My Duke's Deception (Wicked Lords of London 2)

He blinked. “What does that mean?”

She flushed, her eyes casting down. “I know I don’t bring very many assets that would make me a suitable duchess.”

He nearly choked. He went back through the conversation and, to his complete amazement, he hadn’t actually asked for her hand. Damnation, he really was awful at this.

He slid her off his lap so that she sat next him. “That is the very last time you offer to be my mistress.” His voice held a ducal command that he had never used with her.

Then reaching into his vest pocket, he pulled out the box from the jewelers. “You asked me where I was this morning.”

“Yes.” She eyed the box with absolute confusion.

Instead of replying, he handed it to her. With trembling fingers, she opened the lid and reached into the box. The pearls slid out and into her hand and she gasped as she stared at them in wonder.

“I wanted to get you a gift.” He reached for the pearls and slid them out of her hand to place them around her neck. Gently hooking the clasp, he watched as they settled against her skin, sliding under the neckline of her dress. “It’s a token of my affection for the woman I want to marry.”

Her gasp was the only answer as she sprang across the small distance between them and wrapped her arms about his neck, pressing a kiss to his lips.

Chapter Fourteen

How could she have misunderstood so completely? But of course she knew. Her own insecurities that he couldn’t possibly love her had kept her from seeing any signs that he was serious. “You really want to marry me?”

“I do,” he said softly. “If you’ll have me.”

“I will,” she whispered back kissing his lips again, deeper and longer than before. It was divine and near torture to pull away but she had something important to ask. “But I do want to make one request.”

He titled his head back, to look more fully in her face. “What is that?”

“I want to do as Tricia and Tabbie have done and help those in need.” Nerves fluttered through as the words left her mouth. But she needn’t have worried.

His face softened. “I think that is wonderful.” He kissed her over and over until she was breathless from the press of his lips. Their soft touch made her tingle all over. When he finally pulled away, her mind was muddled with all the riotous feelings that made her body pulse. “But I actually have a request too.”

That startled her into the moment. “What?”

“When you’re ready,” he gave her a smile. “I’d like to take in a child from the orphanage as well as have our own children. Being there has opened my eyes to how many children are in need.”

Warmth and love spread through her. “I would love that.”

“Excellent.” He kissed her once more, then broke away and said, “I want to give as many children as we can the opportunity to have a happy home. The kind we never had.”

If she had loved him before, now she could barely contain her feelings. “Matthew,” she croaked out. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Then his lips were upon her again. This time, however, he did not break away. Lifting her up, he carried her into the bedroom, his lips never leaving hers.

Carefully, he lay her down, his fingers working her buttons and stays until she lay before him in just her chemise. He stood and began removing his own clothes. She scrambled to her knees to help him. She’d never wanted anything so much as she wanted to feel his skin against hers.

As she tugged at his cravat, he undid his buttons all the while, his lips devouring hers. Finally his chest was bare and she wound her arms about his neck to pull him closer.

“Are you sore my love?” he asked between kisses.

“No,” she answered quickly, pressing her lips to his again.

He removed the last of their clothing and they tumbled back on the bed together, mouths still joined, skin to skin. As he entered her, the fullness of it, the feeling of completion made her cry out as she pulled him closer. “You truly love me?”

“Always,” he answered. “Never doubt it and if I stop sharing that with you, feel free to box me upside the head.”

She giggled then. And it only made her love for him stronger. “I am so lucky to have found you.” They began moving together and though they no longer spoke, somehow it was as though they still told each other of their feelings.

They continued to move together and that sweet tension built inside Ella until she could no longer stand it. Crying out, her body shuddered around his. She heard him groan as his own body spasmed into completion.