Taming an Unrepentant Earl (Taming the Duke's Heart Book 10)
Page 10
He groaned and then took her mouth in a deep kiss. When he finally let her mouth go, he asked another question. “Did you prefer my mouth or my manhood last night?”
She stilled staring down at him. “What will my duties as countess be?”
“I don’t even know how to be an earl yet.” He reached between them and tugged at the falls of his breeches. “We’re going to have to figure out that one together before I leave.”
Emily nibbled her lip. He was going to leave her. She’d be a fool to think anything differently. She herself had led him to believe it’s what she wanted. “Fair enough. I liked your tongue better, but I’ll have to try your manhood again when it won’t hurt so much.”
His breeches came undone and as he yanked them down, she felt the warm velvet of his manhood pressed against her folds. “Ask and you shall receive.”
This time, as he slowly pushed inside her, there was no pain, only a feeling of delightful fullness. His hands were still on her hips guiding her and when their bodies fully came together, they both let out a groan of satisfaction.
“If you return to the army, how long do you have to serve for before your tour of duty is done?” she asked as she slowly slid back up him.
He grimaced, squeezing her hips harder. “I’ve a year before I’m up for leave or reenlistment.”
Reenlistment? Now that was a new development. He guided her back down his length and pleasure made her thoughts fuzzy as her head rolled back. “Reenlistment?”
His lips were warm on her neck. “If I even return to the army. The more I think about it the more I wonder what Alfred would have wanted me to do.”
The feel of him inside her robbed her of thought. She knew something in his words was significant, but she couldn’t grasp what he’d said that should bother her. “Harry,” she moaned as he slid out of her again and then back in.
“That’s it, love. Say my name.” He continued to hold her hip with one hand while the other slid up into her hair. “When you say it like that, the word is like a caress.”
“Harry,” she moaned again. This closeness bridged all the gaps between them. In this moment, she wasn’t worried or afraid. They were connected, like one person. He couldn’t leave her if they were one and the same, could he?
* * *
The slide of her body against his left Harry breathless and yearning. The path for his future was muddled and against her like this, he didn’t think he ever wanted to leave. Was he betraying Alfred’s memory?
She moaned into his mouth, and he forgot to worry as they picked up the tempo, their bodies moving together in perfect synchronicity. When he was with her like this, nothing had ever been more right.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, her cheek pressed to his. “Harry,” she cried in his ear. “This. This is better.”
A smile graced his lips just before she spasmed around him, squeezing him tight. He forgot his amusement as his own climax barreled toward him. He arched up, his body shook in completion just before his hip seized. He let out a groan of satisfaction that quickly turned into a moan of pain. Damn his body.
Sophie was off him in a second and, rolling him on his side, began to vigorously massage his hip, working the knot in his tightening muscles.
Her sure fingers quickly loosened the damn thing so that he could breathe again. As his muscles relaxed, her fingers slowed. “Better?” she asked, dropping a kiss on his shoulder.
“Yes, thank you.” He lay on his side, closing his eyes. Pain still lingered even though his muscles were working again. Sophie pressed herself to his back, wrapping an arm about him.
She let out a soft sigh. “Good. Wake me up this time, and I’ll take myself back to my room.”
Dissatisfaction rumbled through him. “I can carry you back to bed.” How would he lead a whole regiment when one woman didn’t trust him to care for her?
She nuzzled into his back. “Of course you can.” The last word tapered off.
“Sophie.” He slowly shifted around to face her, then stood and peeled back the covers. “You’ll get too cold like that.” He was angry with his body as he braced himself to pull her up using only his arms. He had a strong woman here and a supportive family. He could be the man Sophie needed him to be, he could honor Alfred by caring for Sophie and their baby. Couldn’t he?
Hooking his hand under her waist, she wrapped her arms about his neck. Her eyes fluttered open and a soft sleepy smile touched her lips. “Don’t be silly. You’d keep me warm.”
