Taming the Wicked Wulfe (The Rogue Agents) (24 page)

“Yes, sir.”

“What just happened?” Rebekah asked, but was answered by Thorn holding up a hand indicating she should wait.
 
Angry, and getting angrier by the moment, she watched as he stepped in the hall.
 
After a few moments, he waved, then stepped back into the study before shutting the door.

“You were saying?” he asked calmly, turning to look at her.

“I want to know what just happened.
 
What kind of a fool plays so roughly with a child that less than a week ago broke her arm?”

“First, nothing happened until you walked in and distracted everyone.
 
Secondly, I guess I am that fool because we have spent a pleasant afternoon playing until you arrived.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I am not
trying
to say anything, Rebekah, I am very definitely saying it.
 
You are smothering the children.
 
I don’t know what you are trying to protect them from, whether it be life or me, but you must let them be children.”

“They play when I am around.”

“They play
safely
.
 
I remember when Teddy and I were their ages, we were always covered with cuts and bruises much to mother’s dismay.
 
These children are perfect except for Ivy’s broken arm.
 
Children should not be perfect.”

“I am just trying to see to their welfare,” she growled.

“Don’t you think I know that?
 
However, it is time that you begin to see to your own welfare, or rather as your husband,
I
should see to it.”

“What does that mean?”

“I hired a new nanny,” once again he held up his hand when she would have spoken.
 
“No, I did not wait on you, but seeing as the final two candidates we both agreed upon, I determined it would be a mere matter as who the children approved of.”

“You let the twins decide?” she asked incredulously.

“Why not?
 
They are going to be spending the most time with her.”

“And what did they decide?”

“They couldn’t, so I hired both.”

“
Both
?
 
Oh, you are a fine money manager,” she said sarcastically.

“I believe so. The favored candidate from today is good with older children and has a strong educational background.
 
She will do well until we need to hire a tutor.
 
The one we preferred from yesterday is excellent with babies and young children according to her references.
 
When we add to our numbers, it will be nice to already have someone in place to assist you, not takeover,” he added, already hearing the argument in his mind.

“That is very presumptuous of you,” she said, crossing her arms.

“What is?”

“That I would even allow you to touch me long enough to attempt conception.”

He took a step towards her and gently gripped her upper arms, pulling her close.
 
“Damn you, Rebekah.
 
You and your shrewish nature would turn most men off, yet I find myself more attracted to you than ever.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she wedged her forearms between them and attempted to push away from him, but he was too strong for her.

“I think you do.
 
I think you feel it as well, but you continue to erect this wall between us.
 
Tell me why, Rebekah.”
 
When she remained silent, he studied her carefully.
 
“You leave me no choice,” he finally said.

Before she knew what had happened, her mouth was being ravished by Wulfe.
 
She tried to remain still, tried not to react, but waves of passion began to sweep through her body.
 
Her tongue was the first of her body to betray her this time, starting to duel back with his.
 
She heard someone whimper.
 
Was that me
? she thought, mortified for a moment.
 
Rebekah found herself pushing against him, helping him to deepen the kiss, taking what she needed from him.
 
Her arms were still pinned between them, but it leant an air of excitement, not being in control or able to hold on.
 
She felt space open between them and used it to move her hands up and tunnel her fingers in his hair.
 

She felt like she was floating in air for a few minutes before she felt a solidness beneath her legs and back.
 
She felt her bodice loosen and droop, all the while the kiss continued keeping her distracted from an in-depth study of what was happening.
 
Rebekah loved this, loved kissing Wulfe.
 
He was a master of it.
 
All too soon, he pulled away and dropped kisses along her jaw and down her neck.
 
He alternately kissed, sucked, and licked, careful to not leave any marks she would be embarrassed about.
 
Just when she would have protested, he was back at her lips, giving her what she craved.

He began to show the other side of her jaw and neck the same attention.
 
She felt as if he were worshipping her body.
 
