Jess Michaels Read online

  Sin

  An Erotic Collection of Novellas

  by Jess Michaels

  Copyright Jesse Petersen, 2005, 2006, 2009

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission. For information address Jess Michaels, PO Box 6205, Bloomington, IL 61702

  Dear Readers:

  These three novellas were originally published by Venus Press as individual releases. When the publisher closed its doors, the rights to the books reverted back to me. Since that time, I have published many other books under both Jess Michaels and Jenna Petersen, but readers have sent me regular email asking when The “Sin” Series would be re-issued. I’m proud to offer all three novellas in one volume as a Kindle release.

  Thank you for your continued support and I hope you enjoy these three tales of pleasure, betrayal and desire.

  Jess Michaels

  Book 1: Wager of Sin

  By Jess Michaels

  Chapter One

  London, Summer 1817

  Hawk barely stifled a yawn. These parties were such God-awful boring events. He would much rather have been at home enjoying a brandy. Or better yet, a woman. Instead…

  He sighed as he looked around at the horde of debutantes who had surrounded him from the moment he dared cease moving. They were all pretty girls, but they were looking to tame a rake. To teach a rogue to be a puppet for them and Hawk wouldn’t have it. He wasn’t interested in their so-called feminine wiles or their irritating need to set traps and demand compliments. He would tell the bunch of them to go to hell if it wasn’t guaranteed to start a riot where he would surely be called out by a dozen angry brothers and fathers.

  “Do you, Mr. Hawkins?”

  Hawk shook his head and forced himself to focus. “I beg your pardon?”

  One of the young women in his harem cocked her head and batted her long eyelashes. Her lower lip eased into what would have been a tempting pout if it weren’t so average, but her beauty was lost on Hawk as the crowd around them began to stir. A rumble went through the people. A hiss of whispers and a shuffle of skirts that made Hawk’s attention prick and his body stiffen with awareness.

  Bianca.

  Only Bianca caused a commotion like that.

  With a pivot on his heel, Hawk strode away from the debutante who was still yammering in mid-sentence. He elbowed his way through the crowd until he reached the large, open entryway to the ballroom.

  Sure enough, there was Bianca Clairemont on the arm of her latest lover, Everett Firth. She was dazzling with her slender figure and the air of confidence that hung around her in a way considered unladylike. Hawk found it fascinating.

  On the other hand, Firth was tall and thin, with a bird-like nose and no real outstanding features one way or another. Why Bianca had wasted her ample charms on Firth for the last few months was a mystery to Hawk.

  “I cannot believe it,” a female voice hissed behind him. Her whisper was meant to carry, not hush her words. “Why would Lady Langley invite a fallen woman such as Bianca Clairemont to her soirée? Even if she was once Lady Penfry?”

  A second woman laughed. “My dear, it is only because she was Lady Penfry and is the Earl of Covey’s daughter that she has any allowance into society at all. She’s an absolute hoyden, you know. She’s a half step away from being a common-”

  Hawk turned on the gossiping biddies and arched his famous dark brow. The middle-aged matrons both blushed as bright as schoolgirls before they scattered into the crowd out of his sight. With a smile, he turned back to Bianca.

  She was wearing a blue gown, not quite the vivid color of her eyes, but as close as the dyers could be expected to achieve. It swept down in a low, round neckline to reveal the delectable top slope of her breasts and a hint of the sweet valley between. A gray ribbon was tied beneath, lifting the globes as if in offering. How Hawk wished he could take that offering. Bury himself between them until she moaned. Then he’d pull the mother-of-pearl pins out of her blue-black hair and let the wave of it cascade over him. Drown him.

  Only he couldn’t.

  With a frown, he adjusted subtly to relieve the pressure on his now swollen cock. Bianca was a treasure he couldn’t taste. No matter how much he wanted to sample the sweetness of her lush body.

