Devil Disguised
By
Karolyn
Howard
Release Date: May 23, 2014
Release Date: May 23, 2014
An arm was raised near him and he reached for the arm
as he spun and pushed the intruder into the wall. He heard a gasp as he shoved
the intruder into the wall and pressed his body forward holding the arm above
him. His body shifted against surprisingly feminine curves. Shifting, he looked
down to see Lily's eyes widen in fear as he held her arm above her head and the
dagger at her throat.
He stepped away immediately. "Lily! What the hell
are you doing?"
She looked down and replied, "I heard a
noise."
"You should have woken me and not come down here
by yourself," he whispered harshly.
Even in the dim moonlight he could feel her penetrating
stare. She shifted the candlestick she carried and placed it under her arm as
she rubbed the wrist that he had just held.
"I wanted to be certain someone was there before I
alerted anyone. A strange noise should not instantly cause alarm," she
scoffed.
"Did I hurt you?" Duncan asked as he watched
her continue to rub her wrist.
She shook her head and looked away from him again, as
if embarrassed. Duncan's eyes adjusted to the dim light and he looked over her
to make sure she was uninjured. He gaped. She wore a white nightgown, but her
entire form was visible through the nearly transparent material. The perfection
of her form did not surprise him, but seeing her nipples harden and the dark
triangle between her legs was about to undo him. She was an angel who could
tempt the devil himself.
He gently placed his hand on her shoulder and said,
"Stay here."
His voice sounded much harsher than he intended, but he
watched Lily shake her head.
"No. I will be safer with you."
Duncan opened his mouth to protest, but his stomach
tightened at the confidence of her words.
"Fine. Stay behind me and try to be quiet."
He moved forward and then reached behind him as he felt
her delicate hand move into his. Staying close to the wall, they moved together
towards the kitchen. They went behind a wall near the library and he saw
someone moving towards them. He put his finger to his lips to signal Lily to be
silent as he crotched down and then leapt on the person, slamming them down on
the ground.
The man cried out, "Villain!"
Then the man swung and struck Duncan on the side of the
face.
His cheek stung as he recognized his butler's voice.
"Simon, you fool, it's me!"
"Oh, my lord! Beg your pardon, sir!"
Duncan moved off Simon and they stood up together.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Simon replied, "I heard a noise and came to
investigate."
"So did I. What did you find?"
"Nothing, but the back door was open and I am
certain it was closed before. I was going to search the grounds when I heard
another noise in the hallway, which I assume now, was you."
Duncan nodded as he saw Simon gape as he turned towards
Lily. "My lady!"
If Duncan had a coat he would have taken it off and
thrown it over her. Simon looked at Duncan obviously at a loss for further
words and then removed his robe. Handing the robe to Lily, he said,
"Please, for you."
Taking the robe from his butler, she blushed and said,
"Thank you."
Duncan said, "Simon, check the grounds. I will
take Lady Montgomery back up to her room and I will check on Eleanor."
Simon nodded and walked away from them. Duncan turned
and looked at Lily. "We should go."
She shook her head. "Wait."
"Must you always challenge me," he asked
harshly.
"I just think you need some ice for your
cheek."
She gently touched his face where Simon had struck him and then pulled her hand back swiftly as if she touched fire. Glancing over him, she appeared uneasy before she stepped back.
She gently touched his face where Simon had struck him and then pulled her hand back swiftly as if she touched fire. Glancing over him, she appeared uneasy before she stepped back.
He took a deep breath and said, "I will take care
of it later, but I appreciate your concern."
Duncan took her elbow to lead her upstairs. As much as
he would enjoy her administrations, he needed to get her as far away from him
as possible. He opened her door and did a quick check of her bedroom. Satisfied
no one was in the room, he stopped in the doorway as he felt her hand gently
touch his arm. She whispered, "Thank you."
Turning to face her, he sighed before he said, "If
you hear a noise in the future, please wake me or one of the staff." He
stepped back slightly into the hallway. "Also, Lily, please remember to
wear a robe if you venture out in the middle of the night."
She narrowed her eyes as she placed one fist on her
hip. "Certainly, as long as you remember to wear a shirt!"
She glared at him just before she slammed the door in
his face.
Karolyn Howard resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her
husband and their two canine companions. An avid reader of romance novels, she
enjoys diving into the past with the creation of her own characters and
stories. The Regency Period, with the handsome lords and beautiful ladies
continues to beckon. Devil Disguised is her second novel. Her first novel, A
Lady's Choice is also available. Other stories are in the works, including a
sequel to Devil Disguised. When Karolyn is taken away from her writing it is
usually by a television show involving a vampire or by a show involving someone
known only as "The Doctor". Between working full-time and writing,
she spends some of her time volunteering at a local animal shelter.
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