Marquess of Menace

by Tammy Andresen

  Eliza shrugged. “Why, thank you.”

  Bash made a choking sound, but Dylan grinned. “It’s been a long day. Everyone is tired.”

  Bash shook his head. “The world has turned upside down. I was a man who cared about nothing and no one because I never took a thing seriously. Now, I am the enforcer and Menace is the voice of calm reason?”

  That made everyone laugh.

  They finished the ride in silence and then stepped inside only to find the other three Carrington sisters anxiously awaiting their arrival.

  It took over an hour to update her sisters and then finally, Dylan found himself sitting across from Eliza with only Isabella tucked into the corner as a chaperone. Eliza’s sister was doing a fine job of paying rapt attention to her embroidery, the swish of her needle poking through the fabric the only sound filling the silence.

  Eliza rolled her eyes but said nothing about the addition.

  He cleared his throat. He’d been waiting for this meeting all night and yet, he hadn’t a clue where to begin.

  Eliza scooted to the edge of her chair. She still wore a shirt, jacket, and trousers, and Dylan had the distinct urge to pull her into his lap without the hindrance of skirts and petticoats.

  “About your proposal.” She folded her hands. “Are we agreed to amend the clause about intimacy?”

  Isabella’s needle stopped, but Eliza kept her gaze fixed on his.

  Dylan let out a long breath. He should keep his distance. If they were going to lead separate lives, they shouldn’t get so intimately involved. But then again, as he stared at her, he knew he’d never be able to keep his hands off her when she was ensconced under his roof.

  “That plan presents several problems, which I’ve already stated.” He clenched his jaw. This conversation was proving difficult with an audience. He’d like to just spell every point out. “You could become pregnant. I could…” His teeth ground together. I could fall in love. He knew there were ways to avoid Eliza carrying his child, such as the use of French Letters. But feelings, that was a more difficult obstacle to overcome.

  His chest tightened as he stared at her.

  But her smile was soft. “We’ll deal with each challenge as it comes. Just like we did today.” She reached out and clasped his hand. “I find we make a rather excellent team.”

  He gave a single nod. They did make a good team. But, considering what he’d just realized, being a team didn’t seem nearly enough.

  He wanted her heart.

  And he’d proposed a match of convenience. He shook his head, more to himself. This was why he always failed. Because now he’d gone and trapped himself into a match of unrequited love.

  A day ago, she hadn’t wished to marry him at all. That almost seemed better. At least then he’d have a chance to recover.

  But now he’d be tied to a woman who saw him as a means to an end.

  A chance to exercise her passion. Well, that had its perks.

  But also, an opportunity to taste freedom. He was about to commit to a woman, a woman whom he’d fallen in love with, whose goal was to climb on a ship and leave him behind.

  Damn he was a fool. Always.

  “So…” She pressed her lips together. “It’s decided then. We’ll marry?”

  “Yes. It’s decided.” He let go of her hand. He’d marry her. What else could he do? She needed him and… his heart twisted. This was going to hurt.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Eliza sat in the dark carriage listening for the subtle sound of someone approaching. She’d been sitting in the dark and cold for a quarter hour at least.

  She needed to have a private conversation with Dylan and that wasn’t going to happen in Bash and Isabella’s home.

  And much to her dismay, she didn’t even know where Dylan lived.

  Odd, considering she’d just agreed to live there too.

  But that left her with few options for finding him alone.

  And so she’d returned to her last trick. Sneaking into the carriage. At least this time, she waited inside the vehicle rather than riding on the back. That had been rather cold.

  Footsteps on the cobblestone alerted her someone approached and so she pushed deeper into the shadows in case it wasn’t Dylan.

  But as the door snapped open, it was her soon-to-be husband who climbed in.

  “Dylan.” She quickly moved into the light again.

  He started, swearing under his breath. “You scared me.”

  “I’m sorry.” Not sure what else to do, she scooted across the carriage and settled herself next to him. Somehow, it would be easier to talk if they were touching. “But I needed to talk to you and—”

  But she never got the words out. His lips came down on hers, taking her mouth in a scorching kiss that left her breathless.

  She wrapped her arms about his neck as she pulled him even closer and in response, he tugged her into his lap, slanting her mouth open and ravaging her mouth with his.

  Dylan surrounded her every sense, the feel of his muscular legs under the back of hers, the press of his chest, the touch of his mouth, his smell, the low rumble he made as their tongues came together.

  Eliza was lost.

  Every word she’d wished to say had left her head with the exception of one. She was glad she’d insisted on this dark meeting in the carriage. Because she’d never experienced anything like it.

  This was better than any adventure she’d ever imagined in her life. The rush of her blood pounded in her ears as he flicked open her jacket and ran a hand down over breast.

  She arched her back into the touch wanting more. Wanting all of him.

  “My lord,” the driver called. “Are you ready?”

  Dylan ripped his mouth away. “Go.”

  The reins snapped and the carriage lurched forward, crushing them together. Eliza didn’t complain. In fact, she wanted to be closer.

