Page 64 of What A Rogue Wants
She jerked her head. “As if I could.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“No, I was not trying to free him.” Her shoulders slumped, and he fought the urge to fold her into his arms. She had gone there for a reason. He had to know why. “Why were you there?”
“Why do you think?” she asked faintly.
Ah. Here was the tricky part. He knew what he wanted to believe, but was he fooling himself? Was Edward right? Would he not be able to read the truth in her eyes because he didn’t want to see the truth? “I think you were desperate to see your father one last time.” Her eyes widened at his statement. “Am I right?”
“Yes.” Her voice trembled. “I had to say goodbye.” She sniffed and wiped at her face. “He’s all I have in this world, Grey. I—I cannot stay to see him hanged. I just want to go home. I don’t want to be here when he’s killed.”
Grey enfolded her into his arms, relief pouring through him. He didn’t give a damn what Edward thought, Madelaine was innocent. She needed him.
He stroked a hand through her hair, aware of a stirring of his blood and a pounding of his pulse. He was helpless to stop his reaction to her. The best he could do was try to control himself. “I’ll take you home. And I’ll send a note to my brother explaining everything, so he won’t pursue punishing you.”
She pulled away. “No. Don’t do that. You shouldn’t involve yourself in my troubles or place me between you and your brother.”
“Nonsense.” He pulled her to him. When he saw her mouth part as if to protest, he kissed her. He meant only to silence her while he thought how to convince her to allow him to take her home. He’d never let her out of his sight now. Not only was he worried for her safety, but it was imperative to prove her innocence to Edward. When his mouth met hers, and her warm lips parted, he tasted her sweetness and lost control. He kissed her hungrily, their tongues swirling and touching then retreating and coming together once again.
He wanted more. He wanted to shelter her and ravish her at the same time. The dueling desires drove his kiss to a frenzied level. He ravaged her mouth with kiss after kiss, and she responded by pressing her mouth harder against his. Their hands worked frantically over each other. He slid his hands over her smooth skin, pushing her dress off her shoulder, tugging open her bodice, and slipping a finger under her dress to release her taut nipple. He wrenched his mouth away from hers only to lower it to her nipple where he swirled his tongue around the peak. A shudder of desire coursed through him when a strangled moan escaped her. Whatever control he’d had left fled with the knowledge that she wanted him with the same desperation. He cupped her breast to gain better access, and he grasped her bottom in his other hand to haul her firmly against his hard body.
He wanted her with an intensity that blinded him to all else. Before he could make his muddled mind decide what to do, she jerked away, and even in the dark of the forest, he sensed her embarrassment by her frantic breathing and the rustling of her clothes as she hastily drew her dress up to cover herself. “I’m sorry,” he quickly said. God, he was a wretched bastard. He’d almost taken his future wife’s innocence with the cold dirt and dry leaves as their bed.
“Please, Grey.” Her boots crunched on twigs and leaves as she retreated. “You must leave me. I’ll make my way home on my own.”
His mouth fell open. Damned, foolish woman. This was exactly why he loved her. She thought to protect him from her predicament. But she’d not considered that she’d be raped or murdered before she ever got out of the forest. “How do you plan to get home alone? Will you walk?”
“I—I’d n—n—not thought how to get there.”
“That’s obvious,” he said flatly. “This forest is teeming with thieves, murderers and rapists. You’ll be lucky to make it out with your virginityandyour clothes intact.” He heard her swallow. Good. She needed to understand how vulnerable she was without him. He suspected she’d fight his proposal, but he’d prevail.
“Maybe I cou—could hire someone to take me home.”
“Have you any money?”
“No.” Her voice was high, strained. “Could you loan me some?”
“Hell no. I’ll see you there myself, Madelaine.”
“You don’t owe me anything.”
“But I do. I love you, and I intend to marry you.”
“Oh, Grey!” She fell against his chest, clutching his arms.
His heart lurched at her touch.
“This was much easier than I thought,” he murmured in her hair as he caressed the silken strands.
She jerked away. “No. You misunderstand! I can’t fathom you’d still want to marry me now. I—” Her words cut off as she slid her hand to his head and tugged him toward her. He met her mouth in a sweet kiss that took his breath and infused him with another rush of lust. “You can’t marry me now, Grey. I’d never let you align yourself with me and the taint my father’s dishonor will bring.”
“This is more like how I thought you’d react,” he said wryly.
“It has to be this way. You must know that.”
“I know no such thing. All I know is I’ll be the one to see you home safely or you won’t go home at all.” Let her think the battle was over. He had many other weapons he could use if she pushed him and he didn’t mind one bit the idea of seducing her in order to secure her hand in marriage. The foolish woman loved him just as much as he loved her. For the first time ever, he was completely and utterly happy.
His throat constricted. He wasn’t alone. Unloved. Unwanted. She loved him. He would make her see she needed him. Couldn’t live without him. The idea of going back to a life of loneliness made him shudder. No amount of denying his feelings would work this time.
