Of course, that help came as a parcel of prostitutes.
The problem was that he worried about what night would bring. He’d sequestered Dahlia to her room and he might very well station himself outside her door so that she didn’t wander and see something completely untoward.
His gut clenched at the mere thought of it.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Nearbottom gave him another of his catlike grins. “So, who was the lovely lady you sent scurrying away?”
Gavin leveled him with his best narrow-eyed stare. “I already told you. There was a carriage accident. Her brother was injured.”
Nearbottom’s eyes widened. “You lucky bastard. That pretty little bird just showed up at your door, pleading for help?”
Gavin’s lips pressed together. “She needed help. Yes.”
“And did you give it to her?” Nearbottom stepped closer. “Over and over?”
Gavin was reminded why he’d ended Nearbottom’s acquaintance years ago. The man was insufferable. He’d forgotten that in his desperation to end his solitude. “Say that, or something like it again, and I’ll toss you out on your arse.”
Nearbottom only raised a brow. “Protective, are we? I understand. I would be too, I’m sure.” But his eyes drifted up the stairs. “She’s unmarried?”
Gavin winced. He didn’t want to talk with Nearbottom about Dahlia at all. She was so distinctly separate from the life that his old friend led. Kind and innocent, he thought of the things Nearbottom might say to her if he had the chance. Nearbottom was not a man he could allow anywhere near Dahlia, the man was a wretch. His gut clenched in the most uncomfortable way. He was ashamed to think he might have taken advantage. When had his feelings changed so dramatically?
“You’re not answering,” Nearbottom said in a sing-song voice as he stared at the landing.
Gavin grunted deep in his throat. If he didn’t answer, it might only fuel Nearbottom’s curiosity. How did he best protect her? “She’s a widow who will not be joining us this evening.”
Nearbottom swung his gaze back to Gavin, quirking a brow. “Pity. But I suppose you’re right. A woman like that shouldn’t be in the company of our lovely little doves we’ve brought along.”
A twitter of laughter rose up around them from the ladies. Apparently they weren’t insulted by Nearbottom’s comment that they weren’t fit to spend time with Dahlia. Another of the women circled behind him, her hand brushing his backside. His muscles tightened, not in desire but distaste. How he had ever thought this would be a good idea? Because he’d been wretchedly lonely. But looking at the situation now, something in him had changed. Dahlia had reminded him of what he’d lost.
“I’ll see you all settled in the west wing of the house for the night,” Gavin said diplomatically.
Nearbottom reached for one of the ladies, pulling her against his side. She plastered herself against him, her hand on his abdomen. “Are we being locked out of sight?”
Yes, Gavin wanted to say. “I’d prefer to think of it as a chance for privacy.”
One of the other men wrinkled his nose. “Privacy is overrated. We spent the last three days traveling to this little corner of England and we’re ready to spread out.”
The woman who’d touched his backside circled closer. Her garish red gown clinging to her curves. “Are you going to join us? We could use the variety.”
The other men scoffed even as she smiled. Gavin straightened. She was attractive enough, but she didn’t tempt him in the least. His thoughts were on the woman upstairs. “I’m afraid not. I’m sure you’ll have plenty of fun without me.” He made a mental note to burn the linens after they’d gone.
“Don’t fret about him, ladies. He’s always been a stick in the proverbial mud. I thought, perhaps, he’d finally lightened his dark and gloomy exterior.” Nearbottom pinched the arse of the girl he held, who giggled loudly. Nearbottom gave him a wink to show he hadn’t meant offense. Gavin supposed to the other man it was all true. Gavin was no fun at all.
“My butler will show you to your rooms.” He turned and started up the stairs. He had another guest with whom he wished to spend his time.
Once he arrived back at his study, he remembered he’d been about to go for a walk. There was no way he’d leave the house now, however. He hadn’t had dinner, nor had he checked on Sam for a few hours. He knew Sam was sleeping, but perhaps Dahlia would consent to dine with him if they did so in the presence of her brother.
Gavin found her in Sam’s room already, picking at her food and watching her brother sleep.