  But he could watch her and did as she released Firth’s arm and glided forward on her own. By the wicked turn of her lips, it was clear she was aware of being center of attention. As she passed, the men drew nearer like flies to the sweetest honey and the women actually turned jade with jealousy. They all hated her. Like the women behind him, they believed she was one step away from… From what?

  Hawk’s smile broadened. Bianca was one step away from so very many things. His bed for one. Or so it seemed sometimes by the way she presented herself to him so provocatively.

  Her gaze swept over the crowd in one smooth movement and immediately she caught sight of him. Her coral pink lips swept back in a wide, unladylike grin. One that sent blood rushing back to his groin as she strolled his way.

  Hawk straightened and readied himself for the storm that was Bianca. His gambling partner. His obsession. The widow of his best friend.

  His smile turned to a frown. That last one always took the heat out of his erection.

  “There you are.” As Bianca reached his side, she tapped his arm with her fan in a playful gesture. Light danced in her eyes and desire. Always desire.

  He wanted to be triumphant when he saw that need in her. To know she could have, and had had so many other men, but wanted him. Only it didn’t. Not after what had happened to her husband.

  He shrugged off his thoughts and put on his very best dashing persona. “Bianca, I didn’t notice you arrive.”

  She threw back her head and laughed, filling the air around them with the husky sound. Hawk fought the urge to close his eyes and simply enjoy it. With careful control, he was able to remain passive.

  Bianca’s laughter faded into a genuine smile. “Hawk, you naughty man, don’t lie to me. I saw you watching me all the way from the door.” With a wink, she leaned closer and allowed Hawk a brief whiff of her scent. Wild like rainwater on heather. Her voice dropped one level. “I was melting from it.”

  Hawk swallowed hard. Bianca was teasing him, playing as she always did, but God help him, her words affected him. If he had his way, he would drop to his knees right this very moment, flip up her skirts and taste her for the whole damned ton to see. Consequences, gossip and propriety be damned.

  Instead, he shook his head and played along. “I doubt that.”

  For a brief moment, he thought he saw real emotion play across Bianca’s face. From time to time he caught those glimpses of the real woman beneath the playful, sensual mask. But they were fleeting. Gone before he could savor them.

  “But I did save you from that hideous gaggle of grasping debutantes, didn’t I? Don’t I deserve some kind of reward for that?” She batted her long, dark eyelashes.

  Hawk looked down at her and lost himself in her eyes for just the briefest moment. A long string of fantasies danced before his face at her suggestive comment. An image of him kissing her, stripping her of all the layers of gown and underskirt until she lay naked on his bed and then taking her. Letting his cock slide into her inch by inch until she pulsated around him wildly.

  “Hawk?” She wrinkled her brow. “Are you even attending?”

  He swallowed hard and somehow managed to keep a precarious rein on control. He gave her a dry smile and said, “When we next play cards, I shall give you a hand for free as a reward, how about that?”

  She pursed her lips. “Oh, damn. I had hoped you might forgive all my vowels to you.”

  Hawk tilted his chin back and let out a long, loud burst of lau
ghter. He was vaguely aware of the female heads that pivoted in his direction at the sound, but was too focused on Bianca to care. “You would need to save me from a ravenous pack of lions to make me forget the entirety of your debt. A hand at cards is far too generous as it is.”

  Bianca’s mouth twitched around the corners and a dimple appeared in her cheek as she took a breath in preparation to retort. Before she could say whatever wicked thing was on her mind, Hawk caught a glimpse of her father coming from the corner of his eye. Her father and two of her three brothers. All three looked more than a little pissed.

  “Brace yourself,” he whispered as he motioned his head in their direction.

  She peeked over her shoulder and grimaced, just as her father reached her elbow.

  “Bianca.” Lord Covey said as he folded his arms in a pose of utmost displeasure. While the older gentleman concentrated on his daughter, Bianca’s brothers both focused entirely on Hawk.

  “Papa.” Bianca smiled as if she couldn’t have been happier to see her father.

