Free Wicked Wager by Beverley Eikli

he found more irresistible than any practiced piece of outright seduction. ‘Both, my lord, now please don’t detain me further—’
    He reached out his hand as if trying to coax a small animal. Now he didn’t feel like he was play-acting. He truly wanted to banish her resistance, which sadly, he realised, was very real.
    â€˜Come Celeste, if I may call you that. Forgive me. Let us start again. Let me kiss you, one more time. Please? That’s where it’ll start and end.’ It was ridiculous how fear and disappointment were making a fool of him. Suddenly he wanted her, not as a conquest, but as a delightful surprise he could unwrap, layer by layer. She was as sweet and innocent as she was fiery and mysterious. He’d never been confronted by such a potent mixture in a woman.
    â€˜You know that’s not true, my lord,’ she whispered, stepping backwards. ‘And that’s why it must end … why everything must end … between us. Goodnight.’
    End? Oh no, this was not how it was going to end. Calling on every reserve for the means to supply him with the necessary inspiration, Peregrine found himself saying urgently, ‘If it’s Harry you want, then it’s not over between us.’
    Cryptically phrased, but the words found their mark as he’d grasped for straws. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open as she took the bait, supplying him with more information than he could have hoped for as she whispered, ‘You know where Harry is?’
    Oh, but he was clever. Why had he not understood before that she’d been casting around in the dark for news of her lover—or whatever he was to her— who’d gone missing the night they’d both fled together? Xenia thought Miss Rosington was keeping his location secret, but the truth was that Miss Rosington was seeking Harry, just as he was.
    He was just congratulating himself on matching her wits when she asked suspiciously, ‘What proof do you have?’
    â€˜My word is not good enough?’
    She hesitated. ‘Why should I trust you when I suspect you are toying with me, my lord?’ Her shoulders slumped and a look of great distress crossed her lovely features. ‘Clearly you knew from the outset that I … was acquainted with Harry.’
    Well, that was true enough. But the more he toyed with her the more he wanted her. He ran his hands over his coat, thinking.
    And felt the locket in the lining of his pocket.
    â€˜Perhaps this will persuade you,’ he said, holding it out.
    For a moment, he thought she was about to faint.

Chapter Five
    Celeste had always been impressed at Raphael’s ability to hide his real feelings. Lord, she hoped she was succeeding even moderately at concealing the confusion and fear that churned in her breast following her late-night encounter in the Long Gallery with Lord Peregrine.
    The whole nature of their relationship was now turned on its head. How long had he known of her interest in finding Harry? She thought back to their first encounter. That had been pure chance, she was sure of it. But after that? Why, coincidence had continued to throw them into each other’s orbit until suddenly, at Lady Cowdril’s house party, he’d produced the one thing Raphael would sell his soul for—or rather, Celeste’s.
    Celeste shivered. She was almost beyond caring for the whys and wherefores. Whether Lord Peregrine was a philanderer or had set his sights on Celeste for reasons relating to his sister, the fact was that every time Celeste found herself in Lord Peregrine’s arms, she was speared with the consciousness any chance was worth taking if it resulted in a happier alternative to marrying Raphael.
    Lord Peregrine might have started out with ulterior motives, like she had, but he was just as affected as she by their closeness, she was certain.
    This evening, following her return from the lovely Jacobean estate by the river,