Praise for the first book of Mack’s thrilling new
Regency-era series…
“Dark and passionate. Mack weaves a tale of vengeance, brotherhood, and love. Highly sensual and vividly written.”
—Romantic Times on WILD: THE PACK OF ST. JAMES
“Encompasses passion, mystery, and magical wonder…a delightful read. Exactly the sort of book you can sink your ‘reading teeth’ into and devour each and every page and still be ready for more.”
—Romance Junkies on WILD: THE PACK OF ST. JAMES
“This is one hot pack of wolves. The story line will hook you quickly and keep you interested until the last page. The love scenes are scorchers and the climax of the story is incredibly exciting. I cannot wait to read more.”
—Coffee Time Romance on WILD: THE PACK OF ST. JAMES
And more praise for her novels and novellas of erotic romance…
“A sexy romp on the wild side. Compelling characters and chemistry. Mack does an excellent job maintaining sensuality and fire while keeping the reader firmly engaged in the story. Location and theme make this story stand out. A true page-turner.”
—Romantic Times on NIGHTS IN BLACK SATIN, a Top Pick! (4 1/2-star review)
“Original and romantic time-traveling fantasy.”
—Romantic Times on Noelle Mack’s story in SEXY BEAST II
“Hot sex, humor, and great details about advertising…a winner. Sizzling and innovative.”
—Romantic Times on JUICY, a Top Pick! and winner of the 2007 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award for Erotic Romance
“Incredibly sensual and well-done.”
—Romantic Times on Noelle Mack’s novella THE HAREM
“Mack does a great job of blending sensuality, sexuality, and humor…memorable characters and stories that are romantically satisfying.”
—Romantic Times on RED VELVET (4-star review)
“A truly sensual story that will titillate and captivate readers.”
—Romantic Times on THREE (4-star review)
“The queen of seduction meets the king of rakes. Sensual, sexual, stupendous. A truly fabulous erotic romance.”
—Harriet Klausner Reviews on THREE
Also by Noelle Mack
WILD: THE PACK OF ST. JAMES
JUICY
NIGHTS IN BLACK SATIN
ONE WICKED NIGHT
RED VELVET
THREE
Anthologies containing novellas by Noelle Mack
THE HAREM
PERFECT KISSES
SEXY BEAST
SEXY BEAST II
Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation
WANTON
The Pack of St. James
NOELLE MACK
KENSINGTON BOOKS
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com
for the friendly wolf at the door…
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Epilogue
1
London, 1816…
Marko was sure he’d fallen in love with her almost against his will. Severin bewitched him instantly. He’d needed an escape, needed the noise and frivolity of a crowded ball. And then he’d seen her…
She waited demurely in a corner with downcast eyes, sitting in a chair that he supposed had been brought for her to sit in by some other admirer, who had conveniently disappeared to fetch a glass of punch. Or so he hoped.
Marko sensed she was anything but demure. Her gown was daringly low-cut, made of subtly striped velvet that fell in voluptuous folds beneath her half-bared bosom and looked from a distance like the valuable fur of some rare and dangerous cat. He looked at the hands folded in her lap, and noted that her nails were beautifully shaped and—were they touched with gold? The unusual adornment added to her exotic appearance and was sensual in the extreme. He wanted to kiss each pretty fingertip one by one, feel her gilded nails rake his back…
She rubbed one hand absently over the other. He could well imagine being caressed by her. Marko collected himself. He did not want to be caught staring.
“Who is she?” he whispered to Denis, grateful that the youngest man in the Pack, the one they all called the cub, had agreed to come along with him tonight. Of late Denis had cut an amorous swath through the crème de la crème of female London, dark hair pomaded, strong neck dabbed with musky cologne. He represented an extreme of male style but it worked. Denis had to stay a step ahead of a few outraged husbands, who, of course, were unfaithful themselves as a rule. Still, his cubbish interest in who was sleeping with whom, married or not, meant he kept up with the latest London gossip and his information was generally accurate. It worked to Marko’s advantage, as he tended to avoid social occasions, not having the time for many.
“I am not sure,” Denis said, to Marko’s surprise. “She has an odd name—I don’t remember it. Not married, as far as I know. And she is not upon the town.”
Marko nodded, studying her. “Then what does she do?”
“I believe that she is an arbiter of fashion or something like that. She is not a dressmaker, though—far from it. A friend of mine pointed her out to me once, but I was rather drunk at the time.”
“And that is why you don’t recall her name.”
“Exactly. But I do remember that my friend called her something odd. A mistress of illusion, I believe. Yes, that was what she said.”
“How interesting.” Marko’s curiosity about the self-contained beauty in the corner grew sharper. If only she would look up and let him catch her eye. He needed a pretext to talk to her.
“Do excuse me,” Denis was saying.
“Of course.”
“Good luck, old man.” Denis raised his glass.
Marko scowled at him. He could have done without the “old man.” He was not that much older than Denis. But then, he thought with a sigh, Denis was still a cub, for all his sexual adventurousness.
He crossed the room to the woman in the corner. She raised her dark head and gave him a melting look from eyes the color of amber. Marko was mesmerized. There was a knowing quality in her gaze that he found