She stood as soon as he entered. “I thought you’d be with your friends.”
He closed the door. “I’d much rather be here with the two of you.”
A smile played at her lips as one of her eyebrows arched. “Sam is sound asleep. How can he be better company?”
“I assure you, he is.” Gavin crossed the room and grabbed a slice of bread from the tray.
She looked down at the food, her cheeks turning a charming shade of pink. “You were expecting them. I thought you wanted those guests here.”
He took a bite of his bread, watching her as she kept her eyes on the tray, pretending to select a bit of cheese. “I thought I did. I had no intention of marrying after Amelia. Losing her was…difficult. I thought I’d buried my heart with her. But after a while, I missed the company of a woman and…” Damn. Was he actually attempting to explain this?
She twisted her hands in front of her. “You don’t owe me an explanation.”
He reached for her chin, tipping it up so that he could look in her eyes. “I think I do.” There was so much he wanted to say right now, but not one coherent thought could be sorted from the rest as her pale pink lips parted and those crystal blue eyes met his.
He bent down and lightly pressed his lips to hers. “You’ve reminded me why a man seeks out the company of a good woman.”
“Oh,” she breathed. “Why is that?” But a smile played at her lips and she leaned in closer.
He kissed her again and then again, her scent filling his nostrils, her soft hands resting against his chest. Finally, he lifted his head. He still wanted her but the feelings he had had shifted, grown deeper. As much as he desired her, his need to protect her was even stronger. He cupped her cheek, running his thumb over her lips. “Because…” He kissed the tip of her nose. He didn’t want to explain the attraction he felt but he could articulate the feeling. “With you I am…understood.”
She pulled her brows together. “I’m glad.”
“And you.” He wrapped an arm about her waist. “What is it you like about me? Hopefully there is something.”
She smiled. Not a large one, but somehow the curve of her lip was filled with intimacy. “I’ve never felt safer than I do here with you.”
His chest swelled. He’d keep her that way for as long as he could. He made this vow to himself, and would do all he could to keep it.
Chapter Nine
Dahlia didn’t want to leave his embrace. She hadn’t even touched on the depth of feeling he effortlessly brought out of her. The heat, the need, jealousy, commitment.
If she were honest with herself, she would admit she wanted him to ask her to marry him. Not just because he was willing to help, but because he wanted her.
She fisted his shirt in her hands. “We should eat.”
“We should…” But he didn’t let her go.
Instead, he claimed her lips again. This time, his mouth was more insistent, his breath mingling with hers even as he pulled her tighter to his chest. Dahlia knew she should put some distance between them, but she didn’t want him to stop. Desire curled between her legs as she traced the muscles of his chest, the width of his shoulders. So strong. So capable. Her abdomen pressed to his hips and the evidence of his desire pushed hard against her.
Perhaps that should have frightened her. It didn’t. As he slid his hands down to her buttocks and pressed them closer, the ache between her legs throbbed, begging
to be relieved. And when he slanted her mouth open and his tongue touched hers, she gasped, wanting more.
“Dahlia.” The word came in a ragged whisper.
She slid her hands about his neck, digging her fingers into his skin. “We need to stop.” But even as she said it, her arms tightened around him.
Suddenly, he lifted her from the ground, even as his mouth claimed hers again. She lost track of where they were but as her feet touched the floor again, she pulled back and blinked her eyes open. They were back in her room.
“I know we do,” he responded. “But I’ve waited so long, and I thought I’d never feel this way.”
Feel which way? Did she dare ask? She didn’t have a chance as his mouth covered hers again. His hands slid from her waist to her hips, then up to her breasts. Every touch set her to blaze but they somehow still weren’t enough. She wanted more. More of him. More of his hands on her skin.
“Dahlia,” a voice croaked.
Sam. She drew in a sharp breath, taking a step back. What had she been thinking? The answer was simple. She hadn’t. Earlier she’d sent him from her room because he had not given her a firm commitment and he still hadn’t. Silly girl.
