A Rogue's Surrender: Regency Novellas

by Lauren Smith

  He cocked his head back to look at her and she could see that his cheek was already turning purple and May stepped up behind him to brush her fingers along the bruise. He grasped her fingers and kissed them. “Are you all right?”

  “I am fine. It’s you I am worried about,” she murmured as she pressed her face into his back.

  “You’re in love,” Chris stated, his voice flat and his eyes wide with shock.

  “Yes,” Loudoun answered for them both. “I don’t blame you for thinking I am a poor choice. If my daughter brought a man like me home, I’d try to kill him too. But I love May, and I’ll do my best to care for her each and every day.”

  Barrett stepped up then, clapping Chris on the back. “I’ll take your apology whenever you are ready to give it.”

  A blush crept into Chris’ cheeks. May had never seen it before. “I was guilty of many of the sins I just accused you of before I met Lizzie. There is no better medicine for men like us other than a good woman.”

  “Truer words,” Barrett grinned as he turned to pull his wife, Piper, into his embrace. “Now, let’s celebrate. Since you’re here, I feel much better about having this wedding post haste. Then we can all return to England, even you two.” He pointed at them and May grinned. Poor Loudoun. He’d gone from no father to multiple father-in-laws. “I know you’ll make your home here but I’d like to establish a pattern of visiting often.”

  Loudoun gave a jerky nod. “What about the railroad deal?””

  “You’ll get it done, even half a world away. I happen to know you are a determined man when you want to be.”

  May grinned. He was indeed. Luckily for her, she was too, otherwise she might have given up.

  Epilogue

  May looked up at the dusky pink canopy of the bed and grinned to herself. The gentle swaying of the boat was near lulling her back to sleep as was the warm body of her husband pressed against her back.

  They’d been married days before, and were now crossing the Atlantic to visit the rest of her family in England.

  “Are you awake?” His husky voice feathered across her ear.

  “Partly,” she grinned as she answered. “Someone kept me up well into the night and I am terribly sleepy.”

  He chuckled, his hand moving up her side, skimming along her skin, sending shivers racing through her body. “I’d like to keep you up all morning too.”

  Her breath caught, “It’s a good thing we have our own ship. I wouldn’t have seen my family anyway,” she giggled as she turned her head to capture his lips.

  “A wonderful gift indeed,” he grinned as he kissed her. “But a selfish one. He simply doesn’t want us to have an excuse not to visit him.”

  She turned in his arms then, pressing her body to his. “Is my family terribly difficult for you?”

  “I love that you have family. It will be wonderful.” His kisses grew longer, harder. “But it will be nice to live on a different continent entirely.”

  A laugh burst from her chest. “You don’t want to move back to England?”

  He grimaced but he her kissed slowly, lovingly. “I would for you, love.”

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she inhaled his scent. “I want to stay in America with you. That’s always been my dream.”

  He pressed her closer. “Lady Loudoun, do you always get your way?”

  Her breathing was coming in shorter gasps, but she tried to concentrate on their conversation. “Not always,” she breathed.

  “Name one time that you haven’t.” He began kissing down her neck, and rolling her onto her back, began kissing lower.

  “How could I think of anything with your lips upon me like that?” she bit back a moan, her body heating.

  He chuckled then, slowing the pace. “I only fear it, because I won’t be able to deny you anything. Perhaps we should return to England just so Chris and Barrett can help me keep you in check. You’ll run roughshod over me.”

  “You wouldn’t dare.” She giggled then. “Besides, once you put Alex in the mix, they never agree on anything. I often win by default.”

  He sat up, looking down at her, his eyes twinkling. “I think I should be worried.” His lips come back to hers then. “But I can’t seem to make myself. I love you, May. Whatever I have is yours for the taking.”

  She rubbed her nose to his, then reaching to the side table bolted to the ship’s wall, she pulled out the note he had written to her. “All I ever wanted was this. Your love is all I will ever need.” Their lips met again as their passion began climbing.

  “I am yours, forever,” he spoke against her lips.

  “And I am yours. I have been for the longest time and I will be always.”

  No more words were needed as their bodies twined together.

  Other Titles

  More books from the “Taming the Heart” series will be coming soon! But if you are new to the series, feel free to get caught up!!

  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

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  Christmastide with My Captain

  Once more in dry clothes, Jack sat across from the beast of a Scotsman who had taken them in from the storm. The Earl of Ravenscraig had ushered Jack out his daughter’s room the moment the maids had arrived.

  He’d looked back one final time and caught a glimpse of them stripping off her clothes. Not that he’d seen anything untoward. But he could imagine it in vivid detail.

  Closing his eyes for a span of a breath, he tried to calm his overactive body. He had important matters to worry about. First, a crew full of men and then an urgent plea from his uncle to return home as soon as he could. It was the lack of information that had worried him more than anything. Fearing the worst, he’d only just received the missive when he’d returned to England. They’d set sail within a day when they’d been overtaken by the weather. “I’d like to thank you again for taking my crew in, my lord.”