  “Eliza,” he rumbled again. “What did you wish to talk about?”

  “Talk?” she replied, giving him a lingering kiss before she continued. “I’ve completely forgotten.”

  He chuckled then. “My home isn’t that far so we’ve only got the trip there and then the return trip here to discuss whatever you wish to say.”

  “Return?” She didn’t wish to return tonight. She wasn’t sure she wanted to go back ever. With startling clarity she realized that remaining in his arms was her future.

  Their marriage of convenience was proving very convenient indeed. More than convenient.

  She pulled back to look in his eyes. She loved him. She wished to be next to him always.

  And then her insides twisted in pain. But he wanted her inheritance. Not her.

  He’d been painfully clear on that front.

  Still. They were to wed, and she would approach his feelings like she did everything else. She’d create a plan of attack and convince him to want her…not just her money.

  And it started by staying right here in his arms.

  “You have to go back, Eliza. Bash would have my head.”

  She kissed him again, long and lingering and full of all the passion that had been building slowly inside her…until she met Dylan. And then it grew rather quickly. “Do we really care about Bash…” She kissed him again, sliding her hands into his hair.

  “No.” he replied as he caressed her front, cupping one of her breasts. “But I do care about you. You should be tucked in Bash’s house. Where you belong. Where you are safe. And I wouldn’t want to worry anyone. Not with everything that’s happened.”

  She sighed. That was decidedly smart. “Now who’s making responsible decisions?”

  He chuckled against her lips even as his thumb flicked over her nipple, causing it to pucker against the chemise she wore under her dress.

  She wished there could be less clothing between them. She wanted to feel his hands on her skin.

  He slid his hand further down to her waist and then over her hip, trailing down the length of her leg until he reached her ank
le.

  He circled the slender part of her leg, giving a light squeeze before he skimmed his hand under her skirts and up her leg.

  She gasped, the touch light and easy but somehow wreaking havoc with her senses. The higher he climbed the more desperate she became for…more.

  “I haven’t been the purest man,” he whispered, trailing kisses behind her ear. “Like I said, I haven’t made the best choices. But there are some advantages to all that experience, and I intend to share one of those with you right now.”

  “Yes,” she gasped, so ready, she felt as though…she might come undone if he didn’t touch her more.

  And then his fingers reached her apex and he parted the fabric of her pantaloons giving her curls the lightest brush with his fingertips.

  She jolted in sensation. How could something so small as that touch create such a strong reaction? A riot of feeling coursed through her body. She’d like to ask him, but he’d begun kissing her again, murmuring against her lips.

  Then he slanted her mouth against hers, his tongue tangling with hers even as he touched her with more presser against her most intimate flesh.

  She nearly broke apart and cried out, the intensity of the sensation taking her breath away.

  “That’s it, love,” he crooned, starting a light rhythm that had her gripping his shoulders for support.

  She wanted to cry out, she wanted to beg for more, she wanted…

  But she lost the thought because suddenly her body spasmed, the intense pleasure shattering.

  He smiled against her lips. “You are so beautiful, Eliza.”

  Her breath caught as she continued to hold onto him. She realized his other arm had wrapped tightly around her back, securing her weight. She was cradled against him, supported. She’d given herself over to him entirely and he’d made her sing with pleasure. “That was…”

  He shook his head as he kissed her lips again. “I understand.”

  She blinked, realizing the carriage had come to a stop. “Where are we?”

  “My home.” He wrapped on the front of the carriage. “I need to return to Devonhall’s,” he called out.

  The carriage started again.

  Eliza huffed out a breath but didn’t bother to sit up. She’d never been more comfortable. “But don’t I get to see my future home?”

  He cocked a brow. “Home? Aren’t you going off on your adventures?”

  There was something in his voice, the way it sounded. Hurt? She thought about going to America. That suddenly didn’t seem half as interesting as staying right here. In England. London. This carriage. His arms. “And leave you and Bash to solve this mystery on your own? I don’t think so.”

  But suddenly all the topics she’d wished to discuss came flooding back. What would their marriage be like? How did he feel about her? A sick knot formed in her stomach. She’d wished she asked these questions before he’d touched her because now…she felt raw and vulnerable in his arms and she hated that feeling. It reminded her of how she’d been when her father had left.

  She didn’t wish to be that person.

  Not ever again.

  Dylan sensed a shift in her. Not long ago, Eliza had been like pudding in his hands. Now, he felt her stiffen.

  She didn’t like to be left out of anything.

  “I would never dare solve it without you,” he answered against her temple. “I simply thought that going to America was your plan.” His eyes closed as she relaxed again. Not as fully but he was glad she’d stayed in his arms.

  How did he tell her that she belonged with him? Not on some grand adventure but right here with him.

  Then again, he wouldn’t mind going off with her. Just as long…as long as they were together.

  Would that anger her? She was fiercely independent. He didn’t wish to suffocate her, just…just be with her. Next to her.

  “I wouldn’t go anywhere until I knew my sisters were absolutely safe,” she replied.

