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Synopsis
Can a Flame from the Past be Rekindled? Long ago, Sophie Lawrance chose prudence over passion, rejecting a rebellious young rogue for the sake of her family-no matter the ache it left in her heart. But after a specter from her father's past resurfaces, threatening to destroy all she holds dear, the desperate beauty knows there is only one man whose shadowy skills can save her. Or Is It Too Dangerous to Play with Fire? Cameron Daggett is a man of many secrets . . . and many sins. He's never forgotten the pain of losing Sophie. But now, with a chance to win her back, Cameron sets aside his anger and agrees to help Sophie save her father's honor. Together they embark on a perilous masquerade, leading them to a remote country estate near the sea. There, they must battle a cunning adversary-and their own burning desires. Will they be consumed by the flames? Or can they prove that true love conquers all?
Release date: November 20, 2012
Publisher: Forever
Print pages: 384
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Too Dangerous to Desire
Cara Elliott
“Elliott provides readers with a treat to savor in this fun, sexy, delicious tale. With smart, sassy characters, a charming plot and an erotic bad boy/good girl duo, this fast-paced story will keep readers’ attention.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Nothing is more sensuous than a delicious meal, and Cara Elliott’s food-inspired sex scenes are, quite literally, Too Tempting to Resist…likeable characters, a fast-moving plot, and unique, engaging sex scenes that are deliciously tempting.”
—HeroesandHeartbreakers.com
“Haddan and Eliza’s charming wit and banter will absolutely capture the reader from their first meeting…Haddan is the type of historical hero that women fantasize about…[It] can easily be read as a stand-alone, though most readers will want to rush out and find a copy of the first book to get more of Cara Elliott’s Hellhounds. A real page-turner, readers will not be able to put this book down.”
—RomRevToday.com
“Cara Elliott is the master of writing a breathtaking and romantic book built around an exciting, engrossing story of suspense and intrigue. I believe she is truly one of a kind in bringing all the pieces and characters to a fulfilling conclusion yet always leaving the reader begging for the next book.”
—TheReadingReviewer.com
“Elliott packs the first Lords of Midnight Regency romance with plenty of steamy sex and sly innuendo…As Alexa and Connor flee London to escape vengeful criminals, their mutual attraction sizzles beneath delightful banter. Regency fans will especially appreciate the authentic feel of the historical setting.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A surprisingly resourceful heroine and a sinfully sexy hero, a compelling and danger-spiced plot, lushly sensual love scenes, and lively writing work together perfectly to get Elliott’s new Regency-set Lords of Midnight series off to a delightfully entertaining start.”
—Booklist
“The Lords of Midnight, all sexy and dangerous men, are introduced in this series starter. The romance, adventure, and sensuality readers expect from Elliott are here, along with an unforgettable hoyden heroine and an enigmatic hero. She takes them on a marvelous ride from gambling hells to ballrooms, country estates, and London’s underworld.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A very entertaining tale…Well-drawn characters, an interesting plot, and plenty of passion kept the pages turning. Alexa and Connor are worthy opponents and even more worthy partners as they try to unravel the mystery at the Wolf’s Lair. Excellent and well rounded secondary characters, both friend and foe, make for a superb tale.”
—RomRevRoday.com
“Filled with suspense and passion. The mystery is delivered wonderfully and will have you guessing up to the big reveal…hilarious and downright charming…The romance element will have the reader on the edge of their seat…The mental tennis match heightens the all too present romantic chemistry to the point that it seems to jump off the page…If Too Wicked to Wed is an example of what we are to expect, this will be a series loved by many!”
—FreshFiction.com
“I really enjoyed Cara Elliott’s writing. She hooked me from the start…kept me glued to the pages…an incredibly sexy and romantic read…I would read more by Cara Elliott based on this novel. I look forward to reading the next installment of The Lords of Midnight series.”
—TheSeasonforRomance.com
“From the first page of this sequel…Elliott sweeps her readers up in a scintillating and sexy romance.”
—Publishers Weekly
“An engaging cast of characters…Readers who thrive on empowered women, sexy and dangerous men, and their wild adventures will savor Elliott’s latest.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Elliott expertly sifts a generous measure of dangerous intrigue into the plot of her latest impeccably crafted Regency historical, which should prove all too tempting to readers with a craving for deliciously clever, wickedly sexy romances.”
—Booklist
“An exhilarating historical romance…a fast-paced tale…readers will enjoy dancing at this waltz.”
—Midwest Book Review
“4 stars! Elliott’s ability to merge adventure, romance, and an intriguing historical backdrop will captivate her readers and earn their accolades.”
—RT Book Reviews
“With mystery, intrigue, laughter, and hot, steamy passion…what more could any reader want?”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“Another fantastic read from Cara Elliott. Can’t wait until the next book.”
—SingleTitles.com
“HOT…Charming characters demonstrate her strong storytelling gift.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Has everything a reader could desire: adventure, humor, mystery, romance, and a very naughty rake. I was absorbed from the first page and entertained throughout the story. A warning to readers: If you have anything on your schedule for the day, clear it. You won’t be able to put To Sin with a Scoundrel down once you start reading.”
—SingleTitles.com
“Steamy…intriguing.”
—Publishers Weekly
Prologue
The voice stirred a myriad of memories…None of them good.
Soft and sensuous as summer sunlight, it tickled around his head, a tantalizing whisper, wrapping his brain in a seductive swirl of honeyed heat and gold-kissed sweetness.
Another word floated through the half-open door and suddenly the sensations were like a serpent, trailing a sensuous slither over bare flesh, only to strike with diamond-bright fangs.
Oh yes, he knew that voice—and it was poison to his peace of mind.
And yet Cameron Daggett couldn’t help edging a little closer to the shadowed portal and cocking an ear to listen.
