Blurb: Daisy Drake will do anything to help Lucian Beaumont restore his family’s lost fortune. Even if she has to masquerade as a French courtesan in order to fool him into accepting her help. But how far must she go to prove she’s Blanch La Tour, “woman of pleasure?” She’s about to find out.




Excerpt: Vexing the Viscount

"Nanette will be bringing a bite of supper for us soon," Daisy informed him. "I do hope you have an appetite."

"That, mademoiselle, is not in doubt."

Lucian's rakish grin told her food was the last thing on his mind. She opened the deck of cards and executed a perfect shuffle. Holding the cards felt safe, as though the fifty-two thin pieces of paper were somehow shields.

"You would perhaps enjoy a game while we wait?" she asked.

"Only if it's a game of chance," he said.

"And what will you wager?" Daisy wondered. If his financial state was as bad as she thought, gambling was not the wisest course.

"Right now, you and I are partners in my search for the Roman treasure, split in half when we find it," he said. "For each hand I lose, one percent more of the money we find will be yours."

"Ah! And if I lose, that one percent shifts to you," Daisy guessed.

"No." A slow smile spread across his face. "I'll take my winnings now in satin."

"How do you mean?" she asked, thankful he couldn't see her puzzled frown behind the half-mask.

Lucian reached forward and gave the top ribbon on her camisole a tug. The knot gave and her bodice sagged open enough to bare the meeting place of her breasts above her pounding heart.

"Do we have a wager?" he asked. "Or are you afraid you'll lose?"

A true fille de joie wouldn't be able to resist such a naughty game.

"Ah! Monsieur le Vicomte, either way, I win." Daisy shuffled the cards with more bravado than she felt and dealt the hand.

She lost the first round and with resignation, started to untie the next ribbon.

"No, no," he said. "Allow me."

Very slowly, he pulled the end of the bow and Daisy felt her supportive camisole give a bit. More of her breasts spilled out. Still not as much as he'd already seen that first night at the masquerade, but enough that the heat of his gaze made her skin flush rosily.

And between her legs, her folds began to ache. She shifted on her seat, but nothing eased the throbbing.

Before he drew his hand back, he pushed the edges of the satin camisole aside, brushing her exposed skin with his fingertips as he did so. Now her nipples were scarcely covered. In fact, if the hard little points weren't holding up the fabric, she'd be bared already.

Another lost hand, or even a deep breath, and . . .

"There," he said. "Much better. No point in unfastening that contraption if the blasted thing stays in place."

"We did not wager on touching. Merely on satin," Daisy reminded him.

"Perhaps we should amend the wager then," he said. "When I win, I may touch whatever I see."

Lucian drew his knuckles softly over the swell of her breast. A jolt of heat lightning streaked to her belly and stayed to simmer in an ever tightening circle of warmth.

"Then we should adjust the wager the other way as well," she said. "How shall you feel if I lay claim to your breeches buttons with each hand that falls my way?"

He chuckled. "Ah! Mademoiselle La Tour, either way, I win."


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Thanks for having me on your site, Selena! I'm thrilled to be able to offer a FREE copy of Vexing the Viscount to one of your readers who posts a comment or question. Be sure to check back tomorrow. I'll post the name of the winner in the comments section. Good luck!

Emily