Scoundrel of My Heart (Once Upon a Dukedom #1) - Lorraine Heath Page 0,88

to meet him. Nothing had ever felt more right as his groan shimmied through him, through her.

As he rocked against her, the sensations began to build. Whimpers she couldn’t contain circled around her. Their movements became more frantic, and when the cataclysm came, it tore through her with the force of a great wave hurled to shore by a storm. A wave big enough to take both of them, because his growl followed quickly on the end of her cry, both sounds echoing around them.

But it was only as she came back into herself that she realized he’d left her, that his seed coated her belly. It was the right thing to do, to ensure she didn’t get with babe, didn’t risk giving the duke she would marry another man’s offspring—and yet, she felt a momentary sadness that she would never have Griff’s child growing within her.

He kissed her lips, each of her breasts, the valley between. “Wait here. I’ll clean you up.”

Her grandmother had often told her not to think about what she didn’t have, but to concentrate on what she did. She’d had a glorious experience, and for tonight, for the remainder of her life, it had to be enough.

“He’s going to ask me to marry him. Sometime in the next few days he’s going to speak with Father.” She was snuggled against Griff’s side, his arm around her, his fingers drawing circles on her shoulder while she did the same on his chest. She knew she didn’t need to tell him who. She didn’t want to bring his name into the room.

“Took him long enough.”

“You’re not bothered by it?”

“Why would I be bothered by it? I arranged it.”

“To win a wager.”

He held silent, not that she blamed him. What was there to say? He might not have initially collected the winnings, but eventually he had. From his duplicity, he had built this place. She no longer resented it, but still she wished he’d admitted that what he would have gained had not been his primary motivation, that he’d sent the letter because of his feelings for her, his desire to see her gain what she wanted. She didn’t know why she was disappointed, why she wanted more. He’d never proclaimed his love for her.

She was here now not because of his feelings toward her but hers toward him.

How often had women made that very mistake? She thought the Trewloves were probably examples of it happening six times at least. Fortunately, however, she wouldn’t bring an unwanted child into the world. No, not unwanted. She’d have wanted it. Her parents, not so much. They might have even sent her packing. But she would be spared all that because he had experience, he’d thought ahead, he’d taken precautions.

She wanted another woman never to be in this room. But she thought that unlikely to happen. He would carry on with his life, and she would move on with hers. She wanted him to be happy, to have someone. While she would have the duke. “You assume I’ll say yes.”

He shifted until he was resting on his elbow, looking down on her. “Of course, you’ll say yes. It’s the opportunity to have what you’ve always desired.” He curled his fingers around the side of her neck, stroked his thumb along the length of her jaw. “I’ve been there, Kathryn. I understand why you love it, why you want it. It belongs with you. The cottage, the sea, the shoreline. The dawn. I’ll always see you there.”

In his memories.

She would see him there as well. And here. In this once-abandoned building that he had transformed into something that held the power to change lives, hearts, and futures. He’d been betrayed by his father, by Society. But he’d come out the other side, a stronger, better man. A man capable of achieving his ambitions.

“I can’t come back here. Ever.”

“No, you can’t. I’ll be cancelling your membership.”

“What if I told him no?”

“You won’t.”

After rolling out of the bed, he snatched up his trousers. She sat up abruptly, pulling the sheet over her chest. “What are you doing?”

He tossed her chemise and drawers toward her. “Start getting dressed.”

“I don’t understand.” He seemed angry, furious in fact.

“It’s time you left. I’ll escort you to your carriage.”

“Why are you doing this?”

He swung around and faced her. Oh yes, he was definitely fuming.

“Why would you even consider telling him no? After all the trouble I went to in order to see this match happen? Why not take advantage