Snuggled under the heavy counterpane, his little spitfire flipped the pages of a small red book. Her thick, old-maidish bathrobe gave him pause. Would she allow him to take their relationship to the next level? According to Lady Anne, the task ahead would be brimming with mortal danger. Both he and Kailyn needed the strength love gave them to make it through. It would be so simple if he could just order her to adore him. But the way his luck was going she’d take it the wrong way if he suggested they sleep together.
A rustle from the bed jerked him out of his reflections.
Abruptly Kailyn sat up, pointing an accusing finger at him. “After reading this entire diary, I think we’re missing an important element.”
He stopped just short of the bed. For a moment, he’d hoped she was going to leap into his arms, but her belligerent expression dashed that thought, replacing it with frustration. He’d never had trouble attracting women. Why was the most important woman in his life so difficult to charm?
“What’s missing?” he managed to ask.
“Trust.”
“I trust you.”
In one swift motion, he caught her hand and pulled her to the edge of the bed even as he closed the distance between their bodies. She wouldn’t escape this time.
But, before he could sample her sweetness, she put a finger on his lips. “Then why haven’t you trusted me with the full story?”
“Because you’d run.”
Tilting her head, she narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m still here. If you want me to stay past tomorrow morning, you’d better start talking.”
Spencer dropped his hands from her sides. The woman was impossible. Why had Lady Anne saddled him with such a bullheaded partner? “You can’t make this easy, can you?”
“Things that are too easy aren’t worthwhile.” She flashed him a saucy grin as if she knew she’d won.
“Then you must be worth a king’s ransom because you’re the most obstinate person I’ve ever met. Come with me.”
He thought he heard her giggle as he grabbed her hand and they headed toward his room.
A few minutes later he entered his apartment, towing her behind him. Although she hadn’t resisted, she’d muttered rather loudly about his pace being too fast for her short legs and bare feet. Not that he intended to slow down until he reached the connecting door to the earl’s suites.
Opening the door to her room, he let go of her hand. “Retrieve the brooch you wore at the ball and return through this door. I want to show you something.”
Kailyn slipped through the doorway, resisting the urge to ask more questions. Perhaps now she’d discover what she needed to do to keep Markham safe.
Her ball gown—the brooch still attached—lay in a heap on the open trunk. She unfastened the pin and sighed. Stopping Markham’s kiss hadn’t been her wisest move. She still needed to seduce the man. Yet, if this relationship was going to work, they needed to iron out a few wrinkles between them before they jumped into bed.
She hesitated at the sight of the condoms Crystal had stashed in the corner of the trunk. She’d assumed the protection was wishful thinking on Crystal’s part until now. Taking a deep breath, she slid them into her pocket. She’d stay positive and assume she’d need them tonight.
Her heart thumped in her throat as she retraced her steps to Markham’s room.
Spencer heard her enter and prayed that what he had to offer wouldn’t scare her away. In a slow, careful motion, he withdrew the old broadsword from the safe and turned toward her.
Surprise flitted across her face when she spotted the ancient weapon in his hand.
He set the heavy sword on his bed. “The First Earl of Ryne carried this sword at Bosworth Field to help Henry Tudor become king.” Waving her over to the bed, he pointed at the hilt. “Do you see the indentation in the handle?”
She leaned forward and ran her fingertip around the edge of the impression. “It’s the shape of the brooch.”
At the wonder in her expression, he continued, “Correct—” Before he could relate the rest of the story, she bent to set the brooch in its rightful place.
“Wait!” He lunged and grabbed her hand. “Before you connect the brooch with the sword, you need to understand the commitment it represents. Once it’s done, it can’t be undone.”
Lifting the brooch from her hand, he placed it next to the weapon. “The sword represents Ryne’s power and responsibility.” He swallowed but kept his gaze on her face. “Each unmarried earl finds the sword without the brooch. It means he hasn’t found the reason or the passion to protect Ryne. When his chosen one offers the brooch, he must present the sword to her. He pledges his protection and undying loyalty to the woman who brings the passion and reason for him to succeed.”
“What exactly do you mean by reason and passion?”
He inhaled. What he said now would either make or break their chances at happiness. “Before each earl and his intended accept their responsibilities as the keepers of Ryne, they must bond into a single unit—a partnership so strong they can successfully face any threat or adversity.”
She studied the sword. “Are there any other catches I should know about?”
“Just one. When you place the brooch into the sword, you must pledge your loyalty, servitude and obedience to Ryne.”
Silence descended over the room.
He held his breath as she just stared at the two objects on the bed.
“Are you crazy? No twenty-first century woman is going to pledge servitude and obedience to you.”
Widening his stance, he prepared for the most important debate of his life. “Before you reject the pledge, hear me out.” He waited for her to nod, then plunged into his rehearsed speech. “Every job has responsibility. As the leaders of the community, we owe service to the town, our tenants, our staff and our family. Our vow is a promise to consider their needs as well as our own desires. In some cases, the community’s need will outweigh or be contrary to ours.”
Hands on her hips, Kailyn glared at him. Obviously his definition of service hadn’t waylaid her fears.
