What A Rogue Wants (47 page)

Grey didn’t hesitate. He rose and
plunged deep within her, filling her, with his hard, throbbing
shaft that promised to be the answer to her greatest need. She
wrapped her legs around his sides as he slid slowly in and out, his
pace increasing while the tide within her built once again. Her
mind spun as he whispered, “Hold on to me.”

Circling her arms around his back she
clung to him, until she could not hold back any longer and pushed
her hips upward to meet him as he thrust deep within her once
again. Tremor after tremor racked her body, leaving her floating,
spent, and breathless. Yet, Grey was not done. A thrill coursed
through her as he slid her legs over his shoulders, his body
glistening with sweat, the muscles of his arms straining with his
effort. He delved into her hard and fast. Madelaine welcomed every
thrust. She rose with him in wild pleasure once again as his own
release found him and took him over the edge then dropped him down
to her where he rolled off of her and brought her with him to lay
against his side.

One of his arms draped around her
shoulder, while his other hand came to her hair and stroked it.
Their heavy breathing filled the room, slowly growing into the
barest hiss. Grey’s hand stilled and then came to her chin. He
turned her to look at him. “Feel free to come to me at any time no
matter who I’m with if you want to try to persuade me of something
without riling my temper. I vow to drop everything for
you.”

Madelaine’s answer was a sleepy, sated
chuckle.

THE NEXT DAY BEFORE DEPARTING for
their new home where Madelaine would settle in while Grey was on
his mission, they decided to take one last ride around the castle
grounds. As they neared the lake, Madelaine pulled up on her reins.
“I do believe Constance is having another rendezvous,” she said,
watching as the maid adjusted her cape, tidied her hair and then
started trudging in their general direction.

“
Do you want to go back
the way we came, so we don’t embarrass her?” Grey asked.

Madelaine smiled at her husband’s
consideration, but kept her gaze trained on the cave. “I don’t
think it’s necessary. Whoever she was with is not following
her.”

“
Maybe the man already
departed.” Amusement laced Grey’s tone.

“
Likely. Go ahead for the
castle. I never got the chance to thank Constance for helping me,
so I could see my father.”

“
I’ll not leave you alone
anywhere until I know who helped Sutton get his
information.”

Madelaine scowled, though secretly
pleased Grey was protective of her. “All right. Wait around the
bend where you can see us, but we cannot see you. That way I can
thank Constance, without making her worried that someone else knows
she helped me to leave the castle, besides she and I.”

“
Agreed.” Grey kissed her
on the cheek and rode toward the turn in the path.

Some minutes later, Constance crested
the hill and Madelaine rode toward her, waving.
“Constance!”

The maid’s face drained of color and
the small pouch she held in her hands slipped to the
ground.

Madelaine frowned as she scrambled
from her horse and strode toward Constance. Was it embarrassment or
something else that held the woman still as a stone? Maybe the man
she’d met was still in the cave after all. Madelaine scooped up the
pouch and held it toward the maid. “You dropped this.” The pouch
held coins if the weight and noise were any indication.

Constance did not reach for her money.
“You’re alive.”

The whispered words, reverberating
with accusation, sent tendrils of fear racing down Madelaine’s
spine. She shuffled backwards, her gaze darting to the bend in the
road where Grey awaited. Blast! Her dagger was by her bedside. She
forced a smile. “Of course. Did you think otherwise?”

The maid blinked as if a trance had
been lifted. A shaky smile pulled at her lips. “I was worried for
you when you never returned from seeing your father.”

The hair on the back of Madelaine’s
neck stood on end. She’d never told Constance that she was going to
see her father. She’d just offered money for the maid’s clothes and
help and let Constance assume a lover was waiting for her.
Madelaine stepped back again, but this time Constance moved
forward, her lips pressing together and her hand darting down
toward her boot.

Madelaine lunged past her, but
Constance caught her by the arm, whirled her around, slapped a hand
over her mouth and pressed the sharp point of her dagger into
Madelaine’s neck. “That was a stupid slip of the tongue,” Constance
said.

Madelaine didn’t dare move. The point
of the blade was digging into her pulsing vein.

“
Can’t say I’m sorry for
it, though. If you’re alive, it means Sutton is dead, and my lord
had promised to take me and my siblings away from here once you and
your man were dead. Lord Sutton was nothing to look at, but he was
generous and put food in my baby brother’s and sister’s bellies. I
would have been a proper lady married to him.”

Madelaine scanned the path for Grey,
but it was empty. Cold sweat broke out on her skin, and her stomach
rolled. After everything to die here, with Grey so near yet too far
to help her. Her heartbeat roared in her ears. “Goodbye, Lady
Madelaine.”

The words pushed Madelaine into a
frenzy. She bit down on Constance’s hand while reaching for the
dagger and tugging the hilt. The blade scraped across her neck as
she struggled with Constance, but with a scream of fury, she ripped
the blade out of the maid’s hands and swung Constance around while
pushing the dagger’s tip into the woman’s back. “If you move, I’ll
plunge this dagger through your back and pierce your heart. You’ll
die instantly. Understand?”

“
Yes,” Constance replied,
her tone stiff.