  The other man grunted. “It’s part of livin’ on the sea. Ye take in those in need. I am more concerned about what transpired with my daughter.”

  Jack gave a nod. “She saw our ship in distress from the beach, I believe. I am assuming she lit the lighthouse beacon and then began rowing to our aid.”

  Ravenscraig gave another grunt. “Fer fecks sake, she’s supposed tae be my sensible child.”

  “I can’t speak to that.” Jack tried to hide a grin. “But I don’t know if I’d have survived if she hadn’t rowed out. Our dinghy capsized when overloaded and was hit by a wave. She plucked me out of the water.” In his opinion, saving his life was not only sensible but downright heroic.

  “Did she?” Ravenscraig leaned forward. “And ye’d thought ye’d return the favor by getting her back to the castle before she froze?”

  “That’s correct.” Jack gave a nod.

  “Thank ye for that.” The man’s eyes assessed him again. “I ‘ave to admit, for a smaller man, yer quite strong.”

  Jack’s eyebrows lifted at that. Not many men could refer to him as small. He was more than six feet, and though lean, broad in the shoulders. At two and thirty, he’d acquired just a touch of grey in his hair, but he was just as strong as he’d been ten years ago, the hard work of being on deck keeping him fit. “Thank you.”

  “What ‘appened to yer ship?”

  Jack frowned at that. “A fierce storm is blowing this way, it hit the south first but it will be here soon. We got caught in it and it broke our main mast.”

  Haggis sat back in his chair. “A mast I can help ye with.”

  “That is mu
ch appreciated, but I don’t know that we’ll be able to do much until the storm has passed.”

  The other man gave a nod. “How soon till this bit o’ nasty weather arrives? Most of my family is on the road, makin’ their way home for Chrismastide.”

  “Hours, maybe less.” Jack grimaced. “I’m sorry to bear the news. I too was trying to get to family.”

  Ravenscraig grunted again. “My wife and youngest daughter are with kin. I’m sure they will be safe. Hopefully the rest haven’t begun travelling or can tuck into an inn.” He gave the captain one more assessing glance. “Ye and yer men can wait out the weather here.”

  Jack gave a nod of appreciation. “Thank you, my lord. If I may be so bold, may I speak with your daughter tomorrow to offer my thanks for her aid?”

  Ravenscraig gave a single nod. “If she is well enough.”

  Jack rose. “Of course. If you will excuse me, I will attend my men. It’s a pleasure to have made your acquaintance, Lord Ravenscraig.”

  Ravenscraig stood as well. “Call me Haggis. Near everyone else around here does. You’ll find them in the west wing of the castle. It’s a bit dusty but it’ll keep ‘em warm and dry.”

  With a final nod, Jack turned to go.

  He spent the day helping men acquire rooms and dry out their clothing. They’d taken little more than themselves off the ship, so some personal items were necessary.

  Jack learned that the Earl of Ravenscraig, Haggis McDougal, did in fact have three daughters, one of whom had just married and the other had gone to visit a cousin south of here. A letter had arrived only two days prior that Ainsley was being courted by an English lord and that he’d be joining them for Christmastide to formally request her hand from Haggis.

  Thinking back to Emilia’s sleepy murmurs, he wondered if she felt inferior to her sisters. She’d described them as though they were more spirited and interesting than herself.

  He hadn’t met them, of course, but he had a difficult time believing any woman was more exciting than she was.

  As night fell, the storm hit the castle. Rain whipped at the old stones as wind howled, echoing throughout the halls. Jack tried to sleep, but after tossing and turning he finally rose. He’d been so busy, he’d hardly had time to reflect on the castle in which he was housed. His uncle, a laird with an impressive expanse of land, had a much simpler stone home. While he loved that old house, this was truly impressive.

  He’d maneuvered about several halls, and around more than one suit of armor, when he came across the servants’ stairs in the back of the castle. Making his way down, he thought to find the great hall once again to regain his bearings to his room. But he must have gone down one flight too many because he found himself below stairs near the kitchen. What was more, the sound of pots and plates being moved about definitely wasn’t due to the storm. He approached the doorway slowly and peeked his head inside. What he saw near made him laugh out loud.

  Emilia stood in the kitchen, a simple braid in her hair, a night rail floating about her body, and a tartan draped across her shoulders as she fixed herself a heaping plate of food.

  “Hungry?” he called out.

  She jumped a foot in the air and sent the contents of her plate sailing across the large room. She turned quickly and he watched as fear dawned into recognition and then quickly to merriment. “You frightened me,” she admonished with a quiet laugh.

  “My apologies.” He gave a bow. “Let me help you clean up the mess.”

  “Thank you,” her eyes sparkled in the dim light. “Would you like something to eat as well?”

  He stood from where he had been collecting bits of food. “That would be lovely, actually. In the rush of getting everyone settled, I forgot to eat today.”

  “So did I.” She gave him a grin over her shoulder as she pulled down another plate and began loading it with food. “I was sleeping and missed most of the meals for the day. Now I am famished and wide awake.”

