Page 43 of How to Ruin a Rake

“Why?” she demanded. “I want to feel you do that inside me.”

Max very much wanted to agree with her, but thank God, some remnants of common sense remained. “I don’t want to get you with child.”

She went still. “I understand. Do what you must.”

He eased free, the very motion causing him to come as he rolled away and spent on the sheets. He stayed where he was, face down, breathing hard, until he found the composure to turn and look at her.

“Thank you,” she said, her gray eyes clear. “That was remarkable.”

He leaned in and kissed her. “You are remarkable.”

She cupped his face. “I’ll never forget this.”

“I should bloody well hope not.” Max yawned, desperately hiding behind the mundane, because his emotions were all over the place. “Now, shall we get some sleep? We have a long journey tomorrow.”

Allegra watched as Max instantly fell asleep, his expression relaxed, his generous mouth still bearing the remnants of his smile. She got out of the bed and almost fell as she walked to the table, where there was a basin and pitcher. Her body wasn’t accustomed to being used in such ways. There was a pleasurable soreness between her legs as she gently cleaned off the blood, and she shivered as the roughness of the cloth revived the ache of need Max had left there.

She found her nightgown and put it on, but she had no desire to sleep. Instead, she wrapped her shawl around her shoulders and went to sit in the window seat. It was still dark outside, and, as they were in the countryside, there was a complete absence of light, which made her feel as if she were caught in a moment out of time. The whole experience felt like that—Max agreeing to make love to her and her having the nerve to ask. But she didn’t regret it. If her life became as boring and monotonous as she feared, she’d always have these memories.

A tear trickled down her cheek, and she swiftly scrubbed it away. There was nothing to be sad about. She’d got what she wanted, she didn’t regret it, and she would move forward with her life with the knowledge that she had been thoroughly and properly pleasured by an absolute rake.

CHAPTER 8

Max woke up the next morning with his arms around Allegra. She was snoring slightly, and it was light enough for him to see her face and the slight bruise on her throat where he must have bitten her in his passion. She smelled of him, and he was more content than he had ever been before in his life. …

Max fully opened his eyes. This would never do.

Today, they would part company, and he would endeavor to ensure that no one ever thought of them in the same breath. She deserved to be shielded from Roberts’ malicious gossip, and he would do his utmost to repair her reputation, even if that meant he had to lie and destroy Roberts’ reputation in the process.

He got out of bed and went over to the table under the window, where a jug of water and a bowl stood ready for his ablutions. A cloth had been neatly folded and left on the floor. Max didn’t need to pick it up to see there were faint bloodstains on it. His gut spasmed, and he quickly splashed cold water into the bowl and washed himself clean. He’d never bedded a virgin before, and he hadn’t realized there would be … evidence.

He reminded himself that Allegra had asked him to bed her and that she’d been an enthusiastic participant in every aspect of their night together. He glanced back at the bed and found her watching him, her expression hard to read.

“Good morning,” Max said. “I thought I might bring you your breakfast in bed.”

“There is no need.” She sat up, her brown hair falling over her shoulder. “I am quite capable of getting up.”

“As you wish.” Max found his sadly crumpled shirt and put it on.

“I’d appreciate your help with my stays. It’s much easier when someone else does them.”

She sounded her usual self, and Max relaxed slightly until he noticed her wince as she got out of bed.

“Are you well?”

She looked at him. “I am a little sore, but that is to be expected. There is nothing for you to worry about.”

He moved over to allow her access to the water jug and bowl and concentrated on putting on his stockings, breeches, and waistcoat while she washed. She’d already put her shift back on, so it was an easy matter for him to lace up her stays and help her step into her petticoats and gown. She sat down to brush out her hair and pin it up while he tied his cravat and put on his coat.

“We both look quite respectable,” Allegra said. “Although I dread to think what the maid will make of our bedsheets after we’ve gone.”

“She’ll certainly worry about our relationship,” Max agreed, as he held the door open for her. “But as neither of us are ever likely to return to this spot, I doubt we should care.”

They went down to the kitchen, greeted an enthusiastic Pippin, and had an excellent breakfast. Max paid the bill, and Allegra went back upstairs to collect her reticule. By the time she came down, Max had the horse within the shafts of the gig and was ready to go. He picked her up and set her on the seat beside Pippin and went around the other side to take his own place. After a nod to the ostler, he clicked to the horse, and they were off toward King’s Lynn and the last few miles of their journey to Musgrove Hall.

Having mutually decided not to stop anywhere Allegra might be recognized, they arrived at the wall surrounding the Musgrove estate in the early afternoon. Allegra directed Max toward a secluded area away from the main gates, and he stopped the gig and came around to lift her down. Instead of releasing her, he held on, and she looked up at him in surprise. His expression was grave.

“What is it?”