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Angel’s Seduction-Part Thirty-One
Angel’s Seduction copyright (c) 2006 T.A. Chase
Part Thirty-One:
I curl up in the window seat, staring out at a world I no longer fear being a part of. I’ve come to cherish my time here with Greyson. He has taught me strength and confidence. He’s shown me that not all the people in the world are out to hurt me.
Noises come from the duke’s study. The butler told me he’s still meeting with the man from earlier this morning. I don’t complain. There’s nothing pressing for us to do, though I find myself thinking about our bed upstairs. The door to the drawing room opens.
“Here you are,” Greyson says as he walks in.
I turn to face them and a glass shatters on the floor. The stranger stares at me as if he’s seen a ghost. I’m puzzled since the man had seen me that morning before I left for my ride. He stalks across the room and kneels in front of me.
I don’t flinch as he reaches out to touch my face. I’ve learned that not every outstretched hand is going to do violence to me. I frown at Greyson though.
“Who are you?” The stranger’s voice holds fear and disbelief.
“I’m,” I start to tell him. His voice sounds familiar.
“He’s Lord Williamson’s eldest son.” Greyson comes to stand by me. He rests a hand on my shoulder and squeezes.
“Ah, that would explain it then.” The man pulls his hand away, but remains at my feet. “I got only a glimpse of you this morning and your hat shaded your face. I couldn’t see the resemblance.”
I stare down in to the most unusual green eyes. They are as pale as the duke’s prized jade elephant. They shine up at me and a flicker of a memory comes to me.
“I know you.” This time I’m the one to reach out and touch a cheek.
“How is that possible?” The duke seems uneasy about this revelation.
“I’m surprised you do. You were so young.” A sad smile graces the man’s lips.
“Shade, answer me. How do you know Angel?” Greyson grabs Shade’s arm, forcing him to his feet.
They move to the other side of the room where two chairs are set facing a fireplace. I follow intrigued by this visit from my past. Shade stands, staring at the picture above the mantel. The expression on his face tells us he’s become lost in memories. The duke sits in one of the chairs and I sink to the floor at his feet. It’s my favorite spot unless I’m sitting on his lap.
“Shade, explain how you know each other,” Greyson demands.
Shade doesn’t respond and I wonder if his memories choke him like mine do to me.
“It was during the summer of my tenth year. I was staying with my uncle and his family. I remember a groom with the most unusual green eyes. He was nice to me. Didn’t treat me like a nuisance. I went about my days in complete ignorance. Then one morning, my tutor came to wake me up. We left my uncle’s house within an hour. I never really knew why. I remember my aunt was crying. My uncle and my cousin were fighting and yelling.” I recount those memories without thought.
“Your cousin? I thought your uncle only had one child.” Greyson frowns.
“He does now. I had an older cousin. I walked out of my uncle’s house and at the foot of the steps stood the green-eyed groom. His fists were clenched. Even as a child, I knew he was furious about something, but I sensed fear in him as well. I went home and two weeks later, my father informed me that my cousin was dead.” There hadn’t been any sadness in me. I didn’t know him very well, but it was after his death that my father began my abuse.
“His name was Jonathon and we were lovers. I still remember his laugh. I can still smell him and at times, it’s as if he’s in the room with me.” Shade turns to study me. “You look exactly like him. The night before you left, someone saw us together and told Jonathon’s father. He was furious. Threatening to kill us both for dishonoring the family name.”
Standing, I move to Shade. His pain is visible in his eyes. I can’t imagine what it would be like to hurt that way. I reach out a cautious hand. He can accept it or reject it. He takes it in his and holds tight.
“I was thrown off the estate and threatened with death if I ever tried to see Jonathon again. I did try. I couldn’t leave him to suffer alone. I tried for a week until someone told me he was dead.” He bites his lips to keep from sobbing.
“How did he die?”
I glare at the duke. How could he ask that question when Shade is so upset? Greyson shrugs.
“He killed himself. Slit his wrists and lost too much blood before anyone found him.” Shade slumps forward as if saying that takes all his strength.
I feel the scars at my wrists burn. My uncle had been unable to save his own son, but by saving his nephew, he had kept alive another embarrassment to the family name.
