Lords Of Night Street Collection: Books 1-4
Page 45
Leo returned to his house and ordered a bath. When the water had cooled, he climbed out, dressed for bed, and sipped brandy while he sat and thought about the night’s events. When his glass was empty, he climbed into bed and closed his eyes and tried to sleep... he failed badly. His head was full of her. He wanted Beth, needed her. Looking into the darkness, he fought the urge to go to her.
“It’s the middle of the night, you fool,” he reminded himself as he turned yet again and thumped his pillow... hard.
Another hour passed with visions of Beth weeping and stricken in her bed. Of course, the rational part of his mind knew she was rarely, if ever, stricken, but still, here in the dark he believed she was just that, and right now she needed him. He allowed another hour to pass before he gave up.
Rising, he pulled on his clothes and let himself out the door. The gray light of dawn was slowly filtering over London as he started walking in the direction of Beth’s house. He was unsure what the hell he was to do when he reached it, but knew that he must see her, and soon.
It was not far, and at this time, would not take him long.
Walking through the front gates, he made his way quietly around the side of the house, and knocked on the servants’ door. A sleepy-looking young girl opened it.
“Good morning to you, and thank you,” Leo said, as if he entered through this door daily. He walked through the kitchens, past bleary-eyed staff, and took the stairs up. Once there he encountered a footman, who tried not to appear shocked, but failed.
“Which rooms are Miss Whitlow’s?”
“Second floor, second door on the left, sir.”
Leo thanked him and took the stairs two at a time now. Reaching the second floor, he found her door and opened it quietly. Closing it behind him, he turned the key in the lock.
The room was dark, with only a sliver of light to tell him where he was walking. Reaching the bed, he looked down, and found her asleep on her front, arms beside her head, right in the center of the mattress. Relief had him smiling. The first piece of clothing he removed was his necktie.
“Beth.”
She could hear Leo’s voice in her dreams. Felt the yearning to have him near.
“Wake up, love.”
She felt a brush of lips on her cheek, and then a hand in her hair, pushing it aside. Opening her eyes, she found Leo’s face inches from hers.
“Leo?”
“Yes.”
Blinking, she turned on her side to face him. She was still in her bed, where she had been since she found it a few hours ago. “H-how are you here?”
“I missed you,” he said, lifting her up and lowering her down on top of him. “And my head was filled with visions of you distraught and weeping after what happened last night.”
“But how is it you are in my bed?”
“I could not sleep so I walked here, let myself in the servants’ entrance—actually a sleepy maid did that—and then had a footman tell me which room was yours.”
“A footman?” Beth blinked. “Surely you did not ask a footman directions to my rooms?” She felt his hand slide up her leg, and then the flat of his palm in the small of her back.
“I did actually. Seeing as we are to be married, I thought it was important your staff become familiar with me.” His smile was wicked as he stroked her skin.
“Leo, you have no clothes on.” Beth had meant to sound outraged, and yet her words came out more a purr.
“I could hardly get into your bed fully dressed, my love.”
He was so warm, and she felt it again, that wonderful stirring of passion only he could create inside her.
“My servants will be horrified.”
“They’ll survive, however, I won’t without you. I locked the door, by the way.”
“I dreamed of you,” she whispered against his lips. “Dreamed of you and me together.”
“I dreamed of you also, and woke hard and wanting you.”
“Leo!” Beth struggled to swallow her smile. “You just told me you did not sleep.”
His hand unbuttoned her nightdress, and she wriggled to help him remove it.
“A few snatched minutes only,” he said, running his eyes over her body. “In which I dreamed of you naked and in my arms, and now you are.”
Beth could do nothing but sigh as he cupped a breast.
“I love you, my sweet Miss Whitlow. Love everything that you are, and everything you will be. I want us to raise children, and grow old and wrinkled together. Marry me, my love.”
“Yes,” she whispered, and realized that no more words were needed between them right now, only actions.
Thank you for reading the LORDS OF NIGHT STREET COLLECTION! I hope you enjoyed the stories. To find out more about my next release, sign up for my newsletter:
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Have you read the first book in my Sinclair and Raven series, SENSING DANGER?
“I absolutely loved this book! I was drawn in from the very beginning and read it almost in one sitting!”
-Amazon reviewer
Legend says the Sinclairs heightened senses are a result of a long ago pact between them and the powerful Raven family. To Honor and Protect is their creed, but the current Duke of Raven doesn’t make their task easy.
Arrogant and aloof, James, Duke of Raven, is determined to forge his own path and to hell with folk tales that his ancestors created. But when the breathtaking Eden Sinclair saves his life by risking her own, their past resurfaces, and with it comes the uncomfortable realization that they are linked by more than history.
Eden is forced to see the man behind the cool, haughty façade when she must use her special abilities to keep him safe. His suspicion of her soon turns into something else, something far more dangerous. Eden is torn between duty and self-protection. Does she have the strength to fight fate, in order to protect her own heart?
