A Rake's Ruin (Devilish Lords #1)(50)

He kissed her with such force he heard her gasp of surprise before it turned into a soft moan of need. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to hear more—he wanted to hear every word.

But her words terrified him at the same time. Now he truly understood what she’d meant about being scared. She wasn’t just frightened at the overwhelming emotions that came with falling in love, but by the responsibility of living up to another’s expectations.

She saw a great man in him and now he could never be less because she deserved that man.

Lord, but love was a fascinating sort of alchemy. Only this little minx could evoke this new desire to be an honorable man, the kind of gentleman his family had long since given up on him becoming.

He would not fail her, he vowed. He would make her proud to be his wife. He would earn her trust.

When he finally pulled back, ready to tell her that, she surprised him with a laugh.

He arched his brows. “What is so funny, my love?”

Bloody hell, but he adored calling her his love. One day perhaps she’d say it in return.

“I’m just happy is all,” she said. The sparkle in her eyes made his heart leap. “I feel like I’m about to embark on a great adventure. I’m about to set sail on a trip I’ve been waiting for my whole life and just never knew it.”

He laughed too, her joyous enthusiasm contagious, it seemed. “In that case, I am thrilled you have chosen me as your first mate.”

Her laughter was infectious and giddy. “I love that I can be myself with you, even when…”

Her hesitation made him even more intrigued. “Even when…”

Her blush was faint and adorable. “Even when I don’t entirely know who that is.”

He nodded. He understood that feeling well. “You are young, Claire, and your life has changed so much over these past few months. It’s understandable that you’re still trying to find your way and figure out who you truly are and who you want to be.”

She murmured an, “I suppose so.” Her gaze distant, clearly lost in thought.

He tightened his embrace and she looked up to meet his gaze. “I’ll tell you a secret,” he said softly. “Ever since I met this wild, passionate woman in an alley one night, I’ve been grappling with the same question.”

She widened her eyes in surprise and he knew she could hear the truth in his voice.

He cleared his throat. This sort of blunt honesty was still new to him but he knew better than to try to hide behind flowery words with his soon-to-be wife. “I know who I’ve been,” he said slowly. “And I know who I’d like to be. But most of all, I know who you deserve at your side and I want to be that man.”

Her smile was brilliant. “You will be.” She placed a hand over his heart. “You already are.”

He grinned down at her, at the faith that was in her eyes that he wasn’t entirely certain he deserved yet.

But he would.

Her gaze flitted toward the window and he followed it, noting for the first time that it was open, despite the chill outside. He was certain he hadn’t left it that way.

He frowned down at her. “Claire…”

Her eyes went wide with feigned innocence as her gaze darted to the window once more and then back. “Yes, Nicholas?”

“How exactly did you get into my rooms tonight?” he asked. “Not that I’m complaining.”

Her lips twitched at the corners with mischievous amusement. “I have my ways.”

He was so transfixed by the beautiful sight before him, his wild and wicked wife-to-be, that he couldn’t answer right away. For a moment, he was stunned into awed silence as he realized just how much this woman had turned him upside down. She had taken a rake and turned him into a gentleman. Over the course of weeks she had thoroughly destroyed the reputation he had spent a lifetime earning.

The most shocking part? He couldn’t have been happier.

Claire clearly misconstrued his silence and her smile turned to a pout. “I know, I know. If I had been caught I could have been ruined.”

He laughed and shook his head. “That’s not what I was thinking at all.”

She arched her brows in question and he pulled her in tight for another quick, passionate kiss. “I was thinking how much I’ve changed by falling in love with you. I’m a reformed rake now, thanks to you.”

She laughed as she tipped her head back to meet his gaze. “Then I suppose it is you whose reputation is ruined.”

“Exactly,” he said, his grip tightening so she couldn’t leave his side. “You have singlehandedly ruined this rake.”





Epilogue





The sheets were twined around them, making Nicholas’s bed feel like a cozy nest as the sun began to peek in through the curtains. Claire snuggled up against his warm, bare chest, utterly content and firmly intent on never leaving this bed. Not until she needed food, at least.

Nicholas was stroking her back and dropping kisses on top of her head. He must have felt her yawn, because he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Why don’t you sleep, love? You’ve had a long night.”

She laughed softly as she turned her head so her lips were over his heart. “That is an understatement.”

His devilish grin matched her own. It was nearing twenty-four hours since their wedding guests had departed and it had been the most intensely delicious day of her life.