Her smile was blinding. “What a fine match we make when I adore you as well. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
The joy and happiness that surged through him would have brought him to his knees if he wasn’t already there. He shoved himself to his feet and kissed her, as tenderly and gently as he could, forcing his desire for her into submission. He was mad for her and when she was this close, he wanted her with an almost feral intensity. But until she was his wife—wife! … a word he’d never thought to associate with himself—he would keep himself on a taut tether.
Drawing back, he held her gaze. “I should probably return you home so you can begin making plans. I don’t want to go too long without you in my bed.”
“Actually.” She moved in, pressed up against him, wound her arms around his neck. “I am soon to take a husband, and I was thinking I should like to experience one more adventure before I am shackled to him for life. An adventure between the sheets.”
“Sweetheart, I held back once. I can’t do it again.”
“I don’t want you to hold back.” Raising up on her toes, she nipped at his chin. “I want to be your lover before I’m your wife.”
With a low growl, he pressed his forehead to hers. “Damn you. I shall never be able to resist giving you what you desire.”
Then he lifted her into his arms and headed for the stairs.
Chapter 14
The swiftness with which their clothes became a heap on the floor once they reached his bedchamber should have startled her, but she was too eager to be with him to pay it much mind. It was thrilling to realize how desperately he wanted her, humbling to know how much determination it must have taken for him to resist the lure of her before now.
They landed on the bed in a tangle of arms, legs, and hungry mouths. They explored as though they’d never done so before, and yet the familiarity of his body made her feel as though she were coming home. She loved the bunching and tensing of his muscles beneath her fingers, loved the way his hands stroked and caressed her. His long arms could reach so much more of her than she could of him, but he seemed not to mind as his low groans and moans echoed around her.
She was going to become his wife, and she was left to wonder why she’d ever thought she wanted a titled gentleman. A title wasn’t earned. It simply came with one’s birth. What was earned was character, temperament, charm. Or at least it was part of a person that developed over time, that wasn’t simply given.
She loved every aspect of Andrew. His fun nature, his willingness to take her on adventures that in all likelihood would lead to no good. While she had told him she wanted one more, this one with him now, she had no intention of not asking for more later. Once they were married, once they were husband and wife.
He skimmed his fingers over her hip, along her inner thigh, bringing them to rest at the very heart of her core. “What word did Venus teach you for this?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Cunny. Notch. But I don’t like them. Teach me another.”
“Paradise.” He held her gaze. “You’re wet and ready for me. Are you sure, sweetheart?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
He captured her mouth. She felt him nudging at her opening. Raising her knees, tilting her hips up, she welcomed him. As he pushed in, the discomfort was slight. She dug her fingers into his shoulders as her body stretched to accommodate him.
When he was seated to the hilt, he emitted a low growl. “You feel so damned good.”
“So do you.”
He chuckled. “We’re both going to feel a good deal better when we’re done here.”
He withdrew slightly, thrust forward. Again and again. She met his thrusts, taking him deep, swelling with satisfaction. The tempo increased, the sensations built, radiating out from her core, causing her toes and fingers to tingle. He suckled at her breast, pressed kisses to her neck, once more claimed her mouth.
Intertwining their fingers, he held her hands over her head, pumping into her with a fevered pitch. The passion escalated, the ecstasy blossomed and bloomed—
Her resounding cry was matched with his harsh groan as pleasure engulfed both of them. When they went still, with their harsh breathing echoing around them, she wondered how it was that they’d both managed to survive.
Slowly, lethargically, he rolled off her and brought her up close against his side.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“More than all right.” Giggling, she hugged him. “That was marvelous.”
“You were marvelous.”
Lifting up slightly, she met his gaze. “You will be happy being married, I promise.”
“Married, not married, whenever I’m with you I’m happy.”
She nipped at his chin. “That’s not true. You’ve been put out with me on several occasions.”
“I still enjoyed those occasions.”
“I love you, Andrew.”
Threading his fingers through her hair, he brought her lips down to his, kissing her as though he could not have enough of her. She was surprised that so soon after, he could already stir her passions back to life.
Nudging her gently, he guided her until she was straddling him. Reaching back, she wrapped her hands around his erection. “Mmm. I didn’t think you wanted to settle for porridge, my lord.”
“That was before I remembered it could be served with sugar, or currants, or milk or cream. That it need not always be the same. That was before I fell deeply and madly in love with you.”
Epilogue
From the Journal of Lord Andrew Mabry
With the announcement of our betrothal, the scandal quickly faded, replaced by the shock that an American heiress was actually on the verge of leading me—a man who had sworn to never marry—to the altar. Gina soon found herself inundated with visitors, young ladies who wanted to learn her secret for convincing a marriage-shy lord to embrace the bonds of holy matrimony. Apparently I wasn’t the only lord reluctant to be shackled.
I’m not certain what advice she dished out. Had they inquired of me, I’d have told them it was quite simple really: give him cause to fall madly in love with you.