Gavin kept his hand at her waist. “I see by your face that you’re worried about what we just did. Don’t be.” He gave her a squeeze. “Go tend your brother and we’ll discuss this after.”
Nodding, Dahlia slipped from his grasp. Her fingers brushed her lips as she passed through the connecting door. That had been the first time she’d ever allowed a man to touch her like that. She didn’t know what it meant for her future, but Dahlia was fairly certain she’d never be the same again.
As she passed through the door, she saw that her brother still lay sound asleep on his bed.
She moved toward him, her heart beginning to beat in her chest once more. What was happening? A movement caught her eye and she stopped. Standing at the end of the bed was a man she recognized from the foyer. One of Gavin’s guests.
“Can I help you?”
Gavin heard her question and turned his ear toward the door. It didn’t sound like she was speaking to Sam, but who else would be in the room?
The question was answered almost immediately.
“Why yes. You most certainly can,” Nearbottom replied. “Was your name Dahlia? What a pretty name for such a lovely girl.”
Gavin straightened. What game was Nearbottom playing? Even he had to know that he couldn’t just wander into other guests’ rooms. Gavin wanted to tell him to get the hell out, his need to protect Dahlia making his head buzz. But if Gavin stepped in that room, everyone would know he’d been in Dahlia’s chambers unchaperoned.
Then again, Nearbottom likely wouldn’t care.
“Thank you,” Dahlia answered. “Now if you’ll excuse me, my brother is sleeping and I need to tend him.”
Her voice rang with a dismissive quality that brought a smile to Gavin’s lips. This was the woman who had raced through the rain to get help for her brother. She might be able to dismiss Nearbottom all on her own.
“I’ll only keep you a moment.” Nearbottom’s voice dropped low. “I was told that your brother is doing better, but his recovery is not certain. If your brother should perish, I only wanted to offer you assistance, should you need it.”
“Assistance?” she asked. Gavin straightened. He didn’t know where Nearbottom was going with this, but he didn’t like it one bit.
“Tell me, do you have a dowry?” He could hear Nearbottom moving and Gavin did the same, approaching the door. Wherever Nearbottom was headed with this conversation, he didn’t like it. No other man but Gavin was going to be part of her future. Stopping, he made a decision. He’d make Dahlia his wife. They’d sort out the rest later.
“I don’t think that’s any of your concern.”
Good girl, he silently cheered as he started for the door again.
“Oh, but it is.” Nearbottom replied. “You see, if you have one, I might want to make you my wife. You are a gorgeous little creature. I’d even overlook that fact that you’ve been traipsing about with de Wolfe. Not that I blame you. The man makes the rest of us look rather pedestrian. He won’t marry you, though. Still nursing a broken heart.”
He stepped into the room as Nearbottom stopped just in front of Dahlia. “That’s kind of you to offer.”
Nearbottom slid his hand about the back of her neck. She started to step back, but he tightened his fingers.
Rage blurred Gavin’s vision. No man was going to touch Dahlia like that. If he’d questioned his decision to marry her, he didn’t any longer. She was his.
“Take your hand off her or I shall break every one of those fingers.”
Nearbottom pulled his hand away but his smile remained. “I wondered how long it would take to flush you out.” He looked over at Gavin. “You always were a lucky bastard. Am I to assume that you’re marrying her?”
“Yes. You are to assume.” Gavin said between clenched teeth. Reaching Dahlia’s side, he slipped his hand about her waist. “I do not want to see you again. You’ll leave my house at first light.”
Nearbottom raised a brow. “As you wish.” Then his gaze swept over them once again. “You’re free to join us this evening.”
Gavin clenched a fist at his side. “Get out.”
Nearbottom turned, whistling as he exited. “I’m not sure how long it will take you but whenever you’re ready you can thank me for what I did this evening.”
Gavin drew in a deep breath as he considered those words. “What does that mean?”
But Nearbottom only turned back to him and winked then exited the room.
“Gavin.” Dahlia touched his arm. “What was that all about?”
“I’m not entirely certain.” Had Nearbottom just forced him to face his feelings? “But it’s high time we tackled that tray of food. It’s been waiting for ages.”
