Her breath came in short gasps as she continued backing toward the door. “But what?” If she kept him talking, perhaps she could gain enough time to escape.
“The drunker I got the more I realized you were far too tempting to just hand over to another man.” He lunged her way and she darted to the side as he crashed in the wall.
He pushed back up with surprising speed. “You should scream,” he said. “He’ll come a lot quicker if you do.”
“What?” She stopped and he literally ran into her back, sending them both crashing to the ground.
She tried to roll away but his weight pinned her down.
But then another hand wrapped about her upper arm, giving her a good tug. She was out from under Nearbottom in an instant and sent spinning across the room. Turning back, she caught sight of Gavin, just as his fist landed on Nearbottom’s face.
The man’s head fell back, blood gushing from his nose. Gavin didn’t give him a chance to recover before he was on him again, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him out the door. “Lock it behind me,” Gavin yelled sharply, not looking back at her.
“Gavin, wait,” she called but he didn’t listen as he continued dragging the other man out the door and down the hall.
This time, Dahlia did as he asked, but her fingers trembled as she worked the lock. The attack wasn’t what frightened her. She was fairly certain it had been a theatrical performance. More, it was Gavin’s reaction. He was afraid to marry. Afraid he’d be hurt again. And what had she done? Forgotten to lock the door for her own safety. How could she have been so foolish? Would he retract his offer now?
Gavin was going to kill the man. He continued to drag him down the steps, the thump of his back along the hardwood most satisfying.
He wasn’t going to actually commit murder. But he was tossing him out the door. Let him sleep in the woods for the night.
He knew one thing, seeing Nearbottom touch Dahlia like that had awoken a side of him he’d thought long dead. He loved Dahlia with a fierceness he couldn’t imagine and he’d do anything to keep her safe.
And that included beating the spit out of filthy earls. “You will rue the day you came here,” he growled, pulling Nearbottom’s face close to his. Nearbottom was gripping Gavin’s wrist with both hands, trying but failing to right himself.
“I already do,” he choked out. “Please. I’m sorry. I thought you needed a lesson and this was a fun way to go about it.”
“Fun? Lesson?” Gavin gave him another good yank. “Unfortunately for you I do not need your lessons or find you amusing. As soon as I get you outside, I’m going to show you exactly how irritating I found your attack on my future wife.”
Making it to the bottom of the stairs, Gavin hauled him toward the front door. They’d reached the rug when he heard the distinct sound of water.
Stopping, he turned back to Nearbottom, catching the stench of piss. His nostrils curled up. Bloody hell. There’d be no saving the carpet now. “You’re reimbursing me for the rug.”
“Yes…yes…please,” Nearbottom begged. “I didn’t mean any harm. I got carried away. I—ack.”
Gavin wrenched open the door and tossed him onto the granite steps. “Sleep well.” Then, pulling out the rug, he tossed it after him, landing with a solid thwap on top of Nearbottom. “It’ll help keep you warm.”
Slamming the door shut, he heard a number of titters from the top of the stairs. “If I find any of you out of your chambers again, you’ll join Nearbottom on the steps!”
Footfalls scattered as silence enveloped his house, which was almost disappointing. He twisted his neck, giving it a crack. He would have enjoyed tossing a few more people out.
Stalking back up the stairs, he made his way back to Dahlia’s room. He tried the knob but this time, she’d locked it. He gave a hard knock. “Open the door. It’s me.” A moment later the lock twisted and the door creaked open.
Dahlia stood before him, her hair a mass about her shoulders, her chest heaving, her lips trembling. “I didn’t mean to leave the door unlocked. I’m so sorry.”
She was apologizing to him? Why? He stepped into the room and pulled her against his body. “I should apologize to you for letting that filthy piece of vermin remain in this house.”
She drew in a ragged breath. “I should have listened to you. I know how you feel about losing your first wife. I was silly and foolish and—”
He reached for her, pulling her against him and dropped his mouth to hers. “Nonsense. You are smart, sensitive, and understanding.” He gave her a long slow kiss. “Next time you’ll be in my bed and I’ll lock the door myself.”
