Challenging A Rake (A Rake's Redemption Book 4)

by G. L. Snodgrass

  His eyes watched her face while she concentrated on his shoulder, but his stare couldn’t be ignored. Her cheeks grew warm under his fierce attention.

  Taking a deep breath she forced herself to remain calm.

  “Now your pants.”

  He laughed and raised an eyebrow.

  “Unless you want me to cut them off like the last pair.”

  He laughed again and tilted his head to the side. She sighed heavily and turned around.

  “All right,” he said after a moment. She turned back to find him draped with the blanket across his lap.

  She bit back a whine of disappointment and gently pushed him to the side so she could examine the wound. The bullet had entered just above the hip bone and pass through and out the other side.

  As she leaned over to get a better look at the exit wound she caught a brief look at his hard backside and almost faltered. Something was pushing her. A primal need that could not be ignored.

  Once she was satisfied with the exit wound, she let him settle back down so she could examine the entry would. Like the shoulder, it was healing as it should. Her hand rested against his skin as her mind began to wander.

  Her heart raced and her breath grew shorter. She wanted this man. Wanted him more than she had ever wanted anything in her life.

  Looking up, she caught him staring at her, his face set in furious concentration. As if he were fighting with himself.

  As she looked into his eyes, without thinking, without knowing why, her hand traveled under the blanket to take his manhood in her hands.

  He gasped at her touch, his hardness throbbing in her hand, his eyes closing as he luxuriated in her touch then shooting open as she stroked him.

  A thousand thoughts and wishes danced through her mind as she stared into his eyes. Would he dismiss her, shattering her soul? Would he accept her or would his honor stop him, his fear of being trapped pushing her away?

  Oh, how she wished she knew the secrets of seduction. Knew how to make him want her.

  Thinking of where her hand rested, her cheeks grew warm. The velvety wrapped iron surprised her, but she couldn’t stop herself as she slowly stroked him. “Please,” she said. “Once. I will never marry. But tonight …”

  He looked up into her eyes as he ran his tongue across his lips and stared into her soul.

  Her heart stopped as she waited. At last, he seemed to give in as his hands reached up and pulled her down onto the bed next to him. His lips found hers and they were lost. Amanda sank into his embrace, as he pulled her closer.

  Two people. Only the two of them. That was all that mattered to her.

  Yes, she thought as he trailed kisses down her neck. This was going to happen. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. Suddenly, he pulled back, his brow creased with worry.

  “What if you become with child,” he asked seriously. “There are things I could do, but I am unprepared. I …”

  She held a finger up to his lips to calm his worries.

  “I would never ask anything of you. I am more than wealthy enough to raise my own child. Besides, it is not the correct time.”

  He sighed slightly as he continued to study her. Obviously searching for any sense of doubt, any chance of regret. She stared back at him then ran a hand up over his hip as she leaned in to kiss him.

  There would never be any doubt that this was she wanted. What she needed.

  He returned her kiss as his hands hurriedly reached around her to unbutton her dress.

  “Let me see you,” he whispered.

  Amanda swallowed as she silently nodded. Standing up, she let her dress fall to the floor, then slowly removed her undergarments to stand before him naked, vulnerable. Silently praying to herself that he would like what he saw.

  His eyes roamed over her, traveling down over her breasts. Over her hips to come to rest at her very center. She shivered at the intensity of his glare.

  He licked his lips and held out his arms for her. The hunger in his eyes reassured. Giving her the confidence she needed. That look could mean only one thing. He needed her.

  She melted into him, both of them tumbling back onto the bed. Skin against skin. Lips locked in a delicate dance. His hardness pushing against her leg, demanding, needing. Their hands roamed over each other’s body exploring, discovering.

  His hard muscles and sheer size amazed her. So different. So male. Touching him, caressing his body was delightful, fun, and energizing to her soul.

  As his hand explored her body, Amanda felt a growing need inside of her. A need for some kind of release.

  His lips left hers to trace their way down to take one of her nipples into his mouth. Amanda gasped at the pure pleasure that rushed through her. Her body tingled with energy as she instinctively cradled his head, refusing to let him leave her.

  As he suckled, his hand caressed the inside of her thigh, silently demanding she open herself to him. Without thinking her legs spread open, inviting his touch. His fingers trailed up her thigh to slight brush against her folds.

  The man was a god, she thought as her head arched back and she pushed up against his touch.

  Never, never had she thought she could feel this way. This alive, this powerful, this feminine.

  “John,” she gasped as he slowly worked a finger into her. Her world froze as she felt herself grow warm and swollen. Then without warning, his thumb brushed against her bud and a bolt of pure wonderfulness bolted through her.

  “John,” she gasped again.

  Still suckling at her breast she could feel his lips turn up in a smile at her pleasure.

  Arching into him, he continued to touch and caress the inside of her as his thumb continued to rub and prod at that special spot. All the while, his lips tugged and tasted at her breast.

  The world began to spin down to just those sensations. All there was in the world was his touch.

  And still, he caressed, pushing her higher, pushing to some unknown point. She stopped breathing, her heart stopped beating as she held for just a moment on the precipice. Held at the top of a giant cliff.

