Free The Wicked One by Danelle Harmon Page A

She felt his arousal driving against her hips, her pelvis, protected by nothing more than the flimsy lawn of his shirt . . . and the even flimsier fabric of her chemise.
    Two layers of cloth.  It was all that separated them.
    Eva moaned as his mouth slanted down atop hers.  She fought wildly for balance — between her heart which demanded absolute abandonment, and her head, which demanded absolute detachment so she could do what must be done.  She was quickly losing control of this situation . . . and that frightened her.
    She pulled back, holding on to the threads of sanity.  "I — I'm nervous.  I need more champagne.  Can I offer you more, Blackheath?"
    "By all means."
    He handed her his glass.  Eva set them both down, then, regaining her poise, eyed him speculatively.  "I think I need you to lie down on the bed."
    "We'll get there eventually."
    "I need you to get there, now."
    "Ah."  He gave her that slow, spreading smile.  "Let me guess.  This is where the . . . domination comes in?"
    "How astute you are."
    "Very well, then."  He moved to the bed and sat upon it, removing his own stockings and revealing the handsomest, most powerful calves she had ever seen.  Dark hair peppered his legs in a sparse mat; muscles stood out in wondrous relief, inviting the touch of a finger.  A tongue.  Ohhhh, Lord help her!
    "And now, my dear?"
    "Lie back.  I need to tie you up."
    He laughed.  "Tie me up?  What, do you think I plan to go anywhere?"
    "It is part of my fantasy.  You know me to be a dominant woman.  I know you to be a dominant man.  My fantasy demands that I master you, and master you completely.  So therefore, I must tie you up."
    "I suppose it will be nothing short of interesting," he murmured, amused.
    "Perhaps you will even find it exciting."
    "I would very much like to touch you, Eva."
    "Oh, I'll set you free after the first round."  She smiled.  "And I wouldn't tie you up so tightly that you couldn't have some movement."
    He lay back on the pillows, raised his arms over his head, and regarded her with dark, watchful eyes that glowed with amusement.  Was he intrigued?  Probably.  Was he apprehensive?  Probably not, for he was arrogant enough to assume he could overpower her at any moment, escape no matter what binds held him.  He was indulging her, nothing more.  Finding some sort of strange satisfaction of his own, thinking that he was allowing a woman to be in control.  Allowing.   Oh, what a surprise she had for him!
    Remembering the champagne, she carried the glasses back to her dressing table, opened one of her perfume bottles, and dabbed a bit of scent behind her ears.  As she replaced the stopper, she clandestinely tapped the few drops still poised there into one of the two glasses; then she refilled them both with champagne, brought them back to the curtained bed, and set them down on the night table.  The duke lay on his back watching her, his knees bent; the shirt had slid down his thighs, rumpling atop his abdomen.  She could see just the barest hint of dark hair and male flesh beneath the hem.  It was just enough to tease.  To tantalize.
    Her mouth went dry.
    "If you're afraid, Blackheath, we don't have to do this," she taunted, her voice a little shaky.
    "Perhaps I am not the one who's afraid."
    "You think I am?"
    "You tell me."
    She tossed her head.  "Ha, if I was afraid, I would most assuredly not tell you.  Besides, you'll be tied up.  Perfectly harmless."
    He smiled, a slow, chilling smile that caused her insides to seize.  "Perfectly harmless."
    "Totally incapable of doing anything I don't want you to do."
    "Whatever you say, my dear."
    She handed him the glass into which she'd tapped the few drops of perfume.  She raised her own.  They faced each other, two wary adversaries, over the crystal rims.
    Enigmatic black eyes met glittering ones of green.
    "To an enjoyable evening, then."
    "An enjoyable evening . . ."
     
     
    Chapter 7
    Crystal clinked, and she