Sinful Possession Read Online Free Page A

your shirt.
Where did it come from?” Ash ground out.
    Never before had Lila seen
so much fury and restrained strength. Yes, the earl or the duke or whatever he happened
to be was not in the best of positions, but she had no doubt if Ash wanted to
kill the man, he could with ease. It was a little thrilling for some strange
reason.
    “What blood?” Lord Pomade
gargled.
    “On your shirt. Where did it
come from?”
    “A-a nose bleed.” The man’s
voice came out a strangled whisper. “I am prone to them.”
    Ash held him there long
enough that Lila feared the man’s head might simply pop off. Slowly, he
released him, and the Earl of Pomade readjusted his necktie and drew in several
ragged breaths. It was only then that Lila noted the blood spots in the man’s
shirt. Ash had thought him the killer.
    Oh my. Her stomach swooped a
little at the idea of him running to her defence once more. It was much easier
to appreciate when she was not in real danger.
    “Miss Radley.” Duke Pomade
offered a stiff bow and retreated quickly with a wary glance at Ash.
    “Good night, Lord Pom—” She
clapped a hand over her mouth and eased it away. “Good night, my lord.”
    The lord swung a look
between them both and clearly concluded they were the maddest people he had
ever encountered. Before she could scold Ash for his awful manners, a gentleman
approached. One of the policemen, she realised. He wasn’t wearing a bobby’s
uniform, but she’d heard someone call him Chief Superintendent.
    The shadows from the street
and his tall hat hid most of his face, but he was at least as old as Lord
Pomade and a hint of grey hair revealed itself when he turned his head to her.
    “Miss Radley, may I have a
word?”        
    She nodded, glancing back at
Ash to see his fierce scowl. Lila held up a palm as though trying to assuage
the beast. He gave a resigned dip of his head and backed away.
    “How can I help?” she said
to the officer.
    “If you will just come with
me, Miss Radley.”
    The officer took her arm.
She released a tiny startled sound. She’d been manhandled plenty this night,
but she hardly expected an officer of the law to touch her inappropriately.
Tugging her arm from his, she turned. “Why do you need me, officer?”
    Her heart stilled when
lamplight flooded his face. It had been dark before and all she had really
focused on was the knife. But she saw it now. The killer. Her knees nearly gave
way, but the man grabbed her.
    No, this wasn’t a man. He
was a monster. In the depth of those ice-grey eyes, she saw the truth. Here was
a killer, a man who thirsted for blood. An understanding ran between them. She’d
been in the wrong place at the wrong time and now she’d pay for it. Now he
wanted her blood.
    Her skin grew hot and
prickly. The need to act flooded her veins. She twisted, but he grabbed her by
her hair and clamped a hand over her mouth. She screamed against a clammy palm
and stomped her foot down hard but her slippers had little effect. He was
easily over six feet tall. She had no chance against him.
    This wasn’t how it was
supposed to be. Her debut was going to be an endless parade of parties and
flirtations. Now she would likely suffer the same as that poor man. Torn apart
by a blade. The images of blood and flesh tearing filled her mind and the thud
in her head began to deafen. Her vision grew blurry, but she pushed down hard
with her feet again and wriggled against his hold. Lila tried to open her mouth
to bite on his hand. However, he had her mouth clamped painfully shut.
     A cry tore from her,
muffled by the damp palm. Whether it was her imagination going wild nor not,
she could have sworn the metallic scent of blood clung to the chief. Her
stomach gave a little lurch, and she cried out again as he dragged her farther
into the shadows—away from everyone. Away from her rescuer.
    The gloom of the alleyway
swallowed them. Water from deep puddles soaked her shoes and splashed up her
stockings while