“You love me…?” Her eyes were huge as she looked up at him.
He nodded. “I suspected as much the night of the fire. The house was still in flames, timber and stonework falling about us, and you arrived in the midst of it. All I could see was you buried beneath a wall that had fallen on you, still and unmoving, and so I—”
“Behaved with your usual arrogance and had me removed.”
“Only because I love you!” he protested. “Sally, I really do love you so very much.” He turned slightly so that he was facing her. “I never intended to marry after seeing how unhappy my parents were together, but you—you are everything I never knew I wanted. Strong. Independent. Loyal. Honest—”
“You are making me blush with all these compliments.” Sally was still slightly shaken by Nicholas’s use of the word “marry.” He said he loved her, but did he actually want to marry her too?
“I have finished extolling your virtues.” Nicholas placed a hand beneath her chin and raised her face up to his, his expression serious. “Now I intend to talk of your lack of them. I could never have imagined such a sensual and adventurous lover as you are. A woman who meets my every sexual demand and has some of her own. The woman who not only gave herself to me, but also her virginity. I treasure that more than you can ever know.” He kissed her gently on the lips, his face only inches from her own when he pulled back slightly. “I love you, Sally Derwent. Will you marry me? Be my wife? By my side and in our bed, forevermore?”
Nicholas was not only offering her marriage, himself, his love, but also the moon and the stars. “I love you too, Nicholas.” She glowed. “I suspected it before we came here, but I am sure of it now. I love you so much—” The rest of her words were silenced as Nicholas kissed her long and deeply.
“Say you will marry me.” His lips moved down her throat minutes later. “Say you will, Sally.”
“I will. Oh yes, I most assuredly will, Nicholas.” Her arms tightened about him, but she was careful not to put any pressure on his injured shoulder.
“I love you. God, how I love you,” Nicholas murmured between kisses.
“Shall we keep the erotica collection, do you think?” Sally murmured. “As a married lady—”
“As my married lady, I am sure we will find a use for it.” His eyes glinted wickedly.
“On one condition…”
“Yes?”
“I am allowed to add more sketches of you to it. In every position possible.”
“On one condition.”
“Yes?” Sally was so happy at the thought of being Nicholas’s wife, of being with him for always, she didn’t care what condition he wished to impose.
“I am always aroused by your hand or your mouth before we begin.”
She gave a gurgle of happy laughter. “I would not have it any other way!”
“And afterwards, I get to satisfy that arousal in any way I choose.”
“We take it in turns to choose.”
He eyed her with mock seriousness. “You strike a hard bargain, madam.”
“I believe you are the one who is hard.” Her hand slid beneath the bedclothes, and her fingers curled about the pulse of his erection. “If I am very careful, I believe we might…” The rest of her words were whispered against his ear.
“Wicked, wicked woman.” Nicholas gave a throaty chuckle. “I am so going to enjoy loving you, and making love with you, for the rest of our lives.”
Enjoying loving each other for the rest of their lives sounded like perfection to Sally.
She had been claimed by her marquis, but in return, she had claimed him back.
Forevermore.
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About The Author
Carole Mortimer is a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2015, a Pioneer for Romance Romantic Times Award in 2014. She was recognized by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 for her ‘outstanding service to literature’. Carole has written over 200 contemporary and Regency novels.
She is happily married to Peter. They have 6 sons, and live on the beautiful Isle of Man. She also loves to hear from Readers!
Other books by Carole Mortimer
Carole has written 173 romance novels in the Presents/Modern series from Harlequin Mills and Boon.
She has also written 24 Regency romance novels in the Harlequin Mills and Boon’s Historical series.
ALPHA series:
Christmas Alpha: Available now
Dark Alpha: Available now
Shadow Alpha: Available now
Midnight Alpha: Available now
Renegade Alpha: Available now
Warrior Alpha: Available now
Rogue Alpha: Available now
Savage Alpha: Available for pre-order now
Regency Unlaced Series:
The Duke’s Mistress (Book 1)
Claimed by the Marquis (Book 2)
Taken by the Earl (Book 3) Available for pre-order, release April 2016
Knight Security Series:
Alexandre – Release February 2016
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedications
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
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About The Author
Other books by Carole Mortimer
Claimed by the Marquis Page 13
