There is nothing Matthias Deverell, illegitimate son of a marquis, wants more than to remove the murmurs of treason that haunt his father’s name. He is determined to do just that, even if it means completing the nearly impossible task of reassembling the globe his father used as a safe. With pieces spread all over London, it will take all of Matthias’ considerable skill at intimidation to retrieve them. Nicholas Rexford, young Viscount Leighton, wants only to be able to provide a comfortable life for himself and his three sisters. After being left in near-poverty thanks to their father’s spending and gambling, Nick is desperate to find a business venture he can invest in to turn their fortunes around. Sadly, he has no head for business, preferring to spend his time engrossed in horrid novels. When Matthias finds Nick in possession of a piece of the globe, he believes the handsome young man to be in on the scheme, and decides to keep a closer eye on him. But when Nick meets Matthias, he is enthralled by the “dark and dangerous bastard” who could have stepped out of one of his novels. Despite his suspicions, Matthias is drawn to Nick, but will his suspicions destroy what is developing between them and cost Matthias a chance at happiness?

The Bastard's World

Matthias tossed Leighton’s tall beaver hat over to his abandoned seat so that he could bear Leighton back against the velvet-covered cushions. Pausing only long enough to strip off his gloves with his teeth, Matthias captured Leighton’s mouth again and fumbled for the knot of the man’s cravat. Fortunately, Leighton subscribed to Brummel’s rules of simplicity and untying the cravat took little trouble. With quick, sharp movements, Matthias unwrapped the linen, and applied his mouth to the Leighton’s neck as soon as there was a patch of skin bared.


Leighton let out a gasp and tilted his head back, offering up his throat to Matthias. Gratifying though that was, Matthias wasn’t about to lose himself completely in the pleasures of the body beneath him. A very firm, well-shaped body, from what little Matthias could tell with the many layers of clothing between them.


Chapter 26