“I must leave.” Shade yanks his hand from mine. “This is too much.”
He nods to Greyson and leaves. Going back to the duke, I curl up on his lap. The safety I always feel engulfs me when his arms wrap around me and pulls me close to him.
“That explains a lot,” he mutters against my ear.
It explains a lot, but there is still much I want to know. I wonder if the mistakes of the past will build a solid enough foundation for my future?
Hunk Day
Hope everyone had a great weekend. I know I did. 🙂 It was wonderful, visiting with friends and just hanging out. I didn’t do any writing the entire weekend, but that’s okay because I’m close to the end of Angel’s Seduction, so I’m not feeling stressed.
Monday and Tuesday combined, I wrote 2,082 words, bringing the total of words to 51,322. Hit my goal, so anything more will just be icing..lol. Got the blurb written as well. I was pretty productive all things considered. I figure the final total might be 52k or a little more. Have one or two more love scenes to add and anything else my CP might feel needs to be added or fixed.
I hope to have it ready to submit by next week. If that works out, you’ll have a blitz of Angel because I’d like to have the blog version posted and finished by the time I submit the expanded version. It looks like the expanded version will have at least 20k more in it. 🙂
Have a great day, everyone.
Angel’s Seduction-Part Thirty
Angel’s Seduction copyright (c)2006 T.A. Chase
Part Thirty-
Greyson moves, waking me up as a knock sounds on the door. I open my eyes to see the duke climb out of bed.
“Will you be down for breakfast, your grace?” Johnson stands in the doorway.
“Bring a tray up for us,” Greyson orders the valet while moving to the dresser.
“Yes, sir.” Johnson leaves.
I admire my lover’s form. Tall and muscular, he isn’t a man who has let the late nights and rich drink of the Ton ruin his health. My prick tells me how much it agrees with my mind. Greyson turns and smiles at me.
He holds my robe out for me to slip on. “The rest of our discussion was postponed last night. I’m sorry.”
I cup his cheek, turning his gaze to mine. “Don’t apologize. Do you feel better now?”
He nods. “Yes, I do. I guess I still had some mourning left to do. I never realized how guilty I still felt about Maria. Thank you, love.”
Our lips meet in a benediction. Promises are made as we kiss. I put my hand on his chest to feel his heart beating. Another knock sounds and we move apart. Greyson puts on his own robe while I stand out of the way for the servants delivering the breakfast trays.
“Johnson.” Greyson stops the valet before the man could leave.
“Yes, your grace?”
“Make sure we’re not disturbed. Not by anyone for any reason.”
“Yes, sir.” Johnson bows and shuts the door behind him.
“We’ll be able to talk without interruption now.” He gestures towards the table.
We sit, quietly taking the edge off our hunger. My body aches from our loving earlier that morning, but I’m beginning to welcome those feelings. After a while, Greyson fills his cup with coffee and leans back in his chair.
“Shortly after I abandoned my wife in the country, I returned to Town. I fell into my old habits, but lucky for me, some powerful men were keeping an eye on me.”
I stay silent. It is his story to tell and I can’t rush him. He stands, making his way over to the window.
“One night I was approached by someone in the Home Office. They needed some information on a certain nobleman. Unfortunately none of their usual employees ran in his circles. It seemed we shared the same interests. The man asked me to befriend this lord and gather what information I could.”
Unease tries to settle in my stomach. Will Greyson tell me he turned in a man like us? I’m not sure how I feel about that.
“I was reluctant at first. I didn’t feel right about spying on a fellow member of our club.” He gives me a small smile and a wink. “The Prime Minister’s man assured me they knew all about his perversions. They didn’t care about them.”
He laughs. “Perversions such as ours are not talked about in polite society. Yet people tend to know about them and ignore what happens behind closed doors.”
“Why were they interested in this particular man if not for blackmail?”
“Rumors had surfaced about a slave trafficking ring. White slavery. White girls were disappearing and sold to foreigners as slaves. Usually for sexual uses.”
Something in Greyson’s voice makes me think this type of slavery is the thing of nightmares.
“And this man had something to do with it,” I ask, not wanting to dwell on the actual slavery.
