His Ruthless Bite | Historical Paranormal Romance: Vampires (Scandals With Bite Book 4) Read Online Free Page A

grip. Yet still she cringed. He nearly released her and apologized, but instead he held firm, trying to prove that he would not hurt her. Though he softened his tone. “Now think about this. All of London’s vampires know the lurid details of your captivity. I imagine you’ve endured some discomfiting scrutiny.”
    Biting her lower lip, she tentatively nodded. “Yes, but—”
    “But,” he cut her off, “here in Rochester, your past is unknown to my people. You could begin your life anew here.”
    For a moment, hope flashed across her delicate features like a ray of sunlight. Then her trembling resumed. “But I am not suitable to be a baroness. I was a match girl, and after that, a mere laborer in a factory. I wouldn’t know the first thing about the duties of a Lady.”
    “Not to worry. One of my people shall help instruct you in all you need to know. Elena was a viscountess in her mortal years and poses as one to this day.”
    Lenore’s full lips curved in a frown. “Then why don’t you marry her ?”
    Gavin laughed. Ah, there was that thread of iron. “I did, last century. Alas, she finds widowhood more agreeable.”
    Her hands crept up to push him away, then they halted and rested against his chest. A frisson of pleasure jolted through him at the contact.
    Those large brown eyes remained wide with bafflement. “Why do you want to marry me ?”
    He sighed. “The mortals in my lands pester me incessantly when I remain a bachelor too long. I could become a recluse, as so many other vampires in my situation have done, but being a shut-in is far too dull. I enjoy attending balls and the theater. Therefore, there is only one thing I can do to fend off the matchmaking mothers. I find a female vampire to pose as my wife for a few decades.”
    Anne was usually amenable to playing the part, but unfortunately she’d recently fallen in love with the Lord of Salisbury and moved there. And Elena had no desire to repeat the role of mistress to his estate.
    Now Gavin needed a bride, one who would fulfill the role as his baroness quietly and demurely, never causing any scandal. One who would bore the peerage to death, leaving them to turn their attention to another unfortunate bachelor. But most of all, one he could trust.
    Running his fingers lightly along Lenore’s upper arms, Gavin’s lips curved in a satisfied smile. “Your loyalty and cleverness are the very qualities I seek in a wife.”
    “I see.” A tiny frown line appeared between her dark brows as if she were unaccustomed to such praise. “And you swear that our m-marriage will be in name only?”
    “Yes,” he said once again. “Unless you change your mind.” And God help his blackened soul, part of him prayed she would. Even when he’d seen first seen her, bruised and bedraggled, there had been something about her that drew him.
    Her cheeks turned crimson. “When?” she asked.
    “I’d say two months. There will be a small scandal at such haste, but that shall quickly abate when my neighbors see that you do not increase.” Gavin outlined his plan. “Tonight you will go to Elena’s. You shall be her cousin, come to visit, and catch the most eligible bachelor in the village.”
    Lenore shook her head slowly. “Your neighbors will find it hard to believe someone like me would be capable of such a thing.”
    “When they see me lose my heart and woo you, they’ll believe it.” The words came out impatiently. For some reason he disliked her lack of self-regard. “Now, do we have a bargain?”
    Her eyes narrowed. “You never gave me a choice.”
    “That is true. As I said before, marriage is the price I ask for helping you last autumn,” he said with a shameless grin. “But things will proceed much easier if you agree to say ‘I will’.” A strange weight settled in his stomach. What if she refused? Shaking off the unsettling sensation, he continued on. “Which would you prefer? Living in discomfiting notoriety in London, or being a grand