  And then her world exploded as wave after wave of release washed over her.

  “Oh, Yes,” she exclaimed as he continued to touch and nip at her. “Yes, please, yes,” she continued as she thrashed under his command.

  Amanda had achieved something unknown in her world. Had reached heights that she had not known even existed. She had heard rumors, but this. This was unbelievable.

  Lord Warwick, no, John she thought. In her mind, he would always be John, looked up at her, his eyes dancing with merriment, obviously pleased with himself at what he had just given her.

  “I didn’t know,” she said to him as she fought to catch a breath while trying to calm her racing heart.

  He smiled back at her. “Oh, there is so much more, my angel. So much more.”

  She swallowed hard as a beckoning smile crossed her lips. Reaching, she took his solid hardness in her hand and began to stroke him.

  “Show me,” she said with a sultry smile.

  He returned her smile as he spread her legs and kneeled before her. His eyes grew serious as he stared at her, silently asking if she was positive she wanted this.

  “Please,” she said again, not caring if she sounded weak or in need. There was no hiding her feelings from this man. Not now.

  He smiled widely then positioned himself before her opening.

  Amanda closed her eyes as she braced herself for his invasion. He was so big, how could she ever take him. What if he found her not enough. What if they couldn’t finish? The thought sent a flash of fear to her very core. No, she needed him. Needed him now.

  “Relax, Angel,” he said with a soft smile

  She tried to force her muscles to relax. Tried to focus on her need.

  His manhood slowly began to push into her. Slowly opening her, spreading her wide.

  Swallowing hard, she sank back into the sensation. The hard invasion that felt so unusual, yet so perfec
t. Looking up at him, he captured her eyes with his, holding her in place as he slowly pushed himself into her.

  Oh! she thought, as she arched her neck, closing her eyes and letting herself feel everything. Every sensation.

  This was why, she thought. This feeling of perfectness.

  He reached her barrier, frowned for a moment, obviously worried about hurting her.

  “Yes,” she demanded, wanting it all, wanting everything.

  He thrust into her, sending a sharp a pain through her that was quickly followed by a sense of rightness. As if he belonged there. They fit. A feeling of accomplishment washed over her to be followed almost immediately by a sense of need.

  As if reading her mind, he pulled back then slowly pushed into her again.

  “Yes,” she moaned, this was what she needed, what she wanted.

  He continued to pull and push into her. Over and over, sending her to even higher heights. Forcing her to match his rhythm. Over and over. Each time hitting that special spot.

  “Oh, John,” she whispered as she reached up to pull him even closer.

  Still, he continued to thrust into her until he reared back and exploded into her.

  She gasped as he throbbed and pulsed inside of her, filling her. The shocking sensation pushed her over the edge and she once again exploded into the night.

  “Yessssss,” she said through clenched teeth as she held onto him for dear life.

  He thrust into her again, as if desperately trying to grab every last bit of pleasure. At last, he sighed heavily and smiled down at her. His expression told her how much he had enjoyed her. It was the kind of expression that a woman could hold onto for the rest of her life. An expression of happiness in her.

  She felt as if now she could die. Now she had achieved the one thing that needed to be done before a person moved on from this world.

  “Oh John,” she said

  “Oh, Amanda,” he whispered back as he fell to the side and pulled her into his embrace.

  She closed her eyes as she felt his heart beat against her back. A sense of safety, and wonder, and rightness tumbled around inside of her. It might have been only once. Only tonight. But no one could ever take this from her.

  “John?” she began to ask.

  “Shush Angel,” he said as he sighed heavily, his hand resting on her stomach, halfway between her breasts and her core.

  What now, she wondered as she bit her tongue to stop herself from asking a thousand questions. No, she thought to herself. Just let him rest. Heaven knew he deserved it. But she also knew that she would never rest again. Her body felt alive. Every nerve tingles and throbbed with energy.

  No, she thought again as she scrunched back into him. She would deal with the pain of losing him later. Now she should just enjoy this moment, enjoy it so much that she would never forget it.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Lord Warwick closed his eyes and tried to calm his racing heart. The woman was remarkable. In so many ways. Like no other woman he had ever known. She had responded to him with passion and energy, taking and giving as an equal. Never manipulating, eager to learn, eager to experience.

  The only thing she demanded was him. His body, his mind. Not his title, not his wealth or his families name. Just him.

  Once, she had said. Just tonight, she had said. A man’s greatest wish. She had even offered to raise their child alone if necessary. A fact that he would never allow. But there hadn’t been a need to tell her that at the moment. No, he would cross that bridge if it came.

  No, she had only wanted him for that night. She had wanted to experience something. He had fought to give her what she wanted. To make it special and memorable. And in the process, he had become lost.

  The woman twisted his thoughts and heart into a tight mess. What was he going to do? How could he pretend this had not happened? How could he go through life knowing this woman was not in his bed?

  Yet, she would demand marriage. No, she deserved marriage. Amanda would never demand anything from him. Yet she would be no man’s mistress. She had too much pride for that. No, she would feel free to search out other lovers. Men who would treat her as an equal. Not an object to possess.