ONE CLICK FOR SENSING DANGER
“OMG, this is fantastic. It gripped me right from the start. Wow, I couldn't believe the opening chapter, it was so bloody thrilling. I can't explain how this story made me feel, but I'm so glad I read it.
This is an excellently written piece of perfection.”
5*****
-Goodreads reviewer
Turn the page for an excerpt of Sensing Danger!
Excerpt From Sensing Danger
“You're best to just spit it out, James. It can't be healthy to have all that angst roiling around inside a person.” Cam's voice carried to him.
Devon coughed and Eden muffled a giggle. James, however, growled softly and then ground his teeth. Neither action eased his spleen, so he spoke his mind.
“How dare you put your sisters and mine in danger!” James waited for the siblings to reach him. Each had left their position at his first word and now flanked him.
“They were never in any danger, Raven. In fact, my siblings and I did what we had to, to preempt just that,” Devon added.
“You allowed your sister to ride into danger, Sinclair—a woman!”
“And therefore, unable to protect herself, James?”
James turned at Eden's words; her face appeared calm, yet her eyes were not. The laughter had gone to be replaced by an anger that suddenly seemed a match for his.
“I did not say that, Eden—”
“Come, James, we are all interested in what you have to say.”
James swallowed. How had the conversation veered out of his control?
“Eden, it is our job to protect you, not plunge you recklessly into danger where—”
“I may break a fingernail, or perhaps my skirts would be dirtied?”
“If you will let me explain—”
“Dear Lord!” Eden gasped as if a sudden thought had occurred to her.
“What?” James looked up the road. Was there more trouble ahead?
“Imagine if I was all alone without one of my big male protectors and I had a stone in my slippe
r.”
Cam was now laughing so hard he was snorting. Sinclair just smiled, but it was wide enough to expose his teeth.
“I wonder, James”—his name should not sound so sweet spilling from her lips, especially considering she'd spat it out through her teeth—” if you could locate my needlework.” Eden looked around her as if it would magically appear.
“I did not mean to suggest you were unable to care for—”
Eden held up at hand to halt his words and once again, much to his surprise, he compiled. Her eyes flashed at him, cheeks flushed. She looked wild. A luscious wild virago, he thought, staring at her mouth. Hell, he wanted to close the distance and kiss her into silence.
“I understand your views, James, yet thankfully I have, for the most, forward-thinking brothers and do not have to adhere to them.”
“Thank you, darling.”
Ignoring Cam, she continued. “So perhaps for the remainder of this journey, you should endeavor to understand that I am different from the cosseted women of your acquaintance. Now if you will excuse me, my sister is calling me.”
Before James could react she had turned away from him, and he was sure she muttered “addlepated fool.”
Devon was still smiling, although he attempted to rein it in as James glared at him.
“A word of advice, Raven?”
“What.”
“My sisters do not take direction kindly. It is best to guide them as one would a bad-tempered animal. They are headstrong, intelligent, and spirited, and I would have them no other way, though I beg you do not alert them to that fact.”
“Sinclair, I would rather fall into a pit of venomous snakes than further acquaint myself with your siblings,” James snarled rudely. He then rode back to the head of their little caravan and refused to feel any guilt over his words. They had been wrong to take such risks, and he would not allow them to do so again while he and his sister were keeping their company.
Want to read more? Click here to read SENSING DANGER now!
Other Books By Wendy Vella
Historical Romances
Regency Rakes Series
Duchess By Chance
Rescued By A Viscount
Tempting Miss Allender
The Langley Sisters Series
Lady In Disguise
Lady In Demand
Lady In Distress
The Lady Plays Her Ace
The Lady Seals Her Fate
The Lady’s Dangerous Love
The Raven & Sinclair Series
Sensing Danger
Seeing Danger
Touched By Danger
Scent Of Danger
Vision Of Danger
The Lords Of Night Street Series
Lord Gallant
Lord Valiant
Lord Valorous
Lord Noble
Stand-Alone Titles
The Reluctant Countess
Christmas Wishes
The Earl’s Encounter
Mistletoe And The Marquess
Contemporary Romance
The Lake Howling Series
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The Texan Meets His Match
How Sweet It Is
It Only Took You
Don’t Look Back
A Long Way Home
Ryker Falls Series
Somebody To Love
From This Moment
Love Me Tender
Only Just Begun
About the Author
Wendy Vella is a bestselling author of historical and contemporary romances
such as the Langley Sisters and Sinclair and Raven series, with over a million copies of her books sold worldwide.
Born and raised in a rural area in the North Island of New Zealand, she shares her life with one adorable husband, two delightful adult children and their partners, four delicious grandchildren, and too many cantankerous farm animals.
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This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, the reproduction or use of this work in any part is forbidden without the express written permission of the author.
The Lords Of Night Street Collection is published by Wendy Vella
Copyright © 2019 Wendy Vella
ISBN: 978-0-9951068-8-8