I’m not exactly certain when I did fall in love with her—or even when I realized that I had. I don’t think in either case it was a single moment but rather an accumulation of smiles, laughter, conversation, and adventures. It’s an odd thing but I can no longer remember a time when I didn’t love her.
We married on a Tuesday with church bells pealing and people issuing congratulations. Tillie gifted us with Landsdowne Court and so we made it our home, although we also spent considerable time at the family estates.
From the moment Gina’s mother brought her to England, she was certain she would marry a titled gentleman, would become a countess or a duchess. Instead she married the spare.
I, for one, could not have been more grateful. We lived an active and exciting life, filled with travel and challenges. Adventures of all sorts. While her inheritance saw us well cared for and ensured we never had to worry over money, that we could in fact play all we wanted, we turned our energies toward more lasting endeavors.
Gina was a leader in the women’s suffrage movement, while I served in the House of Commons. Together, through a lengthy process and many years, we worked to ensure women had the right to vote. It was with a great deal of pride that we watched our daughters and nieces vote for the first time.
We had a good life, Gina and I. A very good life indeed, during which we enjoyed an amazing amount of porridge.
An Announcement to Beyond Scandal and Desire
Coming soon from New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath, the first in a breathtaking new series
BEYOND SCANDAL AND DESIRE
At birth, Mick Trewlove, the illegitimate son of a duke, was handed over to a commoner. Despite his lowly upbringing, Mick has become a successful businessman, but all his wealth hasn’t satisfied his need for revenge against the man who still won’t acknowledge him. What else c
an Mick do but destroy the duke’s legitimate son—and woo the heir’s betrothed into his own unloving arms …
Orphaned and sheltered, Lady Aslyn Hastings longs for a bit of adventure. With her intended often preoccupied, Aslyn finds herself drawn to a darkly handsome entrepreneur who seems to understand her so well. Surely a lady of her station should avoid Mick Trewlove. If only he weren’t so irresistible …
As secrets are about to be exposed, Mick must decide if his plan for vengeance is worth risking what his heart truly desires.
Click here to pre-order!
About the Author
LORRAINE HEATH always dreamed of being a writer. After graduating from the University of Texas, she wrote training manuals, press releases, articles, and computer code, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she not only became hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She’s been writing about them ever since. Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards, including RWA’s prestigious RITA®. Her novels have appeared on the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
By Lorraine Heath
Gentlemen Prefer Heiresses (novella)
An Affair with a Notorious Heiress
When the Marquess Falls (novella)
The Viscount and the Vixen
The Earl Takes All
Falling into Bed With a Duke
The Duke and the Lady in Red
Once More, My Darling Rogue
When the Duke Was Wicked
Lord of Wicked Intentions
Lord of Temptation
She Tempts the Duke
Waking up With the Duke
Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman
Passions of a Wicked Earl
Midnight Pleasures With a Scoundrel
Surrender to the Devil
Between the Devil and Desire
In Bed With the Devil
Just Wicked Enough
A Duke of Her Own
Promise Me Forever
A Matter of Temptation
As an Earl Desires
An Invitation to Seduction
Love With a Scandalous Lord
To Marry an Heiress
The Outlaw and the Lady
Never Marry a Cowboy
Never Love a Cowboy
A Rogue in Texas
A Letter from the Editor
Dear Reader,
I hope you liked the latest romance from Avon Impulse! If you’re looking for another steamy, fun, emotional read, be sure to check out some of our upcoming titles.
First up we have a delightful new story compilation from superstar Eloisa James! A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DISGRACE AND OTHER STORIES includes a short but sweet dip into the world of her beloved Essex Sisters, as well as other Cinderella-themed novellas! Eloisa always delivers a witty, charming read and this collection is no different!
We also have a brand-new series from Mia Sosa for all you contemporary romance fans! Mia makes her Avon Impulse debut with ACTING ON IMPULSE, a fun, flirty (and a little dirty) novel about a Hollywood heartthrob who meets the woman of his dreams on an airplane … except she doesn’t recognize him! Sparks may fly, but what will happen when she finds out the truth? You’ll have to read this sexy, diverse romantic comedy to find out!
You can purchase any of these titles by clicking the links above or by visiting our website, www.AvonRomance.com. Thank you for loving romance as much as we do … enjoy!
Sincerely,
Nicole Fischer
Editorial Director
Avon Impulse
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
gentlemen prefer heiresses. Copyright © 2017 by Jan Nowasky. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins Publishers. For information, address HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.
Digital Edition AUGUST 2017 ISBN: 978-0-06-268124-9
Print Edition ISBN: 978-0-06-268125-6
Cover art by Anna Kmet
Avon Impulse and the Avon Impulse logo are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America.
Avon and HarperCollins are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
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Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
An Announcement to Beyond Scandal and Desire
About the Author
By Lorraine Heath
A Letter from the Editor
Copyright
About the Publisher
Gentlemen Prefer Heiresses Page 12