  Her lie seemed convincing, but Hawk knew better. Their relationship had been strained even before her husband, Oscar’s death, though he didn’t know the cause of the rift.

  “I didn’t know any of you would be here. What a nice surprise.” She pressed a kiss against her father’s wrinkled cheek, but the man wouldn’t be deterred by her considerable acting skills.

  “Come with me,” he said in a low voice filled with warning.

  She laughed, but again Hawk saw that fleeting flash of emotion. This time he identified it as frustration, anger and even a little fear. “You are being abominably rude, Father. Can’t you see I am in the middle of something with Hawk–Mr. Hawkins, here?”

  Lord Covey turned his gaze on Hawk and sniffed with distain. Hawk returned his glare with a cool smile, but never turned away from Bianca’s two menacing brothers. “My lord.”

  Covey ignored his greeting. “Now, Bianca.”

  Bianca rolled her eyes toward Hawk, as if they were in this together, then took her father’s arm. “Yes, Papa, of course.”

  The moment they were out of sight, Bianca’s eldest brother, Henry Renfire glared at Hawk. “Don’t think I am not aware of what you are attempting.”

  Hawk masked a smile while he kept an eye on the folded-armed Philip Renfire. “Attempting, my lord? I was simply having a civil conversation with your sister. One she initiated, I might add.” He pressed a hand to his chest as if offended. “I certainly wouldn’t be so rude as to snub a lady. That would be grounds for calling me out, would it not?”

  Henry pushed up on him, invading Hawk’s space despite being a few inches shorter and not nearly as strong. Hawk had to admire him for his balls. Not only was he willing to tangle with a larger man, but he was willing to make a scene in a public place. Obviously Bianca’s family was more worried about her than she knew.

  “Just leave her be. She has enough problems without you pulling her back into that depraved existence her so-called husband created. I can only imagine the life you would have for her would be far worse.”

  Hawk arched an eyebrow as Henry gave him a rough push, then he and his brother stormed off into the crowd.

  With a sigh, Hawk ignored the pointed stares of those who had overheard the argument and headed for the nearest tray of drinks. As he downed a glass of champagne in one gulp, he contemplated what Henry Renfire had said.

  Hawk could only imagine the life he would create for Bianca, too. And sensuality would only be the beginning of the pleasures they shared.

  ***

  “Papa, there’s no need to drag me across the room.” Bianca gave her father’s arm a gentle squeeze as she struggled to keep up with his long strides. “I doubt Hawk will pursue me. Especially with Henry and Philip attacking him at your orders.”

  She tossed a glance over her shoulders and was proven right. Hawk was surrounded by her two brothers, but he looked bored rather than menaced. His gray eyes never revealed his emotions and every dark hair was perfectly in place. He was as beautiful as always and even across a room, he made her heart leap.

  Her father stopped at the edge of the dance floor to face her. His entire demeanor was full of painful disapproval. Bianca had grown accostomed to that look in the last few years, but it never ceased to cause her pain and a flash of anger. Still, she longed for the days when his smile was full of pride. She simply wasn’t willing to pay the price for his support. Not when her father had created the life she now lived through his decisions.

  “I wouldn’t put it past Mr. Hawkins to do just that, even if all three of your brothers were holding him back by force.”

  Bianca sighed. She felt the same old arguments coming on and the thought exhausted her before they’d even begun. “Oh, Papa.”

  He led her to a quiet corner, away from the throng and their listening ears. Placing one hand on each of her barely clad shoulders, he said, “You’re only hurting yourself with your behavior. Please abandon your wild ways and come home to your family.”

  Clenching her teeth, she said, “You were the one who sent me away from my home and family when you arranged my marriage. If you do not like how that marriage changed me, I hardly think you can put the blame entirely on my shoulders.”

  His face darkened. How he hated to be reminded of that truth.