He had only entered the building moments ago, and as he was one of the few people allowed to use the owner’s private entrance, no one was yet aware of his arrival. Peering through the sliver of space, he could just make out the two figures standing in the smoky half-light of the corridor wall sconces. The oil flames were kept deliberately low—the regular patrons of the establishment preferred to come and go discreetly. However, as the whisper had warned, the flickers of gold-lapped light showed the pair paused in deep conversation were women. One of them was the familiar form of Sara Hawkins, the owner of The Wolf’s Lair. And the other was…
“This is highly irregular, Miss Lawrance,” said Sara in a low, taut murmur. “As a rule, I don’t allow wives or sisters or others of our sex to intrude on the gentlemen who patronize this place. It’s bad for business, if ye take my meaning. They expect discretion and privacy.”
“I understand,” replied the Voice from the Past.
No, he had not been mistaken. Cameron tried to draw a breath, but his lungs felt filled with lead. It was Sophie.
“Truly I do,” went on Miss Sophie Lawrance. “And if it were not a matter of the utmost urgency, I would not dream of making such an irregular request. But the truth is…I am rather desperate.”
Desperate? He knew that he shouldn’t give a damn, and yet Cameron held himself very still, intent on hearing more.
“Yes, I can see that,” said Sara, heaving a reluctant sigh. A pause hung for a moment in the gloom. “And so I will make a rare exception. Wait in there.” She indicated a small side parlor. “I will fetch the gentleman. But I must ask ye to be quick—and fer God’s sake, ye must be quiet as well. No tears, no shrieks, no gnashing of teeth, else I will have to ask the porter to remove ye from the premises.”
“I will not make a scene,” promised Sophie, her earnest whisper coiling and clutching at his thumping heart.
“And when ye are finished, ye must leave with all possible haste,” added Sara. “Nothing personal, Miss, but the sooner ye are gone from here, the better.”
Cameron’s own inner voice of Self-Preservation shouted a similar warning. Turn and run like the Devil. And don’t look back.
After all, he had long ago mastered the art of staying one step ahead of personal demons—not to speak of more mundane threats like bailiffs and Bow Street Runners.
And yet…
And yet, at this moment Cameron found himself incapable of listening to reason. Instead of retreating, he slipped into one of the secret passageways used by the staff and waited for Sara to return with the man Sophie sought.
Low voices. A door opening and closing. The click of Sara’s heeled shoes as she returned to her private office.
Moving silently as a stalking panther, Cameron darted out of his hiding place and approached the parlor.
What reason, he wondered, had brought saintly Sophie Lawrance to one of London’s most notorious dens of iniquity? Set deep in the dangerous slums of Southwark, The Wolf’s Lair was a high-stakes gaming house and brothel that catered to rakehells and rogues who played fast and loose with the rules of Society.
And why, after all these years, should he care?
Because I am a god-benighted fool, thought Cameron with a shiver of self-loathing.
The door was shut tightly with the lock engaged. Drawing a thin shaft of steel from his boot, Cameron expertly eased the latch open. A touch of his gloved fingertips coaxed the paneled wood to shift just a fraction.
Sophie was heavily veiled, the dark mesh muffling her already low whisper. Her companion was speaking in equally low tones, making it impossible to hear their words. However, he saw a small package change hands.
The gentleman let out a low brandy-fuzzed laugh as he tucked it into his pocket.
Sliding back into hiding, Cameron watched Sophie hurry away down the corridor, her indigo cloak skirling with the shadows, until she was swallowed in the darkness. A moment later, the gentleman emerged from the parlor, still chuckling softly. He turned for the gaming rooms, a flicker of lamplight catching the curl of his mouth and the slight swaying of his steps.
Cameron recognized him as Lord Dudley, a dissolute viscount with an appetite for reckless pleasures.
Dudley and Sophie? An odd couple, if ever there was one. The Sophie Lawrance he knew was anything but reckless. She was sensible—too damnably sensible to ever throw caution to the wind.
But people change, thought Cameron sardonically. He had only to look at himself—there wasn’t the least resemblance between his present persona and the callow youth of…
Shaking off mordant memories, he followed Dudley into the card room. Timing his steps perfectly, he brushed by the viscount just as he started to sit down at one of the tables.
“Join us for a hand, Daggett?” called one of the other players.
“Not tonight,” answered Cameron. “I’ve an assignation with an old friend.”
The man leered. “A lady friend?”
“Pray tell, who?” chorused the man’s cronies.
“Gentlemanly honor compels Daggett to remain silent on that question,” pointed out the half-soused baronet who was shuffling the cards.
Smiling, Cameron inclined a mocking bow and sauntered away, Sophie’s package now firmly tucked away in his pocket.
Luckily for me, I’ve never claimed to have any pretensions to honor.
Drawing in a great lungful of the chill night air, Sophie Lawrance forced herself to choke back the urge to retch.
Steady, steady. She couldn’t falter now—she must ignore the sickening smells, the sordid encounter.
And yet, the bitter taste of bile rose again in her throat, and she felt the oozy ground beneath her feet begin to sway.
Breathe. She would not—could not—give in to fear. Predators pounced on any show of weakness, and this godforsaken slum was perhaps the most savage spot in all of England.
“Allow me to be of assistance.” A hand suddenly gripped her arm to keep her upright and a snowy white handkerchief, scented with a pleasant tang of citrus and spice, fluttered in front of her veiled face.
Her first impulse was to scream and try to flee. But something about his light touch and calming voice held her in thrall.
“You appear to be in some distress.”
“I…I…” Her stomach gave another little lurch. “I thank you, sir.” Swallowing her pride, Sophie took the silk square from the shadowy stranger and held it close to her nose. Oddly enough, the fragrance seemed to calm the churning of her insides. She inhaled several slow, deep breaths, savoring the richly nuanced scent.
“Better?” he asked.
“Much.” Now that her head had cleared, Sophie was eager to escape the dark, filth-strewn alley and the horrid nightmare of the evening. “A momentary indisposition, that is all.” She shrugged off his hold and held out the handkerchief. “It has passed.”
