Taming My Christmas Rogue: Taming the Duke’s Heart
Page 9
“As my wife?” He swirled his hips, pulling out of her and she whimpered, reaching to hold him close.
“Yes, as your wife.”
He couldn’t take another second and he thrust inside her, feeling her maidenhead tear. She gave a cry of pain and he cupped her cheek, finding her lips. “I swear to you, Emily. I’ll never keep another secret again.”
She kissed him back, their bodies locked together. “I believe you.”
Slowly he slid out of her and then back in, giving her body time to adjust as he kissed her again and again. They said no more words as their bodies moved together. When she tightened around him, crying out, he exploded inside her, their breath panting together.
Emily was his forever.
Chapter Four
Back at the Den of Sins…
* * *
Daring sat staring at his friends. The women who were supposed to be the evening’s entertainment had finally arrived minutes after the proper ladies had left. He’d sent the professionals away. He needed to keep his wits about him, not lose himself in a harlot. Besides, after the encounter he’d just had, the women of the trade had lost their appeal.
They were willing and eager, almost nauseatingly so, wanting the deed over as quickly as possible. He realized that what he actually craved was a…challenge. A woman who would not give in easily, a woman who would test him at every turn a woman…like Minnie.
Bloody hell, was that her actual name? Couldn’t be.
“Gentlemen, we have a problem,” he said, flipping one of the coins that sat in front of him. “The question is, what are we going to do about it?”
Exile sat up in his chair, his neck giving a menacing crack. “I’ll tell you what we’re not doing. We’re not hurting those women. Any man who is thinking that will have to go through me.”
“No one is hurting them,” Malice answered. His own fist clenched. “We rarely stand together on anything, Exile, but in this I am with you. You’ll have to go through both of us and I’m going to be honest. You three would have a tough time accomplishing the deed.”
Daring sat back, surprised. Not at Exile. The man was a gentle giant, but Malice treated most of life like a game that he always won. He rarely took anything seriously. “No one has proposed we should.”
Bad thrummed his fingers on the table. “What we need is a bit of assurance that those ladies keep our secret. They could leak details about who we are or the club without implicating themselves.”
“And then we could out them for having been here.” Vice added. “Whichever one said it was right…they’ve more to lose than we do.”
Daring shook his head. “That one standing toe-to-toe with me, I don’t trust her not to share out of sheer spite. She might be smart enough to out us without entangling herself.” He scrubbed his cheek. “But perhaps if we each saw fit to talk to the ladies personally. Make sure they understand the consequences of telling, then we might rest easier.”
Bad’s fingers ceased their movement. “Each of us pick one woman to talk with. I like the idea. It has merit.”
Vice kicked his feet up onto the table. “We could also use our private conversation to collect additional ammunition or just observe them and make certain they’re not the sort of addled-brained females that gossip without thinking through the consequences.”
Exile’s neck cracked again. “What does that mean? Additional ammunition?”
Vice held up his hands. “I just mean that we collect a bit of information on them. If they seem as though they might share our hidden occupation, we figure out a way to make sure they don’t. Nothing that would actually hurt them, but we’d have just enough to keep them quiet.”
Exile drew in a deep breath. “We could marry them.”
“I beg your pardon?” Daring nearly choked on his own spit. Partially because the idea was unexpected. He’d thought the idea of marriage would be revolting but instead, he found the notion rather pleasant. “Marry that viper?”
Exile cocked a brow. “I didn’t name a specific woman. Which viper are you referring to Your Grace?”
Damn, he’d stepped into that one.
But before he could answer, Malice stepped in. “The idea of marriage does have some merit.”
“Did Jack infect you?” Bad stared at Malice as though the man belonged in the asylum.
Malice rolled his eyes. “I didn’t fall in love with a single glance, you egit. We’ll all have to marry eventually. It’s part of the title. And they already know our secret so that saves us from the sticky situation Jack is in. As far as I’m concerned, perhaps I could marry that little country mouse who felt rather nice. I’ll tuck her into my country estate and visit a few times a year to ensure I have an heir.”
“Delightful.” Vice curled his lip. “You’ve managed to sully the most Godly pursuit we’re likely to engage in…marriage.”
