One Rogue Too Many (30 page)

Her breasts grew full and tingled. She brushed her fingers over the swell.

“Touch me,” she whispered.

He plumped her breast, then circled his thumb around the peak. Vibrations traveled through her, culminating between her legs. Adjusting his position, he drew his tongue slowly across her nipple and she dissolved into the bedding. Her fingers tunneled into his hair, cradling his head as he took her in his mouth. Each draw on her breast carried her away from the turmoil of the day and closer to him. She couldn’t look away as his lips closed around her flesh. The sight sent blood speeding through her veins.

An insistent throbbing began between her legs, and she lifted her hips, trying to ease the ache. She had heard there was pain with losing her innocence, but she hadn’t expected it to be a pleasing kind. Anthony’s hand slid into her curls and caressed her. A pleasing tingle radiated into her lower belly and down her legs. She sighed.

He teased her flesh until she shifted restlessly on the sheets. Then finding her special spot, as she had come to think of it, he gently flicked his finger over it until her body reached the limits of its ability to contain her pleasure. It burst from her in a husky moan, her back arching as he continued to caress her. Once he had carried her beyond the brink with one last cry, she collapsed against the bed, her breath deep and slowly evening out.

Anthony lay beside her and wrapped her in his arms. She snuggled against his firm chest and placed her lips against the pulse beating at his neck.

“There is more, isn’t there?”

“Yes.” His hand caressed her back and circled her bottom until his touch made her hungry for more. “But we will take it slow.”

He rolled her to her back and gazed down with blue-black eyes. “Open your legs. I haven’t gotten my fill.”

Her heart paused then took off at a gallop, but she followed his command. Instead of preparing to enter her, however, he kissed his way down her body. His lips pressed to her trembling thigh, his breath skating along her skin.

“Lie back and take your pleasure again. It will make everything easier.”

She closed her eyes and smiled. Who was she to argue? But when his hot mouth touched her instead of his fingers, her eyes flew open. His head was nestled between her legs, his mouth creating new sensations. He looked up at her as his tongue slid along her flesh. She stifled a groan. Now
this
was the most erotic vision she’d ever seen.

His lips played over her flesh, his tongue circling her spot until her thoughts became fuzzy. Her breath escaped in long, deep exhales. She closed her eyes. Her fingers curled into the bedding and she held on, attempting to maintain control. His hands cradled her bottom and provided her with a sense of security. Even as she lost her senses, he was there loving her, holding her while she moaned.

A quiver originated from somewhere deep inside her. The currents traveled over her body, teasing. Promising something more. More than what she’d received in the past.

Pleasure seized her and she tensed. Her release came fast and unrelenting, her cries becoming louder with each driving pulse until she slipped over the edge, tumbling back to the small chamber and Anthony’s gentle embrace. She sank into the bed, her arms and legs limp. Even her eyelids had become too weak to stay open, but she could smile.

Anthony chuckled as he covered her body with his. He lifted her arm and it flopped back on the bed. “Have I killed you then?” His voice held a teasing note.

She cracked an eye open. “There are worse ways to go.”

His brilliant smile warmed her like the sun.

He kissed her tenderly once more. His hips pressed her into the bed, his shaft a hard ridge against her lower belly. “Are you certain you want to do this?”

“Yes,” she murmured.

***

Anthony released the breath he’d been holding waiting for her answer. He stroked the length of his cock before positioning to enter her. Gabby’s face was tipped up toward him, her eyes wide and yet trusting. He gently probed her dewy skin and kissed her as he eased into her. When she tensed, he stopped to wait for her to adjust. His muscles trembled as he held himself back.

She took a deep breath and grew lax beneath him. He pushed deeper. Her nails dug into his shoulders, but she didn’t utter a sound. Her body surrounded him, slick and hot. He closed his eyes. This was heaven, wrapped in her arms, his heart bursting.

He moved carefully, aware of the sting of her nails easing. Her body no longer resisted, but he still made love to her slowly. His mouth touched hers and her tongue flicked across his top lip. Each tender thrust was accompanied by a deep kiss, their tongues stroking together. His blood thrummed through his veins, filling his ears with a rushing sound.

