by Diana Ballew
Lorelei withdrew the letter inside and read silently. A minute later she raised tear-filled to his. “Brandon ... is dead?” Her voice cracked.
Thorne jerked her to him, held her tightly against his chest. “I’m sorry, darling. We shall find the culprits. Someone must know something. However long it takes, we shall learn what happened to him.”
She pulled out of his arms, went to the window, and passed a hand over her eyes. “I’m a horrid wife, accusing you of sending him off. You would never have considered such vile actions.” She looked out at the night sky. “And me. Demanding you pay me to stay. Using your honor to keep you from your rights as a husband.” Her head fell into her hands. “It’s unforgivable, Thorne. Not to mention my inability to give you a child.”
“Is that what this is about? The fact that you have yet to give me a child?” He was almost angry that she could think so little of him. Yet, that was the purpose of most ton marriages, wasn’t it? Property, prestige, heirs. He smiled. “Is it? Unforgivable, I mean?”
“Don’t tease, my lord,” she said through her hands. “Not about that.”
He took her by the shoulders, turned her to him, lifted her chin. “Lorelei, darling. It isn’t so wrong to want financial independence of your own. If something were to happen to me ... ” He slipped his arms around her waist, held firm at her weak struggle to escape. “I know it’s no consolation, but Harlowe has fathered a child, and his ... his, well, Miss Hollerfield has nothing or no one. She shall have to depend on us ... on you and me. And, as far as giving me a child—I will hear no more on that score—we have the rest of our lives if it is to be. That is something out of our hands. But know this: no matter what our fate, I will always choose you and pray that you always choose me.”
“Oh, Thorne.” Her voice was a whispered hiccup.
“Sh. Your actions were not so unforgivable, my darling. Besides—” He laid his lips on her neck. “You weren’t so successful in keeping me from taking advantage of you. Don’t you remember?”
“Of course, I remember.” She threw her arms about his neck. “I’m so sorry, darling. It’s just that I love you so much. If something should ever happen to you, I never wish to marry out of necessity. I would rather suffer poverty and starvation than to have some stranger’s hands on me.”
It took a full two minutes for his brain to absorb her words. She loved him. He hugged her into his body. “I love you, too. Which is exactly why I met with my solicitors two weeks ago. I won’t ever have you worrying over finances. And the thought of someone else’s hands on you—well, that would drive me to murder.” He lifted her legs around his hips, ground his erection against her heat, kissed her hard.
A second later, he trailed kisses down her neck, bit and then licked her shoulder. Her rapid breaths increased to pants. “Oh, Thorne, truly? You love me?”
“There’s never been anyone but you. There will never be anyone but you.” His desire threatened to explode in his trousers. He carried her to the bed, fought her skirts until he heard them rip. “I’m sorry, darling, but if I’m not inside you soon ... ” He tore the buttons from his flap, they tinged against the floor. Cool air doused his throbbing cock.
Her fingers wrapped his length and he sucked in a harsh breath. His control was at its limit. She positioned him at her entrance. He breathed slowly to govern his urge. He slid his hands up her thighs, then lifted his gaze to hers. Her love drove him forward. He pulled back and thrust again. She writhed beneath him, her moans his aphrodisiac. He kept up the assault until she pulsed around him in a violent climax, wrenching his own pinnacle into a savage cry of rapture.
“God, I love you. Please, promise me you’ll never leave,” he begged against her neck.
“I’ll never leave you,” she promised.
About the Author
Kathy L Wheeler has a BA in Management Information Systems from the University of Central Oklahoma that includes a vocal minor. She loves the NFL, NBA, musical theater, travel, reading, writing and just to scratch the singing itch.... karaoke. She has authored over sixteen historical and contemporary romances from sweet to spicy in her writing career.
She is a member of the Oklahoma Romance Writers and The Beau Monde chapters of Romance Writers of America. She currently serves as the editor of the current Regency Reader and Novel Notes Authors newsletters.
Kathy lives in Edmond with her attorney and musically talented husband Al. She has one grown daughter who has two adorable children, and one bossy cat, who acts as if she were the rescuer rather than the rescue!!
Find her online:
www.kathylwheeler.com