Seduce Me Read Free Page A

“She has quite the bottom for such a wee thing.”
    She glared at him, but he was not looking at her face. More than anything she wished to take the wretched cloth out of her
     mouth and give them both a tongue-lashing for speaking so cruelly about her bottom. Perhaps it was a bit on the large side
     for a woman of her size, but she had always been rather fond of it.
    Once they were all out on the ground, Esme noticed the waiting coach. Four black steeds stomped impatiently. Clearly owned
     by someone quite wealthy, the large carriage was black with gilded filigree, and despite the dark night, Esme noted how it
     shone. A crest emblazoned the door, backed in red and in the center a great black bird, its wings spread as if it were about
     to fly away.
    The street was barren except for the coach, but she was only a few steps from rounding the corner to a much busier lane. Now
     was her chance to try to get away. She bolted toward the front street, but the clouds shielding the almost full moon made
     seeing rather challenging. Nevertheless, she’d made it a far distance before one of the men crashed on top of her, knocking
     the air from her lungs and crushing her with his weight.
    The damp grass chilled her immediately, reminding her all too well she was clad only in her aging night rail.
    “You’re not going anywhere, you little bitch.” Thatcher pulled her to her feet and tossed her over his shoulder. In one swift
     movement he had dumped her on the dirty floor inside the carriage. Then he jumped in right behind her as they began jostling
     down the street.
    “Get up on the seat,” Thatcher snarled at her. When she didn’t move, he lifted her and shoved her onto the seat. “You can’t
     ride on the floor like that. We have a long trip ahead of us.”
    She kept her legs pulled to her chest, trying to warm her body. But the shivering would not still. Squeezing her eyes shut,
     she willed this scenario away. This couldn’t possibly be happening. When she opened her eyes, though, it was all too real.
     Both villains were in the small confines with her. She pushed the curtain back as best she could with tied hands. If she couldn’t
     escape, the least she could do was find out where they were taking her.
    The dimly lit streets of London sped by, and she tried to keep a running catalog of all the roads they passed. But soon they
     turned down a road she didn’t recognize and then another until she was thoroughly lost. She let the curtain fall back into
     place.
    Esme was certain that the men could hear her heart pounding, so loudly did it beat in her chest. She willed her pulse to slow,
     taking steadying breaths. Esme closed her eyes. Perhaps if they thought her to be asleep, they would let their guard down
     just long enough for her to escape.
    “What will we do with her?” Waters asked.
    Thatcher cracked his knuckles. The sickening pops echoed against the small carriage walls. “We’ll take her with us to the
     dungeon. Then we’ll bring her to the Raven; he’ll get her to talk.”

Chapter Two

    F ielding Grey stared blankly at the note in front of him. He’d read it at least ten times, and still the words remained the
     same.
    Mr. Grey,
    We have business to discuss. It is in your best interest to make yourself available. Contact us at your earliest convenience
     to schedule a meeting.
    Sincerely,
    The Members of Solomon’s
    28 King Street
    Fielding pocketed the note and glanced once more at the clock ticking on the mantelpiece, wondering again why he’d bothered
     to come. Solomon’s. Until the impromptu meeting in Egypt, he hadn’t thought of this place, nor the men within, for a very
     long time.
    These men with their pious attitudes and dreams of artifacts fooled themselves into thinking they sought treasure for moral
     reasons. They’d fooled his father with that nonsense, convincing him to chase after one such treasure. Ultimately, the chase
     had led to the destruction of their family coffers,