Luck Be a Lady (31 page)

She stared at him. Then at the contract. Hers? Everleigh's, entirely hers?

No. This wasn't right. She didn't want this gift now, of all times. The auction rooms, overshadowing what she'd done today—what that newspaper announced—

“Forget that,” she said very softly. “Forget Everleigh's.”

He stared at her for a silent moment, shock tightening his features. Then he opened his hand. The contract thudded to the floor.

“What did you just say?” he asked.

She cleared her throat. Said it louder. “Forget Everleigh's.”

“Did you . . .” Now
he
cleared his throat. “Did you take out that announcement for
my
sake?”

Her stomach jumped. “Yes, of course. Why else would I have done it?”

“To . . . check your brother.” He blinked, then straightened off the desk. “You took out that announcement for me,” he said, but this time there was no question in his words, only wonder. And
there
, at last, was what she had wanted to see in his face—the look she had been envisioning, willing, praying to behold. He stepped toward her, a prowling movement, full of design. Seized her hands, then lifted each to his mouth, kissing them in turn. “For me,” he whispered.

“Yes, yes, yes.” She pulled her hands free of his only so she could grasp his face. “I took it out. I wanted the world to know.”

“That we're married,” he said huskily. He turned his face, kissed her palm.

“That we're married,” she agreed. “That you're my husband. That I . . . do believe I love you.”

“Believe?” He fixed her in a narrow gaze.

“Know,” she whispered. “But perhaps . . . perhaps you had better make sure of it now. Against . . .” She swallowed, feeling the blush steal over her. He noticed it. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and the heat in his look loosened her next words, brought them out in a rush: “Against the door.”

“Against the . . .” A smile slowly widened his mouth. “You liked that, did you?”

“I seem”—her voice was breathless, ragged—“I seem to be more wanton than I knew.”

“Oh, you don't know the half of it yet.” He lifted her beneath her arms, carried her up against the door, held her there as he buried his face in her neck. “You've got . . .” By her hand on his back, she felt the deep breath he took of her. “A lot to learn,” he said, lips brushing over her skin. “Happily, seems we've got the time.”

“All the time,” she said. “All the time in the world.” But after a long moment, in which his grip tightened, but he seemed content only to hold her, she frowned. “I wouldn't mind hurrying up with this lesson, though.”

He lifted his head, laughing, his dark face impossibly beautiful, more beautiful than she had ever realized, for there were no shadows in it now, nothing in his look but the kind of wonder, the open unveiled adoration, that she had seen only in dreams—and never dared envision for herself.

“I hate to disappoint my wife,” he murmured, “but I don't mean to hurry this time.”

She almost argued. But as he kissed her, a deep, leisurely kiss that made pleasure purl down her spine, she changed her mind and threaded her hands through his hair. No need to rush, after all. She was exactly where she wished to be. He could take as long as he liked.

Start the Rules from the Reckless series from the very beginning!

The prequel to the sizzling Rules for the Reckless series!

Your Wicked Heart

One daring widow, one reluctant suitor . . .

That Scandalous Summer

A lady with a secret, and a man with a passion—for vengeance . . .

Fool Me Twice

Catching the lady red-handed . . .

Lady Be Good

ALSO BY MEREDITH DURAN

The Duke of Shadows

Bound by Your Touch

Written on Your Skin

Wicked Becomes You

A Lady's Lesson in Scandal

At Your Pleasure

Your Wicked Heart

That Scandalous Summer

Fool Me Twice

Lady Be Good