From behind Madelaine, hooves pounded
down the path, and her name was a ferocious cry that filled the
air. Grey was beside her before she could question Constance. He
dropped down from his horse, pistol in hand and pointed at
Constance’s back. He brushed Madelaine’s neck where blood trickled
down. “Are you all right?”

“
A small cut,” Madelaine
replied, her voice steady but her legs trembling with relief that
she would live another day to be Grey’s wife. “Darling?”

“
Yes, dearest,” Grey
replied as if it were every day the two of them stood with dagger
and pistol in hand and an enemy before them.

A high keening came from Constance,
her hand’s clenching at her sides.

“
I’ve discovered who
helped Sutton,” Madelaine said, over Constance’s loud
noise.

“
Indeed,” Grey replied. “I
cannot believe I ever thought you a weakness to avoid.”

Madelaine flashed a loving smile at
her husband. “You’ve much to learn about me, Lord
Drivel.”

Three months
later

Madelaine made her way through the
sunny halls of her home, humming as she strolled. She came to stand
in front of Grey’s closed study door, a smile pulling at her lips
and a hand resting for a brief moment on her belly. Anticipation
swelled within her, but as angry voices rose on the other side of
the door, she frowned. Then, as she had been doing for years, she
pressed her ear to the door.

Geraldine, the housekeeper, came
around the corner with a silver tray in hand, her eyes widening
when she saw Madelaine. Madelaine suppressed a giggle and held her
hand toward Geraldine. “Give me the tray.”

“
My lady?”

“
The tray,” Madelaine said
impatiently. “I’ll take it in to my husband.” It was the perfect
excuse to interrupt him.

“
But, my lady,” Geraldine
started to protest. Madelaine patted the elderly woman. “It’s
perfectly fine. He knows I have a mind of my own. He won’t hold you
responsible. Now, give me the tray.”

Geraldine’s eyebrows furrowed, but she
handed over the tray and with a shake of her head, and murmuring,
scurried down the hall.

Madelaine opened the door and swept
into the study. Grey and Gravenhurst faced each other with stormy
looks. Her heart gave a little lurch. Was this about a mission? The
timing would be awful, but she refused to let anything dampen her
spirits. “Good afternoon, my dear.” She set the tray on the side
table and went to stand by Grey.

“
Lord Gravenhurst, to what
do we owe this pleasure? A mission?”

Lord Gravenhurst’s gaze flicked to
Grey and back to her. The man was disconcerting as always. “Not
exactly,” he said, pulling at his cravat.

Madelaine frowned. She’d never seen
Lord Gravenhurst uncomfortable or at a loss for words. What in the
world could be the matter? Something grave surely, or a matter of
the heart. “Is it a lady?”

His throat clearing and him shifting
from foot to foot told her she’d hit her target, though she’d shot
the arrow blindly. “I see. Anyone I know?”

The guttural throat sounds coming from
Grey surprised her.

“
Who is it?” she
demanded.

“
Madelaine.” Grey’s one
word warned of his raised temper. Whoever this conversation was
about, Grey was not happy. Madelaine’s curiosity was definitely
piqued, but right now she had much more important things on her
mind. She shelved the mystery.

“
Grey, I need to speak
with you in private for a few minutes.” Would a few minutes be
enough? Well, if they hurried, though, Grey was not one to hurry,
which she adored.

“
Now?” His eyebrows shot
upward.

“
Yes, please.” She slipped
her hand through his arm. “In the bedroom.”

His eyes widened at her pronouncement,
and the frown that had tugged at his lips turned into a smile.
“Gravenhurst, I’ll be back shortly.”

Grey glanced at Madelaine, and she
shook her head. He led her toward the door and called over his
shoulder, “Make that in a little while.”

Madelaine had to double her footsteps
to keep up with Grey as he raced them up the stairs and to their
bedroom. He shut the door and faced her. “What is it you need, my
dear? I’m all ears and ready to be convinced.”

Grey’s voice was thick with desire
that Madelaine’s body instantly responded to. But her desire would
have to wait for a minute. “I’m getting fat.”

“
What?” Grey looked
confused. “Is this a woman’s worry? You’re perfect.”

“
Hmm…” She licked her
lips. “I’ve gained some weight.” Her heart thudded heavily in her
ears.

Grey brushed his hand down her arm.
“You are more beautiful than ever. Where have you gained weight? I
don’t see it.”

She took his warm hand and placed it
on her belly. “Here, my darling. I’ve gained weight here. And soon,
you will see it when the baby really starts to grow.”

“
Truly?” He placed his
hand on her belly, his fingers curling ever so slightly.

Warm tingles of happiness danced
through her body.

“
Truly, dearest. You are
going to be a father.”

“
I don’t think I can get
any happier,” Grey said.

Madelaine grasped his lapels and
tugged him closer. “I’m sure I can make you happier.”

He regarded her curiously.

“
What is it, dearest?” She
squeezed his hand to encourage him to tell her.

“
When I was young I sought
to feel loved, and then I sought to avoid it when I grew older.
When I least expected love, there you were, the answer to what I
didn’t even realize I was still searching for. Thank you for your
love and our precious child.” He leaned down and gave her a kiss
that curled her toes and made her feel at once desired, protected
and cherished.

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