Laying her head on the pillow, he brought the covers over her body as she sighed, already falling to sleep. He would keep her warm. With that in mind, he slipped in the bed next to her, drawing her close.
But he didn’t sleep. With her soft curves pressed against him, he buried his nose in the silky strands of her hair. How useful would he actually be in the field? But here…here he would be wife-warmer, provider, and lover. For the first time in a very long time, he contemplated life without the army.
Chapter Nineteen
The next morning, Harry rubbed his face trying to clear his confusion. He needed the army, always had. But he wasn’t sure he wanted it any longer. Not when he had Sophie, a chance to live the life his friend had saved him at the cost of his own. No longer sure, still carrying the weight of his friend’s death heavy on his shoulders, he needed to talk to someone, open up about his guilt…his fears of failing as an Earl.
With that in mind, he searched for his brother Bar. If anyone could provide clarity on duty, it was the heir apparent.
He found both his brothers sitting in the study, where Bar had taken up residence. Bar sat behind the desk, papers strewn in front of him as Drew leaned over Bar’s right shoulder.
“Looks like a bit of a mess,” Harry said as he took a seat across the desk.
Bar scowled. “My wife normally keeps me organized but she’s busy handling plans for your wedding.”
Harry tried to keep from smiling. He hadn’t meant to disrupt his brother’s work, but it was a touch funny.
“Well, if it isn’t our newly engaged brother.” Drew gave him a grin. “I didn’t think you’d ever tuck tail for such a domestic activity.”
Harry’s smile disappeared as he ran a hand over his jaw. “I don’t know if you’d call what I am doing domestic.”
Bar’s eyebrows rose. “What is it then?” He leaned forward over the desk. “I know that I pushed you into asking but tell me that you plan to go through with it.”
“Of course I plan to go through with the wedding.” He didn’t know how to tell his brothers what a selfish bastard he was. His gut clenched.
“Then why wouldn’t you be domestic?” Drew straightened as he cocked his head. “Do you plan to run a brothel out of her house? Are you going to take a string of lovers yourself?”
“For feck’s sake, no.” He drew his brow together, scowling at his younger brother. “I just…” What? What did he really want now?
Bar pushed Drew back and then looked at Harry. “You can tell us.”
“I haven’t been very gentlemanly in my pursuit of her, though I know you know that. And I’d planned to return to duty as soon as my hip allows. You know why.”
“Leave?” Drew’s mouth dropped open. “That’s worse than a brothel.”
He gripped the arm of his chair. “I don’t know what else to do. Before the army I was a wretch.” He waved his other hand. “Exactly like Drew.”
“I beg your pardon. I am a delight.” Drew straightened puffing out his chest.
Harry waved his hand in dismissal. “Then there is the issue of Alfred. How do I best honor his memory? Ruining his sister was not the best start, but I need to do this right. Both Alfred and Sophie deserve that from me.”
Drew snorted. “You think you’ll make a bad husband because you can’t keep your hands off Sophie?” He pointed at Bar. “He couldn’t keep his hands off Emily. Does that make him a bad man?”
Harry stared at him mouth open. “What?”
Damnation, his brother was right. “But the army has always been my purpose. And Alfred…”
Bar placed his hands in front of him on the desk. “You could have a purpose here. You’ve land and people who need you. And Alfred? He wanted you to care for his sister not avenge his death. He was pretty clear. It’s you who’ve been muddled.” Bar held up his hands. “Not that I don’t understand. He didn’t just die, he died saving you. That does things to a man.”
“Bloody hell,” Harry couldn’t say any more as he thudded back in his chair.
Bar drew in a long breath. “Look, I understand that the army has made you a better man. But listen to me when I say, you could use your discipline and experience to help a thousand and one people here on the shores of England. You can make their lives better.”
“One thousand and one?” Harry asked, scrunching his brow. The words rang with truth, echoing through Harry’s mind.