She gave a nod. “I suppose you’re right there. Food will make everything clearer.” But she hesitated. “You said that he was to assume. What did that mean?”
Gavin slid his hand across her cheek, cupping her jaw, his fingertips burying into her hair. “It means, my sweet Dahlia, that we are getting married as soon as Sam is well enough to give his blessing.”
Her eyes widened as her lips parted. Without thinking, he leaned down to kiss them closed.
“But you said that you’d only marry me if—”
“I know,” he whispered. “But as I see it, you’ve been compromised either way. And I won’t leave you for a man like Nearbottom to take advantage of.” Though, perhaps he’d been wrong about that. It didn’t matter. He knew what he had to do. His mouth pressed together. “I’m not the man I was before I lost Amelia. I don’t know how much I have to give you. But I’ll try. Can you accept that?”
She gave a nod. “I can.”
He closed his eyes for a moment as he pulled her closer. Dahlia was going to be his. His chest tightened. It wasn’t fair that he couldn’t give her his whole heart, but he couldn’t let her go either.
Chapter Ten
Dahlia stared at the man who’d just proposed to her. Should she pinch herself?
She knew his proposal was still conditional. She understood, or she thought she did. Despite that fact, no man had ever made her feel the way he did.
They ate in relative silence, Dahlia’s eyes growing heavy as her stomach grew fuller. The past few days had been trying and now, with Sam recovering and her future more hopeful, she found herself tired beyond measure. A yawn nearly split her jaw.
“You should go to bed,” Gavin gave her a look across the table that clearly said she wasn’t to argue. She rolled her neck. She’d prove him wrong another time, right now, she was too sleepy to debate the matter.
“I agree, but Sam still needs watching.”
He reached across the table and grabbed her hand, bringing it to his lips. “I’ll have a cot brought in and sleep in your brother’s room.” Then he stood and pulled her to stand as wel
l. Leading the way, he let go of her hand once they’d entered her room. He crossed to the door and pulled the bell cord. “Once Agnes leaves, lock the chamber door, but leave the connecting door open.”
She gave a nod. Moving back to her with a long stride, he kissed her forehead. “Sleep well.”
It didn’t take long for Agnes to make her ready. Dahlia slipped under the covers and closed her eyes. What a glorious place for a good rest.
She woke some time later, unaware of what time it was, but the night was inky black. A yell or perhaps a laugh punctuated the dark and she blinked, trying to discern what the noise might have been.
“Dahlia,” a sing song voice called from the other side of her door. “I’m terribly bored, darling, and you are just the sort of woman who’d make life more interesting for me.”
She sat up, rubbing her face. Was that Nearbottom? The man was insufferable. Hadn’t Gavin told him they’d marry?
“I’m waiting,” he slurred. “I talked with the butler. You don’t have a dowry, you little minx. Let me be your benefactor. De Wolfe is only a baron. I’m an earl, darling. Think of the things I could give you.”
She got up, wondering what she should do. He was liable to wake the entire house at this rate. Gavin was just in the next room. Should she get him? Her mouth turned down. “My lord. You should go to bed.”
The knob twisted and her breath caught. Gavin had told her to lock the door. Had she? The latch clicked and the door began to swing open. Drat.
She wasn’t going to take any chances. Lifting the hem of her night shift, she started for the connecting door.
But Nearbottom was quick and he ran to the door blocking her escape.
“Get out of my room,” she yelled as loudly as she could then began backing toward the other door.
“What is it about you that’s so tempting, I wonder?” He scratched at his chin. “You’re lovely, of course, but so are lots of women.” He started moving toward her, swaying on his feet. “Perhaps it’s that you’re taming a beast of a man in de Wolfe. You must have something special in you to accomplish that.” He gave her a lecherous smile and then let out a loud hiccup. “Don’t get me wrong, I like him well enough and I came in earlier to help him see that he should marry you already and give up on the melancholy but…”
To Want a Rogue: De Wolfe Pack Connected World Page 6
