Exposed: Laid Bare (Laid Bare #1)(4)

“I bet,” I murmured under my breath as I gathered up my camera cases. When I got out of the car my body began to shiver.

Noting the setting, low-in-the-sky winter sun, and in an awkward attempt to make conversation, I remarked, “Wow, the days sure are short this time of year, aren’t they?”

The valet nodded. “Yes, miss, indeed they are.” He then slid into the driver’s seat of my car, and continued, “Mr. Chambers is waiting inside for you. He requested that you proceed to the front door and knock once.”

I supposed that was my cue to go, so I gave the valet a small wave, hoisted my camera bags high on my shoulder, and walked away.

The wind roared and the trees creaked as I hurried across the driveway to the wide concrete steps leading up to the mansion. With a sudden, inexplicable chill that came from within, I reached the base of the steps and peered upward.

With trepidation, I started my ascent, and with every step I took it seemed the air grew colder and colder. The winds got in on the act, too, roaring and whistling through the bare trees. By the time I reached the massive, dark wood double doors at the top of the steps, my teeth were chattering.

“Shit, I’m freezing,” I bit out.

Tugging at the lapels of my heavy woolen coat made not a bit of difference, so I resorted to wrapping my arms around myself and bouncing up and down on my toes. The camera bags tapped at my right hip over and over, not unlike a nudging warning to flee.

But something made me stay, some inexplicable feeling.

I had on sexy, high-heeled black boots and a thin wrap dress in a festive holiday green that matched my eyes. The boots were okay, but the silky fabric of the dress was doing nothing to keep the icy air from nipping at my bare skin beneath. I’d foregone undergarments for this visit, which was very unlike me, and that omission was currently contributing to my freezing my ass off.

“What were you thinking?” I asked myself.

But I knew the answer—I wanted to feel sexy. Though, now, I couldn’t for the life of me remember why. Perhaps my choice of attire was due to my reaction as I’d continued to research Lucien. Not being able to find much on the man made him mysterious and appealing. Not to mention, his great looks were a heady turn-on, even for a virginal girl like me.

I stared at the heavy iron knockers—roaring lion’s heads on each of the two doors—for what felt like an eternity. I supposed I was mesmerized by their strangeness. In fact, the whole place was kind of strange. Valets appearing out of thin air, plummeting temperatures, howling winds. And now the lion-head door knockers were appearing almost life-like, which was ridiculous since they were made of iron. So why, then, did it feel as if their eyes were watching me, assessing me?

“You are losing it,” I muttered to myself.

And that was the point where I began questioning the wisdom of coming to this house alone. Something felt off. The icy wind that continued to whip around me did nothing to soothe these unsettled feelings. But, for whatever reason, I also felt compelled to stay, to see how this evening with Lucien might play out.

“Be brave,” I whispered for encouragement as I reached for the iron ring attached to the lion-head on the right.

And then, suddenly, when my fingers wrapped around the iron knocker, I felt inexplicably soothed.

“This place is bizarre,” I said out loud as I commenced knocking.

Several minutes passed, and within that time, everything grew quiet. The property was secluded, yes, but even the branches on the acres and acres of surrounding trees seemed to stop creaking. They had been so loud earlier, as had the now-quieted whipping wind.

Maybe I should go…

But just as I was about to turn tail and leave, Lucien Chambers opened the door. “Miss Vaughn.” He had the slightest British accent. “Please do come in.”

He smiled at me, and he looked so amazing, so appealing. I couldn’t even move a muscle at first. I stood there and stared, taking in his casual attire of dark pants and a cream-colored, cashmere sweater, which contrasted beautifully with his coal black hair.

Interestingly, I noticed Lucien had on no shoes or socks. Even so, he seemed not one bit bothered by the cold.

But I spent no time dwelling on those oddities. Instead, I concentrated on Lucien’s wide shoulders, the breadth of his chest, and the appealing way his torso tapered at his waist. His sweater looked so soft against his hard frame, and I longed to reach out and touch him, to feel how the softness of the sweater contrasted with Lucien’s hard-looking chest.

Of course, I refrained from making any such bold move. Even so, when I peered up at Lucien from beneath my lashes, it was as if he knew what I was thinking.

The side of his luscious mouth curved up into a knowing smile, and I became flustered, my gaze skittering away.

God, he is angelically beautiful, I thought.

But devilishly onto you, I reluctantly added.

I questioned whether Lucien was really human, seeing into my head as I knew he was. But then I thought, How ridiculous.

“Something wrong, Miss Vaughn,” Lucien asked, his dark, penetrating eyes assessing me for my reaction when I glanced up.

“No, nothing is wrong,” I squeaked. Clearing my throat, I added in what I hoped was a more level voice, “I was just thinking we should get started with the session. It’s getting late.”

“Of course, Miss Vaughn. Your wish is my command.” Smirking, he stepped aside and motioned for me to come in.