Page 13 (1/2)

Chapter One

October, 1883

England, Norfolk, Sherring Cross

The thief s—sweet, feminine, an elusive whisper of spiced wine and strawberries Verywhite shirt, and cap the person wore The shadows shifted in the prodigious Calydon stables, and the interloper slinked forward, ance of a sensual feline

A woine those delightful curves belonged to a youngbreeze lifting her shirt, baring to his eyes the delectable curve of herrump The shadows dipped, and she disappeared with the darkness Why was she creeping about around the stables in the dead of night? Aher lover for a tryst? With her clandestine approach, it wasunderhanded Who would be so bold as to sneak into the Duke of Calydon’s property to steal one of his prized stallions?

Mikhailhis sharpened senses, honed froeneral in the Russian Ar hishih the stalls, listening to the soft footfall of the intruder

There was a rustle of sound, a sharp inhalation of what could be appreciation…or desire

“You beautiful, nificent beast I want to ride you so desperately,” a low husky voice crooned “I want to feel your power and strength between hs Will you allow me to mount you?”

Sweet merciful Christ

Mikhail’s body reacted with painful i voice stoked his intrigue Suddenly, irrationally, he wanted to be the one to be ridden, hard and desperately by this faceless female Absurd to be sure, for he was not a man to be led around by his cock…ever He had always selected his lovers with utter discretion and only succuth with a potential bedation into her background He assuredly did not ju He had more control over his desires than that, especially after his days of torment under Madam Anya Yet with innocent words, this unknoo hot and thick inside him

“Will you allow me to ride you? Please allow me… I need to feel you underneath me,” she purred

A sharp neigh sounded, and a throaty laugh spilled into the air “It seereement” Her murmur was filled with awe and triumph

Moonlight sliced through the darkness of the vast stables, and he was able to e’s stall She race as she eased closer to the massive black horse Stallions were considered unsuitable e Mikhail wondered if he should speak, but he dismissed the idea He was too enthralled by the unconventionality playing before hie from the bitter desolateness and icy disdain that had shrouded his heart for years

Who is she?

A thief? If so, she picked the wrong night to pilfer from the Calydon stables She opened the latch to the stall, all the while crooning sweet nonsense Sage seemed to lap it up, because Mikhail’s da his welco her shoulders playfully With an efficiency and strength that was surprising, she saddled Sage and fitted his reins

Definitely not a novice

Using theblock, she seated herself atop the horse with supreme confidence, no hesitation or fear displayed at the sheer size of the beast beneath her She sighed, stretched, and then pouting lips, the only visible part of her face, curved into an irresistibly alluring smile

An intense jolt of lust hardened Mikhail’s length with such swiftness that for a heartbeat he felt light-headed What the hell is this? Must be the vodka he had drunk earlier It was the only explanation for his lack of restraint over his desires His heart pounded, and he breathed evenly, controlling his body’s startling reaction to such raw sensuality

Thunder rue did not shift, but she gripped his reins tighter, glancing through the ht Mikhail could smell the storm in the air, feel the vibrations of the thunder Do not leave, he urged silently He did not want to have to track her down, and until he chose to make his presence known to London society it was best to keep a low profile Mikhail certainly did not want Princess Tatiana Ivanovna tracking hiland to plead her case God save him from perfidious females But most i back into the fray of society He doubted revealing his presence to this unknooman would compromise his plan, but caution still curled inside him

He shuffled a foot, hoping to startle the young lady into abandoning whatever reckless plan she possessed She froze, her head twisting tohere he stood in the dark Mikhail held hi for fe her bottom lip with her teeth, she spun the horse toward the entrance and took off

He smiled and moved in the shadows, careful to remain hidden in the event she turned around Another crack of thunder and he glanced skyward There was no doubt a stor Was she faes were on the Calydon property? The stor about a stranger

Mikhail moved unhurriedly to the entrance It was easy to ht She rode like a dreahter floated on the wind, and he hated to ruin her enjoyment, but he could not allow her to steal his stallion He placed his fingers against his lips and let a sharp whistle rent the air, then cursed as a booe to return to Mikhail despite her urgings He quickly readied another horse It was damn reckless of him to follow the female, even if she was a thief, but he felt compelled to pursue her

“Allow me to follow the woman I will return your prized stallion, Prince Alexander,” a low voice said to his left

He glanced at Vladiet my instructions You will refer to me as Mikhail until I say otherwise”

There was a pulse of silence and he could feel Vladimir’s disapproval, but Mikhail would not be swayed on this

“You are not being yourself, you do not chase women, even if they are unusual and provocative, Mikhail”

The last was uttered with grudging respect And Mikhail would ad a touch hasty, but it was a truth he illing to ignore “You will not follow me”

“I will—”

At his pointed stare, Vladimir paused, executed a sharp bow, and melted into the darkness

Mikhail launched hied from the stable

He was chasing her

Mayhap it could be that he’d allowed Calydon to goad hiainst Mikhail’s vodka The co to his hard-won discipline, because the sharp interest that pierced hi the unknooman more for the desire to learn her identity than to recover his horse His actions were so unlike hi reckless

A blasted foolish thing to do