Page 61 of The Seduction of Lord Sin
“I’d do anything for you. You only have to ask.” With that, he turned away and picked up Bella, gently placing her in-front of Charlotte, who promptly wrapped her arms around the coat covered, but still shivering, dog.
He watched Charlotte make for home, with Devlin riding beside her. They looked comfortable together, just like old friends. He wanted Charlotte to look at him as if he was her best friend, her lover, her partner, her husband… Seeing her in that hole of churning water, her life at risk, had clarified his feelings.
If she’d drowned in that hole, his only regret would be that he hadn’t told her how he felt about her. It wouldn’t be sorrow drowning him. That would follow her death. What would drown him was that he hadn’t lived his life with her.
Life held more meaning when you loved. When you risked all. He would fight for her heart and Devlin would have to find another way to save his family. It would not be through a marriage to Charlotte.
She’d challenged him to take a risk on love again, and the thing that surprised him the most was that loving Charlotte wasn’t a risk. She would never lie to him or deceive him. He knew that deep in his bones—in his very soul.
* * *
A hot bath and a good meal, and a little brandy for Bella, and an hour later they both sat by the fire in Charlotte’s bed-chamber recovering from their ordeal. Bella seemed none the worse for her abduction, but she would not leave Charlotte’s side, even sitting in the bathing chamber while Charlotte bathed.
“What did he mean, my beautiful girl? He’d do anything for me? What was he trying to say?” Bella woofed, and it made Charlotte laugh as if the dog was also trying to tell her something. “You like Lord Sinclair, don’t you? I do too, but he is a tad overbearing, isn’t he?”
“That’s because you continuously put yourself in danger and I don’t like it.”
She hadn’t heard him enter and Bella hadn’t even reacted; the dog was comfortable in his presence. His softly spoken words warmed her heart. He crouched down and petted Bella, who rolled onto her back for a belly rub.
He sat at her feet, and she looked at him. He was so handsome her heart fluttered in her chest. Could all her dreams come true? She could scarcely breathe.
“I know you made a promise to Devlin, but I’m hoping you will reconsider honoring your promise.”
“Why is that?” she asked with her heart almost bursting from her chest.
“Because I want you to become my wife, my duchess, my partner in life, the mother of my children, God willing.”
“Why?” She wanted it all and was now not afraid to ask, nay demand his declaration. She deserved to hear what was in his heart.
He reached and took her hand in his large safe grip. “Because rather than winning a contest to become your husband, you are the true victor in your game. For you have captured my heart. I cannot imagine my life without you in it. I could not bear it if you married any other man. I love you more than I could ever have imagined.”
She bent her head until her eyes were locked with his. “I love you too.”
“So you won’t marry Devlin?”
“I won’t marry Devlin.”
“What if he cannot find a wealthy woman to marry?”
She noted his fear and joy surged. He really loved her. She’d found what she was looking for. A man who loved her, desired her and wanted to share his life with her.
“I haven’t told you just why Lord Sanders needed to marry me, have I?”
At his confused frown, she put him out of his misery. “What Sanders revealed could be the answer to Devlin’s problems, but it might need some help from you and some persuasion from us both.”
He pulled her down on top of him and rolled her under him on the furs lying by the fire. Bella had to hasten out of the way.
“And if you hadn’t thought of a solution to Devlin’s financial woes? Perhaps I should abduct you so you can’t change your mind.”
“Oh, you gorgeous man. I could never marry anyone else when I’m so in love with you. If Devlin had not found a solution to his financial issues, I would have given him, or perhaps his mother, who would have more sense, money and he’d have had to take it. It’s all very well saying he won’t accept charity when there is still another option, but as options run out, he would have had to take it. I’m sure you would have offered help, too.”
“I already tried, but hadn’t thought about giving it to his mother or even one of his brothers. Beautiful and smart.”
She turned her head to look at the fire. “You think I’m beautiful?”
He cupped her chin and made her look at him. “When you look at me, my whole being lights up. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, inside and out. Can’t you feel how much I desire you?” and he pressed her into the rugs at her back, the hard length of his erection very evident.
Bella decided that rolling on the floor was a game she should also play, and she jumped on Sin’s back. He laughed and sat up.