“Yes but the Home Office wasn’t sure how he was involved. They wanted me to find out. So I did. At first I did it to get rid of my boredom. Then when I began to see what these slavers did to these girls, I became angry and determined to shut them down.”
Coming back to the table, he sits his cup down and takes my hand. I stand in response to his tug, allowing him to lead me to the couch opposite the bed. He sits and pulls me onto his lap.
“We shut that ring down and thus began my service to the Crown. I travel in circles most of their spies can’t obtain, so I hear things they don’t.”
I rest my head on his shoulder. “Are you always so busy?”
“Normally no, but events are starting that could change the world and England must be ready for them. Each day, more information comes to light and it worries me.” He sighs.
I wrap my arms around his waist and press close to him. “You have so many obligations, why would you chose to open your life to me?” I’m not looking for him to flatter me. I’m just trying to understand why.
He pushes me away so he can look down at my face. “It’s no hardship to love you, Angel. You’re the brightest spot in my life. Now that I’ve met you, held you and loved you, the rest of the world dims in comparison and I’m not concerned about it. You are the most important thing to me and I’d do anything to make you happy.”
Tears glisten in his eyes and my gaze blurs with my tears as well.
“I believe you,” I whisper against his lips. “Thank you.”
“For what?” He presses kisses across my cheeks and eyes.
“For loving me. For trusting me.”
“I have no other choice but to love you. For you’ve stolen my heart, Angel.”
The kisses we share are slow and gentle. Just as the passion is about to burn out of control, Johnson’s voice sounds from the other side of the door.
“Your grace.”
“I thought I said we didn’t want to be disturbed.” Greyson rests his forehead on mine.
“I’m sorry, sir, but the same gentleman who showed up here the other night is back. He says it’s important.” Johnson sounds apologetic.
“Damn.” Greyson smiles at me. “England calls, love. I’d prefer to stay up here with you all day, but the outside world says no.”
I chuckle and climb off his lap. “I don’t mind. I’ll go for a ride. Maybe visit Uncle. If you’re free when I return, we’ll find something to occupy us for the afternoon.”
The sudden flare of heat in Greyson’s eyes tells me he’s already thought of an activity. I find myself resenting the busy life my lover leads.
Away for the Weekend
Hey everyone, C and I are leaving this afternoon for a weekend get-away. I won’t be back until late on Monday. 🙂 We’re going to go visit some friends and play some golf. So while I’ll miss you all, it’ll be nice to get away from here for a while.
Final edits were done for Here Be Dragons and as soon as I get the okay, I’ll post the cover for it.
Only have one or two more scenes for Angel’s Seduction to write. Wednesday and Thursday, I wrote a combined total of 4,932 words. woo-hoo! taking my overall total up to 48,502. I’m close to hitting that magic goal of 50k which should be easy once I add those two scenes and one or two more sex scenes. My expanded version of AS is about 20k more than the blog version.
Over these past two days, I wrote the confrontation scenes between Angel and his father. I think they were intense, but we’ll see what y’all think of them. 🙂
Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Angel’s Seduction- Part Twenty-Nine
*Sorry for the none pic again today* Hot Man Love TodayAngel’s Seduction copyright (c)2006 T.A. Chase
Part Twenty-Nine:
I am surrounded by warmth as I slowly wake up the next morning. Greyson is curled behind me. His prick is hard and nestles in the crease of my ass. His hand curls around my hip. Murmuring something I can’t make out, he begins rocking us together.
“Oh,” I gasp as his teeth nip at the sensitive spot behind my ear. I push back against him and a shiver runs over my skin as the head of his cock bumps my opening.
He rubs his body on mine, reaching for a small jar sitting on the nightstand. I adore the feel of his chest pressed to me. When he settles back behind me, his hand slides under my thigh and lifts my leg forward, allowing better access.
Slick fingers tease me. I rock my hips and bite my lip. I don’t want to beg him to take me, but my body knows what it wants. “Please” slips out, making him smile against my neck. My skin flushes and somehow he knows it’s because I’m embarrassed, not because I’m aroused.
