Her Lord's Desire (The Forbidden Saga #3) - Maggie Ryan Page 0,34

felt as if she were nothing more than a doll he was playing with. He slowly lowered her until her feet felt the floor and then even more slowly released his hold on her tiny waist. Once free, Lucy took several steps backwards and unconsciously rubbed the back of her dress. He was the largest man she had ever seen in her life. He was both taller and broader than Edward, who towered over her.

“Who… who are you?” Lucy said, “What are you doing here?”

“I’m your house guest, Lady Wintercrest,” he said, and when she shook her head vigorously, he misinterpreted her movement. “I assure you that I am,” he continued. “I would think you would have been expecting me or does Edward find it unnecessary to inform his little wife when he invites old friends to visit? You may not be aware that I was coming, but I promise I have no plans to harm you.”

“Harm me? Sir, you just spanked me! Do you believe it is correct to strike another man’s wife?” she hissed, even as her heart pounded and her blood seemed to be rushing through her veins. She could easily remember the feel of his huge hand slapping at her bottom, his single palm almost covering her entire bottom with each hard smack.

“I wasn’t striking you,” he corrected. “In fact, I wasn’t truly spanking you.”

“You were!” Lucy said, placing her hands on her hips and stomping her foot.

“If you think that was a spanking, little one, then Edward has grown quite soft,” he said with a grin. “I barely even tapped your bottom.”

Lucy slowly backed away until she was pressed up against the bookcases. Suddenly she realized that he truly believed her to be Edward’s wife and yet still had no problem tending to her as if she were nothing more than a wayward child. She understood that whoever he was, he was a man of Edward’s ilk.

He reached out to gently place his hand on her arm. Lucy started and felt her entire body shudder at the contact, her stomach fluttering. Her face must have shown her distress because he quickly had his hands on her shoulders.

“Breathe, Lady Wintercrest, just breathe. You are safe. Nothing is going to happen to you,” he said. He stepped closer and heard her moan. He was about to speak again when another person joined the conversation.

“What on earth have you done now?” Mrs. Bremmer said, as she and Molly came running into the room. “Why were you screaming?” When she looked from Lucy to the stranger trapping her against the bookshelves, the housekeeper’s entire attitude changed.

“Lucas?” she said.

Lucy didn’t know which was more shocking. The fact that the older woman could squeal like a young girl or the fact that the huge man released his hold on her, turned to Anna and swept her off her feet. Both Molly and Lucy’s mouths dropped open at the sight of the man twirling around in a circle with Mrs. Bremmer’s hands clutching his shoulders and her face beaming.

Laughing, Anna finally asked to be put down. Lucy watched as he gently placed her onto her feet and wondered why he hadn’t immediately done the same for her when she’d demanded it. Her mouth snapped closed and she crossed her arms across her chest.

“Lucas, you’re days early,” Anna semi-scolded.

Lucy watched as Lucas, whoever he might be, simply smiled and then laughed.

“Now don’t be angry with me, Miss Anna,” he said. “I finished my business early and found I couldn’t wait to come and meet the young woman Edward wrote me about. If she is anything like Lady Wintercrest here, I’m sure he has his hands quite full.”

Lucy felt her face heat and wished she could simply disappear. Molly giggled but Mrs. Bremmer looked confused.

“Lady Wintercrest?” she said and then turned to Lucy. Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Missy, have you been passing yourself off as your sister again?” she demanded.

Lucy shook her head. “No, ma’am. He didn’t give me a chance to explain,” she said as her eyes zeroed in on the stranger. “He grabbed me off the ladder and scared me to death. He… he even…” She paused, not about to admit this complete stranger had spanked her, especially not when it appeared that the housekeeper had greeted him like some long-lost son… and a favorite son at that. Tossing her head and ignoring his grin, she said, “This is all his fault. All I wanted was to get a book to read