“Oh, Jared, Walker is your best friend! You’ve saved his life and he’s saved your life time and again—and yet you would deny him—and Marguerite!—a chance for happiness?”
Jared didn’t answer, his jaw grown tight. Instead, he moved past Lindsay and shrugged off his robe. He’d known this discussion would come, he’d told Lindsay as much at Almack’s, but the matter was disagreeable to him all the same.
Walker Burkewashis closest friend—but blast it all, the man was incorrigible when it came to women. Not callous or cruel, mind you, tavern wenches to bored merchants’ wives all adored him, and therein lay the problem!
“Come to bed, wife.” Jared heard Lindsay’s indignant intake of breath as he stripped off his breeches and moved to the huge four-poster that seemed to dwarf the room. “Perhaps stoke the fire on your way—”
“Come to bed? Stoke the fire? Is that all you have to say to me, Jared Giles?”
Naked now, he turned around to face her, his intent to distract her from the unpleasant topic blessedly working. Her widened eyes dropped from his face to his erection, her cheeks flaring pink.
“Y-you’re trying to change the subject.”
“I am indeed. How aboutIstoke the fire while you undress and climb under the covers.” His voice grown husky at the thought of the lushness of his wife’s body beneath her silk dressing gown, Jared took a few steps toward her. “If you’d like, I’d be happy to assist you…”
She squealed when he suddenly lunged for her and caught her in his arms, her laughter joining with his as he carried her to the bed. An instant later and he had divested her of her clothing. His breath caught at the sight of her, all curves and creamy white skin and the rounded belly where her fingers were splayed. He bent his head and kissed her there, gently, reverently, for truly he worshiped this woman whom he loved more than life.
Just as Lindsay tunneled her fingers in the burnished gold of his hair, this man she loved more than life. Without a word he lay down beside her and drew her into his arms, the hard length of his muscled body pressing against her womanly softness.
A moment ago she had been so vexed with him—well, notreallythat vexed—and now she wanted nothing more than to feel his kisses raining down upon her face, her neck—ah, God, her hardened nipples.
Lindsay moaned as he captured a rosy nub in his mouth and suckled, her breasts tender and swollen from the new life growing inside her. She buried her fingers deeper in his hair and arched her back. The world seemed to spin around her at the heat of his mouth upon her…and then he was gently rolling her onto her side with her bottom flush against his hips.
Gently, oh so gently he entered her from behind and she was wet for him, his enlarged flesh slowly easing into her as his fingers massaged the sensitive bud at the very heart of her.
It didn’t take long; it never did these days as if every nerve, every fiber in her body had grown even more responsive to his caresses and his slow rhythmic thrusts.
“Jared, my love…” Her climax came so swiftly upon her that Lindsay could only groan her release, while she felt Jared shudder deep inside her, his body grown rigid. Then he sighed deeply, heavily, and pulled her closer against him, a powerful thigh draping over her legs as they lay as one together, their breathing gradually returning to normal.
She even felt herself drifting off to sleep until his fervent kiss at her nape roused her, the weight of his hand caressing her upper arm. She could tell that his mind was already elsewhere, perhaps once again upon Walker. She knew he wouldn’t sleep until they’d made some peace about the subject, though she didn’t really know where to start.
“Jared…”
His heavy exhalation told her that she had guessed correctly the direction of his thoughts. She tried to sit up so she might look at him, but he held her fast, his voice grown almost gruff.
“I love Walker like a brother, but he is not the one for Marguerite no matter your romantic notions, Lindsay. You must trust me in this. I’ve known him for years, and he’s never settled upon one woman—”
“Nor had you, husband…until I stowed away aboard your ship. You believed you could never love…but you do love—oh!”
Jared had rolled her over onto her back so suddenly that Lindsay could but gaze up at him in surprise, though his expression was somber.
“I won’t say that Walker will never love, but would you have Marguerite suffer a lifetime of his mistresses if he cannot be true to her? Leave him to the course he knows, Lindsay. I’d wager that Lady Belinda will be more than happy to give him an heir in exchange for wealth and position…and then be willing to turn a blind eye to any indiscretion. She’s been groomed for such a life…butnotMarguerite. Corie would agree with me, I know it…and so do you.”
Lindsay gave a small nod, but she didn’t believe it—no, she wouldn’t!
She had seen how Walker had looked at Marguerite when he first saw her at Almack’s—and Marguerite at him!—and how he had held her when they danced. If love had eased the terrible pain that had once gripped Jared’s heart, then surely her instincts must be right about Walker and Marguerite…
“Sleep now, wife. I’ll be leaving early in the morning after all. A few more weeks and the renovations to our home will be done, and then I will no longer have to leave you.”
He bent his head to press a kiss to her lips, but already Jared’s hold upon her had loosened as he then settled himself snugly against her.
She knew how tired he must be. He had only arrived in London two days ago so he might greet their guests and attend Marguerite’s special night at Almack’s, but she’d known his visit would be short. He was determined to complete the renovations to Dovercourt Manor as soon as possible so they might all be together again.
He’d had the house fairly gutted, not only to mend the disrepair from lying vacant for three years but to erase any trace of the treachery that had gone before. His much-loved sister, Elise, had died there after suffering so tragically—
“No, that’s in the past,” Lindsay said under her breath, gently caressing Jared’s forearm as he slept soundly beside her. Love had mercifully conquered his heartache and misery so theremustbe hope for Walker Burke, too.
