His brilliant smile warmed her like the sun.
He kissed her tenderly once more. His hips pressed her into the bed, his shaft a hard ridge against her lower belly. “Are you certain you want to do this?”
“Yes,” she murmured.
***
Anthony released the breath he’d been holding waiting for her answer. He stroked the length of his cock before positioning to enter her. Gabby’s face was tipped up toward him, her eyes wide and yet trusting. He gently probed her dewy skin and kissed her as he eased into her. When she tensed, he stopped to wait for her to adjust. His muscles trembled as he held himself back.
She took a deep breath and grew lax beneath him. He pushed deeper. Her nails dug into his shoulders, but she didn’t utter a sound. Her body surrounded him, slick and hot. He closed his eyes. This was heaven, wrapped in her arms, his heart bursting.
He moved carefully, aware of the sting of her nails easing. Her body no longer resisted, but he still made love to her slowly. His mouth touched hers and her tongue flicked across his top lip. Each tender thrust was accompanied by a deep kiss, their tongues stroking together. His blood thrummed through his veins, filling his ears with a rushing sound.
The world closed around him until there was only her and him and an overwhelming love flowing between them. When he came, he was at her mercy, forever connected in a way he’d never been with anyone else.
He kissed her once more before collapsing on the bed beside her. His eyes drifted shut and he surrendered to sleep, confident his heart was safe in Gabby’s hands.
Twenty-nine
“Hell’s teeth. Did she do that to his face?”
The voice in Anthony’s dreams sounded vaguely familiar, but it took too much effort to place the owner so he drifted under again.
The jab of cold, hard metal under his chin woke him in a hurry. His eyes flew open and Drew’s even colder glare greeted him.
“What the hell did you do to our sister?” Drew said through clenched teeth.
Luke’s dark glower wasn’t any friendlier, but at least he didn’t have his pistol aimed at Anthony.
Gabby murmured in her sleep and rolled toward him, her bare breast brushing his side beneath the covers. He swallowed hard.
Bollocks! This was a fine mess to find himself in the morning after a perfectly lovely night.
“Gabby. Wake up, sweetheart.” He nudged her, relieved when she stirred. Her arm flopped across his chest, just missing contact with her brother’s pistol. She nestled against his side with a sigh, not waking as he’d hoped.
Luke frowned at Drew. “Disarm yourself. Do you want to make our sister a widow before she’s even married?”
Drew narrowed his eyes and holstered his pistol. “You’re lucky he is here to protect you.”
If Anthony were truly lucky, neither brother would be threateningly lurking over his bed.
“Thank you,” Anthony spat, then clamped his lips together to keep from ordering them out of his room. Until Gabby was his, he’d be wise not to antagonize them more than he already had.
Drew looked around the room, the muscles shifting in his jaw. Evidence of Anthony’s fight with Thorne was present everywhere. The bellows had been kicked across the room, dried blood splattered the wood plank floor, and the curtain rod hung askew. Diffused light trickled through a split in the curtains.
“Gads. It’s barely dawn,” Anthony complained.
Drew leaned closer and bore his teeth. “If I learn you’ve hurt her in any way, you will meet me on a field.”
“I didn’t hurt her.” At least no more than Anthony could help it. And he’d tried to make up for any discomfort by pleasuring her again in the middle of the night. The memory of her throaty voice calling his name made his cock twitch.
Damn, but this was a bloody unpleasant way to wake up.
“A little privacy, please,” he said on a growl.
Luke gave a sharp nod. “We will wait below stairs. When you’re decent, there are matters we need to discuss.”
Anthony pushed up to his elbows. “How did you get in here?” He’d turned the lock last night as a precaution against Thorne returning to finish him off in his sleep.
“There was a pretty little wench more than happy to retrieve the key for us.” Anthony wanted to knock the cocky grin from Drew’s face.
“I’m telling your wife,” Gabby grumbled, her eyes still closed. She was awake after all.
