Page 58 of Saving a Scoundrel
“Don’t look so worried. She’s a pretty little thing. Young. Perhaps she’s been married off to some doddering ancient. She looked nervous, so I gave her some wine. She is waiting in the suite.”
Lucius nodded, then headed for the door. His hand was on the handle when Viola called out, “And one more thing. Lady Pierson is in the house tonight.”
He swiveled back.Shit.What the hell was Rosemary doing here?
“She asked for the Lord of Sin and was quite put out when I told her you were unavailable. I sent her to Jim.” Viola’s lips twitched.
He couldn’t hold back a grin. Jim catered to ladies who like things a bit rough. His character was the dangerous escaped convict. He would have Rosemary tied up for hours. Lucius strode back to Viola and kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks, luv.”
She patted his cheek. “I take care of mine. Now get upstairs before that little lady disappears out the window.”
Upstairs, Lucius paused at the door as always. Tonight, especially, he needed the moment to clear his head. Ellie filled his thoughts. But she didn’t belong here tonight. This was business, and one he couldn’t afford to give up now that Katy Macdougal was out of the picture. So he opened the door and entered the room with his usual flourish. “Good evening. Are you ready for a night of sinful pleasure?”
A petite woman stood in front of the fireplace staring into the flames. Her silhouette was achingly familiar. Still, Lucius gasped when she turned. Eleanor smiled tentatively at him, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. “Oh, good. I was just a little bit worried that I made a terrible mistake, and it wasn’t going to be you.”
He slammed the door shut. “Eleanor, what the hell are you doing here?”
“I would think it was obvious. I’ve paid to have your company for the night. You didn’t respond to any of my messages.”
“But how did you know? How did you pay for this?” He took off his hat and smacked it against his leg. “Do you understand that this is…is…”
“A brothel? Yes. I understand,” she said primly. “I used my winnings from Ascot.”
This was all wrong. Ellie shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t be here. The worlds he spent so much effort to keep separate were colliding in the worst way. Dread, embarrassment, and anger all swirled inside his gut. She couldn’t be here in this room where he fucked other women for coin. He stalked over to Ellie and grabbed her arm. “You are leaving right now.”
“But I paid. If Lucius Grisham won’t speak to me, then I shall have to state my case to the Lord of Sin.”
“Don’t call me that.” He growled. He pulled her across the room and out the door. He didn’t pause until he had dragged her down the back stairs and outside to the alley. Then he swung her around to face him. “You don’t belong here.”
“Neither do you.”
Her chin was tilted up, and her mouth set in that disapproving line. She was the last person he wanted to find out about the Lord of Sin. He felt ill at what must be going through her head. He gripped her arm tighter. “How did you even get here tonight? I’m taking you home right now.”
“Sam Green is waiting for me with the carriage.” She nodded to the back of the building. “Lucius, you’re hurting me.”
He immediately let go of her arm. “Ellie, what were you thinking coming down here? Did you want to confirm a rumor you heard?” He took a step back, spreading his arms wide. “Well, it’s true. Here I am, the Lord of Sin. Pleasuring bored married ladies with my cock for coin. Do you see now why you should never consider wasting your love on me?”
Ellie’s eyes blazed with fire. She stepped forward and slapped him smartly across the cheek. “Don’t ever tell me what to do with my feelings. They are mine to have and to share.” She reached up and gently cupped his stinging cheek. Then cupped the other side, trapping his face between her hands. “Lucius Grisham, what are you doing here?”
He bent and rested his forehead against hers. “Surviving.”
She stared into his eyes for a long moment—the violet irises swirling with emotion. Then pulling back infinitesimally, she nodded. “Well, tonight, you belong to me. You’ll be safe in my arms.”
All the air in his body seemed to exit in one long exhale. And when he next inhaled, it was the sweet scent of Ellie that filled his lungs. He closed the distance between them and kissed her. He brushed his lips gently across hers. Then again and again. Her hands remained on his face, and her fingertips began to caress his temples, her thumbs rubbed along his jawline. Her soft touch undid him. He closed his eyes and allowed himself the pleasure of being kissed by Ellie.
A carriage rolled past them, the horses nickered. Suddenly, he was acutely aware again of their surroundings. He was kissing Ellie Spencer in the back alley of a brothel. He wrapped an arm around her waist and led her across to the Termage’s back door. Jenson stood guard stoic as usual. What he had observed of the two of them would never be discussed. The man was a goddamn vault, and Lucius appreciated his impassive expression. “Evening.” Jenson opened the door.
“Evening,” Lucius replied. Then he squeezed Ellie’s hand and pulled her into the dark hallway. At the base of the stairs, he pulled her against him and captured her mouth again. Fear caught him around the throat. Fear that this was a mistake. Fear that she would realize that she didn’t want him after all. “Are you sure, Ellie, that you want to come upstairs? Are you sure I am what you want?” he murmured against her mouth.
“I’m sure.” Her lips slid across his, hot and demanding.
He tore his mouth from hers and led her up the stairs to his room. Fumbling in his waistcoat pocket for the key, he cursed. “Sorry.”
Ellie wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, and her hands roamed across his chest and down his stomach, scorching his skin through his clothes. He finally got the door unlocked. They stumbled into the dark room. The faint glow of embers in the grate and the moonlight through the window the only light. “Hang on.” Lucius went to the stove and lit a wick from the embers. Then he lit the two tapers on the mantle and crossed to the bedside table to light the brass candelabra there.
When he turned around to face Ellie, he found her still standing by the door, her back against the wood. Her cheeks were flushed pink, and her eyes glowed in the candlelight. He held out a hand. “Come here, kitten.”
A smile bloomed on her face as she crossed to him. He lifted her against him and captured her lips. He could spend the whole night just kissing her sweet mouth. Hell, he could spend years exploring all the ways to kiss Ellie. Instead, he walked them backward to sit in the wingback chair, pulling Ellie onto his lap. He didn’t know what the future could hold for them. His situation was the same as it had been before. He still couldn’t afford to love her. But for tonight, she deserved to know that his feelings for her were deep and genuine. He buried his face in her neck.