Bar leaned his chin down to look him straight in the eye. “One thousand and three, actually. All your tenants, me and Emily too. Some days, we’re drowning under the weight of managing our holdings and yours, Harry. We could use a smaller load. And you’d be damned good at it now. You wouldn’t be a man of leisure here, you’d be like me, working long into the night to take care of the people who need you, depend on you to have food and clothes and a chance to live.”
Harry shook his head. “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”
“And, you could help Sophie. She needs you too, even if she can manage this house on her own. She’s lost her brother, she wants a family and a partner in this world. Part of your purpose, as you call it, would be supporting her.” He paused for a breath. “I don’t care how independent she is. She still needs you by her side. She’s in love with you too. I can see it in every glance.”
Harry stared at his brother as he rubbed the back of his neck. Sophie, in love with him? His heart throbbed in his chest. Damn. He was in love with her too. How had he not seen that sooner?
And Sophie did want him here. She’d told him in the way she’d hung her hopes on the possibility that he might not return to duty. “I need to speak with Sophie.”
Bar sat back in his chair. “I’m sure you do, but they’ve gone out shopping. You’ll have to wait, or you’ll have to find them.”
Harry stood. “I’ll go see if I can’t catch them. The village isn’t that big and this is important.”
Drew made a sound somewhere between a snort and a laugh. “Poor sod has got it bad. Save me from ever falling in love.”
Harry didn’t bother to reply. With any luck, Drew would have his turn.
* * *
Sophie stood on the corner of Mayfair and Main Street, drawing in a deep breath of fresh air. They’d been to the baker, the butcher, and the dressmaker. Now Emily hunted for ribbons at the milliner’s shop.
Danielle, who enjoyed shopping a great deal more than Sophie, had ducked in the shop just behind Emily, but Sophie had excused herself for a quick breath of air. Her legs were tired and her back ached from hunching over bolts of fabric. On the bright side, she’d managed to shop for tonight’s dinner, but she was ready to return home. Truth be told, she was ready to see Harry.
Her heart skipped a beat in her chest, and she told the errant organ to behave. Despite her feelings for him, she had to maintain some sort of distance. She could see in his eyes, whenever she asked about him staying, that he had every intention to return to the army, despite his halfhearted attempts to assure her otherwise.
Part of her understood. The problem was, now that she’d found him, she didn’t want to let him go.
“Well, look who it is,” a male voice called from her left. It dripped with something that made her skin crawl. Turning ever so slightly, she saw Mr. Mayfield coming toward her and nearly groaned. Was it too late to duck into the shop? “I was hoping I would get the chance to see you again.”
Likely not. “Mr. Mayfield, a pleasure.” She turned toward him, pulling her cheeks into a forced smile.
“Likewise,” he said as he stepped far closer to her than she would have liked. He grabbed her elbow and she took an involuntary step back. His fingers tightened. “I’ve been hoping to speak with you, but it’s a conversation that involves some privacy, if you know what I mean.”
“I don’t,” she bit out. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I am shopping with friends.”
“Hold a moment,” he tightened his grip into a vice. “This won’t take long.” Then he began pulling her toward the alley between the milliner’s and the baker’s.
“Mr. Mayfield,” she gasped, dragging her feet and twisting her arm in an attempt to break free. Fear made her blood rush in her veins as her heart pounded in her ears. “Let me go or I shall scream.”
He swung her about so his body blocked hers. “We can’t have that.” And then he dragged her against his body and clasped a hand over her mouth.
Her breath came in short, heaving gasps as she tried to twist free. He dropped his lips to her ear and sucked the lobe into his mouth. Her skin crawled as she tried to shrug his advance away while breaking free.
“I’m not going to lie, I’ve wanted you from the first moment I met you.” He licked along her neck and she cried, his hand muffling the sound. “But your dear fiancé humiliated my sister and he needs to learn a lesson.”
She pulled harder, desperately attempting to escape. What did that mean? Suddenly, he let go of her elbow but only to slide his hand around her back and rip at her dress, sending a shower of buttons into the dirt.