Her brother’s scowl returned. “You utter a word to Lana and I’ll share with Mother every detail of what we’ve stumbled upon this morning.”
Gabby gasped and struggled to sit up while keeping herself covered with the sheet. “You wouldn’t dare! I would never forgive you.”
Luke clapped Drew on the shoulder and shoved him toward the door. “He won’t say a word. He’s only needling you. I paid the girl to unlock the door, so there’s nothing to report to Lana.”
“Perhaps I was needling him,” Gabby said under her breath. When her brothers didn’t leave at once, she lifted her brows and adopted a haughty tone. “My betrothed has asked for privacy, so please see yourselves out.”
Luke chuckled as he turned on his heel. “Don’t be long or the food will turn cold.”
Even after her brothers left, she glowered mutinously at the door. “They have some nerve barging in, acting as if they are saints. And threatening to call you out is beyond the pale. I have a few words for my brother once I’m decent.”
She was hellfire and retribution when she was angry, just as she’d been since she’d learned to talk.
Anthony grinned as he smoothed her mussed hair and kissed her cheek. “Drew is nothing but bluster. A duel would interfere with his beauty sleep.”
“From the looks of it, he has missed a couple of nights already.”
“Gabrielle Forest, you wicked girl. You had best not say the same about me. I’ve missed a few nights myself.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, her smile dazzling. “Yes, but you don’t require beauty sleep. Rugged looks attractive on you.”
When she pressed her lips to his, he wanted to lay her back and fill her again. But they had a little problem waiting in the tavern. At least he hoped it was a minor complication. Since Gabby hadn’t reached her majority, it was within her brother’s rights to deny his suit. He didn’t anticipate Luke would do any such thing, but Anthony didn’t want to cross him.
“We’ll require Luke’s permission to marry. I shouldn’t keep him waiting.”
She rolled her eyes and snuggled closer. “It’s a little late to worry about obtaining his permission.”
“Still, I may be able to salvage the situation, but only if I don’t fall further into his bad graces.” Anthony gently extracted himself from her hold, his stomach churning as he climbed from bed.
Gabby’s family meant everything to her. In truth, they were important to him too. He couldn’t regret what he’d done—losing Gabby hadn’t been an option—but he would miss his friendships if her brothers were unwilling to forgive him. If nothing else, he would implore Luke to continue to welcome Gabby into his home. She really was innocent in everything.
“Shall I send up breakfast?” he asked, pulling on his trousers.
“I’m coming with you. You will have to play lady’s maid again.” She climbed from bed and stretched, not seeming the least bit self-conscious of her state of undress.
He smiled and returned to dressing. “Perhaps you should wait until I have spoken with your brothers.”
She snorted. “And leave my future up to those lackwits? I think not.”
He didn’t argue since she had as much say in their future as he did. “All right, but no goading Drew. He’s no match for your wits.”
“Fine, but only because you have requested it.” She gathered her wrinkled gown from the floor, humming off-key.
He set himself to rights before assisting her. When he finished with the last fastening of her dress, he wrapped his ar
ms around her waist and nuzzled her neck.
“I love you, my perfect match.”
She beamed at him in the looking glass. “And I love you, my perfect match.”
The tavern below stairs was empty except for a woman with a valise resting on her lap and a young boy at her side. Likely they were waiting to catch the post coach.
As Anthony and Gabby made their way arm in arm to the private dining room, he felt invincible. They still had tough days ahead, but neither of them would be alone. Luke and Drew were sitting across from each other at the scarred table. They barely looked up and continued to shovel food into their mouths as he and Gabby entered.
“Must be a family trait,” Anthony mused.
Gabby’s brows shot up to her hairline. “Pardon?”
He just smiled and shook his head. He would never again tease her about her appetite, not when he was fortunate enough to have it extend to the bedchamber. “Are you hungry, Lady Bug?”
“Ravenous,” she said and joined her brothers at the table.