The stranger made no effort to take it back. “You had better keep it if you mean to wander around this neighborhood.” The alley was dark, with only an intermittent wink of starlight penetrating through the clouds, so for the moment she had only a dim impression of his person. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Strong hands, surprisingly gentle and warm.
His voice, however, was coolly cynical. “Though I would recommend a more effective implement of protection if you mean to enter places like The Wolf’s Lair. Say, a pistol or a knife. A lady’s virtue won’t last long without such a weapon.” A pause, and then his voice turned even more sardonic. “But perhaps your intentions aren’t virtuous.”
“I—I assure you, sir,” said Sophie tightly. “I am not in the habit of coming to…depraved places like this.”
“Oh?” Skepticism shaded his voice. “Then what brings you here tonight, if not a craving for danger?”
“That, sir, is none of your business.” Lifting her chin, she ventured a look at him, trying to make out some identifying feature. Do I know you? It was absurd, of course, but something felt hauntingly familiar about him…
However, the stranger had his hat pulled low, the wide brim shading his face. In the swirl of murky shadows, Sophie could make out naught but the vague shapes of a straight nose, a sensual mouth. The only clearcut view was of long, raven-dark hair and the rakish glimmer of a gold earring.
Danger. His last word seemed a deliberately tickling, taunting challenge. Sophie sucked in her breath, suddenly aware of a strange prickling taking hold of her body, as if daggerpoints were dancing over every inch of her flesh. “In another few minutes I shall be safe from danger. That is…” Another glance at the earring. “…unless I’ve had the misfortune to cross paths with a pirate,” she said, trying to mask her emotions by matching his cynical tone.
A smile curled on the corners of his mouth, half mocking, half…
Sophie couldn’t put a name to the flicker of emotion. It was gone in the blink of the eye, so perhaps she had merely imagined it.
“A pirate?” he repeated, making her feel slightly absurd. Like a silly schoolgirl who swooned over novels of swashbuckling heroes rescuing damsels in distress. His voice then took on a sharper edge. “Isn’t that just a romantic name for a ruthless cutthroat and a conniving thief?”
Sophie swallowed hard, feeling a shiver skate down her spine. “Who are you, sir?” she demanded.
“Why do you ask?” he countered. “Do you think we might be acquainted?” The question quivered for a moment in the chill night air. “Old friends, perhaps?”
“Impossible,” she whispered. “I can’t imagine that we move in the same worlds.” Her dizziness seemed to have returned, and with a vengeance. Off-kilter, she found herself adding, “And yet you…you remind me of someone I once knew long, long ago.”
“You speak of him as if he is dead.” Without waiting for her to answer, he gave a strange laugh. “Perhaps I’m his ghost.”
Sophie wondered whether he was drunk. Or demented.
Inching back a step she looked around for the alleyway leading out to the street where her hackney was waiting.
“You want a name, Madam or Miss Whoever-You-Are?” he continued. “My two friends and I are called the Hellhounds.” He let out a low, sarcastic bark. “I’m known as the Sleuth Hound as I have a nose for sniffing out trouble.”
“I am surprised that you admit to such a beastly moniker,” she replied slowly.
“I make no bones about what I am,” he said softly. “What about you?” His head tilted down and then up, his unseen eyes leaving a trail of heat along her length. “Your manner of dress says you are a respectable country lady. But the fact that you are here, visiting a house of ill repute in the stews of Southwark, conveys an entirely different message.”
She felt her cheeks grow hot beneath the gauzy veil. That he was right only fanned the flames. “You are impertinent, sir.”
“No, I am observant.” A pause. “More so than you think. Indeed, from what I’ve seen, I would say you are playing a very dangerous game. Have a care, for in dealing with those who frequent The Wolf’s Lair, you are going up against the most ruthless men in London.”
“Including you?” challenged Sophie, though her heart was pounding hard enough to crack a rib.
“Oh, I’m among the very worst of the lot.”
“I must be going.” Slipping past him, Sophie hurried toward the narrow gap between the ramshackle buildings.
But to her dismay, the Pirate moved along with her. “Allow me to see you to your vehicle. It isn’t safe to walk through these alleys alone.”
“You needn’t bother.” She flinched slightly at the sound of scrabbling claws somewhere close by. “I—I will take my chances.”
“I think you have gambled enough for one evening,” he drawled. “Besides, I’d be willing to wager that you wouldn’t care to put your foot where you are about to step.”
She stopped short, as a horribly foul odor assaulted her nose.
“Nasty, isn’t it?” he murmured.
“I—”
His hands were suddenly around her waist, lifting her into his arms as if she were light as a feather. Beneath the folds of wool she was intimately aware of the lean, lithe flex of muscle.
Oh, what madness has taken hold of me?
Her wits were spinning and skittering topsy-turvy. How else to explain why the moment felt so hauntingly familiar? So achingly comforting.
Madness, she repeated to herself. The meeting with Lord Dudley ought to be reminder enough that youth and innocence were long gone. Only a fool yearned to reach back and recapture the past.
Fisting her fingers, Sophie tried to squirm free. “Please, put me down, sir!”
“As you wish.” Her half boots hit the ground with a soft squish. “We have passed through the worst. It’s just a little farther to where the hired carriages wait. You will soon be back to the respectable part of the Town.”
Slipping, sliding, Sophie hurried awkwardly toward the weak glimmer of oily light up ahead. The Pirate glided alongside her with a smooth, silent step.
Spotting her hackney parked at the near corner of the rough-cobbled square, she skirted around the snorting horse and quickly unlatched the door.
“Thank you. Though you need not have troubled yourself…” A gust of wind swirled over the stones, catching at her cloak and lifting the thin scrim of her veil just as she turned to take her leave.
“No trouble at all,” replied the Pirate. He had moved close to help her climb up the iron rungs, and now their faces were but a hairsbreadth apart. “Indeed, I did warn you that I have a nose for trouble.”