“That does beg the question,” Daring interrupted. “Malice clearly has a Chase girl (I don’t know what this means – “Chase girl”, chosen?) in mind. Which woman does each of us address?”
Malice spoke first. “I want Cordelia.”
“You want Cordelia? That’s your country mouse? Are you certain?” Bad asked, cracking his knuckles.
Malice gave him a look of death. “Who’s your choice?”
“That pretty blonde I walked out. I don’t remember her name. She was quiet though, which I like.” Bad gave them a wink. “I’ll not only observe her but woo her and then she’ll keep our secret because she wants to, she’ll be so enamored with me.”
Vice gave a short bark of laughter. “Bloody fool.” Then he cleared his throat. “I like the redhead. I’ll hunt her for sport.”
Daring felt possessive jealousy prickle down his spine. “The redhead is the girl I intend to bring to heel.”
“Not the one with the bright red hair, you can have that minx. I want the quieter one with the auburn coloring. Reminds me of sunrise.”
Daring’s mouth hung slightly ajar. Was Vice waxing poetic? What the bloody hell was happening? “That leaves Exile with the dark-haired loudmouth, Diana.” Daring eyed Exile over the table.
His friend gave a nod of ascent. “Fine with me.”
“It’s settled then. We each have a chat with our chosen girl, collect some sort of guarantee that she keeps our secret and then go about our business.” Whatever each man decided that business was.
The men around him nodded their assent but no one looked confident or happy. Daring understood. Deep in his gut he had the feeling that he’d never be the same again.
* * *
Want to find out if Daring ruins Minnie or if Minnie tames the gnarly duke? Can Cordelia soothe the beast in Malice and will Diana prove too much for Exile? Just how bad is Bad and will he ruin Grace? And what will sweet Ada do when the Viscount of Vice hunts her down? Find out in the new series: “Lords of Scandal!”
* * *
Duke of Daring now available for pre-order!
Keep up with all the latest news, sales, freebies, and releases by joining my newsletter!
* * *
www.tammyandresen.com
* * *
Hugs!
About the Author
Tammy Andresen lives with her husband and three children just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up on the Seacoast of Maine, where she spent countless days dreaming up stories in blueberry fields and among the scrub pines that line the coast. Her mother loved to spin a yarn and Tammy filled many hours listening to her mother retell the classics. It was inevitable that at the age of eighteen, she headed off to Simmons College, where she studied English literature and education. She never left Massachusetts but some of her heart still resides in Maine and her family visits often.
* * *
Find out more about Tammy:
http://www.tammyandresen.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authortammyandresen
https://twitter.com/TammyAndresen
https://www.pinterest.com/tamm
y_andresen/
https://plus.google.com/+TammyAndresen/
* * *
Read Tammy Andresen’s other books:
* * *
Seeds of Love: Prequel to the Lily in Bloom series
* * *
Lily in Bloom
* * *
Midnight Magic
Other Titles by Tammy
How to Reform a Rake
Don’t Tell a Duke You Love Him
Meddle in a Marquess’s Affairs
Never Trust an Errant Earl
Never Kiss an Earl at Midnight
Make a Viscount Beg
* * *
Wicked Lords of London
Earl of Sussex
My Duke’s Seduction
My Duke’s Deception
My Earl’s Entrapment
My Duke’s Desire
My Wicked Earl
* * *
Brethren of Stone
The Duke’s Scottish Lass
Scottish Devil
Wicked Laird
Kilted Sin
Rogue Scot
The Fate of a Highland Rake
* * *
A Laird to Love
Christmastide with my Captain
My Enemy, My Earl
Heart of a Highlander
A Scot’s Surrender
A Laird’s Seduction
* * *
Taming the Duke’s Heart
Taming a Duke’s Reckless Heart
Taming a Duke’s Wild Rose
Taming a Laird’s Wild Lady
Taming a Rake into a Lord
Taming a Savage Gentleman
Taming a Rogue Earl
* * *
Fairfield Fairy Tales
Stealing a Lady’s Heart
Hunting for a Lady’s Heart
Entrapping a Lord’s Love: Coming in February of 2018
* * *
American Historical Romance
Lily in Bloom
Midnight Magic
The Golden Rules of Love
* * *
Boxsets!!
Taming the Duke’s Heart Books 1-3
American Brides
A Laird to Love
Wicked Lords of London