Three Rich Men: House of Midnight Fantasies / Forced to the Altar / The Millionaire's Pregnant Mistress

Selene collapsed back onto the mattress and rolled to her side, taking the spare pillow and slipping it between her knees. Adrien had unwittingly invaded her mind, bringing with him erotic images that she wouldn’t soon forget. She couldn’t comprehend why she was so open to his thoughts, or why those thoughts were so strong that they would disrupt her sleep. She also found it amazing that he would imagine her to be so unrestrained. If he knew that wasn’t her normal self, would he still want her? She also recognized what he had been doing, because she had experienced all the sensations that he had through this wondrous, disturbing connection they now shared. Yet something had caused him to pull back, to stop before reaching the release he’d obviously been seeking.

Another bright flare of light drew Selene’s attention toward the curtained doors, and so did the shadowy figure moving across the veranda. A storm was brewing on the horizon, and someone was outside her room. She suspected she knew the identity of that someone. Still, she had to know, had to confirm that before she could rest.

On wobbly legs, she left the bed, tiptoed to the doors and opened the curtains ever so slightly. She discovered him standing at the railing only a few feet away staring off into the distance, his arms crossed on the ledge, his leg bent at the knee, his foot propped on the bottom rail. The occasional flash of lightning revealed the finer points of his form turned slightly profile to her—beautifully naked and a wonder to behold. A steady rain began to fall and still he didn’t move, seemingly unconcerned with the light show playing out above him. Rivulets of water gathered on his skin and slid down his body—over the coil of muscle on his bicep, down the path of his spine and the curve of his buttocks. He turned his face up, slicked both hands through his hair and let the rain wash over him, as if engaged in some kind of cleansing ritual.

Selene continued to be transfixed by the image he created against the turbulent skies … until he looked back at her. As if he’d ordained it, another bolt of lightning illuminated his face.

In that moment, she noted the flash of remorse in his beautiful face. She also saw the hunger in his eyes. The desire. And Selene feared she saw something else she might not welcome. Her destiny.

Four

For the past two mornings, Selene had waited until she’d heard Adrien leave his room before she got out of bed. Waited until she was certain she wouldn’t have to face him before she took her morning bath and headed downstairs. She hadn’t seen him at all since their encounter in his office, or since he’d occupied her mind, and she thought that was probably best for the time being.

Today Ella had left a note stating she had gone into town and would be out until that evening, allowing Selene some privacy to make a call she’d needed to make for a while now. After closing herself in the small office off the kitchen, she withdrew her cell phone from the pocket of her jeans and keyed in the number.

When her sister answered with a cheerful, “Hello,” Selene released the breath she’d been holding. “It’s me, Hannah,” she said.

“It’s about time you called. I’ve been worried sick about you.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy.” Busy trying to keep her brain above water and out of the clutches of the master of the house. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Other than I’ve got an extra ten pounds sitting on my bladder, I have another couple of weeks before I deliver this kid and Mother is still upset that I’m having the baby at home, I’m fine. Now it’s my turn. Where the hell are you, Selene?”

Her little sister was nothing if not direct. She’d been that way for as long as Selene could remember. “I’m in Louisiana. I have a job—get this—at a plantation.”

“Doing what? Sending out invitations to parties?”

Selene might have resented Hannah had she not said it in such a teasing tone. “Very funny. I’m overseeing the house’s restoration from top to bottom.”

After a long silence, Selene asked, “Are you still there, Hannah?”

“Yes, I’m still here. I’m just trying to picture you gainfully employed. Didn’t the jackass leave you enough money to survive?”

“He left me plenty of money. A nice check every month. And I need the job because I need to be my own person. I thought you’d understand that.”

“I do understand that, Selene. Mother, on the other hand, doesn’t. You need to give her a call and explain so she’ll quit bugging me.”

Their mother understood little beyond untimely disruptions of her social calendar, and that was one phone call Selene would put off for as long as she could. “I will eventually. In the meantime, tell her I’m fine and I’ll be in touch. I just wanted to let you know I’m still alive and kicking. And to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m wonderful. Doug’s been great. He treats me like a queen. I have no real complaints.”

Selene had secretly envied Hannah’s relationship with Doug. The man had been a saint during his and Hannah’s five-year marriage, even though their mother and father hadn’t approved of Hannah’s choice—a man whose blood was lacking a certain shade of blue, but not his collar. A car mechanic, no less. Dear, rebellious Hannah, who’d always gone after what she wanted, and who’d had the temerity to ignore their parents’ ideas on what constituted a good match for their daughters. If only Selene had been so strong. If only she hadn’t kowtowed to their insistence that she and Richard take the next step, before Selene had been ready. Come to think of it, she had never really been ready.

“I’ll definitely be home for the baby’s birth, Hannah. Just give me time to get there if you can.”

“Great, and Selene, just one more question. Are you happy?”

Selene rarely asked herself that question these days, or over the past few years, if the truth were known. “Yes, right now I’m happy. For the first time in a while, I feel free.”

“I’m glad.” Hannah sounded as if she truly was. “But I hope you finally decide to take a few chances, make a few friends. Maybe even meet a man.”

Selene released an abrupt laugh. “It’s only been a year since I got rid of one man. Why would I want another one so soon?”

“You don’t have to marry him,” Hannah said. “It’s just nice to have a guy around for other things.”

Those other things had weighed heavily on Selene’s mind over the past few days, thanks to Adrien Morrell. “Actually, I’ve met someone.”

“Wow! Who?”

“The plantation’s owner,” Selene said. “He’s very nice looking although he’s somewhat mysterious.”

“Nice looking is good. Mysterious is really good. Have you two done it yet?”

“We haven’t done anything yet.” With the exception of the kiss and the shared fantasy. “I’m only saying that I find him interesting. Nothing may come of it at all.” And that was likely considering Adrien’s continued absence.

“You should make something come of it,” Hannah said. “You’ve been lonely for too long, Selene.”

How well Selene knew that. Yet she had the feeling that even if she did take a few chances with Adrien, she might still be lonely. Worse, she might even be in danger of many things, the least of which was getting her heart crushed. “Look, Hannah, I’ve already made one mistake with Richard. I don’t want to make another. So don’t get your hopes up.”

Hannah released a long sigh. “Don’t be so cautious, Selene.”

“What’s wrong with being cautious?”

The door creaked open right before the very deep, very clear male voice said, “Because playing it safe isn’t very rewarding.”

Selene’s grip tightened on the cell phone, her mind unable to register what her sister was saying. When she didn’t respond, Hannah asked, “Are you still there?”

“Yes, but I have to go now. I’ll call you next week.”

After saying goodbye and hanging up, Selene swiveled the chair around to find Adrien filling the doorway, wearing a tailored white shirt, plain black slacks and a half smile.

“I was beginning to believe you were permanently living in your office,” she said in a slightly unsteady voice.

“I only come out when I have something important to do.”

“And what would that be?”

“Another adventure. With you.”

Selene wasn’t certain she could handle any more of his kind of adventure, especially after the one she’d experienced two nights ago, both in his study and in his mind. “Give me the details and I’ll decide if I’m interested.”

He leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb. “Did you finish reading the diary?”

“Yes, but there wasn’t very much left.”

“I know. I’ve read it. But that doesn’t mean other journals don’t exist.”

“You have more?”