The Raven Prince (Princes #1)(84)

Her vision fractured into tiny rainbows as he drove his hard flesh into her softness again and again and again. She gasped. She never wanted this moment to end, they were linked right now, in body and in soul.

Until he slumped over her, his chest heaving in enormous gasps. She ran her hands over his buttocks, her eyes still closed, trying to make the intimacy last. Oh, how she wanted this man! She wanted to hold him like this tomorrow and fifty years hence. She wanted to be by his side every morning when he woke, she wanted his to be the last voice she heard before she fell asleep at night.

Edward shifted then and rolled to his back. She felt the cool air brush her damp skin. One lean arm bundled her close to his side.

“I have something for you,” he said.

She felt a weight on her chest and picked it up. It was The Raven Prince. She blinked back tears and stroked the red morocco cover, feeling the indentations of the embossed feather beneath her fingers. “But, Edward, this was your sister’s, wasn’t it?”

He nodded. “And now it is yours.”

“But—”

“Hush. I want you to have it.”

He kissed her so tenderly she felt her heart fill and overflow with emotion. How could she continue to deny her love for this man? “I-I think—” she began.

“Shh, sweet. We’ll talk in the morning,” he murmured huskily.

Anna sighed and snuggled against him, inhaling his sharp, male scent. She hadn’t felt this blissfully happy in years. Maybe never.

The morning would come soon enough.

Chapter Twenty-One

Aurea and the old woman shared the crust of bread before the little fire. As Aurea swallowed the last bite, the door flew open and a tall, bony fellow came in. The wind blew the door shut behind him.

“How fair you, Mother?” he greeted the crone.

The door opened once more. This time a man with hair standing on end like the fluff of a dandelion entered. “A good evening to you, Mother,” he said.

Next, two more men stomped in, the wind whistling behind them. One was tall and tanned, the other plump and ruddy cheeked. “Hello, Mother,” they cried together.

All four men sat by the fire, and as they did, the flames blew and flickered, and the dust swirled and spun on the floor around their feet.

“And have you guessed who I am?” The old woman grinned toothlessly at Aurea. “These are the Four Winds, and I am their mother….”

—from The Raven Prince

Anna was dreaming of a black-eyed baby the next morning when a masculine voice chuckled in her ear and woke her.

“I’ve never seen anyone sleep so deeply.” Lips brushed from her earlobe to her jaw.

She smiled and snuggled closer, only to find that there wasn’t a warm body next to hers. Confused, she opened her eyes. Edward was standing by the bed already dressed.

“Wha—?”

“I’m going to see Gerard. Hush.” He placed a finger against her lips when she would have spoken. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. We’ll make plans when I return.” He leaned down to give her a kiss that made her thoughts scatter. “Don’t leave my bed.”

And he was gone before she could reply. She sighed and rolled over.

The next time she woke, a maid was drawing the curtains.

The girl looked up as she stretched. “Oh, you’re awake, mum. I’ve brought some tea and fresh buns.”

Anna thanked the maid and sat to take the tray. She noticed a folded note sitting next to the teapot. “What’s this?”

The maid looked over. “I don’t know, mum, I’m sure. A boy delivered it to the door and said it was for the lady in the house.” She curtsied and left.

Anna poured herself a cup of tea and picked up the note. It was rather grubby. On the reverse side, it had been sealed with wax, but without any mark. She used the butter knife to open it, then raised the teacup to her lips as she read the first line.

The cup clattered to the saucer.

It was a blackmail note.

Anna stared at the nasty thing. The author had seen her at Aphrodite’s Grotto and knew she’d met Edward there. In sordid terms, he threatened to tell the Gerard family. She could prevent this disaster by coming to the salon at Aphrodite’s Grotto tonight at nine o’clock. She was instructed to bring one hundred pounds hidden in a muff.

Anna set aside the missive and contemplated her cooling tea and dying dreams. Just moments before, happiness had seemed so close. She’d almost grasped it in her hand, almost held its fluttering wings. Then it had darted and flown, and she was left with empty air in her palm.

A tear fell from her cheek onto the breakfast tray.

Even if she had one hundred pounds—which she didn’t—what would keep the blackmailer from demanding the same sum again? And again? He might even raise the price of his silence. If she were to become the Countess of Swartingham, she would be a prime mark. And it hardly mattered that Edward was at this very moment breaking off his engagement to Miss Gerard. She would be disgraced if the rest of society were to find out about her visits to Aphrodite’s Grotto.

Worse, Edward would insist on marrying her anyway, despite a scandal. She would bring shame and disaster to Edward and his name. The name that meant so very much to him. It was impossible for her to destroy him like this. There was only one thing to do. She must leave London and Edward. Now, before he returned.