The Wallflower Wager - Tessa Dare Page 0,68

be.”

She lifted her head to Gabriel. “This is the best dog in the world. And I don’t need to meet any other dogs to feel sure of it.”

His eyes narrowed. “Did you just compare me to a dog?”

“I know, I’m not certain you deserve the compliment, either.” She set Bixby down at her side. “I don’t need to dance—or flirt, or walk, or go driving—with any other men to know you’re the best of them all.”

“I just hope that everything we shared was . . .” His fingers combed through her hair. “I mean, what happened in the alley was rather—”

“Extraordinary.” She slid closer, taking one of his hands in both of hers. “What happened in the alley was nothing short of exhilarating. I mean, the part where you tried to leave me forever was quite poorly done, but up until that . . . ? Immensely satisfying.”

He released a deep breath. “I’m glad of it.”

“I’m glad of it, too. I know most girls spend their youths dreaming of the thrill of a first kiss, the passion in a first touch . . .” With the pad of her thumb, she drew small, lazy shapes in the palm of his hand. “I never expected to have those firsts myself. To be honest, I doubted I’d want them. And then I met you, and everything was different. I thought it was lust at first sight. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. And not in a romantic, Prince Charming way. In a naked way.”

He laughed a little.

“It was so unnerving.”

“I can only imagine.”

“But wonderful. Looking back, I don’t think it was lust at first sight. It was trust at first sight. I felt safe with you. All those firsts that I believed had been stolen from me . . . With you, I got them all back. I took them back, on my own terms. I only wish I could go back and help recover all the firsts you missed, too.”

“I’ve had some firsts of my own. First time being sneezed on by a Highland steer. First time playing midwife to a goat. First sham sandwich. That was a last, as well.”

She poked him in the ribs. “You are terrible, and I love you.”

He reached for her, cradling her cheek in his hand. “Hearing those words was a first.”

“I know,” she whispered. “But it won’t be a last.”

And because she knew he wouldn’t take the lead tonight, she leaned forward to kiss him.

Her kiss was sweet and searching. Gabe wasn’t certain how to respond. He didn’t want to refuse her, but he’d be damned if he’d press her one touch further than she wished to proceed. So he let her take the lead, making himself open to everything she wanted to give—even when she kissed and caressed his body with a tenderness so foreign to him, he wasn’t certain he could have borne it for anything less than love of her.

She hiked the hem of his shirt and shrugged out of the dressing gown he’d given her. They peeled away all the layers until they were both fully naked, and from there it was the simple, beautiful inevitability of joining. Clasping, holding, moving together in an unhurried rhythm that nonetheless quickly brought them to the brink. Her fingernails bit into his shoulders as she shivered and cried out with release. As he raced toward his own climax, she held him close, forbidding him to leave her embrace. He surrendered to the temptation, spending inside her with a primal, possessive joy.

Afterward, she snuggled in his arms. “You don’t need to save my reputation, but I hope you know you’re going to undermine your own. Long engagements and weddings in St. George Hanover Square? Not terribly ruthless or intimidating, Mr. The Duke of Ruin.”

“I’m not going to undermine my reputation,” he said. “I’m going to destroy it, thoroughly. For you.”

“I know,” she whispered. “I love you so dearly for it.”

He was going to give her everything. Even if it meant living in her world, among the aristocrats he despised, choking back his pride and resentment.

The Duke of Ruin died here today, in her arms. And Gabe wasn’t entirely certain who he’d be going forward, but he knew one thing. He would be her husband and protector. And he would never allow anyone to hurt her again.

Along that line of thought, he had best return her to her house before morning broke.

“I need to see you home,” he said. “The last thing we need now