Baron of Blasphemy (Lords of Scandal 12)

His chest tightened with emotion. She wanted to make him happy? Who had ever wanted to do that? Even the women he slept with were more concerned with the pleasure he provided. Granted, he always took his own. “I appreciate that.”

“But,” she started, and he grimaced. There was always a but. “I’m not entirely certain how.”

He nearly laughed but just managed to suppress the sound. “Pleasing a man isn’t all that difficult. Trust me, sweetheart, you’ll please me. It’s me that should be worried.”

“Oh,” she turned back to look at him, her large eyes meeting his and tugging at his chest. “Will it feel like our kiss? Because that was wonderful.”

He reached up, cupping her cheek with his hand and running his thumb along her cheekbone. “It will feel much better.”

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

He gave her a small grin at that. “Really. But tonight…I think you should get some sleep.”

Her lips parted, whether to say something or in surprise, he wasn’t certain, but he promptly forgot how exhausted he was as he saw the invitation her mouth presented. He groaned as he leaned forward and placed a feather-light kiss on her lips.

Her eyes fluttered closed, her long lashes brushing his cheek. “What happens after?” she said against his lips.

“After what?”

“After…” She drew in a deep breath. “After you don’t want me like you do now.”

He jerked his head back, his jaw hardening. She was right, of course. He’d had every intention of returning to his previous life. But he couldn’t even consider that tonight. With her here in his arms he wanted…

He wished to protect her.

Make her happy too.

“Who says I won’t want you…after?” He’d almost said always.

She turned then, her front coming to his. His body, already tingling from the press of her, jolted into complete awareness. “Will you?”

Two words. Just a simple question but so direct…he didn’t know. “I…” Did he promise her he would and risk breaking his word?

But he saw her frown, her features tighten in sadness. Then she turned over again, her back to him. “Goodnight, Chad.”

Several words crowded his mouth. He should have told her that he’d always want her. That her happiness was becoming more important than his own. But he’d never used any words like them before. He didn’t know how to say it and he didn’t trust himself to make good on the words.

When had anyone ever shown him how?

So instead, he pulled her close to his front again. He still wanted to touch her, hold her close. “Goodnight.”

Chapter Ten

Abigail woke before the first rays of the sun and stared into the semidarkness. She’d had her wedding night the night before and yet…she was most definitely and completely a maiden. She restrained a sigh as she looked over her shoulder at the man curled around her body.

She had to confess, she’d slept amazingly well snuggled against him.

He was hard and strong, but warm too, and something about his weight made her relax completely. His presence in her bed gave her a sense of security and safety she’d never experienced before.

She thought back to their last exchange and cringed.

He’d already been hinting that they shouldn’t be intimate, but she’d been the one to really end their evening. She wasn’t entirely certain why she’d said goodnight except that she didn’t yet understand how to reach the future she craved for them. She wanted him to be content in their match, to show him about love. But how did she go about that if he left her bed and returned to his wicked ways?

She wiggled out of his hold and crossed the room to bank the fire. The air was cool, but she was still toasty from the night before, and once the flames rose up, the room heated quickly. Slipping to the table, she pulled a brush out from the bundle of personal items and unbraided her hair, brushing out the locks so that she might pin them in a simple chiffon. They were likely to reach his home today. She’d meet his staff and she’d not do so looking unkempt.

With that in mind, and despite the lack of a mirror, she reached for some pins and twisted the first hair into place.

The bed squeaked behind her, and she heard his feet hitting the floor. Tension knotted her insides. She knew he was nude. She’d seen him, felt the evidence of this fact all night long, the hard length of him pressed into her backside. But she didn’t look as he crossed the room and pulled on his breeches.