[excerpt] (5 page)

“Strangely, I know how you feel. I’m glad I was able to help you, but Lucian, you owe me nothing. The pleasure of your company, even under the most dire circumstances tonight, has been quite memorable.” Without even realizing it she snuggled into his frame, arching backwards to gaze up at him. Maybe he’d attempt another kiss and perfect his aim. She batted her eyelashes at him.

About to close the distance to Serina’s tantalizing lips, he turned at the last second and whispered, “You need to scoot while you still can.” Reluctant, he bowed, allowing Serina to escape him.

Her disappointment hidden behind a forced smile, she turned and walked away from him with exaggerated sway to her hips, until she stumbled on the uneven slate and fought once again to keep her balance.

Lucian enjoyed the view. She definitely had a nice bottom! Images bombarded his mind of more intimate acts he wanted to do with that fine little
arse
...and the rest of her. Lucian wanted Serina. He needed her. He would have her. Didn’t he deserve love for himself? He’d spent the past eight years raising Raven. He’d seen to her safety, cared for her and placed his life on hold day after day after their parents were murdered. The sensation of eyes burning a hole in the back of his head prompted him to turn around and find his little beauty standing in the carriage eyeing him curiously.

“Oh, do tell! What exactly did I miss tonight, Luce? I don’t ever recall seeing that look on your face. Ever.” Raven kicked at her brother. “Are you going to get me out of this oven?” Lucian swung Raven around to the ground and hugged her.

“Can we go inside, Raven?” Lucian pleaded.

“You’re an imbecile, Luce. But I feel it, too.” Raven had her hand over her heart as she spoke, “She’s different, all right.” Giving her brother a quick glance, she wrinkled her nose. “Nice trousers, Luce. Do I want to know why you’ve got this wrapped like a kilt?”

Lucian shook his head no.

Raven grabbed the afghan. Lucian held tight. Regardless, it became a tug of war between sister and brother with Lucian winning as Raven fell into a fit of hysterical laughter. “I don’t even want to know what happened to you tonight, but if that woman saved you, then I owe her. I don’t ever want to think about losing you, Lucian. I’m willing to share you, but never to lose you.” Raven tossed her arm around her brother’s waist and began walking towards Serina’s home. “God, Lucian, you smell absolutely rancid.” Raven chortled.

“She saved you as well, Ray. Vampires? I’d heard a few tales, but I thought they were just that—tales.” They proceeded up the pathway arm in arm, surrounded by beautifully thick black rose bushes.

Chapter Two

Once inside Serina’s home, Raven went to work, the professional snoop she was. She needed to find out everything about the woman because, from her shoes it looked like her brother had met his match. Everywhere Raven looked vases filled with both fresh and dried blooms hogged the tables, the floors, the windowsills, even a player piano. Family photos were lost behind the bouquets. Intricate bottles filled with fragrant oils cluttered another table and gave the home a heavenly scent.

Serina entertained a unique style when it came to her home décor. She possessed a bold passion for the unusual bordering almost on atrocious. Not one thing matched. Wallpaper boasted yellow roses with light green leaves and vines that crept across the walls. A sapphire colored velvet couch and love settee held plump, orange taffeta toss pillows. The pink paisley curtains? What was this woman thinking?

Raven thought her words carefully. “You have a flare for the unusual, Serina. The flowers are breathtaking.” Raven raised her voice, uncertain where the doctor had gone. “Who is your gardener?”

“Me,” Serina answered from a small room off her kitchen. Coming out in a clean yellow linen blouse with a purple and black striped skirt, that accented her figure without flaunting it, she carried a tray of tea into the room and placed it on the table.

“My background may be in medicine but my true passion is chemistry, the way things are put together and why. I’m still working on how the black roses came to be. My mother sneezed on one of them and it turned black. They used to be white. Her sneeze began a reaction that went from one rose to the next and so on, just like dominos as they tumble.”

Raven’s eyes went wide with disbelief. “You are, of course, joking.”

Serina shook her shook. “I swear it. Strangest thing I’ve ever witnessed. Anyway, from the black roses I’ve developed a fragrance. Would you care to try it? ’Tis sold in the markets. I’ve named it
Eden’s Black Rose
after my mother. She told me I’d recreated Eden’s garden.” Serina handed Raven a small ornate rose-colored bottle. Raven started to shake her head in protest of the gift, but Serina pushed the gift into her hand. “This way you’ll always remember me.”

Raven gave Serina a warm hug. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for us tonight.” Raven set off to finish her journey through Serina’s home. “Lucian?” Raven’s voice echoed through each room. “Ah—Lucian, what a stunning garden.” Raven shoved past him and slammed him into the doorframe to get out to the back garden and in passing tugged at the pink and purple garment still secured around his waist. English yellow roses climbed to the heavens with black roses interspersed. The petals of both bushes covered the ground with a silky veil.

