Emma glanced at Michael, her heart soaring with joy before she looked back at her mother. “I’ve never been so happy, Mother.”
“Then I’m happy too.” Her mother hugged her tight and kissed her cheek then did the same to Michael. “So very pleased for both of you.”
“Wishes do come true,” Viscountess Weston said as she beamed. “I couldn’t think of a better match for either of you.”
“A toast to the happy couple,” Lord Ashbury declared. He assisted in acquiring a drink for everyone and then raised his glass. “To Weston and Miss Grisby! To a life filled with joy.”
Everyone raised their glasses high and cheered before drinking.
Still Michael held her hand. That link to him, as simple as it was, strengthened their connection until she felt it in every cell of her body. Again, he pulled her close and kissed her. “I love you,” he said softly.
“And I love you.” She rose up and kissed him.
~*~
Much later, Michael tapped softly at Emma’s door, hoping to find her awake. He couldn’t stand to leave her until he was certain that doubt no longer lingered in her eyes, until he had one last kiss.
Until he could reassure himself that she was his in truth forever.
“Come in.”
With a smile, he opened the door to find her propped up in bed clad in a thin nightgown, her long dark hair unbound, a book on her lap.
After locking the door behind him, he paused, drinking in the delicious sight of her. Joy radiated from her face, reassuring him that all was well. Her aura was bright and made him wonder what was on her mind.
“I was hoping you might stop by.” She crooked her finger at him to come forward. Her confidence delighted him.
His body hardened as he moved toward her to sit on the edge of the bed. “I didn’t want to leave until we had a moment to ourselves. Until I knew you were truly well.” He leaned forward to press a kiss upon her lips. “Until I had one more of those.”
She smiled and bit her bottom lip. “I would prefer more than just a kiss, but we can start there. If you’re feeling well enough, that is.” She glanced in question at his arm.
“I am, thank you.” The pain of his injury was the last thing on his mind. With a catch of his breath at the knowledge that soon she would be his forever, he bent to comply, allowing his passion for this woman free rein at last. Her lips were soft and warm and so sweet, her tongue moving with his. How had he ever believed that his desire for her could be anything but beautiful?
“Emma,” he drew back to look into her luminous brown eyes, “I love you so very much.”
“I love you so very much.” His words cast back at him created a golden glow inside him, one he hoped never died. The joy in her eyes heated, lighting an answering flame deep inside him. “It’s quite warm in here, don’t you think?” She slid his jacket off his shoulders carefully not to jostle his arm, then began to undo his shirt.
“Indeed it is.” As quickly as possible, he shed his clothes and joined her in the bed wearing nothing but his bandage. Desire pulsed hot and strong within him, but he held back, wanting to take his time and savor every inch of her soft form.
She slid down onto the bed and looped her arms around him, running those fingers along his shoulders and in his hair, making him growl with pleasure. Her lips met his as her hands danced along his burning flesh.
He wanted to tell her to slow down but couldn’t find the will to do so. Instead, he moved his hands along her warm body, lingering on her curves, kneading her breasts, then easing up her nightgown so he could caress the length of her.
“Oh, Michael!” Her soft cry pulsed through him, making him heavy with need.
Then she sat up and knelt before him to remove her nightgown. Her naked body took his breath. He couldn’t wait to explore every inch of her. Her gaze caught his and the feminine power he saw there made him tremble. She bent over him, kissing his cheek, his brow, his neck. Her hand trailed a path down his body that her lips followed, first to his rock hard nipple, then lower still to his belly button. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. When she went lower still, pressing her lips to his manhood, he nearly came off the bed. “Christ, Emma. No more.”
Unable to withstand her caresses, he reached for her hands to draw her up and over him as he kissed her deeply. She continued to move as though she liked the feel of his body against hers. The motion made him clench his teeth as he tried to hold on.
She shifted to sit astride him. “Oh, my.” Her eyes widened with wonder at the position.
“I need you. Now,” he demanded, prepared to beg if need be.
“Yes, now.” She swayed her hips, caressing him as if she were some exotic dancer from the Far East. After only a few moments of that torture, he knew his time was limited. There was only one position he wanted to be in when that happened. He lifted her and moved his erection to her very center. Again, she took over, allowing him to touch her soft moist folds as she eased down over him.
“Oh, Michael!”
“Yes, my sweet. Tell me.”
“So good,” she murmured as she resumed her dance, moving and swaying her hips, pulling and tugging at his body until he could bear it no more. Her soft cries followed his as she arched back with her release.
The warm glow wrapped around his heart as Emma collapsed over him, sliding her legs down to tangle with his. Her quick kisses over his chest brought a lump in his throat. Never would he doubt her love for him. Never would he allow her to doubt his love for her. He cupped her chin to kiss her deeply, fervently, before at last drawing back to look at her. “You are such a gift to me. One I don’t deserve. But I will be the best husband you could ever have. I love you, Emma.”
She smiled as she shook her head. “I don’t understand why you would care for me, let alone love me. But I will be the best wife you could ever have.” She placed a chaste kiss on each of his cheeks, then one last one on his lips. “I love you, Michael. I think love this glorious, this right, will bring us joy our entire lives. Forever and always.”
“I cannot wait to have you with me always. I would like to apply for a special license so we might be married as soon as possible.”