“Never be embarrassed to ask for what you want, Angel. I like knowing you crave my touch.” His warm breath plays over my neck, distracting me as the tip of his finger slides inside me.
No matter how many times we do this, I never get used to the feeling of fullness and that’s just from his fingers. He nibbles along my shoulder and pushes against my back. I roll on to my hands and knees, shamelessly offering myself to him. One finger becomes two and then three. Soon I’m rocking back on, begging without words for his touch.
“God,” I moan as he touches a spot inside me that makes sparks dance in my eyes. “Again.”
Greyson laughs. “Now you’re demanding. Who knew such a little wanton hide under that shy exterior?” He pushes his fingers farther in and twists them.
“Please.” My voice breaks as he begins to rub over that spot with each thrust of his fingers.
Pleasure builds through my body. I can feel it shoot from my head down over my chest to pool at the base of my spine. My prick stiffens and my need grows. Lust ripples my skin as he wraps his rough hand around me and strokes.
“Greyson, I’m going to..” I lean my forehead down on the pillow in front of me. My breath disappears as my desire grabs hold of me and drains me of my seed.
I shudder and spill my essence, but Greyson doesn’t let me go. He rolls me on to my back. Kneeling between my legs, he covers his own prick with the oil and settles the flared head against my opening.
“May I,” he asks while slowly pushing into me.
I nod and relax, letting my lover into me, eager to feel him deep inside me. No hesitation or doubt. He fills me with one long thrust. Our moans float through the room. He waits for a moment, not willing to move until I tell him it’s okay. With a small tilt of my hips, I encourage him to make love to me.
“So tight, love.” His voice is harsh and his hands grip my hips tight.
I can’t catch my breath as he rocks us together. The crown of his shaft hits the magic spot and I cry out. Pleasure begins to build in me and I can’t keep still. My hips rise to meet each of his strokes.
“Move, love. Show me how much you love me.” He takes my hand in his and wraps it around my shaft. “Please yourself.”
My skin heats, but I can’t tell if it’s from embarrassment or desire. I’ve never touched myself. Fear of my father kept me from enjoying any of my life. “What do I do?”
He keeps his hand on mine and moves it down on my shaft. “Do to yourself what I did to make you spill your seed. Move as fast or as slow as you wish.”
My first attempts are feeble. I’m not sure I can pleasure myself in front of him. Soon though, I find I have no choice. With each thrust of his prick into me, my own shaft slides through my hand. All I have to do is adjust the pressure.
“More,” I plead, not sure how much more he can give me, but knowing I need something else.
“Certainly.” He lifts my legs over his forearms and spreads me wider. This opens me even more and he pushes deeper inside.
I lose what rhythm I have and lose myself in the sensations he creates in me. He is becoming a part of me. It’s as if with each thrust, he reaches deep into my soul until we’ll never be separate people again.
“Greyson.” I don’t know what I’m saying or asking for. All I know is he is the only thing in my mind as my pleasure spills from me once again. My inner muscles tighten around him and my hips rock, milking his own climax from him.
“Love you,” he cries, filling me deep inside with liquid heat. He’s branding me and I welcome the warmth.
I wrap my arms around his shoulders when his arms start to tremble. I ease him down on top of me. I don’t mind his weight pressing me into the mattress. In a primordial way, it makes me feel safe to have him surround me with his body. We rest with our breath mingling until our heartbeats stop racing.
He gives me another gentle kiss and then climbs from the bed. He grabs a cloth, wetting it to clean his body. After he’s done, he brings another cloth for me. Greyson makes me lie still while he takes care of me.
He joins me in bed, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me tight to him. We fall asleep, our hearts beating as one.
Another Wednesday
It was going to be another hunk day, but alas..it wouldn’t let me post the pic. I’ll come back later on today and try to do it. No one should go through Hump day without some eye candy. 🙂Well, I broke the 40k mark. Actually I’m at 43, 570 right now on Angel’s Seduction. I got 3k and a few extra words written yesterday. Woo-hoo! The end is nearing and I’ve only got 7k more to go to reach my goal of 50k. Anything after that is golden.