And a mouth for sin.
For suddenly his lips possessed hers in a swift, searing kiss.
It was over in an instant. He pulled back, so quickly that she was sure the glimmer of green eyes must have been only a figment of her heated imagination.
“Fie, sir! N-no gentleman—”
Her stammering protest was stilled by a rumbled laugh. A pirate laugh, redolent with hints of hellfire dangers and storm-tossed seas.
“Ah, but whoever said that I was a gentleman?”
Chapter One
Lud, what a night.” Sara looked up from her ledgers and blew out a harried sigh.
“That has a rather ominous ring to it.” Cameron waited a moment, shoulder slouched against the shadowed door molding, before uncrossing his arms and entering her private office. “What’s the trouble?”
Her face screwed into a pained grimace. “To begin with, Machrie and Frampton came to blows over politics at the faro table and I had to have Rufus toss them out—a great pity for my profits as they were losing heavily.”
“You should simply have sent Maggie to take McTavish’s place as the dealer,” he replied, moving to the sideboard and pouring himself a drink from one of the cut glass decanters. “All conflict over Whig and Tory agendas would quickly have been forgotten—they both are easily distracted by voluptuous breasts.”
“I shall remember that for the future.” Another sigh. “And speaking of profits, you’ve chosen to tipple on my most expensive brandy.”
“Isn’t my company worth any price?” quipped Cameron, pouring her a measure of sherry and carrying it to the table.
Sara laughed. “Well, I confess that things have been awfully quiet here, what with the other two Hellhounds rusticating in the country.”
Polite Society viewed Cameron and his friends Lord Killingworth and Lord Haddan as dangerous, devil-may-care gentlemen. An outraged matron had coined the moniker and it had stuck—mostly because the trio had encouraged the wild rumors that swirled through the drawing rooms regarding their exploits. In truth, the accounts were much exaggerated, but each of them took pains to encourage the gossip, as the innuendo helped deflect scrutiny from their personal, private secrets.
“Ain’t it sweet to think of them living in conjugal bliss,” continued Sara, her mouth quirking to a dreamy smile. “Who would have predicted we’d see not one, but two weddings within the last six months.”
Cameron fluttered a hand in a faintly rude gesture. “Well, don’t expect a third paw to be caught in the parson’s mousetrap anytime soon.”
“Don’t ye believe in romance?” she demanded.
“My dear Sara, you may be assured that I haven’t a romantic bone in my body.” He drained the brandy in one long swallow and set it aside. Plucking the small package from his pocket he began untying the strings. “As for light fingers, that’s an entirely different matter.”
She snorted into her sherry. “Don’t ye ever worry about Bow Street Runners?”
“Good God, those plodding oafs?” The knots unraveled, and the wrappings loosened. “If I can’t stay several steps ahead of their hob-nailed pursuit I deserve to end my days in Newgate prison.”
“I hope yer feet stay as light as yer fingers. I’d miss yer company.”
“I’m exceedingly…” His words trailed off as the inner paper fell away, revealing a pair of teardrop-shaped pearl earrings. The settings were a classically simple design made of flame-kissed gold, each one highlighted by a faceted emerald. They were elegant, understated—and undeniably familiar.
His throat tightened. The jewelry had belonged to Sophie’s mother, and was the one possession of any value that had been passed down to her eldest daughter.
Lost in a frown, Cameron continued to stare in mute consternation. He knew that for Sophie, the sentimental value of the earrings had always been worth far more than money. He couldn’t imagine her ever parting with them willingly. This meant…
Trouble, hissed the most vociferous of his Inner Demons. But that’s no surprise—Sophie Lawrance has always been Trouble.
Curious, Sara rose and came over to see what had silenced their bantering. “Oooo, ain’t they nice.” Lamplight dipped and danced over the perfectly matched pearls. Slanting a sidelong look at his expression, she hesitated and then added, “What? Decided ye don’t like them?”
He slowly turned the earrings over in his palm, setting off a winking of dark and light sparks as the jewels caught the light from a nearby candle. They sparkled with an unusual smoky green color, just as he remembered them.
“Actually they’re a good match for yer eyes,” said Sara appraisingly. “Why don’t ye keep the pair fer yourself rather than sell them to a flash house?”
Cameron roused himself to speech. “I only have one pierced ear, and two would be rather de trop, even for me.” He slowly closed his fingers around the earrings. The pearls were cool to the touch and yet they burned like hellfire against his flesh.
Don’t, he told himself. Don’t stir up embers from the past.
“Well, if they are for sale, maybe I’ll consider buying them. I don’t much care for flashy baubles, but those have a rare inner fire.”
“I haven’t decided.” He began rewrapping the jewels. “Kindly pour me another drink. This one you may put on my account.”
“Not that ye ever pay it.” Sara huffed out an aggrieved sigh but picked up his empty glass and moved to the sideboard.
Muted clinking punctuated a papery whisper as Cameron slowly unfolded the note that had been tucked in with the earrings. There were only a few lines, lettered in Sophie’s neat script. He read them over several times, and felt a pensive frown pull at his mouth. The message itself made little sense, but the tone was clear enough.
Something havey-cavey was afoot.
Which is all the more reason to run like the Devil, jeered the Inner Demon. Sophie Lawrance chose to turn her back and walk away from you years ago. Whatever Trouble she is in, it’s none of your concern.
Shifting his stance on the carpet, Cameron told himself the Demon was right. It would be foolish to stray from his chosen path. He had taught himself to be a solitary, stalking predator—a hardbitten Hellhound who cared for naught but his own survival. Through bitter experience, he had learned how to outrun the past, moving swiftly and leaving only a quicksilver blur of shadows.
So yes, I should run like the Devil. I’ve come too far to stumble now.
Fisting the paper, Cameron shoved it back in his pocket.
“Here ye go. But the next time, yer getting cheap claret.” Sara paused, drink in hand, and cocked an ear as the echo of an outraged shout drifted down from the gaming rooms. It was followed a moment later by the pelter of hurried footsteps in the corridor.