  “Are you feeling better?” He came up behind her then. He wanted to touch her, hold her like he had before.

  “Much, thank you.” She gave him another small smile over her shoulder. “What tempted you out of your room this dreary night?”

  “The storm kept me awake and then I couldn’t resist the lure of the castle. I had to explore.”

  “Interested in the castle?” She turned, two plates in her hand, and handed him one.

  He nodded, allowing his enthusiasm to filter into his words. “It’s like being in a boyhood fantasy.”

  She quirked an eyebrow, her eyes sparkling again. “I know the perfect place to eat this.”

  They’d been walking up a winding set of stairs for what seemed like forever, though Jack didn’t really care. In one hand, Emilia held a plate, in the other a candle that made her night rail nearly transparent. The view in front of him would have propelled him forward for days. The sway of her hips as she climbed had him mesmerized and he wished again that he could touch her as he’d done earlier. Hold her against his body. He wondered what she might taste like. Sweet or savory?

  “We’re almost there,” she called over her shoulder.

  Jack gave a nod, his insides tightening further. The urge to slip his hand into her hair and turn her face to his so that he might capture her lips near overwhelmed him.

  As a man of the sea, he’d met a great many women in ports all over Europe. He’d tried to remember when one had affected him so. If he were honest, as he assessed her tiny waist and the flare of her hips, he couldn’t seem to picture any women other than her. How could this be happening?

  She stopped, a pang of disappointment turning down the corners of his lips as her hips stilled. “Hold this,” she said as she turned to hand them him the candle. As she did so, their fingers brushed, hers soft against his own callused hands. A need to touch every inch of her palm then kiss it made his chest tight with desire. This was a mistake. He shouldn’t be alone with her like this.

  If discovered, they’d be married for sure. And while he didn’t care a wit about his freedom, or even his boat, he’d give it up to be with someone like her, it wouldn’t be fair to Emilia. She deserved a real husband who could give her a good life. A man of nobility. Not one with less than common blood.

  She turned away again. “Hold the candle up,” her breathy whisper had his groin tightening to an almost painful state but he did as she asked.

  Then he heard the click of the lock as she slid it open and the door swung in. Stepping into the room, he held the candle up to see windows on every side of the circular space. Beyond, he could just make out the ocean as sheets of rain peppered its dark surface. “What a view!” he exclaimed, unable to hold in his excitement.

  “Aye,” her soft bur was just behind him. Thoughts of her the only thing more exciting than climbing to the top of castle’s tower to watch a storm. “It’s one of my favorite places. Small, beautiful, and private in a home that is vast and full of people.”

  “You don’t like the castle?” He turned back to find her just behind him. Setting the candle on the window ledge, he couldn’t resist reaching his hand out to run it down her silky braid.

  She shrugged. “I love my family. The library is exceptional and my room is an oasis, but I’d much prefer a more intimate home. Just myself and my family with books and…” Her voice trailed off, her chin tucking into her chest.

  Jack thought about her chamber, cozy with blankets and stacks of literature. It suited her and for a wild moment, he pictured her at his uncle’s home with its big hearth and wood beams. His hand slipped down the end of her braid and came to her waist. “I can see you in a cozy house, books everywhere.”

  Even in the dark light, he could see a blush staining her cheeks. “It’s just a dream, really. It will never happen.”

  “Why not?” He didn’t mean to but he was pulling her closer.

  “I’m not…that is to say I don’t…no man wants to be with me…I mean, my sisters have all found their loves…” She turned away t
hen, slipping out of his grasp.

  How could she think herself inferior? It was maddening. He’d likely sell his soul to possess a woman such as her. “Emilia,” his voice was sterner than he intended. “I haven’t met your sisters, so I can’t say for sure, but I tried and have been unable to remember a woman who was braver or more charming than you.”

  “Oh,” she whispered, turning toward a window. He couldn’t see it, but he’d bet her blush had deepened.

  He should stay over on the other side of the room, eat his food, and then go to bed. Women like Emilia were not for him, they were for princes and dukes. But he couldn’t help himself and so he set his plate down, crossed to where she stood, and reached for her waist once again. So tiny.

  By sheer will, he did not press his body to hers, but he did drop his nose down to the top of her head, breathing in her heady scent. “You deserve the world. Don’t let anyone tell you different.”

  There was a part of her that wanted so desperately to believe him. She was a woman to be valued and desired. But all those years of being overlooked as men courted her sisters instead had her shaking her head in disagreement. “That is kind of you to say.”

  “I’m not being kind,” his husky whisper tickled her neck as shivers raced down her spine.

  Out on the ocean, she’d only noticed his piercing blue eyes, and as they’d been pressed together, she’d felt his strength, but in the kitchen she’d become aware of the hard masculine angle of his jaw, the softness of his lips, the perfection of his straight nose. She longed to touch his hair and run her fingers along the hard ridges of his muscles. Struggling to think of a response, Emilia stared out the window. She wouldn’t repeat her insecurities. It only made her sound needy. But she couldn’t agree either. “Thank you?”