Tempted Known as Miss Temptation by the Haute Ton, Elizabeth Grayson is a cool, remote beauty who avoids the marriage-trap at every opportunity. She hasn’t time for men and babes while seeking justice for her murdered sister. Hiding in the shadows of night, Elizabeth leads a dangerous double-life which could very well be her undoing. Christian Delaford, the eighth Duke of Haverton, newly returned from escapades in the Orient, must be married by midnight of his birthday or forfeit everything to a distant relative. When he sees Elizabeth, he knows he must have her. The cool beauty leads him in a crazy chase but when he learns her dark secret, can the strength of his love save her from the hangman’s noose? Buy Now from Wings ePress

An Excerpt from the Book

Elizabeth struck a clenched fist against the trunk, barely feeling the bite of the bark as it tore at her delicate lace glove. Anger and hatred took her breath as her mind filled with thoughts of her sister--her lovely face, her kindness and compassion, and of the way Edward had slowly and cruelly stolen her spirit over the cours e of their marriage.

Closing her eyes, she brought a hand to her throat and bowed her head.

“Elizabeth.”

She started and turned with a jerk at the forbidding male voice, cringing at the sight of Christian Delaford cloaked in darkness. Her heart pounded out a quick tattoo as she instinctively pressed back against the tree, thankful for its sturdy balance.

There was definitely something sinister about a man dressed all in evening black, who wore his equally jet hair like a bloody pirate. Elizabeth tensed, fully prepared to flee if he stepped one bit closer. Spending even a moment alone with him could spell disaster in her current state.

“Your Grace,” she said stiltedly. “You startled me.”

“Not any easy feat, I suspect.”

He watched her with unnerving intensity. Was it a trick of light or did kindness seem to soften his fierce beauty? His lips firmed as he reached into his evening coat, withdrew a linen handkerchief, and held it out to her. “Though I would very much like to hold you now, perhaps this will do instead.”

A lump formed in her throat. The evening had been far too upsetting, and she fought the urge to fall weeping into his arms. He was far too gallant when she wanted to dislike him. Steeling herself, she stared at the cloth, then firmly took his hand and forced the white linen away. “I am not crying, sir. I never weep.”

His voice lowered as he tucked it away. “At least not in the presence of others.”

“No.” She turned away. “Please go, Your Grace.”

“Christian, my lady. I would have you call me by my name.”

“You are forward.”

He chuckled softly. “So they say, but nevertheless, I insist. It is the least you can do for a gentleman who has come to your aid.”

Elizabeth spun to face him. She wanted him to leave. Now, before she lost herself completely. “A gentleman?” she said. “I’ve not known many of those, to be quite blunt.”

“A man-hater, are you? Pity. Men can be quite useful on occasion.”

“The very rare occasion.”

“Perhaps this is one of those rare occasions, hmm? Wollstonecraft would be proud of your steadfast refusal not to lean on a man, no doubt, but I promise not to tell if you confide your troubles.”

“Go away,” she said. “I wish to regain my composure before I re-enter the manse. You are not helping a whit. No, in fact, you infuriate me further with your insipid posturing.”

Anger chased across his features, and she immediately wished she could take back her words. He stepped closer, threatening, big and dark in the shadows.

When he reached out, took her by the shoulders, and hauled her against him, Elizabeth squeaked. Her breasts flattened against the crisp, white linen of his shirt making her head reel. His body was surprisingly hot. Very inviting. When his arms snaked around her to draw her even closer, she trembled. Christian bent his head, trailing a warm breath over her naked shoulder as if he were inhaling her scent.

A shaft of heat shot straight to her core.

“Insipid?” he breathed. “Tell me, my beauty, what is insipid about this?”

Before she could do more than gasp, he took her lips in a thrilling kiss. Mmm. Oh, yes. Like a lusty pirate, he plundered the recesses of her mouth with a touch unlike any she’d ever imaged in her most wicked fantasy. Curving his hand along the line of her jaw, he mastered her, eating at her mouth with a voracious hunger she’d never before known. No, this was not a gentle first kiss. It was a kiss of ownership, of lust, of passion.

Hot and slow, he took her mouth. Her breasts ached and throbbed in tempo with his pounding heartbeat. His endless kiss continued to tear through her. Nibbling, sucking, he drew at her lips as if they were a sweet temptation.

Her head reeled at the possession of his too-beautiful mouth. Her senses exploded. Zinged and popped. Thrilled and pounded. Parts of her body heretofore unheralded thrummed to a pagan tempo.

Everything about him was hard and strong and perfect. Against her body, he felt like well-tempered steel. From the curves of his chest beneath the stark evening shirt to the thick, iron-hard ridge pressing at the juncture of her thighs, he was all male, powerful and frightening. At last and finally, she knew how it felt to need. Christian Delaford was, in truth, everything she’d always wanted but feared from a man. He was every dream and every nightmare wrapped into one. A savage but beautiful beast.

With a soft moan, she pulled back and stared into his smoldering eyes. A vivid mixture of fright and curiosity tore through her. “Don’t,” she whispered shakily.

“Then tell me, Miss, why I should not? You are determined to hate me, so what have I to lose?” He took her chin, holding her in place as he looked into her eyes. The taunting, satisfied smile he gave her made her flush hot with embarrassment.

“Don’t presume to judge me until you know me better, my sweet,” he whispered. “Putting people in neat little categories is a foolish and often dangerous business.”

“How dare you!” Elizabeth stiffened and backed away. “You are a rogue and a lecher.”

“And immune to insult.” He laughed. “Try your best, Elizabeth. I shall not be deterred from pressing my suit. Hate me or love me, but never presume to judge me.”

“Leave. Now.” Tense and sick to the bone at her lapse in judgment for allowing this confrontation, she scowled at him.

Christian sighed and stepped back. In no apparent hurry to obey, he leaned casually against the tree and crossed his arms over his chest. “First, tell me why Stanhope bears such animosity toward you? I know about your sister and the family’s belief that he killed her, but why would he come after you in such a public manner?”

Elizabeth lifted her chin and gave him a defiant stare. “I’ve made no secret about the sort of man he is. Shall we say I have been most vocal on the subject of his vile character. Society has chosen to believe my version of what happened to Lottie.”

Alarm flashed across Christian’s face. “You are playing a dangerous game with Stanhope, Miss. It isn’t hard to understand why you revile the man, but you seem oblivious to how dangerous your enemy might prove to be. Stanhope’s behavior tonight smacks of desperation, and desperate men are capable of anything. If he did, in fact, murder your sister, what is to prevent him from harming you?”

Elizabeth spun on her heel and presented her back. “I plan to ruin his life as he has ruined mine. He is neither deserving of mercy from me, nor will he receive it. I shall do everything within my power to make him suffer for his misdeeds.”

As Christian spun her to face him, she gasped in shock. Anger laced his voice as he loomed over her. “Little fool,” he spat, “you will stop this vendetta. Now, Elizabeth. Do you hear me?”

Though taller than most females, she was no match for Christian Delaford’s strength. Furious with his presumptive attitude, she slapped ineffectually at his hands. “Release me, sir. I’ve had quite enough of your bullying. I am no missish woman who will faint at your heavy-handed tactics! I am not your sister or daughter and, thank the blessed Lord above... I am not your wife!”

Christian’s cheek quivered with an answering fury that startled her. “Not yet, sweet Elizabeth. Not yet. But, by damn, you will be.”

With shocking abruptness, he released her and stalked away.

ISBN 978-1-59705-098-9    All ebook formats $6.00

ISBN 978-1-59705-911-0     Paperback $11.95

Tempted by Rita Thedford can be purchased at www.wingspress.com