Excerpt from POSSESSION :

Lucas is the young and passionate heir to the Fides Auction House.  When charismatic Gideon Arnaud intrudes into his life, pursuing him both professionally and personally, Lucas struggles to keep both his freedom and sanity.

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Gideon was much closer now, taller by a head or so, leaning down to breathe his words on me. I felt the heat of his body; smelled the slight coppery tang of his unfamiliar cologne. He tugged at his cravat as if it irritated him, and I was vividly aware of the movement of his arms, tightly muscled and stronger than anything I might show in my defence.

It was ridiculous, but the bizarre, mystifying fear was suddenly back with me, a cold shudder throughout my body. I was angry with myself for being so weak, yet it was a startlingly physical effect.

He sighed, and I wondered if I’d said something aloud. His eyes danced as if with a knowledge of every thought I’d ever had, every cry I’d ever given in the dark of the night. “It’s frightening, isn’t it? But don’t fear me, Lucas. You have power, too. A strength of will, that in one so young is both impressive and delicious. It just needs nurturing. We will work so well together… Damn it Lucas Fides, compared to that, what are rubies?” He turned suddenly, and flung the final stone across the room. It fell against the dresser, rattling the bone china inside, rippling the reflection of the room in the glass doors.

His voice snapped angrily. “Your magnificence is trapped amongst these milk and water creatures, peddling their goods for them for the sake of a commission and a paltry reputation that will likely never survive three more generations!” There was a growl underlying his words: the air in the room seemed to resonate with it. “You deserve so much more--I’ve waited too long to see you to this age, to this place, to this readiness!”

He turned back swiftly, and caught me off balance, his hand gripping my shoulder. I didn’t try to pull away, but looked up into his eyes. What had made me think they were mere brown? There was gold there, and the red of his own rubies, like blood against his lashes. They held the flames of the fire: they captured my own shock and swirling confusion. I felt his other hand trace its fingers along the base of my jaw. It was a touch both possessive and sensual.

“Beautiful…” he murmured. “And ready, at last.”

“What are you saying?” My voice was hoarse, and I wrenched my head away from him. “You have never met me before. I decide when I’m ready for whatever I want to do.”

He shrugged. He looked a little angry now, as if he hadn’t expected my resistance to him. “And you will decide you want to join me, very soon. It’s what you want; what you crave. I make no secret of the fact that I want to be your first, and you will give me that honor. I demand it!”

“You demand it?” Then I felt the anger rise up in me, too. “You will demand nothing of me, for you talk a wild, uncouth nonsense, and you touch me without my permission, and you assume a familiarity with me that I allow to no-one!” I knew I was shouting―I wondered why Valentine didn’t hear me and rush back in. “My first? What does that mean? How patronizing and offensive will you be, Arnaud, before I call people to have you thrown out of my home?”

For the first time, his confidence appeared to waver. His eyes flashed with something uncertain. “It means whatever you wish it to. Your partner―your companion. You need only touch me to know what I can bring to you.” His brow creased, just a slight puzzlement. “You mustn’t try to resist me, Lucas. It’s meant to be; your place is to be mine.”

“Dear God!” I exclaimed. Such outrageous words!

His hand tightened on my shoulder. “Can’t you feel it, Lucas? Can’t you feel it inside you? The need for me! It’s strong today, in this household, with me near you. You’ve been calling me to you for years, now―”

I shook my head, vehemently. “There’s nothing inside me but my father’s determination and business skills, and the love for my family and friends.”

His eyes flashed with renewed excitement―he wasn’t fazed in any way at my own rudeness. In fact, he seemed to welcome it. “And such spirit! I cannot think of a more stimulating mixture of youth and resolve. You shine, Lucas. Everything about you cries out to me―I felt it even before I entered your house.”

“Leave now,” I said, my words tight and awkward in my mouth. “At once.”