The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie

His lips parted as he pushed upward into her, thrusting hard, loving her. It was a moment of terrible beauty, Violet loosening and letting go, fear and ecstasy coalescing.

She heard herself cry his name. The silent, sleeping house might awake, and Violet didn’t care. She kissed Daniel again, her tears dropping to his lips, then she whispered his name instead.

Daniel’s eyes opened all the way. “Violet,” he said clearly. “Oh, Christ.”

He said it like a prayer, and then his eyes lost focus and a groan escaped his lips.

Daniel at last moved his wrists out of Violet’s grip, proving he could have at any time. He caught her against him, his hands hard on her back, pulling her down to him.

Not imprisoning her. Loving her.

The last of Violet’s tears trickled away as the ecstasy Daniel had introduced her to struck. She felt nothing but Daniel inside her, his arms around her, his breath on her face, his lips on hers.

Madness. Beautiful madness, where nothing mattered, and all was heat and wild freedom. Daniel opened the prison door for her, and Violet ran for the light.

Daniel caressed Violet’s bare back as she lay limply on top of him, he still inside her.

His world had just changed. No dream could ever be as good as waking up to see Violet, the most beautiful woman in the world, standing over him, haloed by the firelight. An angel, one who looked down at him with dusky blue eyes and declared she wanted to be his lover.

Daniel knew what it had cost her to come to him. She’d barely been able to move or to speak, and yet she’d come.

He ran his hand through the silken weight of her hair. Violet holding him down had seemed to give her some comfort, as though reassuring herself that she could have control.

Daniel hadn’t minded. Violet pinning him in place while she’d lowered herself onto him had been the most erotic thing he’d ever experienced. Maybe one night he’d suggest she tie him down—Daniel tethered to the headboard, unable to stop Violet doing anything she wanted to him.

He let out a little groan of pleasure, and Violet raised her head.

“I thought you’d fallen asleep,” she said.

“No, just basking.” Daniel threaded his fingers through her hair. “Don’t want to sleep and miss this.”

“I ought to have known you weren’t asleep. You snore something awful.”

“Huh. The dogs don’t seem to mind.”

Violet’s smile was shy. “I don’t mind either.”

“Then my greatest dream has come true. A lovely woman who wants to share my bed doesn’t care if I snore.”

“I didn’t say that.” Her laughter shook him.

Daniel brushed her hair back, studying the dark blue of her eyes as her laughter wound down. Her warm br**sts were fine cushions against his chest. “You all right, love?”

Violet knew what he meant. “I think so.”

“But you aren’t sure.”

“Not really. I’m still scared. But better.”

“Good.” Daniel moved his hand to the back of her neck to pull her to him.

Violet resisted. “I ought to go.”

“No, you ought to stay.” His pull turned to a caress. “And we should do that again.”

“If I stay too long, someone might catch me sneaking back to my room . . .”

“And they’ll think it about bloody time.” Daniel touched the end of her nose. “My very scandalous family isn’t easily shocked.”

Violet looked uncertain. Daniel kept caressing, and eventually, she came down to him, her body relaxing into his. “Let’s not go to Paris. I like it better here.”

“Not go to Paris? Don’t be daft. I need to show off my motorcar and win that race. You know it’s an amazing machine. Thanks to your help.”

“You know what I mean. You keep telling me I’m strong, Daniel, but I’m not. I’m afraid. I don’t know what seeing Jacobi again will do to me.”

Daniel ran his hands up her arms. “I know what not seeing him will do to you. You’ll never be shut of him in your mind if you don’t face him again.”

Plus Daniel wanted to ask Jacobi a few things. He’d pry out of him the name of the red-bearded man and pay said man a visit.

For that, Daniel would go alone. He wasn’t sure what would happen to Violet if she encountered her actual attacker, plus he didn’t want Violet to see what Daniel would do to him.

“My reason tells me you are right,” Violet said. The dim light and fear chiseled her face into sharpness. “But I’m having difficulty convincing myself.”

Daniel traced her cheek. “Vi, I keep telling you that you’re one of the strongest women I know. I’m going to teach you to believe it.” He traced her cheek. “And I’ll teach you to drive the motorcar.”

Violet’s eyes widened. “Me? Drive your precious motorcar?”

“Why not? You understand how it works, and you’ve helped me put most of it together. Think how green with envy the other lads will be, when I sail in with the fastest motor ever made with the most beautiful woman in the world at the tiller.”

“You’re very convinced no one else has come up with a design like yours.”

“Very convinced.” Daniel also knew he’d turned Violet’s focus from her fears again. “I’m going to win this year. With you by my side.”

Her eyes took on a tinge of excitement, she also forcing her thoughts from horrors of the past. “Do you really think we’ll win?”