  “Of course.” It was his turn to tense. Because once this was all done, once they’d figured out who threatened her family, they could figure out, well, them. Where did he stand? What did her future look like? Could he be part of it?

  Part of him wanted to tell her how he felt. That he was in love with her, but right now, as they tried to keep her family safe, that felt selfish.

  He’d solve this mystery and then he’d convince her to have not just a marriage of convenience, but one where they shared their lives and her adventures.

  He grinned against her hair. He could picture her on the deck of a ship in men’s pants, firing off orders. She’d be glorious.

  “We’ve yet to decide any details for our wedding,” he said rather than say any of the other thousand thoughts running through his head.

  “No.” She smiled at him then. “We haven’t.”

  “Well?” He raised an eyebrow. “What are you thinking?”

  Her tongue darted out and she licked her lips. “I wasn’t. I’ll let Isabella or Emily decide.”

  That made him wince. Shouldn’t the bride care about the details of the wedding?

  “But I am curious. What you just did to me. Is there a male equivalent? Can I do that to you?”

  All thoughts of the wedding and even his hurt feelings left his head at those words. “Eliza,” he started, just picturing her hand down his trousers made him hard as stone. Hell, he’d been like granite since the day he’d met her.

  She started at his collarbone and began sliding her hand along his chest. “You’re going to have to help me with the falls of your breeches. I couldn’t get my own trousers off tonight.”

  Just remembering those trousers had him groaning as he pulled at the buttons, loosening his stays. She caressed lower still, across his stomach as his manhood strained against the fabric still covering him.

  But when she finally moved past his shirt and touched his bare skin, he moaned as he felt the warm silkiness of her palm against his flesh.

  And then her fingertips were sliding up his staff as light as his had been. Damn her but she was a quick study, already mimicking his touch.

  “Eliza,” he said, his voice rough. “There’s no need to be gentle. I swear, I might explode from wanting.”

  “Shhhh,” she replied and then lightly kissed a trail against his neck. “I’ve never touched a man before and I want to enjoy every second.”

  His eyes slid closed as she wrapped her hand about him. What was it about knowing that this was only for him, that she had only ever touched him?

  And then his eyes snapped open. They’d made a business arrangement. Did that mean she’d be with other men while she was off seeing the world?

  He let out a growl of dissention and her hand stilled. “Did I do it wrong?”

  No. She’d touched him exactly right. And he had absolutely no intention of allowing her to touch another man. Ever.

  He wrapped his hand about hers and slowly began working it up and down his staff. “No. Your touch is perfect.”

  “Your skin is like velvet. Does every man feel like this?”

  Another grumble rolled deep in his throat. “I wouldn’t know,” he answered between clenched teeth.

  She gave him the smallest squeeze. “Are all men this thick? You’re rather well…”

  Now that he didn’t mind discussing at all. “No. They’re not. And I have it on very good authority that a member like mine feels particularly enjoyable.” There. She needn’t think of other men at all.

  Her eyes widened and she stalled underneath his hand. “You’ve been with a great many women. Haven’t you?”

  He could have cursed himself out as he felt her start to pull away. He held her hand in his. “Eliza,” he rasped, trying to keep a clear head. “Not like this. Not like you.”

  She softened and her hand began to move again. “You mean that?”

  “Every word and a great deal more that I am not saying because…” He stopped, realizing how much he was revealing. But with her touching him like thi
s, he couldn’t hold back.

  “What aren’t you saying?” she gasped. Their hands were moving together again, and a buzzing kept his brain foggy. He couldn’t think.

  “That I don’t want a sham marriage.”

  “Oh,” she said, stilling again.

  A protest rumbled in his chest. “I want a real one. With you.”

  “Oh!” she said again. “Well that does change things.”

  How? How did it change things precisely? Was he a fool?

  Chapter Fourteen

  Eliza stared at him as warmth spread through her. She was holding his manhood in her hand as he confessed that he wished for more out of their relationship. “I want more too.”

  She felt him swell in her hand, her fingers barely able to fit all the way around him. Excitement pulsed through her at the feel of him in her hand. So warm and hard and vibrant.

  “What do you want?” he asked and began moving her hand along his staff once again. Slowly this time.

  She straightened, not letting go, but wanting to be level with his eyes when she said the next words. “I want to explore…” She drew in a deep breath as she felt him tense. Her legs had settled on either side of his as their chests touched, both their hands still on his staff between their bodies. “You.”

  That made him chuckle. Low and deep, it rumbled through her. Delicious. “I want to explore you too. But Eliza, it’s more than just physically. That’s what I meant when I said you were different. I feel things for you that…”

  “Really?” Her other hand came to his cheek, cupping his face in her palm. “You do?”

  “I do.”

  “I feel things for you too,” she sighed, touching her forehead to his. “I think that I’m in love—”

  He pulled her closer, kissing her with a fire that left her breathless. “You stole my line.”

  Her breath caught as the carriage rolled to a stop. “What?”

  “Eliza,” he whispered against her lips. “I’m in love with you too. I can’t say when it happened, but I know that I feel it.”