“I love all those things about you.”
She smiled.“You see, I don’t wish for the fairy tale anymore.I want a partner who will walk beside me, love me, and help me tackle the ups and downs of real life.”She kissed him deeply.“And even though this was not a fairy-tale day, you were my hero, scaling the side of the building to rescue me.”
He grinned.It transformed his face and lit his eyes from within.She ran a hand through his hair, pushing his curls back off his brow.There was the Matthew she knew and loved.“How did you get up to the roof, anyway?”
“I climbed up the downspout.It’s how we always got into people’s houses.An old skill that came in handy tonight.”He wrapped his arms around her, and his lips captured hers.His tongue, hot and frantic, plundered her mouth.His hands raced up her back and into her hair.Pins scattered to the floor.She gripped his hair as she licked into his mouth.This is what she needed—the passion between them to burn away the events of the day.
He kissed across her cheek and down her neck.She flinched at the brush of his beard against abraded skin.Matthew growled low as he saw the red marks his brother had left on her.“Where else are you hurt?”He grabbed handfuls of her shift and pulled it over her head.Then he stood with her in his arms and stalked over to set her down on the bed.He brought a candelabra over to the bedside table so he could examine her skin.Frowning over each of the bruises that had begun to bloom.Kissing each spot that he found.
Elizabeth stretched her arms above her head and writhed under his ministrations.“Are you done frowning yet?They are just bruises.Soon to fade.”His head popped up.His eyes met hers.She gave him a pleading look.“Matthew, I need you to strip off your clothes, come here, and make love to me.Please.”
“Well, since you asked so nicely.”He grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled it up and over his head.
She bit her bottom lip as the expanse of muscles was revealed.Then she watched him slowly unbutton his falls.He pushed his trousers off and stepped out of them.His eyes never left hers as he climbed over her.Then he dipped down to take one of her nipples into his mouth, giving it a long suck.She arched her back, chasing the delicious sensations his lips left behind as he licked across her breasts.She reached for his hair, but his head popped up.
“Keep those hands above your head, naughty girl.Your body is mine to worship.Lay back and take what I give you.”
She whimpered, but her body came alive for him.Each touch of his fingers across her skin, each caress of his lips, had her on the razor’s edge between pleasure and frustration.She wanted to touch him.To feel his body press against hers.
As though he could read her thoughts, he lowered himself on top of her.His cock nudged her entrance, and she spread her legs wide to let him in.He kissed her deeply.She finally sank her hands into his hair as he began to move inside her, filling her up so good.She moaned against his mouth.
“Lizzie, may I spill inside you?I promise to always take care of you and to be a father to any children we have.I will never leave your side.”
She nodded and wrapped her legs around him.“Yes, yes, fill me up with your seed.I am yours.”
He closed his eyes with a low moan.Then his hips ravished her.She met each of his thrusts with her own sighs of pleasure.His lips raced across her neck.“I love you, Lizzie.Come for me, love.”
“Oh God, Matthew, I love you.”Her orgasm exploded in a burst of light behind her eyelids.She felt his cock pulse inside her over and over, spilling inside her, marking her as his.She held him close, reveling in the heavy weight of him between her legs.This was the happy ending she craved.This man loving her and making love to her every night.Building their family.Building a life together.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Matthew tucked Stella’shand into the crook of his arm.“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”She looked up at him.“Are you?”
“Not really.”He shrugged.“But no more hiding.”He turned the knob to the heavy wooden door that marked the front office of Harrington and Sibley.The firm had been handling the business of the viscountcy since his grandfather’s time.He and Stella walked inside and approached the man at the front desk, a nervous-looking gentleman who jumped up and gave a sharp bow.
“Viscount Griffen, I presume?”
Matthew gave a terse nod.Damn title.Rotten family tree.Bad luck, for sure.He should turn around now while he still had the chance.Go home to his girl and what…admit that he was a coward?He sighed.Fuck this.He was not a scared ten-year-old boy.He was a grown man who ran his own bloody business.He could take care of this piece of business.All he had to do was sign the paperwork and then sell everything off.Be done with it.
Stella squeezed his arm.Her wide dark eyes questioning.He gave her a nod, then turned back to the clerk.“Yes, and this is my sister, Miss Estella Perrin.We are here for our three o’clock appointment.”
“Yes, my lord.Right this way.”The man gestured for them to follow him as he led them down a corridor to the left of the desk.The thick carpeting and dark wood paneling on the walls all lent to a quiet, rarefied atmosphere.They were ushered into a room with tall windows along one wall.In the center of the room sat a large mahogany table, and around it, a half dozen chairs.
“Please have a seat.May I bring you any refreshments?Tea?Coffee?”the clerk asked them.
“No, thank you,” Stella answered.When the man left, she turned to him.“This place makes me feel as though I am walking back into the cage.Did you see all those portraits hanging in the hallway?It was as though the eyes were following us as we walked past.”
Matthew couldn’t hold back a laugh at her expression of mock horror.He kissed the top of her head.“Thank you for coming with me today.Don’t worry.We are about to be handed the keys to the cage.We can dismantle it.We can do whatever we wish.I promise, no rules.”
“Even if I want to go sing for Mr.Spencer at the Hillwood Theater?”
Matthew studied her upturned face, eyes full of hope.“Is that really what you want?”
Stella nodded.“Yes!”
“You could have a proper season in society.Go to balls and such things.”