I’m finishing my edits for Here Be Dragons. It’s scheduled for release on Sept. 5th, but that’s always subject to change and circumstance. I’m not worried about the edits. I edit very fast. I tend not to agonize over the changes my editors ask for. As long as they don’t change the content and meaning of the story, I’m happy with what ever they ask me to do. I’m pretty easy-going that way.
I’m hoping to do some more writing today. See if I can get past the 45k mark. That would be awesome.
Have a great day, everyone.
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”—Confucius
Angel’s Seduction- Part Twenty-Eight
Angel’s Seduction copyright (c)2006 T.A. Chase
Part Twenty-Eight:
I feel the mattress dip as Greyson slides under the covers and joins me in our bed. He wraps an arm around my waist to pull me tight against him, my back to his chest. His lips brush over the bruise on my cheek. I sigh and the dull throbbing of my face fades.
“Does your face still hurt, love?” His breath bathes my ear.
“A little. I’m better now that you’re here.” I press closer to his warmth.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to come upstairs with you as soon as we got home, but it was important I deal with the person waiting for me.” He moves my hair out of the way and whispers a kiss over the nape of my neck.
I hear the guilt in his voice and that isn’t what I want. I said those words because they were true, not because I wanted to manipulate him. “I know.” I roll over so we are face-to-face. “Is something wrong?”
A frown mars his forehead, but he shakes his head. “Nothing for you to worry about, love.”
Why do I have the feeling that he’s patting me on the head like he would an overly curious child? I bite my lip to keep from complaining. “I know you’re involved with the government, Greyson. I’ve heard numerous times that you have the ear of the Regent and of the Prime Minister. I get the feeling you do more than just give advice when they ask.” I put my finger over his mouth when he starts to speak. “You’ve brought me into your home. You’ve given me more freedom and love then I’ve ever known. You also tell me your heart belongs to me, but I know nothing about you. Why are there strangers coming and going at all hours of the day and night? Why when the Home Office requests your presence, do you drop everything and go? Who was that stranger the other night and what did that message mean I delivered for him?”
As the duke stares at me, I can tell he’s thinking, trying to decide how much to tell me or if he will tell me anything. I pull away from him and climb out of bed. A chill shivers down my spine. I wonder what has come over me to make me confront Greyson like this, but I won’t back down.
I stop in front of the fireplace. Turning, I look back through the darkness to where I know he still lies on the bed. “I’m not fragile. You told me that yourself. You say you love me, but as what? Do you love me as a man? Am I someone you can tell all your secrets to or am I merely a plaything for you to pull out when you get bored?”
Tears well up in my eyes. I try to swallow around the lump in my throat. I know how I want him to answer. I want. No, I need him to see me as his equal because if he doesn’t then in reality I am no better off than I was when I lived with my father.
I hear the bedclothes rustle and then I see him kneeling in the middle of the mattress, holding his hand out to me.
“Angel, my love, come back to bed. Please join me and I’ll tell you what I can.”
I want to be strong and demand he tell me everything right now. But the room is cold and I can hear love in his voice. I don’t want to hurt him. It is just something is inside me, demanding to be seen as a real person; not a child or a helpless creature.
“Please.”
Returning to the bed, I take his hand and let him pull me back under the covers. Greyson settles me into his arms. I rest my head on his chest and smile as his hand strokes over my back.
He takes a deep breath. “Before I got married, I was a hellion. I’d rather cause trouble then be respectable. I indulged myself with gambling, dueling and women.”
I stiffen and he chuckles.
“I might have been a hellion, love, but I wasn’t stupid. I knew I had to keep my true preferences discrete and hidden from the Ton. Even now there are very few of my friends who know where my interests truly lie.” His hand stops its caress and I can tell he’s remembering the past. “I was bored. There was something missing from the life I was leading, but I never understood what. Then my father told me I had to marry. So like any dutiful son, I did. Maria was beautiful and from a good family. If she was intelligent, kind or loving, I have no idea. I ignored her after our wedding day except for when I bedded her.”
Tension slowly tightens his muscles. I know thinking of his wife hurts him. I rub my hand over his stomach, trying to ease the pain with my touch. He relaxes a little.
