Page 22 of Enchanted By the Lyon
She immediately felt the loss of his warm hands at her waist. Before she recovered from such a disappointment that he no longer held her, his fingers came to gently take hold beneath her chin. He lifted her face upward so she had no choice but to return her attention back to his handsome features. There appeared to be so much longing in his intense gaze… was she imagining such an emotion? And then he spoke, giving her hope.
“What if I want more?” he said in a husky whisper that pierced her heart and caused her to gasp again. Did they mean what she thought they meant or was she mistaken.
“More?”
“Yes, Cassandra. More.” He tore his gaze from her face before scanning the perimeter of the room. “Come with me.”
She had no time to think when Lucius took hold of her hand bringing her fingertips to his lips. After a quick kiss, he tucked her now quaking limb into his elbow and began escorting through the crowded room. Her feet flew in an attempt to keep up with his longer stride until he noticed she was all but running to keep up with his pace. He slowed, pulled her through an arched doorway, through a narrow hallway meant for the servants, and into the first empty room he came to. Peering inside, he swiftly pulled her forward before closing the door behind them. There wasn’t much to this room. A small couch, a table, and several boxes sacked against the wall told her this was used as a storeroom. She was completely alone with this man, and she had to admit she didn’t mind one bit!
“My lord—”
He took both of her cheeks into the palms of his hands. “Lucius,” he urged softly. “Say my name, Cassandra.”
He pulled her into his embrace and Cassandra swore her heart all but beat right out of her chest in excitement. Still holding onto her face with one hand, he rubbed one thumb across her cheek as he silently implored her to say his given name.
Cassandra finally gave in to his demand. “Lucius…” His name lingered on her lips, making her slide her tongue across the seam. It was almost like she could taste his kiss upon her mouth and she stood on the tips of her toes reaching for what she knew he offered.
His head dipped downward until his mouth was but inches from her own. And still, he only continued to stare into her face. Green eyes to green eyes and she was certain hers shone with all the longing she felt for this man.
Cassandra at last realized that he was waiting for her to continue this moment that was being shared between them. She could easily step back. Nothing held her from doing so since Lucius only lightly held her now. He would not take what she didn’t offer willingly, and she had to commend him for making sure she consented to their first kiss. She needed to remember she wanted a marriage and he might only want her as his next mistress. The reasonable part of her head told her not to give in to temptation that would surely be like a drug. Once tasted, there would be no going back.
But to hell with reason! Instead of listening to the small voice screaming inside her head, she stepped closer before she wound her arms around his neck and pressed her body intimately into his muscular one. It was probably a huge mistake on her part when she heard a sound come from him that proved to her that Lucius had barely been holding on to whatever self-control existed within him. But when she went to place a small chastepeck on those sensuous lips, her world suddenly spun out of control.
His arms swept around her as he pulled her close and his mouth took possession of her own. There was nothing gentle about this kiss and it certainly wasn’t anything like the quick one she had just given him. No. This kiss was filled with a passion Cassandra didn’t even know could exist as all the longing for Lucius Ford came bubbling up and overflowing from the depths of her soul.
A low moan of pleasure left her as she followed this man’s lead while he kissed her senseless. How many times had she dreamed of his kisses? How many nights had she laid awake wishing she could be in his arms? He certainly didn’t disappoint the fantasies she had held dear inside her head. Her heart was beating so fast she swore everyone at the Lyon’s Den would be able to hear what this man was doing to her. And still, he continued to kiss her as though he was starving, and she was the only person who could satisfy his hunger.
Something shattering outside in the hallway broke the spell Lucius had woven around her as he quickly broke off their kiss. But still he continued to hold her and began trailing his mouth down her neck, leaving an invisible scorch mark on her skin she would never be able to erase. It was though he was branding her as his and again, she didn’t mind.
“I want you, Cassandra,” he murmured while she made every attempt to gather her wits about her.
She wanted him, too, but something in the back of her mind needed to know his intentions. Were they honorable or was he only thinking of a simple tryst to while away the night? The disappointment of such an outcome became overwhelming. She would have to admit that her friends were right and he wasn’t the marrying type. God forbid if he only wanted one thing fromher. She couldn’t be his mistress. Not when she wanted to be his wife!
Thosethoughts were enough to bring her back to her senses. In fact, it was as if someone threw a bucket of ice water on her. She stepped away from him and she was sure that his face mirrored the confusion she felt as well. Such an emotion couldn’t be helped but she would in no way let him take advantage of her, all because there was more to a relationship than sexual gratification. There was caring. Sharing. And even love. That’s what she wanted, and she would accept nothing less. After all and for whatever reason—destiny or fate—she knew she lovedhim.
She took a deep breath to voice her thoughts aloud.
“You said you wanted ‘more’. What did you mean by that?” she asked while hoping she wouldn’t regret asking this question. He frowned and tried to bring her back into his embrace. He failed, of course, because she needed to know his thoughts. “Answer me, my lord.”
“From our kiss, I would think it would be obvious,” he said, finally just reaching for her hand. She allowed it, even though he hadn’t answered her question completely.
“Perhaps you can make your intentions clear, Lord Blackthorn, so there is no misunderstanding between us,” she said, her heart falling as she knew she might not like the answer he gave.
He dropped her hand and stepped back from her before running his hand across the nape of his neck. “I know I promised Saxton I would let you be, but I cannot keep myself from wanting you,” he confessed, before a small smile lit his features. She supposed he expected his charming demeanor to work magic to destroy the defenses that were suddenly raised about her. For a few seconds, she had hope he had changed his mind aboutmarriage. And then his next words caused her world to crash down around her. “I want you to become my mistress.”
She should have been shocked. She was hardly surprised given his reputation. “Yourmistress…” was all she could manage to get out. She turned away from him, hoping her tears wouldn’t begin leaking from her eyes. She couldn’t let him see how his words affected her since she hated the fact that he was truly her biggest weakness.
“Yes, of course. I couldn’t offer you anything else, Cassandra,” he replied. He had come up behind her and now turned her to face him. He reached up and slid his thumb across her cheek as one lone tear was wiped away to prove her distress.
“I suppose such an offer for someone likemeshould be appreciated, my lord, but I must decline,” she whispered before tearing herself away from his side and heading toward the door.
“But I thought you might be amicable to such an arrangement.”
“And you were wrong!” she fumed before she whirled around to face him. “Nothing has changed from our previous conversations that I am looking tomarry, my lord,notput my reputation back into the gutter.”
“But our kiss tells me otherwise,” he interjected with a scowl.
“That kiss was a mistake, and I will never allow it to happen again,” she said angrily.
