Are you afraid?
Yes, she replied in a soft voice. But I love the way you frighten me.

Lily Chadwick’s family is on the verge of ruin. So when an unscrupulous moneylender auctions her off at a pleasure house to pay for her family’s debt, she has no choice but to comply. Soon she finds herself in the possession of the highest bidder-the Earl of Harte-and he’s determined to make Lily his mistress. She begrudgingly accepts the offer as long as she can still be a debutante in public. Crossing paths in society as strangers, they come together in secret during the darkest hours of night, which leaves Lily breathless with terror-and yearning. But when Lily discovers that her lord and master has a dark side and some very painful secrets, it may be enough to tear them apart for good.