“I got her with child quickly. As soon as I could after my first son was born, I planted my seed in her womb again. For once luck smiled on me and she gave me another son. Now I had the heir I needed to carry on the family line and another son in case something happened to the first. I was relieved because that meant I didn’t have to have anything to do with Maria anymore. I could allow her to do as she pleased as long as it didn’t interfere with my life.”
This time it is Greyson who climbs out of bed and paces around the room. I pile pillows behind me and lean against them while I watch him move.
“I listen to myself and think what a horrid selfish man I was back then. I didn’t care how it made Maria feel. I didn’t care if I was breaking her heart or not. As long as it didn’t disrupt my life, I was indifferent to her. I abandoned her in the country and made my way back to town as soon as I could.” He scrubs a hand over his face. “I know now that I broke her heart. She loved me, even though I had been indifferent to her from our first meeting. I never did anything intentionally cruel. In my eyes, leaving her in the country wasn’t cruel. I was a selfish arrogant bastard.”
I’m not sure what to say. I don’t know how to fix it. I know how being ignored by someone who should love you created the deepest wounds. A sob ripples the silence. I watch in horror as Greyson collapses to his knees and cries. Scrambling out of bed, I race to him. I drop to the floor next to him and for the first time in our relationship, I offer my shoulder for him to cry on. For this moment in time, I am the strong one who will help heal a small part of his wounded soul.
Darn Picture
Well..the picture I was going to post will have to be saved for another day. Ugh!Anyway, Saturday was a busy day. Had a memorial service to go to for a friend’s grandfather. Then an hour after I got home, C and I left to go out to dinner with some friends. Didn’t get back until late that night. Yesterday, the weather was too nice to stay inside. So I spent most of the day runinng errands and other things..just enjoying the weather.
Didn’t break 40k on Angel’s Seduction, but I’m close and it’ll be today or tomorrow. I’ve already written four or five scenes that I have to connect to the rest of the story, so that’ll take time. 🙂 To make sure everything works. Sad to say the end is in sight though. 🙁 Don’t worry though. I plan on getting your opinion on the next blog story I should write. So start thinking about what you’d like me to try my hand at.
Hope you have a great day.
Drive By Post
By the time most of you read this, I’ll have been up for hours and gone. Today’s a busy day. I just hope I get back earlier than I planned and be able to do some writing.
I didn’t get much writing done yesterday, but the day before I added another 1k or so to Angel’s Seduction, bringing my total to 39k (give or take a word or two). I think I’ll be able to definitely hit the 40k mark this weekend. My goal is to get to 42k by Sunday night. Yay!
Hope everyone has a great Saturday.
Angel’s Seduction-Part Twenty-Seven
Angel’s Seduction copyright (c) 2006 T.A. ChasePart Twenty-Seven:
Am I happy? It’s a strange question and I don’t think anyone ever cared to know if I was happy. Yet looking into Alice’s eyes, I can see that she is really interested in my answer.
I glance around the room, trying to see if I can find Greyson. He is leaving the room. Worry shoots through me, but I crush it. There is nothing that can happen to me here. People who are more Greyson’s friends than my father’s surround me. Also, I must learn how to deal with being by myself. The duke can’t live his life attached to me. I’ve proven I can be strong if I need to be.
“Angel?” Alice’s soft inquiry brings my attention back to her.
“I think I am. It’s hard to say. I’ve only been away from my father for a week or so. Can a life change that quickly? Is happiness that easy an emotion to gain?” I frown.
She stares at me for a moment and I wonder if maybe I should have just said yes. Then she nods.
“I know what you mean.” Her gesture includes all the people dancing around us. “I’m not sure I’m made to be a society queen. I don’t really fit in here.”
I laugh. “My dear lady, if you don’t fit in, then I have no chance to ever be a part of this strange world.”
Her laugh trickles from her lips and those around us turn to stare. Some of them smile and nod. Others frown as if there shouldn’t be any joy here. I shrug.
“Are you happy, my lady?” I twirl her around until we are close to the edge of the dancers, so when the music stops, I bow and offer her my arm.
Taking it, she tilts her head and stares off for a moment. I don’t say anything; just lead her towards a footman. The young man holds a tray of refreshments. I hand her one and she nods.
