T. A. Chase

Angel’s Seduction- Part Fifteen

First let me get the business stuff out of the way…lol. I’m SExing today along with Anna J. Evans about our Molten Silver books. I’ll be posting a couple different excerpts and asking why we like cowboys. So if you wish to, please come over and chat with me.

Okay..here’s what you really want. 🙂

Angel’s Seduction copyright (c)2006 T.A. Chase

Part Fifteen-

Johnson is waiting in the hall for me as I step out of the room. The valet’s gaze sweeps over me and I tug on my cuffs.

“Do I look all right?” I’m not sure why I ask but I need assurance.

“You look fine, my lord. His grace wants me to bring you to him and your uncle.” Johnson turns and leads me down the hallway.

I wipe my sweating palms on my thighs and follow. My stomach rolls. I don’t know why my hands are shaking.

Fear has always been my constant companion. I fear my father. I’ve been afraid of my life. As we stop in front of door on the lower floor, I find my fear changed. I fear Greyson will take one look at me and realize I’m not worth the effort.

If he turns from me, I have nowhere to go. My uncle would offer me a place in his house, but eventually my father would engulf me again. I bite my lip, trying to find the strength to open the door.

“His grace is waiting.” Johnson tries to nudge me with his words.

A voice deep in my mind tells me I have nothing to lose. If Greyson turns from me, I’d be no worse off than I already am. It is time to start learning how to be normal. Maybe I’m the freak my father claims me to be. Only time will tell if I deserve to live among people, but if I didn’t find my own courage, I’d never know the truth.

I square my shoulders and nod at Johnson. “I’m ready.”

The valet stares at me for a moment. He’s probably wondering why I took so long. I admit it takes every bit of strength I have to step into the room. Greyson has kissed and touched me. In many ways, he knows me better than anyone else. Yet I’m not confident enough to believe he’ll continue to care.

The duke and my uncle look up from where they sit in front of a fireplace. I focus on Greyson because it is his approval I long for. His blue eyes lighten and he stands, holding out a hand to me.

“Angel, I’m glad you’ve joined us.”

Like a child learning to walk, I latch onto his hand for support. “I’m sorry to make you wait,” I murmur, nodding a greeting to my uncle.

“It hasn’t been that long, son. I’m happy to see you looking better.” Uncle’s voice is kind.

Greyson gestures to the chair he had been sitting in. I perch on the edge. I know I look as if I’m poised to run but there’s a thought that I might need to escape. The duke sits on the arm of the chair, putting his arm on the top behind me. I feel surrounded by him but that’s fine with me. I need to know he’s near.

“I wanted to tell you this before you hear it from the gossipmongers,” Uncle says. “Your father has been spreading rumors about Greyson brainwashing you. He’s saying you’re a young innocent child being seduced by an older experienced man. He’s trying to gain sympathy by making it seem like the duke is forcing you into being his catamite.”

I frown. “What does that mean?”

“Catamite?” Greyson shifts.

“Yes.”

Uncle shares a glance with the duke. Greyson stands and moves to knee in front of me. He takes my hands in his.

“It is an insult. In Rome, it was used to describe a boy who is the lover of a much older man. Now people use it as a term of ignorance and spitefulness. Your father uses that word to make it look like I’m hurting you or subverting you to do unnatural things. A passion like ours isn’t acceptable to many people, Angel.”

“Unnatural things? Like kiss and touch?” My eyes are on Greyson. I’ve forgotten my uncle is in the room with us.

Greyson smiles. “Kissing and touch are part of it. There are other more intimate things we could do and it’s those things that your father is talking about.”

I flush and my skin warms. My mind doesn’t really understand what he’s talking about, but it’s as if there’s an instinct in my sub-conscious that knows those intimate acts and longs to pursue them.

Something in me calls for me to love Greyson and if he wants those shameful things my father is worried about, then I’ll give them to the duke. I have a belief forming in my head. Freedom is just around the corner. I’ll place my essence in Greyson’s hands and let him show me how to discover my true self.

Hidden deep inside the shell I call my body is a soul yearning to find its place in the world. Greyson’s gentle hands will lead it out into the light.

Tuesday, July 4th, 2006, by and is filed under "Uncategorized ". You can leave a response here, or send a Trackback from your own site.