“Yes!” Joy swept over her expression again.
“Your family will live with us unless you’d rather I find them a home nearby?”
“You are the most perfect man on the face of this earth. I’m certain of it.” Tears filled her eyes. “It means so much to me that you care for them as well. Shall we ask Mother what she would prefer?”
“Yes, of course. Perhaps she and Tessa should journey to Switzerland? I’ve gathered information on a sanatorium there that specializes in patients with consumption. A few weeks spent there might improve your sister’s recovery.”
“Your generosity is apparently endless,” she said with a laugh. “Tessa would love to travel and Mother as well.”
“Excellent. Patrick will have the option of accompanying them if he’d like.”
“That might be the perfect way to keep him safe until all of this...” Her expression darkened at the mention of all that still remained unsettled. “This situation is resolved, and my uncle is stopped.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “We will find him and stop him before he hurts anyone else. But you must promise me to never take such a risk as you did by meeting alone with him. No more secrets between us.”
She kissed the palm of his hand. “No secrets. I promise not to take risks if you promise to do the same.” She gently touched his bandaged arm as she held his gaze.
“I will do my utmost to stay alive. You see, I have much to live for.”
Emma smiled. “We both have so much to live for. Forever and always.” Then she kissed him again. And again.
~*~
Vincent eyed his uncle’s scarred face as he tipped back his drink. “I take it the evening did not go according to plan.”
Uncle Grisby shook his head as he held out his glass to Vincent for
a refill of the nasty green absinthe he preferred. “No, it did not.”
Vincent had been waiting with the carriage on the street closest to the garden. His uncle hadn’t wanted Vincent to accompany him so as to keep his survival a secret. Vincent had agreed, for he had no desire to return to prison. Being dead was the best way to accomplish that. His uncle had limped toward him after exiting a side gate they’d found earlier in the day. It had been a simple matter for Vincent to break the lock that had sealed it shut so his uncle could have a quick escape route should the need arise.
And obviously, the need had arisen. Vincent had barely shoved his uncle inside the hackney and clamored atop the thing to flick the reins when shouts could be heard down the street. The horses had jolted forward which had probably sent his uncle to the floor, but that couldn’t be helped. Vincent hadn’t felt the least bit guilty when his uncle had alighted from the carriage with his limp much more pronounced.
“Ye didn’t kill Weston?”
“Nay, nothing life threatening. But now he will take me seriously. He needed to understand what I am willing to risk to see this through.”
Vincent frowned. He already knew his own life would be forfeit if his uncle thought it would aid him. If he wanted to live, he needed to leave soon, but not before he got his hands on some of the money his uncle had squirreled away. He just needed to figure out where the blasted man had stashed it. He refilled his own glass as he watched his uncle drain his again. “So now what?”
His uncle closed his eyes for a brief moment. “I fear I have yet to convince either Emma or Weston of my plan. Somehow, I must try again. I need Weston, Ashbury and Berkmond together on my side as we progress. Their talents will be invaluable.”
“Ye mean the aura bit?” The very idea of such an ability made Vincent shudder.
“Yes. If they can advise me who to trust and who still needs convincing, I will truly be invincible.”
“If Ashbury sees good and evil, and Weston sees success and failure, what does Berkmond see?”
“I have no idea. But I look forward to finding out. My sources tell me he’s already en route to England. I will not allow this evening’s minor setback to sway me from my plan. Soon, all of England will realize my brilliance and thank me for my bold plan.”
Vincent shivered. Funny how the terms brilliance and genius often mingled with crazed. God only knew what the coming weeks would bring.
THE END
Other Books by LANA WILLIAMS
Unraveling Secrets
Book I of The Secret Trilogy
On Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00HC1LT6E
On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00HC1LT6E
A Vow To Keep
Book I of The Vengeance Trilogy
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On Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/15Lac1W
Trust In Me
Book II of The Vengeance Trilogy
On Amazon: http://amzn.to/197Mphs
On Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1886ZK5
Believe In Me
Book III of The Vengeance Trilogy
On Amazon: http://amzn.to/19Q6UP7
On Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/13GpgjP
The Vengeance Trilogy – Boxed Set
All 3 complete novels in one set at a special price
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On Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IFI3OI4
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Acknowledgements
For me, writing is not a solitary endeavor. I’m very blessed to have so many people on my team.
Brad, Brandon, and Jordan: love you always and forever.
Thank you with much gratitude to my amazing, talented critique partners: Michelle Major, Lani Joramo, and Robin Nolet, and to my beta readers, Linda Benning, Lauren Billing and Sarah Billing. I couldn’t do it without your help!
THANK YOU
Thank you for reading Passionate Secrets! I hope you enjoyed Michael and Emma’s story!
If you’d like to know when my next book will be available, you’re welcome to sign up for my email newsletter at: http://www.lanawilliams.net/contactlana.html, follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LanaWilliamsBooks or on Twitter at @LanaWilliams28.
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The next book in this trilogy, Shattered Secrets, will be coming in 2015. The first book, Unraveling Secrets, is available now.
More historical romances are in the works! Stay tuned, and thanks again!
Copyright © 2014 by Lana Williams
All rights reserved.
PRINT: 978-0-9913142-3-2
EBOOK: 978-0-9913142-4-9
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