“So are you going to claim it’s in the best interest of the Ryne community for me to stay here? I renovate the castle, while you hightail it to London?”
If only he’d invited her to Ryne instead of trapping her in a fake job interview, she might be less indignant. “No. Originally I considered that solution. However, now that I’ve gotten to know you, I don’t consider it an option. I want you with me.”
When her expression remained wary, he added, “I won’t ask you to do anything I wouldn’t be willing to do. Our decisions will be made—or rather negotiated—together. Once made, I expect both of us to adhere to them.”
Her confrontational stance grew downright angry. “You’ll have to do better than that.”
How could he make her understand he wasn’t a tyrant out to dupe her? “An earl has many duties. As my countess you’ll share in my responsibilities. If we make good choices, our lives will be enriched and those of hundreds of others will be better. If we make poor choices, we will be poorer, but so will all those who depend on the estate. I value your intelligence and problem-solving skills. I expect your help and input on the challenges we face.”
Her eyes no longer shot blazing bullets at him. “I can handle service, not servitude.”
Maybe the negotiations were working, but he had the feeling she wasn’t finished yet.
“Let’s tackle the next issue,” she said, proving him right. “I won’t ever promise blind obedience.”
“Somehow I knew you’d object.” He sighed. It would be so much easier if she could learn to trust him. He wasn’t an ogre, although he knew she had no reason to believe that. “I will listen to your arguments and weigh their merits.”
“That’s not enough.” His stubborn fiancée narrowed her eyes. “Whether you are acting as a CEO, an earl or my husband— listening to my opinions is mandatory.”
She poked him in the chest with her index finger. �
�When it comes to any decision affecting me—my career, my obligations as your wife or my personal life—I will have the final say. After listening to your opinion and weighing its merit, I will decide for myself.”
He blew out a breath. “I don’t know if I can give you that much freedom. What if you decide you don’t want to live in England or have my children?”
Silence loomed between them like a heavy mist.
“You’ll just have to trust me to consider your needs before I make my decisions.”
He opened his mouth to argue but quickly shut it. He’d threatened her into staying at Ryne, and that had put her in danger. She had every right to have doubts about his intentions. If he wanted her to trust him, he’d have to take the first step.
“If I grant you equal power in our affairs, I require loyalty in return.”
“As long as the pledge requires you to be faithful to me, also,” Kailyn shot back. “I won’t have a union like Thaddeus and Miranda’s. Their marriage was simply a social convenience.”
Relief rushed through him. “I have no difficulty vowing my loyalty, passion, fidelity and allegiance to you. But love is difficult for me. I’m not sure I understand the emotion.”
“If you’re willing to learn, we can discover it together.”
His gaze was as soft as a caress. “It would be my pleasure to learn about love with you.”
She deliberately picked up the pin and held it.
He waited, praying with every fiber of his being for her to accept the duty and burden of being his wife. It would have been so much easier if they’d met and fallen in love without the blasted pressure of defeating Desdemona.
Kailyn cocked her head and studied Markham. For a man who acted so self-assured, he looked so vulnerable. Yes, he had tricked her into coming to Ryne, but since the interview he’d been honest with her. She could read his hopes and fears for the community and for them in his anxious green eyes.
The searing impact of his gaze erased the last of her doubts. It was cowardly to turn her back on his determination to save his family and those dependent on Ryne. She wasn’t a coward. The battle to win his heart might be a lot more difficult than the war with Desdemona, but she couldn’t let that stop her. She wanted Markham to live and Ryne to prosper.
The brooch grew warm beneath her fingers, urging her to claim her destiny. While her mind still struggled with the fear of being responsible for Markham’s death, her heart plunged ahead. The opportunity to share a future with the sexy, intelligent, challenging, pigheaded man was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure she couldn’t resist.
Taking a deep breath, she slid the brooch into the indention in the hilt. A green haze shimmered around the weapon as Markham leaned over the sword, plucked a small metal bar off the bed and used it to secure the brooch in the weapon. With all the solemnity of a wedding vow, he placed their hands on the hilt.
“Now that the weapon and brooch are one, so are we. Together we will lead Ryne to a brighter future through our loyalty, service and devotion.”
There was no turning back. Her heart thudded in her throat. Thank goodness she wouldn’t have to follow Crystal’s advice and seduce him after all.
Chapter 23
After a moment’s silence, Markham lifted her hand and kissed it. Then he slowly turned to replace the sword in the safe.
Kailyn studied his stiff back, the wide shoulders that tapered down to narrow hips. No matter what he had in mind, she’d teach him their marriage would bubble over with love, friendship, excitement, delight and boisterous debates. It was just a matter of devising the correct spark to ignite passion between them.
Romance seemed so easy in novels. The heroine gave the hero an inch, and the man took over. She glanced down at her old robe and comfy boxers. Nothing to tempt Markham. How did she give him that inch?
While his back was still turned, she pulled her robe open enough to expose her legs and sat on the edge of his bed in what she hoped was a sexy come-on. What was it that he’d teased her with in the music room?
She racked her brain, trying not to ruin the pose. Oh yeah. “Are you hungry for dessert?”
His back still to her, the aggravating man shook his head. “There’s another step to this ritual.”