’Tis a bumble bee’s paradise. You’ll never see the little buggers until it’s too late.” Raven laughed alone. Lucian shook his head at her.

“My fair, Raven, your mirth endears me. Your humor enchants me. Your logic evades both of us.”

“Did you know Serina’s also a chemist? Maybe she could make a pill to help your hubris, Luce.” Raven nudged her brother with her elbow.

“If I could do that, Raven I’d be living better than the Queen herself. Not that I believe you need a pill, Lucian.” Serina gave him a coy smirk before turning to Raven with a conspiratorial wink.

“Right, so this is how it’s to be. For once Raven has someone to side with. Go ahead ladies, have your moment.” He gave both women a wide toothy grin, before he pretended to choke his sister. “Is Duncan still with the woman across the road? We should probably retrieve him, Ray, and let this woman get some rest. We don’t want to wear out our welcome.”

Never happen!

Inside, he pulled up short in front of the yellow roses and plucked one from a vase, then handed it to Serina. “These roses you surround yourself with are beautiful, m’lady, yet pale in your presence.” Lucian took her hand in his and brought it to his mouth.

Oh how he wanted her. Then. There. That second. He honestly didn’t believe he’d be able to leave her house, to leave her unless he was kicking and screaming. Then he thought he might be a tad bit melodramatic. Yes, she was beautiful. Yes, she was smart. Yes she was oh so incredibly sultry, alluring and those twinkling eyes. Jesus, the woman had enchanted him, snuck up on him and stolen his heart. And he didn’t care. God help him, it was love at first sight, of that he was certain. He’d never been in love before, and if this was love, he was in trouble. Serina didn’t stand a chance!

“Hello, hello, Lucian, Raven?” Duncan’s voice carried over well before he approached the front door. “I’ve got you some clean trousers, Lucian, and a shirt. A gentleman living next door to Miss Baynes said you could have them. Said he’s put on some extra weight since his wife became with child, and he can no longer squeeze into them. I believe they’ve got their roles reversed.” Duncan crushed Lucian to him. “I thought I’d lost you. Luce, you can’t die on me. Promise me. I’d be lost without me best mate.”

“Your only mate!” Lucian returned Duncan’s hug. “Not to worry, old man. You can’t get rid of me so easily. ’Twas naught more than a flesh wound,” he joked.

Duncan shook his head and released a large pent-up sigh. He tossed the clothing to Lucian. “That flesh wound you speak of resembled something more akin a gutted rhino. Please hurry and change, Luce. I see you’ve been dressing with Raven’s clothing again? Pink kilts?” Duncan turned to Serina. “Dr. Spencer, thank you for saving me girls.”

Lucian wasted no time swatting the back of Duncan’s head. “

Through laughter Duncan added, “I don’t know what you did to help them, but I am grateful. You are a miracle worker.” He gave Serina a small bow at his hips. “The roses are beautiful, might I?” Duncan picked a yellow rose from the vase and ran out the door, mumbling something about Molly.

“May I use your washroom, Serina?” Lucian held out the clean clothes in front of him with a slight shrug his shoulders.

“Come with me, Sir. It’s up the stairs.” Serina held out her hand to Lucian. He wasted no time accepting her offer.

“You’ve a washroom on your second floor?” Lucian asked curious. Most of the homes in this area were plain, simple with watersheds in their garden.

“Yes. We have a large water tank in the attic that fills with rainwater—or me if there’s no rain. Me Mum wanted a modern home and trust me, she always gets what she wants.”

Lucian looked back to his sister. “You all right if I leave you?”

Raven shooed her brother off. “I’m fine, never been better, truly.”

Lucian couldn’t help but admire Serina’s backside as they climbed the stairs, the way the material on her skirt hugged each curve, caressed her thighs, cinched her waist and accented her tight little tush up close and personal. What he wouldn’t give to be her clothes, with her flesh slinking across him. Her choice in her wardrobe though, the eccentric color combination, left him wondering if she’d dressed in the dark. “Do you live alone, Serina? Where is your family? How is it a beautiful, young woman is a doctor and has no one to care for her? You don’t do you?” Lucian was almost afraid of the answer, but he had to know everything.

“I live alone. I’m twenty-one. My parents are off on an adventure to America. I am on staff at the hospital and when I’m not there, I’m either in my garden or at the orphanage.” Serina made it perfectly clear no one pined for her affections other than some starved-for-attention children.

The intensity of Serina’s emotions left her uncertain how to act. And a doubting Thomas didn’t suit her life. How did she become a brilliant young doctor, a psychic and know nothing of love or relationships? Reluctant, she released his hand.
I’m no good at soul searching. Give me a dead body any day of the week, but don’t try to figure out me.
“The washroom is here. I’m going to keep your sister company. I trust you’ll be fine.” As Serina turned to leave, her foot caught in the hem of her skirt. She was launched head first into the wall. “I’m fine,” she announced, other than the embarrassed ego splattered all over the wall.