  His voice dropped lower. “I never thought your marriage would be as it was, Bianca. But now that Oscar is long dead, you don’t have to continue down the path he made for you. You can come home.”

  She rolled her eyes discreetly. It seemed they had this conversation weekly now. Her father had made it more than clear that he didn’t approve of the sensual life she’d lead with her husband, Oscar Clairemont. And he was even less pleased with the way she had behaved since Oscar’s tragic death. She had taken her husband’s generous inheritance and the unheard of freedom he gave her in his last will and gone on living their decadent life. Her string of lovers had been legendary and often public.

  Why shouldn’t she live as she pleased? She had learned well from her marriage that no one could protect her but herself. So she lived for pleasure and the control her lifestyle afforded her. Over her own emotions and over the relationships she kept. Never again would she allow a man to determine her fate.

  If she did as her father asked, she would be dragged back to the staid, bound life she lead before she was liberated. Her father would be free to choose another husband for her, another future in which she had no say.

  She tilted her head as she reined in her anger. “Papa, we cannot continue to have the same argument over and over. You already know my answer.”

  His lips thinned into a sad frown that touched her, even when she tried to remain immune. “I know more than that, Bianca.”

  “More?”

  “I know you’ve been gambling in the-” He bit off the sentence as if it tasted rotten. “In the hells.”

  Bianca’s heart leapt. Though her comings and goings were often the topic of vicious gossip, her gambling habits were much more secretive. Mostly because the men who saw her gamble didn’t want to admit they, too, had been indulging in the debauched underground of the hells.

  And yet her father knew.

  “Where did you hear that?” she asked, careful to keep her tone neutral and even amused. She would not lie to her father to hide her life as if she was ashamed, but she could mislead him with omissions and unspoken denials.

  Her father’s eyes narrowed. “Your brothers saw you there.”

  For a moment Bianca could only stare in stunned silence, but then she shrugged away from his touch and let out a sarcastic laugh. Nothing ever changed. “And were you horrified to learn the three of them were wiling away the hours in the evils of the hells?”

  Her father’s nostrils flared at her defiant tone, but he gave no answer.

  “No, of course you weren’t. Because it is expected that they do some carousing and wild play. Why am I expected to live up to different standards than the one
s you hold them to?”

  “Because you are my daughter!”

  Her father’s loud tone startled her and drew the attention of several nearby guests. The earl scowled at the people who dared stare, then drew Bianca even further away from the crowd.

  He ground his teeth and repeated himself in a much lower tone. “You are my daughter and I know you aren’t faring well. I know you’ve been playing with your ‘friend’ Hawkins. And you’ve been losing.”

  Bianca shrugged. Somehow when she played with Hawk, winning and losing didn’t matter very much. She got far too caught up in their playful banter and the undercurrent of powerful sexual attraction that sparked between them. Days often went by before she fully realized how much she’d lost to him. Yet even when her inheritance dropped significantly after each game, she never quite felt sorry.

  She decided to simply tell as much of the truth as was prudent. “Hawk doesn’t cheat. He’s a perfect gentleman.”

  “Lucius Hawkins doesn’t know the meaning of the word.” Her father’s voice went up again and a few more heads turned in their direction.

  Bianca shook her head. This had to stop before her father had an apoplexy. “Papa, I won’t talk to you about Hawk or any other man I spend time with. You gave up the right to determine my actions and my fate when you sent me into marriage with Oscar. I am who I am because of that decision. I shall not change what I have become. Not for you. Not for anyone.” Ignoring the hurt and angry expression on his face, Bianca reached up to pat his wrinkled cheek. She didn’t hate him. In fact, she loved him deeply. But he didn’t understand and he never had. “Excuse me. I’m sure Everett is looking for me.”

  She turned away to go, but the iron grip of her father’s hand on her elbow stopped her short. Shocked, Bianca looked down at the fingers he had curled around her arm. He hadn’t grabbed her so harshly in her entire life. And he’d never looked at her with such wild desperation, either.