Blast. Her shoulders slumped. Being sexy was a lot harder in real life than in the movies.
Before she could regroup, a solemn Markham walked over to her, got down on one knee and flipped her robe closed.
So much for sex appeal.
“Will you wear the Ryne engagement diamond to show the world our commitment to each other?” He laid his hand, palm up, on her knee.
A gigantic diamond winked in the dim light, wiping out all thoughts of seduction. The jewel had to be a bazillion carats and worth a fortune. She hoped it would glue itself to her finger like the emerald, so she wouldn’t lose the gosh-darn thing.
“Yes,” she managed to whisper.
Markham lifted her left hand and slid the ring onto her finger. “Now what did you say about dessert?” A devilish twinkle flickered in his green eyes.
She threw herself into his open arms. Maybe this sex stuff wasn’t going to be that hard.
Slipping his shirt buttons open, she ran her fingers up his chest exploring the coarse, curly hair. His sleek muscles bunched at her touch. She smiled. He wasn’t immune to her caress. As he bent his head in response, she reveled in the hunger glowing in his eyes.
He nipped her ear before pulling back to look at her. “Will you share my bed tonight?”
She batted her eyelashes at him. Silly man. Her hand left his chest and plunged into the pocket of her bathrobe. She waved the three foil packets in front of his face. “Does this look like a ‘no’ to you?”
He laughed and pulled her into a bear hug. “Only three?”
When he couldn’t stop laughing, she smacked his arm, jumped off the bed and headed toward her room. “The heroes in romance novels never laugh at the heroine’s inexperience. If you’re going to be a jerk, you can just wait.”
Before she’d taken two steps, he scooped her up in his arms.
“I’m sorry. I was teasing. Surely you’ve enough experience to realize that.”
“No.” She buried her nose in his chest. A thirty-year-old woman shouldn’t be forced to admit she was still a virgin.
He sat down on the bed, apparently waiting for her to look at him, but she merely burrowed more deeply. Her hand tightened around his neck.
Gently he lifted her chin, turned her head and gazed down at her. “‘No,’ as in you’ve never done this before?”
She shook her head free of his fingers. “I’ve been told my independent attitude scares men away.”
He stared at her then threw back his head and let out a great peal of laughter. “You are remarkable. And more than I deserve. No wonder Lady Anne deemed you the first worthy one to enter the castle in decades.”
He covered her mouth with his, tongue gently stroking her lips until her nervousness dissolved. When she opened her mouth, he enticed the fire back into their embrace.
Slowly she let go of his neck as, curious, she turned her attention to his silky hair. Her fingers speared, caressed and pulled the dark wavy strands. Who knew a man’s hair could provide so much entertainment? Suddenly, a hunger to stroke every inch of his skin swept through her. New sensations and delights inflamed her sex-deprived body.
Markham flopped onto the bed and turned onto his side, pulling her down on her back next to him. Ah, she had finally managed to do what Crystal instructed-seduce him. Best of all, he wanted to take charge. Humming softly, she allowed him to feather delicious kisses across her jaw and down her neck. Every inch of the skin he touched begged for more of his attention. How yummy.
His fingers fumbled with the tie on her blue robe, breaking the mind-boggling sex play. Grasping the tie’s end, he pulled, but the half bow she’d used turned into a knot. Surely it wouldn’t spoil the mood if she solved this tiny little snafu for him. She lightly slapp
ed his hand and sought to take over the task, but he refused to stop tugging at the belt.
“This is getting us nowhere.” She struggled into a sitting position. “Don’t tell me you haven’t done this before either?”
The stunned look on his face was priceless.
She raised an eyebrow when he scowled. With a quick tug, she untied the pesky robe.
“Let’s try this again.” Chuckling, Markham surged off the bed and pulled her to her feet directly in front of him. Before she could protest, he’d stripped her of her robe and pajamas.
When he slid out of his shirt and jeans, the beauty of his full arousal scrambled her senses. Now was not the time to panic.
Fortunately, one of the foil packs lay within easy reach. She ducked down beside the bed, plucked it from the floor and silently handed it to him.
He placed the foil packet on an antique washstand next to the bed before he flipped the covers back. “I do have experience, my dear, and it’s very much to your benefit if I lead now.”
No trace of his sexy dimple showed. This would never do.
“Does your idea of romance include fun, teasing, laughing, hands-on research and fireworks?”
Markham simply stared at her for a moment before he grinned. “Well now, that’s a bit of a tall order. I’ll see what I can do.”
He closed the distance between them, scooped her up, dropped her on the bed and then dove in after her. She felt his hand grasp her ankle. The next thing she knew he was tickling her foot.
She giggled and reached over to tickle his sides. Within seconds, the devilish dimple appeared. His laughter warmed her heart.
Markham gave her no chance to catch her breath before he tackled her, rolling them around until he lay on top, capturing her fully.
“Shall we move to the research part now, my lady?”
The dang man refused to take the hint. She pinched his butt. “There will be no lords or ladies in the bedroom.”
He nipped her collarbone, and she squealed. His hot breath on her sensitive neck made it difficult to think.
Wanted: Ghost-Busting Bride Page 19