Free Seduce Me by Robyn DeHart Page A

this?”
    “Some derivation of ancient Greek. I admit, it’s not my best language; I am much better with Latin. But I know enough to know
     that’s ‘lust.’ ” She tilted her head. “I don’t suppose you know Greek?”
    “I can speak a few words, but that is all.” He looked back down at the band. “So each bracelet represents one of those elements?
     Theoretically speaking,” he said.
    “Yes, I believe so.”
    He nodded. “Which means there’s at least one remaining in the box.”
    Esme opened her mouth, then frowned. “One more band?”
    “The men who kidnapped you opened the box, and they both received similar bracelets for their trouble.”
    She buried her face in her hands. “Oh, this is positively dreadful.” Her voice was muffled. “I’m quite certain the bracelets
     that have been unleashed will wreak havoc on the wearers.”
    He looked from the bracelet to the woman wearing it. Wreak havoc on the wearers, indeed. Esme seemed to have a knack for wreaking
     havoc, with or without a bracelet.
    Fielding swore, which garnered a look from his carriage companion. He’d wanted to deliver Esme Worthington back to her aunt,
     hand this bloody box over to Solomon’s, then collect his fee and be done with it. Now he could do none of those things. The
     men who hired him had warned him about the evils within the box, and while Fielding certainly didn’t believe any of that nonsense,
     chances were they meant those bracelets. Which meant they belonged inside the box, and until they were all returned, his job
     wasn’t complete.
    He might not be the most honest man in London, but he’d never cheated anyone who’d paid him.
    “Then I suppose there’s only one thing for us to do,” he said.
    “What’s that?”
    “We have to go after the bracelets.”
    * * *
    “What do you mean, we have to go after the bracelets?” Esme asked, certain she’d misunderstood him. “Aren’t we currently running
from
the men who wear two of them?”
    He inclined his head. “We are. But without all the bands in the box, I cannot complete the job I’ve been hired to do. Which
     means until we remove that bracelet from your wrist, you’re my responsibility.”
    “So honorable,” she said, her eyes skimming his strong form. His broad shoulders and strong, shapely thighs were evident in
     his new clothes, and she wondered why he didn’t dress in such tailored finery more often. Oh, no, it was happening. The curse
     was taking effect. She brought her hand to her throat. “I must be truthful, Mr. Grey.” His eyes were a warm brown when she
     settled on them. “I find myself utterly drawn to you. The fine chisel of your jawline and the intensity in your gaze. You
     are quite the specimen.” Esme sat taller in her seat. “So I do ask that you be a gentleman lest we end up in an unfortunate
     position.”
    His brows arched. “I am a gentleman by title and birth, Miss Worthington, but I’ve never been that good at behaving as one.
     You’d best not trust your virtue with me.”
    She was unable to turn away from his molten gaze. Had that been a promise or a threat?
    “Instead of tallying my merits,” he said, “perhaps you should focus on something more pressing.” A seductive smile slid into
     place. “Unless you have a better use of our time. We still have more than four hours to go before we arrive in London.”
    The hot flush that crept up her neck settled in her cheeks until they burned. So it had been a promise. Suddenly she found
     it quite difficult to breathe. She remembered his hands rubbing her sore muscles in the dungeon. Her internal temperature
     climbed several degrees.
    Perhaps Mr. Grey was right: If she focused on the task at hand, she wouldn’t think about his long legs and the way his thigh
     muscles pressed nicely against his trousers. And she wouldn’t notice the crisp crinkle of brown hair on his forearms that
     his rolled-up sleeves revealed.
    “Oh, for mercy’s sake!” She mentally