The world closed around him until there was only her and him and an overwhelming love flowing between them. When he came, he was at her mercy, forever connected in a way he’d never been with anyone else.

He kissed her once more before collapsing on the bed beside her. His eyes drifted shut and he surrendered to sleep, confident his heart was safe in Gabby’s hands.

Twenty-nine

“Hell’s teeth. Did
she
do that to his face?”

The voice in Anthony’s dreams sounded vaguely familiar, but it took too much effort to place the owner so he drifted under again.

The jab of cold, hard metal under his chin woke him in a hurry. His eyes flew open and Drew’s even colder glare greeted him.

“What the hell did you do to our sister?” Drew said through clenched teeth.

Luke’s dark glower wasn’t any friendlier, but at least he didn’t have his pistol aimed at Anthony.

Gabby murmured in her sleep and rolled toward him, her bare breast brushing his side beneath the covers. He swallowed hard.

Bollocks!
This was a fine mess to find himself in the morning after a perfectly lovely night.

“Gabby. Wake up, sweetheart.” He nudged her, relieved when she stirred. Her arm flopped across his chest, just missing contact with her brother’s pistol. She nestled against his side with a sigh, not waking as he’d hoped.

Luke frowned at Drew. “Disarm yourself. Do you want to make our sister a widow before she’s even married?”

Drew narrowed his eyes and holstered his pistol. “You’re lucky he is here to protect you.”

If Anthony were truly lucky, neither brother would be threateningly lurking over his bed.

“Thank you,” Anthony spat, then clamped his lips together to keep from ordering them out of his room. Until Gabby was his, he’d be wise not to antagonize them more than he already had.

Drew looked around the room, the muscles shifting in his jaw. Evidence of Anthony’s fight with Thorne was present everywhere. The bellows had been kicked across the room, dried blood splattered the wood plank floor, and the curtain rod hung askew. Diffused light trickled through a split in the curtains.

“Gads. It’s barely dawn,” Anthony complained.

Drew leaned closer and bore his teeth. “If I learn you’ve hurt her in any way, you will meet me on a field.”

“I didn’t hurt her.” At least no more than Anthony could help it. And he’d tried to make up for any discomfort by pleasuring her again in the middle of the night. The memory of her throaty voice calling his name made his cock twitch.

Damn, but this was a bloody unpleasant way to wake up.

“A little privacy, please,” he said on a growl.

Luke gave a sharp nod. “We will wait below stairs. When you’re decent, there are matters we need to discuss.”

Anthony pushed up to his elbows. “How did you get in here?” He’d turned the lock last night as a precaution against Thorne returning to finish him off in his sleep.

“There was a pretty little wench more than happy to retrieve the key for us.” Anthony wanted to knock the cocky grin from Drew’s face.

“I’m telling your wife,” Gabby grumbled, her eyes still closed. She was awake after all.

Her brother’s scowl returned. “You utter a word to Lana and I’ll share with Mother every detail of what we’ve stumbled upon this morning.”

Gabby gasped and struggled to sit up while keeping herself covered with the sheet. “You wouldn’t dare! I would never forgive you.”

Luke clapped Drew on the shoulder and shoved him toward the door. “He won’t say a word. He’s only needling you. I paid the girl to unlock the door, so there’s nothing to report to Lana.”

“Perhaps I was needling
him
,” Gabby said under her breath. When her brothers didn’t leave at once, she lifted her brows and adopted a haughty tone. “My betrothed has asked for privacy, so please see yourselves out.”

Luke chuckled as he turned on his heel. “Don’t be long or the food will turn cold.”

Even after her brothers left, she glowered mutinously at the door. “They have some nerve barging in, acting as if they are saints. And threatening to call you out is beyond the pale. I have a few words for my brother once I’m decent.”

She was hellfire and retribution when she was angry, just as she’d been since she’d learned to talk.

Anthony grinned as he smoothed her mussed hair and kissed her cheek. “Drew is nothing but bluster. A duel would interfere with his beauty sleep.”

“From the looks of it, he has missed a couple of nights already.”