“Sorry te disturb ye, Miss Sara.” Rufus, the big mulatto head porter, stuck his dark head through the doorway. “But Lord Dudley is cutting up something fierce.” A flicker of his chocolate brown gaze was the only acknowledgment of Cameron’s presence. “He claims someone stole a package of valuables from his pocket.”
She swore. “I’ll come sort him out. The pompous prig probably dropped it at one of his many other haunts.” Her harried si. . .
—RT Book Reviews
“Nothing is more sensuous than a delicious meal, and Cara Elliott’s food-inspired sex scenes are, quite literally, Too Tempting to Resist…likeable characters, a fast-moving plot, and unique, engaging sex scenes that are deliciously tempting.”
—HeroesandHeartbreakers.com
“Haddan and Eliza’s charming wit and banter will absolutely capture the reader from their first meeting…Haddan is the type of historical hero that women fantasize about…[It] can easily be read as a stand-alone, though most readers will want to rush out and find a copy of the first book to get more of Cara Elliott’s Hellhounds. A real page-turner, readers will not be able to put this book down.”
—RomRevToday.com
“Cara Elliott is the master of writing a breathtaking and romantic book built around an exciting, engrossing story of suspense and intrigue. I believe she is truly one of a kind in bringing all the pieces and characters to a fulfilling conclusion yet always leaving the reader begging for the next book.”
—TheReadingReviewer.com
“Elliott packs the first Lords of Midnight Regency romance with plenty of steamy sex and sly innuendo…As Alexa and Connor flee London to escape vengeful criminals, their mutual attraction sizzles beneath delightful banter. Regency fans will especially appreciate the authentic feel of the historical setting.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A surprisingly resourceful heroine and a sinfully sexy hero, a compelling and danger-spiced plot, lushly sensual love scenes, and lively writing work together perfectly to get Elliott’s new Regency-set Lords of Midnight series off to a delightfully entertaining start.”
—Booklist
“The Lords of Midnight, all sexy and dangerous men, are introduced in this series starter. The romance, adventure, and sensuality readers expect from Elliott are here, along with an unforgettable hoyden heroine and an enigmatic hero. She takes them on a marvelous ride from gambling hells to ballrooms, country estates, and London’s underworld.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A very entertaining tale…Well-drawn characters, an interesting plot, and plenty of passion kept the pages turning. Alexa and Connor are worthy opponents and even more worthy partners as they try to unravel the mystery at the Wolf’s Lair. Excellent and well rounded secondary characters, both friend and foe, make for a superb tale.”
—RomRevRoday.com
“Filled with suspense and passion. The mystery is delivered wonderfully and will have you guessing up to the big reveal…hilarious and downright charming…The romance element will have the reader on the edge of their seat…The mental tennis match heightens the all too present romantic chemistry to the point that it seems to jump off the page…If Too Wicked to Wed is an example of what we are to expect, this will be a series loved by many!”
—FreshFiction.com
“I really enjoyed Cara Elliott’s writing. She hooked me from the start…kept me glued to the pages…an incredibly sexy and romantic read…I would read more by Cara Elliott based on this novel. I look forward to reading the next installment of The Lords of Midnight series.”
—TheSeasonforRomance.com
“From the first page of this sequel…Elliott sweeps her readers up in a scintillating and sexy romance.”
—Publishers Weekly
“An engaging cast of characters…Readers who thrive on empowered women, sexy and dangerous men, and their wild adventures will savor Elliott’s latest.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Elliott expertly sifts a generous measure of dangerous intrigue into the plot of her latest impeccably crafted Regency historical, which should prove all too tempting to readers with a craving for deliciously clever, wickedly sexy romances.”
—Booklist
“An exhilarating historical romance…a fast-paced tale…readers will enjoy dancing at this waltz.”
—Midwest Book Review
“4 stars! Elliott’s ability to merge adventure, romance, and an intriguing historical backdrop will captivate her readers and earn their accolades.”
—RT Book Reviews
“With mystery, intrigue, laughter, and hot, steamy passion…what more could any reader want?”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“Another fantastic read from Cara Elliott. Can’t wait until the next book.”
—SingleTitles.com
“HOT…Charming characters demonstrate her strong storytelling gift.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Has everything a reader could desire: adventure, humor, mystery, romance, and a very naughty rake. I was absorbed from the first page and entertained throughout the story. A warning to readers: If you have anything on your schedule for the day, clear it. You won’t be able to put To Sin with a Scoundrel down once you start reading.”
—SingleTitles.com
“Steamy…intriguing.”
—Publishers Weekly
Prologue
The voice stirred a myriad of memories…None of them good.
Soft and sensuous as summer sunlight, it tickled around his head, a tantalizing whisper, wrapping his brain in a seductive swirl of honeyed heat and gold-kissed sweetness.
Another word floated through the half-open door and suddenly the sensations were like a serpent, trailing a sensuous slither over bare flesh, only to strike with diamond-bright fangs.
Oh yes, he knew that voice—and it was poison to his peace of mind.
And yet Cameron Daggett couldn’t help edging a little closer to the shadowed portal and cocking an ear to listen.
He had only entered the building moments ago, and as he was one of the few people allowed to use the owner’s private entrance, no one was yet aware of his arrival. Peering through the sliver of space, he could just make out the two figures standing in the smoky half-light of the corridor wall sconces. The oil flames were kept deliberately low—the regular patrons of the establishment preferred to come and go discreetly. However, as the whisper had warned, the flickers of gold-lapped light showed the pair paused in deep conversation were women. One of them was the familiar form of Sara Hawkins, the owner of The Wolf’s Lair. And the other was…
“This is highly irregular, Miss Lawrance,” said Sara in a low, taut murmur. “As a rule, I don’t allow wives or sisters or others of our sex to intrude on the gentlemen who patronize this place. It’s bad for business, if ye take my meaning. They expect discretion and privacy.”
