To Please A Lady (The Seduction Series) Read Free Page A

soft body pressing to his side. His gaze focused on the low neckline of her gown, slowly traveling up her pale, delicate neck to her red, red lips.
    “I’d like for you to work for me.”
    His gaze jerked to her beautiful lavender eyes. They were like a world unto themselves. He blinked in stunned surprise. “Work?” His voice squeaked.
    Those beautiful eyes grew serious, almost desperate. “Indeed. I need you, James.”
    In that moment he knew he would have done anything for her. He would have sold his soul. Given his right arm. Hell, given his life. He felt like a man for the first time in his life. “Yes, my lady.”
    She rested back against the seat and he wondered how old she was. Not too old for him, he hoped. “I’m in desperate need of help.” Her beautiful lavender gaze went to the boys standing quietly outside. “Alex, Gideon, please join us.”
    They glanced warily at each other.
    She pressed her gloved hand to her chest. “Please, I do need your assistance.”
    That settled it. A damsel in distress always won out. Alex squared his shoulders and marched around Wavers. Gideon reluctantly followed. The carriage bounced as they settled into the seat across from James and the woman. It suddenly felt too crowded in the small interior. It was obvious they were all confused, troubled, caught between wanting to agree to anything the woman asked and wanting to bolt for the door.
    Although she had pulled him under with her beautiful face and words of need, life had taught him to be leery of anything too good to be true. “Doing what, exactly?”
    She leaned forward, the bodice of her gown gaping again. Sweat broke out across James’s forehead and he wished desperately he was alone with her. “Have you ever known pleasure, James?” She rested her hand on his knee. His cock flared to life and he practically jumped out of his skin. “Have you known the pleasure of a woman?”
    He swallowed hard, not daring to answer such a sinful question. Just last week Sarah Ellen had allowed him to slide his hands up her skirt, but that was as far as he’d ever gotten. But SarahEllen didn’t compare to this woman. This woman who wanted him—
him
—to save her for some reason.
    She slid Alex and Gideon a sly glance. “There are so very many women who wish to find pleasure from handsome young lads such as you.”
    Her words struck him through the heart. Reality made him ill. Aghast, he jumped back, away from her touch and her evil offer. His attraction fled as quickly as it had arrived. “Whore myself?”
    Alex had gone pale, while Gideon merely glared at her as if he’d expected nothing less. She leaned back in her chair looking highly amused. She behaved as if it was completely natural for a lad to whore himself, and completely natural for a women of such beauty to offer.
    “I’ve seen you, James. I’ve seen the way the girls watch when you walk by. They like you. They want you. You could find great pleasure in the arms of a woman.”
    He flushed, partly in pleasure, partly in embarrassment, but mostly in confusion. Where had she seen him? “But… but ’tis a sin,” he muttered.
    The woman was daft if she thought he’d whore himself. He glanced at the door, wondering if he should excuse himself now and if she’d allow him to take the rest of his meal. Or would they toss him back in the gaols if he dared to decline?
    “And stealing isn’t?”
    He swallowed hard and glanced her way. She knew, did she? What else did she know?
    “Money, James.” She whispered the words, but he heard them all the same. “I will make sure your mother and sister never starve again. They shall live in a warm, lovely cottage with all the food they could ever want. Think of it. Imagine it. They will never go hungry again.”
    A picture of his mother and sister in all their boney gory flashed to mind. Plenty of food? They wouldn’t have to work in thefactories and lose a finger, or worse. But how would he ever face his mum again? He