Taming Wilde (Waltzing with the Wallflower #3)(35)

“For now?” She sighed. “For now, what?”

“I want to kiss you,” Colin said against her lips. “I want to kiss my future wife, my future duchess. I’ve always wanted to kiss a duchess.”

“That can be arranged.” Gemma giggled.





Epilogue


Ambrose grinned as he watched his twin dance with Bridget, his wife.

“What are you smiling about?” Cordelia asked, grabbing her husband’s hand and bestowing a kiss upon it.

“Wallflowers.”

“Pardon?” She laughed.

“They are… not always as they seem.” He gazed down at his beautiful wife, with her easy smile and warm laugh.

“Nobody truly is.” She laid her head against his shoulder. “Where are Colin and Gemma?”

Just then Colin appeared with Gemma on his arm. They had been married four weeks ago and were just back from their honeymoon.

“Over here!” Cordelia called them.

Gemma walked briskly towards Cordelia and embraced her. Soon Anthony and Bridget joined them.

“A toast!” Anthony called, grabbing goblets of champagne from a passing servant.

“To what?” Gemma asked.

Just then a gasp was heard from the crowd, and then some cursing as Lady Van Burge, the marquess’s new wife, pulled him by his cravat through the hall. Poor fellow was digging his heels into the floor.

“Must have gotten caught with another maid.” Gemma sighed. “You were saying?”

“I believe that man is getting exactly what he deserves.” Anthony cleared his throat. “A toast to rakes and the women who reform them.”

“Hear, hear!” They lifted their glasses and cheered.





About the Authors


Leah Sanders is the middle child in a family of seven children. As a true middle child she went from high school in Alaska to college in Florida, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in secondary education from Southeastern University. She also holds a Master's degree in educational technology from Boise State University.

She makes her home in Idaho with her husband and three children. By day she teaches English in a middle school. But after the kids are in bed, she will most likely be typing away on her laptop while sitting in her favorite spot on the couch.

Rachel Van Dyken is a Graduate of Northwest Nazarene University, with a degree in Social Sciences with an emphasis in industrial psychology and a minor in Spanish. She is also a Post Graduate of California Coast University receiving a MBA with an emphasis in Human Resource Management. She resides in Nampa, Idaho where she writes full time. Starbucks is a daily must, spiders make her scream, and she loves chocolate but is allergic, of course. Nate, her husband, makes her laugh so hard she cries, and they share their Pacific Northwest home with a very loud snoring boxer named Sir Winston Churchill.

Rachel loves to read almost as much as she loves to write. Although she loves to write contemporary romance, her heart will always be with historical and regency romances. Glittering balls and dangerous rakes hold her captivated like chocolate and Starbucks.





Also from Astraea Press:





Prologue



Samuel wrapped his arm around the slim waist of his latest conquest. He licked his lips in anticipation of what was to come next, when he took her to the nearest bed. He was so foxed her name escaped him. Carlotta? Celina? He shrugged as he leaned in to nuzzle her soft neck. No matter. His memory faded soon after he tired of each woman he bedded, but there was always another waiting in line. Oftentimes, he brought them here, to one of his favorite inns.

The woman giggled when Samuel closed his eyes, nipping at her earlobe with his teeth. Pulling her closer still, he took possession of her ripe lips, not caring who stood nearby to watch them.

He'd done this before. Many, many times.

As quickly as Samuel placed his lips on the woman's, she was gone, leaving him to pucker up only to the stale air. His eyes popped open. "What the…?"

Another man, dressed in expensive breeches and coat, now had his arms around Samuel's woman. Samuel gritted his teeth, the very teeth that had only moments ago been clasped on soft feminine skin. Now, they bit down hard. On his tongue.

Cursing loudly, Samuel lunged at the other man, pushing the woman aside in the process. "Get your filthy hands off of her. She's mine!"

The man narrowed his eyes, knocking Samuel's hands away from his person. "You are of no consequence to me." He glanced at the woman, his eyes roving over every voluptuous inch. "I like what I see. She is now mine."

Samuel's blood boiled. Heat flooded his face. Vision now blurred from anger and ale, he lowered his head and raced forward, intent upon knocking the other man senseless.

Strong hands once again pushed Samuel away, hard. Staring up at the dirty ceiling, Samuel shook his head, trying to force the room to stop spinning.

Clump. Clump. Clump. Footsteps… that last quite close to his ear. Turning his head, Samuel gasped. How easy it would be for the other man to kick him in the face! He forced himself to a sitting position. Perhaps his swirling vision would calm. Surely he could stand. He must. There was no way he was letting his woman walk away with someone else. And away from him. Yes, there had always been another waiting for his favor, but suddenly it was important he possess this woman, on this night. It was a matter of pride that he not let her be taken away.