“I understand,” replied the Voice from the Past.
No, he had not been mistaken. Cameron tried to draw a breath, but his lungs felt filled with lead. It was Sophie.
“Truly I do,” went on Miss Sophie Lawrance. “And if it were not a matter of the utmost urgency, I would not dream of making such an irregular request. But the truth is…I am rather desperate.”
Desperate? He knew that he shouldn’t give a damn, and yet Cameron held himself very still, intent on hearing more.
“Yes, I can see that,” said Sara, heaving a reluctant sigh. A pause hung for a moment in the gloom. “And so I will make a rare exception. Wait in there.” She indicated a small side parlor. “I will fetch the gentleman. But I must ask ye to be quick—and fer God’s sake, ye must be quiet as well. No tears, no shrieks, no gnashing of teeth, else I will have to ask the porter to remove ye from the premises.”
“I will not make a scene,” promised Sophie, her earnest whisper coiling and clutching at his thumping heart.
“And when ye are finished, ye must leave with all possible haste,” added Sara. “Nothing personal, Miss, but the sooner ye are gone from here, the better.”
Cameron’s own inner voice of Self-Preservation shouted a similar warning. Turn and run like the Devil. And don’t look back.
After all, he had long ago mastered the art of staying one step ahead of personal demons—not to speak of more mundane threats like bailiffs and Bow Street Runners.
And yet…
And yet, at this moment Cameron found himself incapable of listening to reason. Instead of retreating, he slipped into one of the secret passageways used by the staff and waited for Sara to return with the man Sophie sought.
Low voices. A door opening and closing. The click of Sara’s heeled shoes as she returned to her private office.
Moving silently as a stalking panther, Cameron darted out of his hiding place and approached the parlor.
What reason, he wondered, had brought saintly Sophie Lawrance to one of London’s most notorious dens of iniquity? Set deep in the dangerous slums of Southwark, The Wolf’s Lair was a high-stakes gaming house and brothel that catered to rakehells and rogues who played fast and loose with the rules of Society.
And why, after all these years, should he care?
Because I am a god-benighted fool, thought Cameron with a shiver of self-loathing.
The door was shut tightly with the lock engaged. Drawing a thin shaft of steel from his boot, Cameron expertly eased the latch open. A touch of his gloved fingertips coaxed the paneled wood to shift just a fraction.
Sophie was heavily veiled, the dark mesh muffling her already low whisper. Her companion was speaking in equally low tones, making it impossible to hear their words. However, he saw a small package change hands.
The gentleman let out a low brandy-fuzzed laugh as he tucked it into his pocket.
Sliding back into hiding, Cameron watched Sophie hurry away down the corridor, her indigo cloak skirling with the shadows, until she was swallowed in the darkness. A moment later, the gentleman emerged from the parlor, still chuckling softly. He turned for the gaming rooms, a flicker of lamplight catching the curl of his mouth and the slight swaying of his steps.
Cameron recognized him as Lord Dudley, a dissolute viscount with an appetite for reckless pleasures.
Dudley and Sophie? An odd couple, if ever there was one. The Sophie Lawrance he knew was anything but reckless. She was sensible—too damnably sensible to ever throw caution to the wind.
But people change, thought Cameron sardonically. He had only to look at himself—there wasn’t the least resemblance between his present persona and the callow youth of…
Shaking off mordant memories, he followed Dudley into the card room. Timing his steps perfectly, he brushed by the viscount just as he started to sit down at one of the tables.
“Join us for a hand, Daggett?” called one of the other players.
“Not tonight,” answered Cameron. “I’ve an assignation with an old friend.”
The man leered. “A lady friend?”
“Pray tell, who?” chorused the man’s cronies.
“Gentlemanly honor compels Daggett to remain silent on that question,” pointed out the half-soused baronet who was shuffling the cards.
Smiling, Cameron inclined a mocking bow and sauntered away, Sophie’s package now firmly tucked away in his pocket.
Luckily for me, I’ve never claimed to have any pretensions to honor.
Drawing in a great lungful of the chill night air, Sophie Lawrance forced herself to choke back the urge to retch.
Steady, steady. She couldn’t falter now—she must ignore the sickening smells, the sordid encounter.
And yet, the bitter taste of bile rose again in her throat, and she felt the oozy ground beneath her feet begin to sway.
Breathe. She would not—could not—give in to fear. Predators pounced on any show of weakness, and this godforsaken slum was perhaps the most savage spot in all of England.
“Allow me to be of assistance.” A hand suddenly gripped her arm to keep her upright and a snowy white handkerchief, scented with a pleasant tang of citrus and spice, fluttered in front of her veiled face.
Her first impulse was to scream and try to flee. But something about his light touch and calming voice held her in thrall.
“You appear to be in some distress.”
“I…I…” Her stomach gave another little lurch. “I thank you, sir.” Swallowing her pride, Sophie took the silk square from the shadowy stranger and held it close to her nose. Oddly enough, the fragrance seemed to calm the churning of her insides. She inhaled several slow, deep breaths, savoring the richly nuanced scent.
“Better?” he asked.
“Much.” Now that her head had cleared, Sophie was eager to escape the dark, filth-strewn alley and the horrid nightmare of the evening. “A momentary indisposition, that is all.” She shrugged off his hold and held out the handkerchief. “It has passed.”
The stranger made no effort to take it back. “You had better keep it if you mean to wander around this neighborhood.” The alley was dark, with only an intermittent wink of starlight penetrating through the clouds, so for the moment she had only a dim impression of his person. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Strong hands, surprisingly gentle and warm.
His voice, however, was coolly cynical. “Though I would recommend a more effective implement of protection if you mean to enter places like The Wolf’s Lair. Say, a pistol or a knife. A lady’s virtue won’t last long without such a weapon.” A pause, and then his voice turned even more sardonic. “But perhaps your intentions aren’t virtuous.”