Lucian covered the distance and embraced her from behind. She melted against his chest. His arms felt strong and warm, and for the first time, Serina felt safe and comforted. Wasn’t it only an hour or so ago she was dead set against having another human touch her? Extra body heat? It was one thing to have the orphans climbing all over her. Lucian was an entirely new bedtime story.

His whiskers caught in her hair as he settled his chin atop of Serina’s head. “You’ve a funny way of going down stairs, m’lady. There are easier ways. Trust me. Don’t move a muscle, and I’ll see to your safety.” Lucian spun her fast in his arms to face him and tapped his index finger gently to her nose. “Stay put, little one.”

“Right, then.” Serina watched his beautiful sculpted body walk away. She fought every wild urge not to give chase. Her head became clouded with thoughts of him behind that door, in only his birthday suit—and oh what a present. She ruffled her hair into total disarray, just as her mind was. She dropped to her knees to pray for guidance, or even a lucid thought would even have done the trick, with neither happening. “Dear Goddess…”

Not privy to Serina’s confession, Lucian said, “That’s an odd compliment, Dr. Spencer, but trust me, Goddess, I am not if you’ve not noticed.” He pointed to his groin with that sinful grin she’d simply fallen in love with. “Aren’t doctors supposed to know the difference between Gods and Goddesses?”

Lucian’s eyes danced with mischief and his smile held deep intimate thoughts of what the two of them would share soon. Serina bit her bottom lip, her mind busy playing out the possibilities.

“There is a dinner in town Raven and I must attend in a few nights. You would honor me as my guest?” He bent down and picked her up. “Up we go,” he said as they headed down the stairs.

Serina tossed her arms around his neck and for just a moment nuzzled her face to the side of his neck. She enjoyed being this close to him, and now that he’d cleaned up, his scent tickled her fancy. “What will I do without you tonight to help me get back up these stairs to bed?” Once she realized how that sounded she gasped.

Tart with a capital “T.” That’s me! Ah, what the hell.
Serina leaned back, and batted her eyelashes at him. Lucian stopped about halfway down the stairs, turned around and headed back up them, his pace faster.

“This night, then?”

“For as much as I would love that, I’m going to ask you to turn around once more and head back down the stairs, although I really don’t know why. Lucian, I’ve never…” Serina hesitated looking down at the floor. “I’ve never lain with a man before.” She wasn’t sure if it was a confession or an apology. She wanted to prepare him she was a virgin and knew nothing in the ways of lovemaking so he wouldn’t be disappointed if they ever....

Lucian sat down on the steps and snuggled her in his lap.

“Serina, neither have I.” He gave her a puckish grin. “Seriously, I’ve never been with a woman. So we’ll take this slow. Get to know each other better, and then I’ll tuck you in tomorrow night.”

“You’re very funny. You—never been with a woman? Were you locked away your entire life? Or are you a eunuch?”

“I believe we’ve crossed that bridge. You stole me best kept secret from under me black silky shawl. No eunuchs under there.” Lucian winked. “But seriously, I’ve never met the right woman.”
Until tonight
. Lucian twirled strands of her hair around his fingers as he lost himself in her gaze. “I do believe you’ve bewitched me, doctor.” He bent forward, and with a little tug of her hair, she landed inches from his face. With only a whisper in her ear, and his hot breath against her skin, he said, “I’d like to kiss you.” His hand splayed across her cheek and jaw in a soft caress as his lips brushed against Serina’s lush mouth. He nudged his tongue through the parting in her lips to taste her. To swallow her. To savor her all in one kiss.

Oh! The man is making me insane.
Serina wanted to throw caution to the wind. Something she’d never done a day in her life. To date, her existence had been so bloody predictable, so sheltered, so lonely. Just once, she wanted to live, to feel what it was like to be with a man and not have her life or reputation hang in the balance. Not have her mother hanging like a noose around her neck, waiting to snuff out her last breath.

Serina lay in Lucian’s arms, his desire for her pressed firmly against her bottom. She wiggled into that mass and bit her cheeks when he swallowed a gasp.
Do it once more, Serina. See what happens. This could be fun.
She pressed her bottom in closer. Lucian threw his head back and wore a look Serina wasn’t entirely sure was pleasure or pain. She scanned his thoughts and smiled.
Pleasure.

He bent to her once more, lips parted, his eyes hidden beneath long black lashes. His scent reminded her of the air, fresh and clean, after a rainstorm. When his lips pressed against hers, he moaned as he deepened the kiss. Concerned she did something wrong, she broke away from him. “Did I hurt you?”

He rolled his eyes up every scrumptious inch of her. “I don’t believe you could ever hurt me, unless we never get to finish this some time soon.” Lucian’s face was all male. The want, the desire, the need etched into his very being. “M’lady, I know we can’t, well...No, actually we could do this, but not tonight. Not like this. I want everything between us perfect when that time comes, so for now, I’m going to carry you the rest of the way down the stairs.”