What the Duke Wants(63)

Carlotta closed her eyes, letting his words, his touch wash over her. Like a warm and welcome spring rain, she soaked in the meaning, and realized anew how she was in sole possession of his heart.

And she had neglected to say something very important.

“I love you,” she whispered the words, pledging them, vowing to protect his heart and guard it like the most sacred treasure.

Opening her eyes she glanced up, slightly shy. His blue eyes danced in victory, in joy. A fierce light illuminated his blue depths and almost stole her breath with the masculine beauty he possessed.

All because she had spoken the truth.

Perhaps, it did really set one free. Better yet, it set others free as well. As she lost herself in his gaze, she realized that he had been waiting for that very admission from her lips.

But not once did he push her, which went against his very nature.

“You no longer have two options. One, I’m leaving you one, and then we’re leaving.” His voice was thick with restraint.

“Oh? And what if I wish to stay?” She dared to admit the deepest desires of her heart.

“Then I will certainly fall under the temptation to take every inch of you, Lottie. But in doing so, I’ll simply be acting as in my nature and you deserve far better than that. So, I beg of you, help me to keep my honorable intentions and let’s be off. As it is, it will be dark when we arrive back home.” He caressed her face lightly.

Home.

It was amazing how one word could open up so many emotions. Home was no longer Garden Gate, it was with him. He was her home.

Then let us be off,” she murmured.

“Thank God, and before you scold me, that was indeed a very reverent prayer.”

Carlotta laughed.

“I find nothing humorous about this situation, madam!” But he grinned as he swept her up and all but ran out the door.





Chapter Fourteen




When they arrived at Greenford Waters, it was full dark and he was concerned that Lottie was perhaps catching a chill. He wrapped his arms around her tighter, pulling her soft body into his own, furthering his damnable need for her to extreme proportions. But his desire was secondary, first on his mind was her care. It was amazing how one person could become a man’s whole world. His vision was tinted with the intense desire to protect her, care for her, love her. Every other emotion or need fell away in light of it.

And she had chosen him.

Rather, she had let him choose her.

And it was quite perfect.

“Are you too cold?” he asked, again. Honestly, he had lost track of how many times he had asked that very question.

“Yes, I’m quite warm, your grace.”

“Charles.”

“Charles.” She still spoke his name shyly, as if she couldn’t quite believe she was saying it.

And every time she did say it, his heartbeat quickened and his body ached for her with a need he had never experienced.

Strangely enough, as delirious with desire as he had been this past evening, he had never found restraint easier.

Odd that.

At first, he had assumed it stemmed from the nature of his proposal. He’d never live it down once the word reached London.

But he couldn’t care less.

As the shock wore off, he realized that his newfound powers of self-control stemmed from the fierce desire to protect her. Love had a way of changing the way a man saw things. When he thought about his past, he repressed the need to cringe. He wanted nothing of his past, his selfish and self-seeking nature to touch her, no. She was not one of the other countless women who had shared his bed for a night or two— she was different. She wouldn’t be visiting his bed, but making it her bed too. He’d wake up with her every morning, have the delight of loving her, every delicious inch of her, each night. With the sun, she’d not disappear discretely, nor would she need her own apartment where he’d visit on his leisure. She’d bear their children, grow grey with him and nag him when they were both too old and deaf to hear each other.

The future had never looked so bright.

It was that very future that caused his restraint to be ironclad. Because this new life, new beginning was going to remain as perfect as he was able. Which demanded he wait.

And if anything spoke of the depth of his love, it was that he was determined to wait until they were married before he took her.

That wait alone might kill him.

But at least he’d die knowing he was honorable—for her.

Because in the end, it all came back to her.

After dismounting, he pulled her forward, kissing her deeply, searchingly till he could taste the honey of her desire filling his senses. Reluctantly, he released her and tugged on her hand while she stumbled dazedly toward the entrance.

Before they made it to the side entrance, the large wooden door swung open and the three girls rushed forward, running. If not for his intervention, they surely would have knocked his beloved Lottie to the ground.

Her smile was breathtaking, almost too beautiful to look at. Like staring at the sun, her face was lit up by the light flooding out from the wide open door.

All he could do was stare.

“Girls!” she shouted, her voice full of joy, relief.

They all hugged her at once, Berty, being Berty, was completely engulfed in her skirts while the two older girls hugged her waist. With tender caresses, she patted their heads, cupped their faces, and kissed their cheeks.