“That is a given.” I angled my neck, allowing him to continue his seduction. “What of the publishing house?”
“Ash will be taking over for us.” He tugged at my earlobe, taking it into his silky mouth.
“I forgot he quit the Met. I will admit I am relieved. It is a dangerous job, and the more I witnessed here, the more thrilled I am that he is leaving this life behind.”
He lifted his head and traced his thumb along my bottom lip. “I as well.”
“I as wellis not grammatically correct. It is actuallyI do tooorso do I.” I met his grin with one of my own. “I can’t help myself. You know that.”
“Indeed, I do. It is one of the many bossy traits you have.”
I wrinkled my nose at his teasing. “I will miss editing.”
“To avoid more censure, I think my very organized wife will be able to fit in time for us to edit the Ambrosia line ourselves. That will keep Ash from being persecuted.” He nodded at his own statement. “Unfortunately, I can’t marry both of you.”
“No, you can’t.” Marriage to Moran would mean a lifetime commitment not only to him but to Ash. I understood that their special love would forever intertwine the three of us. “However,he might have a thing or two to say about it. He loves Ambrosia as much as you do.”
Moran rolled his hips against mine, lust sparking his eyes, along with love. “Be honest, you are also a convert.”
With a soft chortle at his teasing, I kissed him once more. “I will and gladly. The nights we spent together were the best I can recall, and I want every night moving forward to be memorable.”
“That is a tall order but I am up for the challenge. I love you, Birdie.” His smile fell, the lust replaced by love. “And you were right. I am also in love with Ash. It doesn’t make my love for you any less.”
“I never thought it would. I love Ash as well. He has been an invaluable friend and I don’t know what I would do without him in my life. He is welcome in our home and in our bed if he wishes to be.” While it was unconventional, it worked for us.
“You are very generous. Thank you.”
“I am not generous as much as selfish.” My nipples peaked simply thinking about his very talented mouth. “I like the way he...” I stiffened at the sound of voices in the hallway. When I had been brought into the office, I had expected to be taken back to jail. Instead, Moran had come to my rescue. He might be flawed, but he was my Lord Golden, and I loved him with every fiber of my being.
“Calm down. It’s probably the pastor. The sooner you marry me, the sooner this nightmare will end.” Moran’s calm assurance did much to stop my racing heart. In a few short minutes, I would be the Duchess of Moreland.
It wasn’t the path I thought I would ever take. Except I gladly welcomed the chance to stroll side by side with Moran. I might not be able to save the world, but with my newfound status, I could surely try.
Chapter Forty-Four
Inspector Liam Ashton
I climbed the familiar back stairwell of the T.J. Moran Publishing House, thrilled to start my new life as managing editor. Yesterday was my last day on the force, and while a part of me would miss it, I was pleased to follow my passion for books. I walked with a skip in my step, feeling as if the entire burden of the world was off my shoulders. Opening the door, I heard a steadythump thump thumpcoming from Moran’s office. He was boxing again, something he did to relieve the stress and strain of everyday life.
A rush of eagerness set my feet moving faster. If Moran was boxing, he’d have his shirt off and he would be slick with sweat, every muscle rippling. My cock sprang to attention just thinking about him in such a state. In the time since we had gotten Birdie out of jail, I hadn’t seen them very much. Birdie had been acclimating herself to her duties as the new Duchess of Moreland. Moran now possessed a grand estate, and a house in Mayfair, yet the couple decided to purchase a home in Cheapside. Until the house was ready, the girls were staying at the Mayfair residence. Eloise was able to quit her job, which had been an immense relief to Birdie.
The door swung open, and I scanned the room, my attention instantly shooting to the boxing ball. As predicted, Moran was punching in a steady rhythm, every muscle in his body movingwith fluid grace. What I didn’t expect was Birdie. Outfitted in bloomers and chemise, she stood on the other side of him, countering his punches with her own. Her joyful laughter floated in the room.
“Well, what do we have here?” The titillating scene fired my blood. She never ceased to surprise me with her adventurous nature. Moran was blessed to find such a perfect fit for him. While he seemed rather overwhelmed by the title and all the changes in his life, he never looked happier than with Birdie.