Drew plucked the sweet roll from his plate and handed it to her. She accepted it without question and tore off a piece, her plans to call him on the carpet apparently forgotten.
“Have a seat,” Luke said to Anthony and passed them plates. “There’s more food coming.”
Anthony’s shoulders relaxed as he slid into the seat next to Luke. “Shall we have it out now?”
Her brother grunted and bit into his roll. Anthony would take that as a no.
He expected nothing in the way of financial compensation from Gabby’s brother under the circumstances. It didn’t matter anyway. Anthony was far from destitute and in need of a wife’s fortune. He’d had nothing to do for the past few years except improve upon his estate. The only thing he required was her brother’s blessing.
A serving wench entered the dining room with a platter held aloft filled with ham, fruit, and bread. Once she quit the room, Luke glanced up with his fork halfway to his mouth.
“I expect my sister will enjoy a comfortable existence as your wife.”
Anthony nodded. “Of course she will. I’ll see that she is loved and well cared for always.”
Luke set down his fork and extended his hand. “Then welcome to the family.”
Anthony grabbed his hand, pumping it vigorously with what he suspected was a ridiculous smile on his face. Her brothers were grinning too.
“We can discuss her dowry when we return to Town,” Luke said.
Gabby bolted upright on her seat. “Return to Town? Do you think that’s wise?”
Luke sent a sympathetic look in her direction. “The rumors will be worse if you don’t. I would advise you and Ellis to accept any invitations you receive. Allow the gossips to see you have made a love match, and the scandal will die away eventually.”
“How long is eventually?” She looked too pale of a sudden, her meal forgotten.
Anthony reached across the table for her hand. Her fingers were cold and he rubbed them between his palms. “You mustn’t worry overmuch. We’ll weather the storm together.”
Drew cocked an eyebrow. “We will all weather the storm, Ellis. The Forests never abandon one of their own.”
Unfortunately, eloping with another man before her wedding wasn’t the only scandal facing them, but Anthony didn’t want to dredge up everything now when she was already fretful.
Gabby grew misty-eyed as her gaze shot from one brother to the next. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much it means to have your support, but we must consider what is best for Liz and Katie. If Anthony and I distance ourselves, perhaps their prospects next Season won’t be affected.”
Drew draped his arm around her shoulders. “I hardly think our sisters would agree to such an arrangement.”
“Put your mind at ease,” Luke said kindly. “Elizabeth and Katherine are accomplished, beautiful young ladies and they will make good matches. I wouldn’t be surprised if they, too, have gentlemen competing for their attentions.”
Gabby nibbled her bottom lip. “I hope nothing to the extremes I witnessed last night. Lord Thorne scared the wits out of me.”
Drew narrowed his eyes at Anthony. “Is that what happened to your face? I take it you were the victor since there’s no sign of Thorne today.”
“The win goes to your sister actually.”
Her brothers looked to her for confirmation, and she nodded, her eyes wide. “I rescued my future husband.”
“That sounds like something Vivian would do,” Luke said with a laugh.
Drew’s lips thinned. “Or Lana.”
Apparently, he still hadn’t forgiven his wife for risking her life to save his. When Anthony recalled how frightened he’d been for Gabby when she’d jumped on Thorne’s back, he could understand his friend’s position perfectly. She glanced up, caught him staring, and frowned.
He smiled in return, not wishing to inadvertently share his fear last night with everyone. It was one thing for her to know about his vulnerabilities, but he preferred to keep some things just between the two of them.
They needed to address the situation concerning Thorne, however. He experienced a slight pang this morning when he considered how badly their friendship had deteriorated. Anthony cleared his throat. “The baron will expect to be compensated. I will bear the costs.”
“She isn’t your responsibility,” Luke argued.
“She will be as soon as we make it to Gretna Green.”
“True.” Luke ran his gaze over his sister. “I hope you don’t expect her to exchange vows in a soiled gown.”
