Page 11 of Revealing a Rogue
“Tell me you want to marry me first before I kiss you.” His thumb glided over her lip a second time.
Blinking her eyes open, she swallowed. “Yes.”
Leaning closer, Landon whispered in her ear, “I want to hear you say it.”
“I’ll marry you.”
His lips swept along her exposed neck down to her shoulder. Seeking to stabilize herself, she curled her hands, bunching the material of his waistcoat. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to pull him closer or push him away. That dilemma fled her mind as his tongue followed the ridge of her collar bone. Landon peppered light kisses upon the swell of her bosom, causing her breathing to hasten.
Landon was renowned for his self-control and restraint. His leisurely exploration was either a testament to his willpower or his roguish nature attempting to torture her.
No longer willing to wait, Bronwyn cupped Landon’s face and brought his mouth to meet her own. Soft but firm lips molded to hers. An urge to taste him had Bronwyn parting her lips, allowing his tongue to seek out hers. A burst of exhilaration roared through her veins. She wanted more. Wrapping her arms about his neck, she threaded her hand through his hair and pressed him closer. Boys had tried to kiss her before, cornering her and crushing their mouths in brutal, crude attacks. This was nothing of the kind. Landon was no boy, and she was apparently skilled in the art of kissing.
Landon pulled back. For a moment, she didn’t want the spell to end. Soft kisses upon her eyelids prompted her to open her eyes. His dimple greeted her. She had agreed to marry Landon.
When her pulse returned to normal, she reached into her skirt pocket on the left that held another list.
“What is that?”
“My demands.”
Landon laughed. “I knew you’d have a list of demands. Pray tell. What’s on it?”
“First, I’ll not wed in front of the ton at St. Georges. Second, Emma needs another day to have everything readied before we leave for Scotland. Third, you have to speak to my dad tonight.”
“Let me make sure I understand. You don’t want to wait the three weeks for the banns to be read, and you want to hie off to Gretna Green and be married over an anvil.”
“I know you already procured a special license, so a delay of three weeks was never an option.”
“Have you shared your demands with anyone? Has the Network already begun preparations?”
“Of course I’ve not shared my list with another. No one would think me daft enough to actually make requests of the head PORF.”
“Grand. Then there is room for negotiation?”
“Absolutely not.”
Landon gathered her up in his arms and whispered, “And that is exactly why you are the one for me.”
Bronwyn smiled, but she still believed it implausible that she was really perfect for him.
Chapter Five
The bell over Rutherford’s door tinkled as Landon entered. He smiled, glad that Cadby had agreed to meet at Rutherford’s jewelry store rather than at his tobacco shop. A shiver ran down Landon’s spine at the memory of entering Cadby’s store. It had taken Landon weeks to recover from his visit. Apart from the fact his skin needed to heal after Cadby had taken his leisure in tattooing the mark upon his hip, his lungs had ached after inhaling the tobacco fumes for hours.
Rutherford’s gray head appeared. “Lord Hadfield, I wasn’t expecting you for another thirty minutes.” The old man rushed to the door and flipped the sign to indicate he was no longer open for business.
“I thought I might browse your selection of rings before we begin the evening’s proceedings.” Landon perused the glass cabinets. Bronwyn was exceedingly practical—what type of jewel would suit her best?
Rather than offering suggestions, Rutherford disappeared into the back.
Bronwyn was born in October. Running his finger along the edge of the counter, he tried to recall which stone represented her birth month.
“Might I suggest you select a ring from this collection?” The jeweler pushed forward a tray with three exquisite rings atop dark blue velvet.
Landon picked up the center ring, drawn to its unique design. “What is this stone called?” The pink jewels that surrounded the center stone reminded him of Bronwyn’s lips and their kiss.
“It’s an opal, my lord, surrounded by pink tourmaline. They are Miss Cadby’s birthstones.”