“I—I assure you, sir,” said Sophie tightly. “I am not in the habit of coming to…depraved places like this.”
“Oh?” Skepticism shaded his voice. “Then what brings you here tonight, if not a craving for danger?”
“That, sir, is none of your business.” Lifting her chin, she ventured a look at him, trying to make out some identifying feature. Do I know you? It was absurd, of course, but something felt hauntingly familiar about him…
However, the stranger had his hat pulled low, the wide brim shading his face. In the swirl of murky shadows, Sophie could make out naught but the vague shapes of a straight nose, a sensual mouth. The only clearcut view was of long, raven-dark hair and the rakish glimmer of a gold earring.
Danger. His last word seemed a deliberately tickling, taunting challenge. Sophie sucked in her breath, suddenly aware of a strange prickling taking hold of her body, as if daggerpoints were dancing over every inch of her flesh. “In another few minutes I shall be safe from danger. That is…” Another glance at the earring. “…unless I’ve had the misfortune to cross paths with a pirate,” she said, trying to mask her emotions by matching his cynical tone.
A smile curled on the corners of his mouth, half mocking, half…
Sophie couldn’t put a name to the flicker of emotion. It was gone in the blink of the eye, so perhaps she had merely imagined it.
“A pirate?” he repeated, making her feel slightly absurd. Like a silly schoolgirl who swooned over novels of swashbuckling heroes rescuing damsels in distress. His voice then took on a sharper edge. “Isn’t that just a romantic name for a ruthless cutthroat and a conniving thief?”
Sophie swallowed hard, feeling a shiver skate down her spine. “Who are you, sir?” she demanded.
“Why do you ask?” he countered. “Do you think we might be acquainted?” The question quivered for a moment in the chill night air. “Old friends, perhaps?”
“Impossible,” she whispered. “I can’t imagine that we move in the same worlds.” Her dizziness seemed to have returned, and with a vengeance. Off-kilter, she found herself adding, “And yet you…you remind me of someone I once knew long, long ago.”
“You speak of him as if he is dead.” Without waiting for her to answer, he gave a strange laugh. “Perhaps I’m his ghost.”
Sophie wondered whether he was drunk. Or demented.
Inching back a step she looked around for the alleyway leading out to the street where her hackney was waiting.
“You want a name, Madam or Miss Whoever-You-Are?” he continued. “My two friends and I are called the Hellhounds.” He let out a low, sarcastic bark. “I’m known as the Sleuth Hound as I have a nose for sniffing out trouble.”
“I am surprised that you admit to such a beastly moniker,” she replied slowly.
“I make no bones about what I am,” he said softly. “What about you?” His head tilted down and then up, his unseen eyes leaving a trail of heat along her length. “Your manner of dress says you are a respectable country lady. But the fact that you are here, visiting a house of ill repute in the stews of Southwark, conveys an entirely different message.”
She felt her cheeks grow hot beneath the gauzy veil. That he was right only fanned the flames. “You are impertinent, sir.”
“No, I am observant.” A pause. “More so than you think. Indeed, from what I’ve seen, I would say you are playing a very dangerous game. Have a care, for in dealing with those who frequent The Wolf’s Lair, you are going up against the most ruthless men in London.”
“Including you?” challenged Sophie, though her heart was pounding hard enough to crack a rib.
“Oh, I’m among the very worst of the lot.”
“I must be going.” Slipping past him, Sophie hurried toward the narrow gap between the ramshackle buildings.
But to her dismay, the Pirate moved along with her. “Allow me to see you to your vehicle. It isn’t safe to walk through these alleys alone.”
“You needn’t bother.” She flinched slightly at the sound of scrabbling claws somewhere close by. “I—I will take my chances.”
“I think you have gambled enough for one evening,” he drawled. “Besides, I’d be willing to wager that you wouldn’t care to put your foot where you are about to step.”
She stopped short, as a horribly foul odor assaulted her nose.
“Nasty, isn’t it?” he murmured.
“I—”
His hands were suddenly around her waist, lifting her into his arms as if she were light as a feather. Beneath the folds of wool she was intimately aware of the lean, lithe flex of muscle.
Oh, what madness has taken hold of me?
Her wits were spinning and skittering topsy-turvy. How else to explain why the moment felt so hauntingly familiar? So achingly comforting.
Madness, she repeated to herself. The meeting with Lord Dudley ought to be reminder enough that youth and innocence were long gone. Only a fool yearned to reach back and recapture the past.
Fisting her fingers, Sophie tried to squirm free. “Please, put me down, sir!”
“As you wish.” Her half boots hit the ground with a soft squish. “We have passed through the worst. It’s just a little farther to where the hired carriages wait. You will soon be back to the respectable part of the Town.”
Slipping, sliding, Sophie hurried awkwardly toward the weak glimmer of oily light up ahead. The Pirate glided alongside her with a smooth, silent step.
Spotting her hackney parked at the near corner of the rough-cobbled square, she skirted around the snorting horse and quickly unlatched the door.
“Thank you. Though you need not have troubled yourself…” A gust of wind swirled over the stones, catching at her cloak and lifting the thin scrim of her veil just as she turned to take her leave.
“No trouble at all,” replied the Pirate. He had moved close to help her climb up the iron rungs, and now their faces were but a hairsbreadth apart. “Indeed, I did warn you that I have a nose for trouble.”
And a mouth for sin.
For suddenly his lips possessed hers in a swift, searing kiss.
It was over in an instant. He pulled back, so quickly that she was sure the glimmer of green eyes must have been only a figment of her heated imagination.
“Fie, sir! N-no gentleman—”
Her stammering protest was stilled by a rumbled laugh. A pirate laugh, redolent with hints of hellfire dangers and storm-tossed seas.
“Ah, but whoever said that I was a gentleman?”
Chapter One
Lud, what a night.” Sara looked up from her ledgers and blew out a harried sigh.