  The sudden realization made his muscles grow tense at the thought of another man ever touching her. No, he couldn’t allow that.

  What then? He wondered. What was there future to be? She would never be his mistress. He had sworn to never marry. His life, his work had no room for a wife. And even if he wanted to. Would she agree? She had no need of a husband as she had more than once informed him.

  No, they were not meant to be together. Their lives had conspired to make them incompatible. At least on the exterior. But at the individual level. Two people had probably never been more compatible, he thought.

  She was more intelligent than himself. But he could accept that, he had other skills. She was more beautiful than any woman he had ever known. Not in that classic sense. No, in a more important, more feminine way. He had more wealth, but he doubted that made any difference to Amanda. She didn’t view the world that way.

  There was his title of course. But again, Amanda could care less about such things. She had no aspirations to climb the social ladder. It was one of the many things he found endearing about her.

  One thing he knew for sure. He could protect her. He would die before he let anything happen to this woman.

  Why? He wondered. How had this woman become so important to him?

  She twisted slightly in his arms. “What are you thinking about?” she asked over her shoulder.

  He smiled back at her, “How pretty your derriere is and how well it fits against me.”

  Amanda blushed prettily then scooted herself back into him. Pushing herself at him.

  He sighed heavily. A few minutes more and he would take her again. Be careful, he reminded himself. She is an innocent. Or was up until a few minutes ago. He must be tender and gentle. But he must also have her again. Every part of his soul demanded it.

  Sighing, he kissed the back of her neck as his hand drifted up to cup her breast. Maybe he needn’t wait.

  Moaning softly, she twisted to take his lips with hers.

  No, he needn’t wait. And as for their future. Who could worry about such things with a woman like this in his arms?

  .o0o.

  Amanda found herself ensconced in a warm haven. Nothing had ever felt so right as his arms around her, holding her as if she were a treasure. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open to see a faint beam of light peeking in around the edge of the curtain, morning, she realized as a distant noise reached her ears.

  Molly! It was her maid’s step coming up the stairs that had woken her.

  Her mind jumped into full force as she scrambled to get out of bed. She had locked both bedroom doors during the night for just such an eventuality. But now, what should she do.

  “Mum, the door is locked,” Molly said with a surprised tone from the other side of her bedroom door. “Are you well?”

  Looking back at Lord Warwick, her insides turned over. So handsome. Even in sleep, his strong face made her body quiver with nervousness.

  “Mum?” Molly said again, her voice rising with concern.

  Amanda scampered into her room, “Just a minute,” she said as she pulled the connecting door shut behind her. Please stay quiet, she silently prayed. Although part of her wanted to tell the world about what had happened last night. She knew in her very center that people would disapprove. Molly most of all. The thought of her maid’s look of disapproval made her shudder.

  Scampering, she slipped into her robe then hurried to open the door. Molly studied her with a deep frown. “Is everything all right Mum?” she asked.

  Amanda fought to calm her racing heart. Pulling her robe close, she tried to smile.

  “Yes, everything is fine, I just overslept. A restless night.”

  Molly continued to stare at her with a questioning expression. It was obvious the maid was not satisfied. Finally, tho
ugh, she seemed to accept it as she held up the bundle of folded clothes in her hand.

  “Your note said to dispose of these Mum. Are you sure?

  Amanda nodded quickly. “Yes, I don’t like that dress anymore.” Please, she thought to herself. Just go. If Warwick woke now he might call out for her. Her world would shatter if that happened.

  Molly continued to frown as she hesitated, obviously worried about something.

  “Could I have it Mum?” the young woman asked, her eyes silently pleading. “The dress?”

  Amanda forgot her fear of discovery for a moment as she frowned. “Of course, but why?”

  Molly again continued to hesitate then she set her shoulders and said, “Mr. Anderson has asked me to step out with him. A walk in the park on my afternoon off.”

  Amanda gasped, “The doctor’s assistant. Isn’t he a little old for you Molly?”

  Her maid blushed and shook her head. “If I’m to marry I must find someone soon. Most of the girls I knew are married with children.”

  Amanda’s heart sunk. At sixteen the girl was worried about finding a husband. Once again she was reminded of how fortunate she was to have inherited her independence.

  “But Mr. Anderson,” Amanda said. “He is so … big.”

  Molly smiled broadly, “Yes, he is. Isn’t it wonderful.”

  Amanda could see by the wistful look in her maid’s eyes that the girl was more than merely interested. She might be looking for a new maid in a few months. A thought that troubled her. She and Molly had grown so close. But the girl deserved to find her own happiness.

  What about herself? She wondered. Did she deserve to find her own happiness? A sadness filled her as she realized that she wouldn’t. Not now.

  “Tell Cook I will be down in a little bit,” she told her maid as she frantically tried to come up with some plan of getting Lord Warwick out of the house without being discovered. Not only out of the house, but out of the neighborhood.

  Once again she was filled with sadness. She would not even have a moment to savor the memories of the previous night. No, instead her morning would be filled with hustle and bustle.