Beauty Tempts the Beast (Sins for All Seasons #6) - Lorraine Heath Page 0,104
slid her legs from his shoulders, eased off her slightly so she was only half-covered, reached a long arm down to snag the sheet and brought it up over her. His hand rested heavily against her breast. She didn’t know how he’d managed so many movements when she wasn’t certain she’d ever move again.
They lay there replete, she in wonder that she might have never had this, might have never had him if not for bad decisions made by others.
“As I won’t have a protector, will be no lord’s mistress, can’t teach Lottie and Hester forever, I shall have to find other employment,” she said after a time. “I’m not certain what I shall do.”
With a groan, he raised himself slightly, wedged himself between her thighs, and to her surprise, pushed into her once more, held still. She brushed his hair back from his face. He was studying her as though she was a treasure he’d unexpectedly found, hadn’t even known he was searching for. “You could have my children.”
Her heart stuttered. “I beg your pardon?”
He withdrew, entered her again. “Have my children, be my partner in the shipping business, handle Thorne every time he wants us to make a detour for something he needs that no one else does.” He kissed one corner of her mouth, then the other. “Marry me, Thea.”
A little cry escaped her lips, tears burned her eyes. “Do you mean it?”
“It nearly killed me every time I thought of you going to another man. Be mine, only mine. My wife, my love. We’ll purchase a residence, where only the two of us will live so you’ll no longer have to hold back those cries that carry my name. Marry me.”
If he wasn’t resting on top of her, hard and thick inside her, she might have floated out through the window, the joy coursing through her making her feel as though she could fly. “Yes. I want you to be my husband. You’re already my love.”
He kissed her deeply, soundly, began gently rocking against her. He slid his mouth to the sensitive spot beneath her ear, dragged his tongue over it.
“But you’ll have to propose again elsewhere.”
He shifted so he could once again hold her gaze. “Why?”
“Because ladies always ask each other to describe the proposal in detail, and I can’t very well say he proposed while his magnificent cock was nestled deep inside me.”
If he didn’t already hold her heart, the grin he bestowed upon her would have stolen it. “Just tell me where and when.”
Chapter 24
“I think the butler did it.”
Beast looked up from his writing to the rosewood writing desk he’d moved out of one of the bedchambers not yet in use two days earlier—the morning following the night when she had accepted his proposal of marriage—because he’d wanted her near. Always wanted her near. He liked being able to get up and kiss her whenever he wanted. He especially enjoyed when she would get up and come over to kiss him. But he enjoyed most when she locked the door on her way over.
They had yet to discuss the details of their wedding because he had yet to give her the second proposal. He wanted to do it in a memorable way that would make her smile whenever she relayed the details of it. And she had yet to tell him when and where.
Now she was looking quite pleased with her deductive skills. While she usually spent her time at the desk determining what remained for her to teach Lottie and Hester, today she’d begun reading his manuscript. “The butler,” he repeated.
“Yes. I know your inspector suspects Lord Chadburn of killing his best friend—after determining it wasn’t the grieving widow—I like her by the way.”
As did he. She very much resembled the woman sitting in his study.
“But I think it’s the butler. He’s so unassuming, always in the background. Always so quiet. He could easily sneak up on people.”
“Possibly, you’re correct.”
“You’re not going to confirm it?”
“No. I want you to read it without knowing who the murderer is so you can let me know if I’ve provided enough information so you can believe he’s the murderer.”
She tapped her pencil on the edge of the desk. “How much longer before you’re finished?”
“A few more days.”
She didn’t seem happy about that, which served to assuage his worries that it wasn’t holding her attention. “Another matter. Your Lord Chadburn. His name very much resembles that of an earl I know.”