“Yes, I am. My father believed Harry would break my heart. I couldn’t convince him that Harry would rather die than hurt me.” Alice’s eyes gleam with love.
I understand what she’s saying. I think Greyson feels the same way. We continue to chat and mingle with her guests. Tension slowly disappears from my shoulders. My eyes no longer scan the crowd, searching for either my father or Greyson.
“How dare you?” A voice cuts through our conversation.
Alice and I turn to find my father standing behind us. Fear causes me to freeze. His eyes burn me and I feel the scars on my back tighten. I’ve faced his anger before and have paid for it with my blood. Alice’s fingers grip my arm and I’m brought back to the ballroom where my father is shouting at me.
“You dare to show your face at this young lady’s ball. You’re nothing but an embarrassment. Where is your lover, son?”
Before he can say the words, Alice steps in front of me. “Watch what you say, Lord Williamson. Angel is my friend. You are not.” She glances around and gestures to a footman. “Find my husband and bring him to me.”
Growling, Father reaches for her. I push my fear away. He mustn’t touch her. I know the pain his hands can inflict. I block his hand and insert myself between them. “Not here, Father. Please, not now.”
I’m not sure why I’m begging now when it has never worked before, but I don’t want Alice to be hurt or upset over the scene my father seems determined to create. He spits at me.
“Do you know what he is?” He swings his hand towards me.
I don’t move. Let him inflict the pain on me. I’m used to it. I refuse to allow him anywhere near Alice. The crack of his flesh meeting mine rings through the air. My head wants to whip back from the force of it, but I control it. I’ll not give him the satisfaction of seeing me wince.
“He is a friend, Williamson. I think you had better leave.” The Marquis of Beckenworth makes his way through the throng, followed by two large footmen.
A hand touches my back and I breathe in the familiar scent of my lover. He’s returned just when I need him the most.
Greyson doesn’t say anything. It is the Marquis who takes charge and orders the footmen to escort my father out. Father doesn’t fight them. He gives me a hate-filled stare.
“Some day you won’t be surrounded by these fake friends of yours. I’ll get you back,” he hisses before he turns around to leave.
The Marquis gestures and the musicians start playing. The guests pretend not to notice the four of us slipping away. When we get to an empty room, Greyson turns me to look at my cheek. I’m sure there’s a red handprint marring my skin, but it doesn’t bother me. I stare over his shoulder at Alice.
“I’m sorry to ruin your ball, my lady,” I apologize to her.
She laughs and shakes her head. “You didn’t ruin it, Angel. In fact, I’m sure it’ll be the most talked about ball of the Season. Besides, they all came here expecting something scandalous to happen any way.” She moves up to stand beside Greyson. “Are you all right?”
I nod. “He’s done worse to me.” I pull away from Greyson’s touch. “I think I’ll go home now.” I’m tired and my face hurts. I just want to crawl into bed, hiding under the covers and try not to think about my father.
“Of course. I’ll go order the carriage.” Greyson brushes a kiss over my mouth. He shakes Harry’s hand and hugs Alice.
There is a moment of silence after he leaves, then I ask Harry a question. “Why are you still his friend?”
The surprise on his face tells me he’s never considered turning his back on Greyson. “He’s been my best friend for years. He doesn’t flaunt his preferences, but even if he did, I’d stand by him.” Harry gives me a hard look. “Don’t hurt him, Angel. You’ve become his world and you have more power to destroy him than any other person.”
I nod, letting him know I heard the threat and I’ll remember. I take Alice’s hand to kiss it. She wraps her arms around me and gives me a hug. After hesitating, I hug her back. She kisses my cheek.
“Don’t be a stranger,” she whispers in my ear.
“I won’t. You should return to your guests. The carriage should be out front by now.”
We separate at the door. They head back to the ballroom. I exit the house to find Greyson standing by the carriage. He gestures for me to join him. I stare at him for a moment. In the flickering light of the street lamps, I see concern mixing with love in his eyes. I’m beginning to see what Harry meant. I have the power to hurt Greyson far more than he could ever hurt me. That thought makes me shiver and I run down the steps to him, knowing I would never chance breaking this man’s heart.