In fact, he had every intention of being in her bed now. He’d just realized that she was his heart. That in fact, he didn’t want to be without her, even for a moment. How could he have ever thought he could remain detached from her?
Something had shifted in Gavin. He’d always seemed a bit dangerous to her, though no longer in a way that frightened her. More of a breathless excitement that filled her whenever he was near. But now, he hummed with an energy that made her blood sing.
“In your bed?” she managed to say between kisses. He was clad in a shirt and breeches and she in a night rail, which allowed her to feel every rippling muscle of his chest and stomach. Her nipples hardened in response.
He must have felt them because he brought his hand up to cup one of her breasts, his thumb massaging the stiff peak until she moaned in pleasure.
“Dahlia,” he groaned. “I need…” He began moving both of them backwards. “To touch you, love.”
She wasn’t sure what he meant. Weren’t they already touching? But she no longer cared. “Yes.” The back of her legs hit her bed.
Lifting her, he lay her down on the bed, his weight pressing against hers. Her legs naturally spread to allow him closer as she wrapped her arms about his neck. She could feel the hard press of his staff as she shifted, and a tingling sensation radiated from her core, causing her to shake.
He moved again, rotating his hips as she gasped. He reached for her hem, pulling the garment up her thighs so that the night rail pooled at her hips. And then he brushed his fingers along her seam.
Her insides spasmed in pleasure as she gripped his neck with taut fingers. He retraced the path again and again until the pleasure inside her threatened to explode. She held onto him, mumbling inane pleas until suddenly she broke apart, lights dancing before her closed eyes. He understood and his hand slowed.
“My love.” He kissed a trail along her chin. When had he started to call her his love? “I can hardly wait to see and feel all of you.”
Blinking open her heavy lids, she looked up at him, his face near tortured. “Your love?”
He brushed the hair back from her damp forehead. “I should have realized it sooner. I know I told you that I couldn’t give you all of me, but somehow you have healed those broken parts. I am yours forever, or as long as you’ll have me.”
Her own heart swelled in her chest. “I am yours too.” She kissed the side of his neck. “And I’ll take forever just as I want your love right now.”
“My love?” He leaned down and kissed her. “If you mean our bodies joining together, we should wait.” He cradled her head in his hands, kissing her over and over. “More than my body needs your touch, my soul needs your love.”
Her heart threatened to burst from her chest. “You can have both.”
She didn’t need to say anymore. He pulled her night rail up and over her head and then his own shirt went sailing off. When he came down on top of her and their bodies pressed together, she sighed at the delicious friction of his chest hair.
He pulled at the falls of his breeches until the warm soft head of his manhood pressed against her folds. A touch of fear made her nervous, but she held him tighter and brought her lips to his.
Gently he pushed inside her, his slow movements giving her time to adjust to his size and the pain as she stretched open for the first time. She held him
tighter, until he seated himself fully inside her, his strong arms cradling her against his chest. Her body began to adjust as he feathered kisses along her cheek and moved out of her and then back in, the sedate pace allowing her to relax. The pain subsided and a new wave of pleasure washed over her as he slid deep inside her. She jerked her head back to look into his eyes as her hips met his.
He smiled, rubbing his nose against hers. “Your brother had better recover quickly, we need to get married soon.”
Joy bubbled inside her. “I’ll be sure to tell him.” Her brother was recovering, she was getting married, and she’d found her heart.
But the rest of the words she’d meant to say slipped away as their passion climbed higher. When she broke apart in his arms, he groaned out his own pleasure. Dahlia knew she’d keep her promise. She’d be his forever.
Epilogue
Two weeks later…
Dahlia stood at the back of the church; her eyes locked with Gavin’s as he waited at the front by the altar. His cousin, Lord Wesley Preston, was at his side. Wes’s new wife, Penny, was positioned just on the other side of the priest. A small wedding, just the sort that Dahlia had always wanted. Summer flowers filled the urns and perfumed the morning air with their fresh summer scent.
Today was perfect.
