Page 74 of The Lady Has a Past

“You’re sure the photographer was a woman?”

“Yes. She never spoke a word, her entire head and face were covered by the mask, and she wore a long, flowing caftan so I couldn’t see her body, but she was definitely female. And before you ask, there is no way I can prove what happened to me.”

“I don’t need proof, Mrs. Merryweather. I believe every word you’re saying.”

“You’ve received a ransom note, I assume?”

“No,” Luther said. “There have been no demands, and that’s what worries me the most. Talk to me, Mrs. Merryweather. Tell me everything you know, and regardless of the outcome, I will be in your debt. You can call in the favor anytime.”

“I don’t need your money, Mr. Pell. Bradley married me for my trust fund, but I am the only one who can access it. If I leave, the money goes with me.”

“I have connections on both sides of the law, and sometimes those can be more useful than money.”

“I do not doubt that. But you don’t have to offer me an incentive, Mr. Pell. The only thing I ask is that if you are successful you will destroy the people who kidnapped your friend and me.”

“You have my word on it.”

The words were a solemn vow, Angela thought. A tiny spark of hope flared inside her.

“Thank you,” she said. “I will tell you what I can, but I don’t know if I can help you. I never saw anything except the actual room where I was held. They used drugs and blindfolds when they kidnapped me. I was blindfolded again when I was taken to the train station.”

“Let’s start with the drugs. How were they administered?”

“I’ve thought about that a lot,” Angela said. “There were no pills. No injections. The drugs must have been in the tea.”

Chapter 33

Lyra found herself fighting an exhilarating battle across the sitting room. It was almost five o’clock in the morning and she’d had no sleep but she was on fire. So was Simon. They struggled to get rid of their clothes and hang on to each other at the same time. Her shoes and her blouse were already on the carpet. So was his shirt. She was curiously light-headed. An intoxicating sense of anticipation and certainty heated her blood.

She was aroused and excited to a degree that was beyond anything she had ever experienced. Her panties were damp and Simon had not yet done anything more than kiss her.

By the time they got through the doorway her fingers were shivering so badly it was all she could do to tug his undershirt off over his head.

For a moment she was mesmerized by the sight of his bare, sleekly muscled chest. She flattened her palms on his warm skin and stroked slowly down to the waist of his trousers, savoring the heat and strength of him.

“You are amazing,” she whispered.

He gave a hoarse crack of bemused laughter. “No, you’re the amazing one. Unique. Fascinating. There are no words. I’ve never met anyone like you, Lyra Brazier.” He reached behind her and undid the fastening of her silky bra. When it fell to the floor he closed his palms over her breasts. “And you’re beautiful. Perfect.”

“Obviously you need your glasses, but you do make me feel beautiful.” She could have sworn that some of the energy in the room was coming from her. She wondered if she was glowing. “You make me feel like a goddess.”

He caught her face between his hands. “Youarea goddess.”

She unbuckled his leather belt, got his trousers undone, and pushed them down to his ankles. He kicked the pants out of the way. His snug briefs did little to conceal the size of his erection. She stared down at the evidence of his arousal, shocked.

A flicker of uncertainty whispered through her. She wondered if she was in over her head. She considered herself a modern, sophisticated woman. She had seen her share of naked and scantily dressed men. But this was... unexpected.

“Lyra?”

She recovered in a heartbeat. She was not about to stop now. She took a shaky breath and cupped him in one hand. He was heavy, thick, full, and absolutely rigid.

He groaned at the intimate touch. His mouth came down on hers again in a deep, wet kiss that made her feel deliciously scandalous. His palms slipped down her hips, stripping off her panties.

He scooped her up, carried her across the shadowed room, and settled her on the bed.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” he promised. “Don’t go anywhere.”

She levered herself up on one elbow and watched him disappear through the doorway. A few seconds later he reappeared, carrying his briefcase. The laughter bubbled up inside her.

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