Fat tears filled Sophie’s eyes as he clawed her dress down exposing her chemise and corset to the cool air. She was powerless to stop him.
Chapter Twenty
Harry came around the corner of Main Street and cursed his hip for causing him to walk so slowly. He rubbed the tired flesh and thought about Bar’s words. A thousand people depending on him to make sure they were properly fed, had jobs and homes. He could find purpose in that. And he could honor Alfred’s memory and supreme sacrifice by standing by Sophie’s side.
Looking ahead he saw Sophie standing on the corner, drawing in a deep breath of air. He stopped, staring at the woman who would be his wife. He could find purpose in her, with her.
She was lovely, standing there illuminated by the sun. He could spend years just staring at her like this.
Mayfield came up on her other side, and Harry could tell from the first moment, something was off. He’d seen a lot of men before they attacked, and Mayfield had all the signs of a predator. It was his wide stance, taut muscles, and bared teeth.
A moment later, Harry’s suspicions were confirmed when the man began dragging Sophie into the alley.
His muscles clenched with the same energy that he always experienced before battle. He was going to kill Mayfield. He started for the alley, managing a slow, loping run down the street.
He definitely wasn’t ready to face the entire French army, but one smarmy gentleman…Mayfield was about to face his reckoning.
He reached the entrance to the alley and though he couldn’t see Sophie behind Mayfield’s larger body, he heard the rip of fabric and the scattering of tiny buttons, pinging off the rocks and dirt.
He slowed his body to calm his mind as well. He’d see Mayfield beat down properly.
Suddenly, Sophie wrenched away and spinning around, tried to make a dash toward the alley entrance and toward him. But Mayfield caught her arm just enough to make her feet stutter. Harry lunged for her, his heart hammering in his chest, but he just missed her, and she crashed to the ground. He heard her hit a rock and she lay motionless as fear momentarily paralyzed him. He stared at her with a sick sort of dread making him unable to move.
“Is she dead?” Mayfield held up his hands. “I didn’t mean for that to happen. I was just having a bit of fun. She’s an attractive woman and…” Mayfield sto
pped as Harry pinned him with a glare.
He puffed up his chest. “You had better run. I mean this from the bottom of my heart. If I see you in these parts ever again, I’ll kill you. Do you understand? I won’t hesitate for a moment, I’ll shoot you straight between the eyes.”
Mayfield’s mouth dropped open as his skin went pale. “This is my home. My inheritance. You can’t mean to keep me from my money.”
Harry bent down and placed his hand over Sophie’s mouth. His shoulders relaxed as her warm breath blew into his palm. “I mean every word.”
Mayfield straightened, his muscles tightening. “Take it back.”
Harry knew what was coming, though unlike Mayfield, he’d been trained to give no outward sign. He filled his lungs with air as he reached for the pistol tucked in his jacket.
The next moment, Mayfield pulled a pistol from his belt, but he was too slow.
Harry yanked the weapon from where it was hidden, took aim with a precision honed over years of experience and hit Mayfield dead in the chest. The man never even fired.
Harry didn’t give the man a second look as he scooped Sophie into his arms. He needed help and he needed it fast.
Rushing into the milliner’s, Danielle looked up almost immediately and gasped.
“Fetch the doctor, now!” he bellowed.
She only hesitated for a moment and then lifted her skirts and dashed out the door.
Emily appeared from behind a shelf and he gestured toward a nearby table. His throat worked as he quickly glanced down at Sophie. Her skin and lips had gone ashen. Bloody hell. What would he do if something happened to her? If she— He gritted his teeth so hard it hurt. No. He wouldn’t let anything happen to his Sophie. “Clear the table.” He needed to examine her wound.
Emily rushed to his side. Sending the contents of a table flying to the floor, she helped him lay Sophie down. Starting from her head, he began to run his hands over her scalp, her neck. He didn’t get far before he found a large lump close to her forehead in her hairline.