by Lilly Gayle
Gilchrest lowered his head in humble apology. “How well I remember, my love.”
Abby looked at Jack who looked at Gilchrest. “Another long story?”
Gilchrest smiled. “Very long. So, perhaps we should save it for some other time. Because if I am not mistaken, I smell leg of lamb, and I am starving.”
Nikki and Abby rose and the men came to their feet as well. Jack smiled. “You remembered leg of lamb is my favorite.”
Offering a sheepish smile, Gilchrest lowered his chin as he draped an arm around his wife. “Not quite. Nikki remembered and asked Cook to prepare it for you.”
“She’s also making you a very special birthday cake,” Nikki said.
Abby smiled and looked into her husband’s eyes, feeling loved and cherished, not just by him, but by his friends. And for the first time in her life, she did not feel as if she did not fit in. She felt accepted and loved for the woman she was. That feeling of acceptance continued throughout the meal and late into the evening as the two couples adjourned into the drawing room after supper to discuss everything from the toilet training of children to world events. And neither Jack nor Gilchrest reprimanded their wives for voicing their opinions. It was as if they considered their wives equals.
It was more than Abby had ever hoped for in a marriage, and as she climbed the stairs to the guest chambers, her head spun. After Jack made love to her until she was gasping and weak, the entire room spun.
With a sigh of contentment, Jack collapsed by Abby’s side as satiated and spent as Abby herself. Yet even before his breathing slowed to a normal pace, he rose up on his good elbow and smiled down at her. His warm, sweat-slick body heated her skin. His adoring eyes warmed her heart.
“Any man can tell a woman she is beautiful,” he said, “but I want to make you feel beautiful. Always.”
Despite the anticipation rising in her throat, she managed to snort. “Not a difficult task. Flowery compliments offered by a stranger can make a woman feel beautiful.”
He stopped her protest with his lips, kissing her gently. Sweetly. Then he raised his head, and she could see the love he felt for her shining in his eyes. “But I want to make you feel more than that. I want to make you feel needed.” He kissed her cheek. “Wanted.” He kissed her forehead. “Desired.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “And loved beyond measure.”
Her heart soared, feeling all the love he offered and more. There was no containing what she felt for him, or what he felt for her. She could feel his love in the depths of her soul. But before she could respond, his mouth fused to hers, stopping her breath and nearly stopping her heart. Then he raised his chin, his glorious, loving gaze meeting hers. “I love you.”
Her throat constricted. She pulled him closer, until their foreheads touched. “Forever. I love you forever.”
“Forever,” he agreed, and sealed his vow with a kiss.
If you enjoyed SLIGHTLY NOBLE, you might also like to meet Jack before he was a viscount, in Lilly Gayle’s SLIGHTLY TARNISHED, a historical romance that features the Earl of Gilchrest (Chad) and his American wife (Nicole).
Available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
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“Lilly Gayle spins a tale one part suspense and one part family dysfunction. Shocking revelations float throughout the novel…keeps the reader turning pages.”
~RT Book Reviews
“Mystery, intrigue, love, and romance all come together to form a…good story with strong characters and a satisfying plot.”
~Let’s Talk Romance Reviews, July 2011
“This book shows that with the right person you can overcome many challenges and find love and acceptance. I highly recommend this book as a fast paced book, with wonderful characters and an excellent story line.”
~The Romance Studios
“Ms. Gayle’s plot is full of twists and turns and peopled with vibrant secondary characters that are nearly as interesting as the hero and heroine.”
~Night Owl Reviews (a Top Pick, October 2011)
“Ms. Gayle weaves a delightful tale that keeps you entertained and wanting to keep turning those pages to find out what happens next. …you will have to read this enjoyable story that not only captivates the reader but steals your heart as well. A must read!”
~Romancing the Book
A word about the author…
Lilly Gayle is a wife, mother of two grown daughters, a new grandmother, and a breast cancer survivor. She lives in North Carolina with her husband. When not working as an x-ray technologist and mammographer, Lilly writes paranormal and historical romances.
You can visit her at:
http://lillygayle.com
http://facebook.com/lillygaylebooks
http://twitter.com/lillygromwriter
Thank you for purchasing
this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.