs over his shoulders, leaving her open to him and baring all. He bent down, pressed his mouth hard against her private lips and lapped away at her as a kitten does cream. His tongue probed and prodded her entrance. This left her lifting her hips to meet his overtures.
“What? That’s not catnip, Lucian...Whew!”
Lucian crawled out from under the gown licking his lips. “No, ’tis not, but then being a
fine
physician, you know what body part my lips have found.”
“Most aware,” she grunted. “Stop talking!”
“As you wish.” Lucian returned to his destination and proceeded to kiss the delicate flesh on the inside of her thighs. With a gentle graze of teeth, he nipped at her as he moved closer to her warm, sweet temple. He slid his tongue over her private lips, barely a whisper of a touch until he picked up his pace and the pressure of his kisses. Each deliberate sweep of his tongue was erotic, and hot, to excite and pleasure her.
Serina moaned, rotating her hips. “Umm. Whatever you do, don’t stop.” She slid her fingers into her hair, lifted her hips and pressed his mouth even closer.
He did as he was told. He slid his tongue deep inside her enjoying the sweet taste of her. When a slight contraction squeezed his tongue, desire filled his loins. Each time he plunged farther into her, her hips surged up to meet his rhythm. He continued his ministrations allowing her no time to catch her breath. Her reaction to his affections made not only his chest tight, but other areas as well. Critically tight.
“Lucian, just exactly—how long is your—tongue?” Serina found her speech strained. “I feel—” pant, “as if—you’re tickling my tummy from the inside out. It’s—wonderful.” She sucked in a large gulp of air and held her breath through the mounting pressure between her thighs and stomach.
I told you last night I wanted to be the one who tickled you. Do you really want me to stop what I’m doing and show you or can it wait?
Merged completely with him, she felt his joy, that he was able to bring her such pleasure. Serina enjoyed the closeness, the intimacy of being able to talk as if no one else on the earth existed. Serina shook as waves of her orgasm teetered on the brink of the precipice, so close to abandonment. His lips sucking on her was delightful to say the least,
but
, release would not come. She needed him buried deep within her. Today, it had to happen! She searched to find something to anchor onto, but Lucian safely buried himself under the layers of her dress. Serina began to laugh and couldn’t stop.
Lucian popped his head out, a curious look upon his face. “What, my little lover, is so funny?”