“Gabrielle Forest, you wicked girl. You had best not say the same about me. I’ve missed a few nights myself.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, her smile dazzling. “Yes, but you don’t require beauty sleep. Rugged looks attractive on you.”

When she pressed her lips to his, he wanted to lay her back and fill her again. But they had a little problem waiting in the tavern. At least he hoped it was a minor complication. Since Gabby hadn’t reached her majority, it was within her brother’s rights to deny his suit. He didn’t anticipate Luke would do any such thing, but Anthony didn’t want to cross him.

“We’ll require Luke’s permission to marry. I shouldn’t keep him waiting.”

She rolled her eyes and snuggled closer. “It’s a little late to worry about obtaining his permission.”

“Still, I may be able to salvage the situation, but only if I don’t fall further into his bad graces.” Anthony gently extracted himself from her hold, his stomach churning as he climbed from bed.

Gabby’s family meant everything to her. In truth, they were important to him too. He couldn’t regret what he’d done—losing Gabby hadn’t been an option—but he would miss his friendships if her brothers were unwilling to forgive him. If nothing else, he would implore Luke to continue to welcome Gabby into his home. She really was innocent in everything.

“Shall I send up breakfast?” he asked, pulling on his trousers.

“I’m coming with you. You will have to play lady’s maid again.” She climbed from bed and stretched, not seeming the least bit self-conscious of her state of undress.

He smiled and returned to dressing. “Perhaps you should wait until I have spoken with your brothers.”

She snorted. “And leave my future up to those lackwits? I think not.”

He didn’t argue since she had as much say in their future as he did. “All right, but no goading Drew. He’s no match for your wits.”

“Fine, but only because you have requested it.” She gathered her wrinkled gown from the floor, humming off-key.

He set himself to rights before assisting her. When he finished with the last fastening of her dress, he wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck.

“I love you, my perfect match.”

She beamed at him in the looking glass. “And I love you,
my
perfect match.”

The tavern below stairs was empty except for a woman with a valise resting on her lap and a young boy at her side. Likely they were waiting to catch the post coach.

As Anthony and Gabby made their way arm in arm to the private dining room, he felt invincible. They still had tough days ahead, but neither of them would be alone. Luke and Drew were sitting across from each other at the scarred table. They barely looked up and continued to shovel food into their mouths as he and Gabby entered.

“Must be a family trait,” Anthony mused.

Gabby’s brows shot up to her hairline. “Pardon?”

He just smiled and shook his head. He would never again tease her about her appetite, not when he was fortunate enough to have it extend to the bedchamber. “Are you hungry, Lady Bug?”

“Ravenous,” she said and joined her brothers at the table.

Drew plucked the sweet roll from his plate and handed it to her. She accepted it without question and tore off a piece, her plans to call him on the carpet apparently forgotten.

“Have a seat,” Luke said to Anthony and passed them plates. “There’s more food coming.”

Anthony’s shoulders relaxed as he slid into the seat next to Luke. “Shall we have it out now?”

Her brother grunted and bit into his roll. Anthony would take that as a no.

He expected nothing in the way of financial compensation from Gabby’s brother under the circumstances. It didn’t matter anyway. Anthony was far from destitute and in need of a wife’s fortune. He’d had nothing to do for the past few years except improve upon his estate. The only thing he required was her brother’s blessing.

A serving wench entered the dining room with a platter held aloft filled with ham, fruit, and bread. Once she quit the room, Luke glanced up with his fork halfway to his mouth.

“I expect my sister will enjoy a comfortable existence as your wife.”

Anthony nodded. “Of course she will. I’ll see that she is loved and well cared for always.”

Luke set down his fork and extended his hand. “Then welcome to the family.”

Anthony grabbed his hand, pumping it vigorously with what he suspected was a ridiculous smile on his face. Her brothers were grinning too.

“We can discuss her dowry when we return to Town,” Luke said.

Gabby bolted upright on her seat. “Return to Town? Do you think that’s wise?”

Luke sent a sympathetic look in her direction. “The rumors will be worse if you don’t. I would advise you and Ellis to accept any invitations you receive. Allow the gossips to see you have made a love match, and the scandal will die away eventually.”