AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And when she finally cried out, he broke with a guttural cry, matching her finish with his own.
He collapsed next to her, pulling her close to his body. “Mirabelle.”
She gave a sleepy hum. “Hmm.”
But his gut twisted a bit at what he needed to say next. “Because of what we just did and because of the danger that circles, we’ll have to marry quickly.”
She gave a sleepy nod as she turned on her side and buried her rear into the cradle of his hips. With a smile, he worked the covers out from under her, covered her up, and then settled his own body against her back, enveloping her in the embrace.
She only snuggled closer. “I know.”
“You know?”
She placed her arm over his, threading their fingers together as she relaxed completely. “I conceded, remember?” And then she looked back at him with a smile. “Though I think anyone would tell you that I’m the clear winner. A baron as a husband.”
He looked down at her, a chuckle erupting from his lips. Had she planned this all along? Who could say?
He knew one thing for certain, marriage to Mirabelle was going to be all the excitement he’d ever need.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Mirabelle woketo the slight rustling noise as the first rays of sun peeked into the windows. She opened her eyes to see Ken quietly pulling on his clothes.
She wrinkled her nose in protest, the bed so warm and cozy. “Where are you going?”
In answer, he leaned down, still shirtless, and gave her lips a lingering kiss. “While I intend to marry you posthaste, I don’t think any of your brothers would like the idea of me being here now. No one likes to see a groom with a black eye.”
“Who cares about them,” she murmured, half sitting up as she reached an arm about his neck to pull his mouth back down to hers.
He complied, kissing her several times before he pulled away again, his fingers trailing along her jaw, his eye holding hers. “Mirabelle, try to understand. I could fight any one of them, but all of them together…”
She did understand. Which was why she let him go. “I know.”
“And besides, I don’t want to start our marriage at odds with your family. It’s best for you that we’re all…friends. Nor do I want any question about your reputation. We’ll make certain you’re the success you’ve always hoped to be.”
He was right and her heart swelled by the ways he protected her. “Will you speak with Ace?”
“Yes,” he answered, sliding his fingers into her hair at the base of her neck. “I already had his permission to court. Now it will just be a negotiation about the particulars.”
But that made her wince. Her particulars were not very advantageous. “My dowry. It isn’t…”
He shushed her with a kiss. “My love, it’s of no consequence.”
She looked at him, attempting to weigh those words. It was of consequence to her. It was one more way in which she wasn’t actually good enough. She tried to push those thoughts aside but they wouldn’t leave. “It is to me.”
He trailed his fingers down her arm to clasp her hand. “You know all the wonderful things you bring to my life. Don’t you?”
She shook her head, pulling up straighter in the bed. “I know you said we’re perfect together. And I know why I want you. Why I was a fool. But…” Her chin dipped. “Why do you want me? I’m…less. I always have been.”
He shook his head and suddenly, she was crushed against his chest. Those words had been so difficult to say, but here against him, it didn’t feel like she’d given away anything at all. In fact, it felt as though she’d won. Again.
“Don’t you know that you’re more? More of everything. More lovely, more tenacious. More fun. Mirabelle…” He moved away again to stare into the depths of her eyes. “I don’t need money or connections. I need you.”
Those words stole her breath and she found herself tumbling into a kiss, lost to everything around her
until he finally pulled back, holding her face in his hands. “Now go back to sleep. You must be exhausted.”
But try as she might, she couldn’t. She lay in the lonely bed for what must have been an hour before she finally pulled herself out of the covers, her feet landing on the plush carpeted floor.