“That has a rather ominous ring to it.” Cameron waited a moment, shoulder slouched against the shadowed door molding, before uncrossing his arms and entering her private office. “What’s the trouble?”
Her face screwed into a pained grimace. “To begin with, Machrie and Frampton came to blows over politics at the faro table and I had to have Rufus toss them out—a great pity for my profits as they were losing heavily.”
“You should simply have sent Maggie to take McTavish’s place as the dealer,” he replied, moving to the sideboard and pouring himself a drink from one of the cut glass decanters. “All conflict over Whig and Tory agendas would quickly have been forgotten—they both are easily distracted by voluptuous breasts.”
“I shall remember that for the future.” Another sigh. “And speaking of profits, you’ve chosen to tipple on my most expensive brandy.”
“Isn’t my company worth any price?” quipped Cameron, pouring her a measure of sherry and carrying it to the table.
Sara laughed. “Well, I confess that things have been awfully quiet here, what with the other two Hellhounds rusticating in the country.”
Polite Society viewed Cameron and his friends Lord Killingworth and Lord Haddan as dangerous, devil-may-care gentlemen. An outraged matron had coined the moniker and it had stuck—mostly because the trio had encouraged the wild rumors that swirled through the drawing rooms regarding their exploits. In truth, the accounts were much exaggerated, but each of them took pains to encourage the gossip, as the innuendo helped deflect scrutiny from their personal, private secrets.
“Ain’t it sweet to think of them living in conjugal bliss,” continued Sara, her mouth quirking to a dreamy smile. “Who would have predicted we’d see not one, but two weddings within the last six months.”
Cameron fluttered a hand in a faintly rude gesture. “Well, don’t expect a third paw to be caught in the parson’s mousetrap anytime soon.”
“Don’t ye believe in romance?” she demanded.
“My dear Sara, you may be assured that I haven’t a romantic bone in my body.” He drained the brandy in one long swallow and set it aside. Plucking the small package from his pocket he began untying the strings. “As for light fingers, that’s an entirely different matter.”
She snorted into her sherry. “Don’t ye ever worry about Bow Street Runners?”
“Good God, those plodding oafs?” The knots unraveled, and the wrappings loosened. “If I can’t stay several steps ahead of their hob-nailed pursuit I deserve to end my days in Newgate prison.”
“I hope yer feet stay as light as yer fingers. I’d miss yer company.”
“I’m exceedingly…” His words trailed off as the inner paper fell away, revealing a pair of teardrop-shaped pearl earrings. The settings were a classically simple design made of flame-kissed gold, each one highlighted by a faceted emerald. They were elegant, understated—and undeniably familiar.
His throat tightened. The jewelry had belonged to Sophie’s mother, and was the one possession of any value that had been passed down to her eldest daughter.
Lost in a frown, Cameron continued to stare in mute consternation. He knew that for Sophie, the sentimental value of the earrings had always been worth far more than money. He couldn’t imagine her ever parting with them willingly. This meant…
Trouble, hissed the most vociferous of his Inner Demons. But that’s no surprise—Sophie Lawrance has always been Trouble.
Curious, Sara rose and came over to see what had silenced their bantering. “Oooo, ain’t they nice.” Lamplight dipped and danced over the perfectly matched pearls. Slanting a sidelong look at his expression, she hesitated and then added, “What? Decided ye don’t like them?”
He slowly turned the earrings over in his palm, setting off a winking of dark and light sparks as the jewels caught the light from a nearby candle. They sparkled with an unusual smoky green color, just as he remembered them.
“Actually they’re a good match for yer eyes,” said Sara appraisingly. “Why don’t ye keep the pair fer yourself rather than sell them to a flash house?”
Cameron roused himself to speech. “I only have one pierced ear, and two would be rather de trop, even for me.” He slowly closed his fingers around the earrings. The pearls were cool to the touch and yet they burned like hellfire against his flesh.
Don’t, he told himself. Don’t stir up embers from the past.
“Well, if they are for sale, maybe I’ll consider buying them. I don’t much care for flashy baubles, but those have a rare inner fire.”
“I haven’t decided.” He began rewrapping the jewels. “Kindly pour me another drink. This one you may put on my account.”
“Not that ye ever pay it.” Sara huffed out an aggrieved sigh but picked up his empty glass and moved to the sideboard.
Muted clinking punctuated a papery whisper as Cameron slowly unfolded the note that had been tucked in with the earrings. There were only a few lines, lettered in Sophie’s neat script. He read them over several times, and felt a pensive frown pull at his mouth. The message itself made little sense, but the tone was clear enough.
Something havey-cavey was afoot.
Which is all the more reason to run like the Devil, jeered the Inner Demon. Sophie Lawrance chose to turn her back and walk away from you years ago. Whatever Trouble she is in, it’s none of your concern.
Shifting his stance on the carpet, Cameron told himself the Demon was right. It would be foolish to stray from his chosen path. He had taught himself to be a solitary, stalking predator—a hardbitten Hellhound who cared for naught but his own survival. Through bitter experience, he had learned how to outrun the past, moving swiftly and leaving only a quicksilver blur of shadows.
So yes, I should run like the Devil. I’ve come too far to stumble now.
Fisting the paper, Cameron shoved it back in his pocket.
“Here ye go. But the next time, yer getting cheap claret.” Sara paused, drink in hand, and cocked an ear as the echo of an outraged shout drifted down from the gaming rooms. It was followed a moment later by the pelter of hurried footsteps in the corridor.
“Sorry te disturb ye, Miss Sara.” Rufus, the big mulatto head porter, stuck his dark head through the doorway. “But Lord Dudley is cutting up something fierce.” A flicker of his chocolate brown gaze was the only acknowledgment of Cameron’s presence. “He claims someone stole a package of valuables from his pocket.”
She swore. “I’ll come sort him out. The pompous prig probably dropped it at one of his many other haunts.” Her harried si. . .
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Too Dangerous to Desire
Cara Elliott
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