Dark Deceptions: A Regency and Medieval Collection of Dark Romances(91)

Father.

“Your father is quite disappointed in you, my dear.”

Bitterness made her rash. “But then, have I ever really pleased my father?”

Jamie turned around to face her, though the desk remained a protective barrier between them. “Do you realize you’ve not yet asked what caused our anger?”

Georgina had a strong suspicion she didn’t need to hear the revelation. “Is it my dismal entrance into London Society?”

A sharp bark of laughter escaped him. His eyes, however, were dead of all emotion. He strolled out from behind the desk.

Georgina stole another glance over her shoulder.

“Don’t even think about it,” he commanded.

Her head shot around. “Think about what?”

She burrowed within the folds of her seat when Jamie flew across the room, closing the distance between them. He leaned forward, bracing his arms on either side of her seat. “Do you take me for a bloody fool?” he snapped.

Spit landed on her cheek and Georgina itched to wipe the filth away. “You’re not a fool, Jamie. A traitor and a cruel beast, but not a fool.”

Jamie’s face froze, but then, as though her words amused him, he smiled. “If you didn’t believe I was a fool, why would you run so quickly back to the Crown with the name I gave you?”

She started.

“Yes, my dear.” The words were hardly an endearment. “We gave you a false contact. Poor Ackerly was physically removed from his townhouse and thoroughly questioned.”

Georgina’s eyes went wide as the dawning horror settled in. “He isn’t a Republican.” Of course, they’d given her a false name to test her loyalty.

How could I have been so na?ve?

Jamie confirmed her worst fears. “That’s right.” He chuckled. “Though after the questioning he received, I’d imagine he isn’t too fond of the Crown.”

Georgina closed her eyes.

This is bad. This is very bad, indeed.

She had thought, at worst, mayhap Jamie had learned of her connection with the Duke of Aubrey, but she’d hoped he’d only been speaking on suspicion of guilt. The truth was a deal more troubling—they had trapped her in her duplicity.

“Hmm? Nothing to say?” Like the kitchen cat, his paw was out.

No. There is nothing to say.

He lowered his brow to hers, his breath brushed her nose.

She remained motionless and a pit settled in her stomach.

If he has lascivious intentions, there is no one to prevent Jamie from forcing himself on me. I would be helpless to stop him.

The hot, feral gleam in his eyes indicated that he had followed the exact direction of Georgina’s thoughts. He rubbed his thumb along her lower lip, his gaze dropping to study the plump flesh.

A whore’s mouth, her father used to say. Georgina had never known what her father had meant—until just now.

Jamie lowered his lips, and Georgina cringed, biting the inside of her cheek when suddenly he stopped.

“Do you know I would have given you everything and anything you ever desired, Georgina? Do you know I would have dressed you in the finest silks and satins, adorning you like a queen?” He cupped her jaw with one hand. “You’re no longer a stuttering child, afraid of her shadow.” His words sounded like a lover’s endearment.

Georgina broke contact with his heated gaze, lowering her eyes. “You know those things never mattered to me, Jamie,” she said with a trace of sadness and regret. “I just wanted to live a normal life.”

Please God, spare me his advances.

There was no God. Jamie took her lips in a hard, punishing kiss, his assault, a gross violation. Shivers of revulsion wracked her frame, and she pulled back, trying to dislodge him. Jamie wrapped a hand around her head, anchoring her in place, and Georgina could not fight him.

He wrenched his lips away from hers with enough force that she collapsed against the firm back of the sofa.

“Where is my father?” she asked, wishing for the first time that Father was near. She’d rather deal with his anger than Jamie’s vile touch.

Jamie blinked back the cloud of desire. “Have you missed us?”

“How could I not?” She threw the words mockingly at him. Jamie was more a child to Father than Georgina had ever been—or ever wanted to be. They were both sick and twisted in their machinations. “You’ve always been so very devoted and loving to me.”

“Finally, I hear the truth from your lips.”

Georgina gasped and shoved Jamie backward. Her gaze flew to the door. “Adam!”

He stood there, a towering golden god, more powerful than the avenging archangel Gabriel, a pistol trained on Jamie’s black-blooded heart.

Then Adam’s words registered.

And hope died in her breast.

*

Georgina clambered to her feet, taking a step toward him. “Adam!”

His gun didn’t waver from the man who’d held him captive, who’d beaten and bloodied him. He moved his gaze from Hunter to his wife, and for one endless moment, swore her eyes radiated love, joy in seeing him, and something odd—relief.

Adam tightened his grip on the pistol to keep from tossing her over his shoulder and storming off like a conquering lord from long ago. The male part of him, blinded by hot jealousy, said be damned with how Georgina felt about Jamie. It mattered not at all when faced with his hungering love for her.