My Duke's Seduction (Wicked Lords of London 1)

He sighed then. “I’ve found him and—” But he couldn’t finish because she launched herself across the carriage and onto his lap, her hands wrapping around his neck.

“Thank you,” she cried as she pressed her body to his. As her chest crushed against his, she became aware of her error in judgment. First, because in the absence of skirt, petticoats, and corsets, she could feel every hard line of him. Every muscle and deliciously firm angle that fitted against her softer curves. It was divine, and the ache she’d experienced in his company thrummed between her legs. It was then that she understood the flutter of excitement she always felt around him.

It was lust. Dear lord, she’d never experienced anything like it. She’d felt a few flutterings but those hardly compared. This coursed through her making her heart race and her thoughts a jumbled mess.

He did not return the gesture. His hands remained stiffly at his side, his face pressed back against the seat to gain some distance from her.

“Tricia,” he growled again, a warning in his voice.

She swallowed hard and sat back slightly. A new emotion adding to her confusion: humiliation. Of course he didn’t find her awkward dive into his lap attractive. What man would? She was no beauty and she already knew that her options for a husband would be very limited. And how many of those suitors would understand her desire to work outside of her home in orphanages and soup kitchens? It was part of the reason she’d decided to remove herself from the marriage market. “I am so very sorry. That was terribly inappropriate. I don’t know what I was thinking.” Then, realizing she was still on his lap, she started to attempt to scramble off. But her limbs simply wouldn’t work correctly and somehow, her legs became tangled in his.

“Bloody hell,” he mumbled this time and her cheeks flamed in her embarrassment. How could this be happening?

Pushing off his chest, she managed to get one foot solidly on the floor. “Just give me a moment—” but she stopped talking when something poked her derriere. Was that…

Her eyes flew to his as she froze in place. She was no longer mortified but still equally uncertain of what to do. Her sister had explained the general mechanics of what happened between a man and a woman. Her mother would never be up for such a task.

“Are you innocent?” His voice had taken on a gravelly tone that somehow made the ache inside sharpen. She had the urge to rub her behind against his member to see what would happen.

Instead, she nodded her answer, not moving at all. “Yes,” she finally managed to whisper.

His hands came to her hips, and for a moment, rested there. It seemed to Tricia that he squeezed them, pressed her tighter to himself before he gently lifted her away from him, setting her on the bench next to him. “I thought so.” He sighed again. “A different man other than myself would have taken advantage of you.” He shook his head, rubbing his temples. “I’ve never met a woman who so completely lacked the ability to keep herself safe.”

Her body was still thrumming with need. Part of her wanted to return to his lap while the other, more sensible part, knew what a mistake that would be. The thought calmed her and she managed a little sniff. “Up until now, I’ve been the good daughter.”

A rumbling sound ripped from his throat and her eyes flew to his again. What in the world was that? But as another and then another followed, she realized he was laughing. “Are you poking fun at my expense, sir?”

He shook his head, trying and failing to speak as he laughed. “I am…trying…to….imagine a family…where you…are the reasonable…child.”

A laugh of her own bubbled in her throat. Not because what she’d said had been terribly funny but because his laugh had the rusty sound of someone who rarely used it. And it felt so good to laugh. It had surely been weeks. “I can’t disagree with you there.” She wiped a tear from her eye as their laughter finally subsided. “Thank you, Ryker, for helping with my cousin. It is a debt I am not sure how to repay, especially because I don’t know who you really are,” she hurried to add. “Not that I am asking.”

He made to reply, but she placed her finger over his lips. She didn’t mean to, but they were so soft and welcoming that she gave them a light caress tracing the outline. “And thank you for keeping me safe and helping me to forget, even for a few minutes, all that is happening outside this carriage. I am fortunate to have met you.”

The carriage

rumbled to a stop and Tricia hopped off the seat. She didn’t want to hear his return remark. She’d given him her honest thanks and part of her was afraid he’d reject it. Opening the door, she made a dash out of the carriage. “Goodbye, Ryker,” she said just before she snapped the door closed.

Fenton had been found, her sister would arrive tomorrow to help with her father. It made her heart ache a little to think that she’d likely never see him again.

Chapter Four

Ryker blinked as the door shut in his face. Not very many people got the best of him like that. She hadn’t allowed him to get a word in edgewise. Actually, that wasn’t true. He’d been stunned into silence by her touch, the honesty of her words.

The feel of that glorious backside pressed up against him.

Bloody hell, the smell of her. He’d caught the scent last night. Honey and cloves with a hint of a deeper musk. But pressed up against him, it had been divine.

She was trouble. A little red-haired hellion who didn’t have any regard for convention or safety.

She was also sweet, honest, and forthright. Generous in her affection. Kind to a fault. She’d make an excellent mother.

A man could do far worse.

He closed his eyes remembering the feel of her. He could do so much worse. He thought of his eventual need to join society in order to find a wife. An heir was required of him. It made him shudder to think of it. He liked being alone, preferred solitude and order. Which was part of the reason he hadn’t sought a match.

And his one other attempt at courting had failed miserably.

And while he’d intended to put marriage off, it would be difficult to find another woman of Tricia’s caliber. In addition, he wouldn’t have to go through the nonsense of participating in a season.