She started down the short aisle, her brother’s short stride slowing their progress, but looking tall and strong next to her. She gave him a smile, happy that he was recovering so well.
After some correspondence back and forth with his employers, Sam had decided to turn down the job he’d been offered and work for Gavin instead. He’d stay in a cottage on the property. Dahlia’s heart was ready to burst with joy. To have them both here with her was more than she’d ever hoped for.
Gavin reached out his hand and Sam placed her fingers into those of her fiancé. She trembled at his touch, love and heat causing her cheeks to warm. He pulled her toward him, taking her other hand in his as they stood before the priest.
“Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?” The priest asked as he twined their hands in ribbon. Gavin had requested the Scottish custom in honor of his ancestors.
“I do,” he said, giving her hands a squeeze.
“And do you, Dalia, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do,” she answered, bouncing a little on her toes.
“I pronounce you man and wife. Lord de Wolfe, you may kiss your bride.” The priest stepped back as Gavin swept down to give Dahlia a long slow kiss as everyone cheered.
“We’ve begun our forever,” she whispered in his ear.
He leaned his forehead against hers. “We have. Thank you for taking a chance on me, even when I thought my heart was too broken to love again.”
She smiled up into his eyes. “Thank you for saving us, Gavin de Wolfe. You’re the best sort of man a woman could ask for.”
Wes clapped Gavin on the back. “Cheers to that. Now let’s go celebrate, shall we? I saw the cake that your cook was baking this morning, and I for one am famished.”
Penny reached for her husband’s hand. “Don’t rush them. There is only one wedding day and a lifetime of cake.”
Wes laughed, but Dahlia never looked away from Gavin. “I love you,” she said.
“And I love you,” he answered, holding her close. “Now and forever.”
To Want a Rogue is the final installment in the “Chronicles of a Bluestocking” series. Feel free to start from the beginning!
Earl of Dryden
Too Wicked to Woo
Too Wicked to Want
Too Wicked to Wed
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, Tammy Andresen lives with her husband and three children just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up on the Seacoast of Maine, where she spent countless days dreaming up stories in blueberry fields and among the scrub pines that line the coast. Her mother loved to spin a yarn and Tammy filled many hours listening to her mother retell the classics. It was inevitable that at the age of 18, she headed off to Simmons College, where she studied English literature and education. She never left Massachusetts but some of her heart still resides in Maine and her family visits often.
Find out more about Tammy but visiting her website at www.tammyandresen.com!
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Look for these titles by Tammy Andresen
Now Available:
Chronicles of a Bluestocking
Earl of Dryden
Too Wicked to Woo
Too Wicked to Want
To Wicked to Wed
How to Reform a Rake
How to Reform a Rake
Don’t Tell a Duke You Love Him
Meddle in a Marquess’s Affairs
Never Trust an Errant Earl
Never Kiss an Earl at Midnight
Make a Viscount Beg
Wicked Lords of London
Earl of Sussex
My Duke’s Seduction
My Duke’s Deception
My Earl’s Entrapment
My Duke’s Desire
My Wicked Earl
New: Taming the Duke’s Heart
Taming a Defiant Duke
Taming a Wicked Rake
Taming an Unrepentant Earl
Taming my Christmas (Coming in November of 2019)
Brethren of Stone
The Duke’s Scottish Lass
Scottish Devil
Wicked Laird
Kilted Sin
Rogue Scot
The Fate of a Highland Rake
A Laird to Love
Christmastide with my Captain (FREE!!!)
My Enemy, My Earl
Heart of a Highlander
A Scot’s Surrender
My Laird’s Seduction
The Earl’s Forsaken Bride
Taming the Duke’s Heart
Taming a Duke’s Reckless Heart (FREE!! Check it out today!)
Taming a Duke’s Wild Rose
Taming a Laird’s Wild Lady
Taming a Rake into a Lord
Taming a Savage Gentleman
Taming a Rogue Earl
Taming A Defiant Duke
Taming a Wicked Rake
Taming an Unrepentant Earl
To Want a Rogue: De Wolfe Pack Connected World Page 7