Gabby returned his sour look before popping a grape into her mouth.
“Fortunately, Mother had the foresight to send a perfectly acceptable gown with me,” he said.
She shuddered. “I’m not wearing the gown I was to marry Lord Thorne in. It seems like bad luck.”
“No one would expect you to wear it. Mother sent the gown she wore when she married Father.”
“Oh.” She didn’t appear as happy as one would expect.
“Mother wanted you to have it, Gabrielle. She said it marked the beginning of many years of happiness for her and Father. She wishes you the same.”
Her fingers covered her mouth as tears filled her eyes.
Drew dug into his jacket. “Now don’t start crying, princess. Unless they are tears of joy.”
She accepted his handkerchief and shook her head as she dabbed at her tears. “I don’t deserve to wear her dress. If not for me, Papa would still be alive.”
Her brothers’ frowns mirrored Anthony’s own. “I thought you had given up that ridiculous idea,” he said. “You’re not responsible for your father’s death.”
“You most certainly are not,” Drew said. “How could you think such a thing?”
She shook her head as her tears streaked down her cheeks. Anthony wanted to round the table to gather her in his arms, but he stayed put. She needed to speak her fears aloud to her brothers. She’d been holding on to her guilt for too long.
“My attempt at running off with Lt. MacFarland stressed Papa’s heart. It was impulsive and stupid, and if I could go back and change everything, I would. That’s why I can’t wear Mama’s dress.”
Luke smiled sadly. “She used to say she thought you blamed yourself. I didn’t see how that could be possible when I believed I was at fault.”
Gabby’s head came up sharply.
He reached into his jacket to pull out a folded piece of foolscap and slid it across the table. “As it turns out, neither of us caused his death. He had been having chest pains for years, but he hid it well. Mother said she tried to convince him to slow down, but he refused. He wasn’t happy unless he was pushing himself to his limits.” He nodded to the note. “Mother wanted you to have her blessing on your wedding day since she couldn’t be with you.”
“And she made us swear to remember every detail to recount later,” Drew added.
Gabby hugged the note to her chest. “I never thought we would
have family present when we exchanged vows. Thank you.”
Luke set his napkin aside and pushed back from the table. “We should depart soon, but first, I need to freshen up. Could we share your coach, Ellis?”
“As long as you don’t mind me making cow eyes at your sister.”
Drew snorted. “As if you haven’t been doing that for years already.”
Gabby’s smile was brilliant, and Anthony’s heart expanded, filling with so much love for her it might burst. If it was possible to die from happiness, he was doomed.
***
Gabby read her mother’s letter for the fifth time as the young maid placed a wreath of heather on her head. Mama’s words were encouraging and congratulatory, but her letter was so much more.
She had filled it with stories about Gabby’s father: his reaction when he had first laid eyes on her as an infant; how he had loved her passionate nature; his regret over his severity after that unfortunate situation with Lt. MacFarland. Gabby chuckled at her mother’s choice of words, and longing tugged at her heart. How she wished her mother could be with her today, but her spirit was present, as was Papa’s.
Your papa said he had been afraid you still might defy him—he most admired your determination—so he had been very stern. He berated himself for the things he had said, but he could not bring himself to apologize. He knew you deserved someone who understood and accepted your nature. He rather liked the notion of Anthony becoming his son some day and had hoped you would make a match with him.
Gabby tucked the letter into the bodice of her mother’s gown to keep it close to her heart, then went to meet Anthony and her brothers. Happiness bubbled up inside her as she descended the stairs to find the love of her life waiting.
He was handsome in his gray trousers and black jacket, and the sky blue of his waistcoat set off his eyes. But what made him most appealing was the light radiating from him. His love wrapped around her, making her feel safe and content for the first time in a long while.
She held her hand out in invitation and he took it, his warm fingers closing around hers.
“You look lovely,” he murmured.
One Rogue Too Many Page 24