Feeling a tug, she looked down and saw that he had pulled the neckline of her dress down to embrace the bounty of her breasts, lifting them up to him.
 
She moved to cover herself, but found he had also used the dress to trap her arms at her sides.
 
He plundered her lips once more before pulling away and giving her a wickedly sinful smile that caused a molten heat to pool low in her pelvis.
 

She watched as he gently cupped both breasts in his hand, using his thumbs to rub back and forth over the hardened peaks, tormenting them.
 
Keeping eye contact with her, he bent low and took an unfurled tip into his mouth and suckled strongly and tenderly while pinching the tip of the other one.
 
Rebekah let her head fall back in ecstasy while clenching her thighs together.

“No,” she moaned, shaking her head.
 
She felt a firm, strong hand travel down her body and try to insinuate itself where she most needed the pressure.
 
What’s happening to me?
she thought.
 
I’ve never felt this way before.
 
All of a sudden his hand was
there
.
 
Even though it was between several layers of fabric, it was too much all at once.
 
Everything, all of his touches overwhelmed her and what might have been beautiful, she refused to let happen in fear.
 
“No!” she yelled and pushed him off the divan and onto the floor.
 
Rebekah shook as she yanked her dress back up to cover her body.

“I won’t be taken like a cheap whore or a local strumpet.
 
If you want to have your way with me, it will be in a bed and not hay, and I will be respected and not forgotten before the act is even over,” she stood, attempting to make herself presentable.

“What in bloody hell are you talking about?
 
What hay?”

“Nothing for you to concern yourself with,” she said.
 
“You made a fine decision on the nanny and governess, although I doubt we will have much use for them after the twins get older,” she said, composed once more.
 
“I hope you were honest about me spending your money, because I believe Clarissa spent a great deal of it for you on my wardrobe.”

“I am on tenterhooks to see what she chose for you.”

“I met an acquaintance of yours this afternoon.”

“Oh?” Thorn asked, knowing it would not be good if she ran into any of the people he knew.

“Yes.
 
I believe she said her name is Aimée.
 
A rather attractive woman.
 
I was rather stunned at how much we favored,” she musingly finished.

“Where did you meet her?” he croaked out.

“At one of the shops,” she waved her hand airily.
 
“Now if you will excuse me, I have things I must do,” she turned and swept from the room as regally as any queen.

“What the bloody hell just happened?” he asked the empty room from his position on the floor.
 
His body ached from unfulfilled lust and he found himself confused at the swift change in her behavior and actions.
 
He collapsed against the floor and attempted to get his body under control.
 
Once he finally succeeded, he lay there a moment arms askew, legs tented, and absently studied the ceiling replaying the moments that led up to her disappearing.
 
Something happened in her past and he was going to find out what it was or die trying.
 
With his wife and her temper, the second might be more of a possibility than one might think.

Chapter 13

Rebekah spent most of the next morning into the early afternoon helping the new nanny and governess become acquainted with the children.
 
While a maid took the children outside, Rebekah sat with Miss Smith, the governess, and Nanny Beatrice to come up with an appropriate schedule for the children.
 
Rebekah found herself preening at how impressed Miss Smith was at what the she had already taught the twins.
 
The women were shown to their rooms to unpack and then they all met back in the nursery with the twins in tow.

Rebekah sat in the rocking chair and pulled the children close so that she could explain to them the situation.
 
Never before had they been assigned to anyone’s care other than the occasional maid.
 
Rebekah worried at how they would take this change to their lives.
 
When she finished she asked, “Do you have any questions for me?”

“Don’t you love us anymore, Aunt Bekah?” Ivy sniffed, tears shimmering in her eyes.

“Quit being such a baby,” Zachary shoved his sister, but he could not hide the worried look on his face.

“I promise we’ll be good,” Ivy begged.

I can’t do this
, Rebekah thought to herself as she looked into the eyes of the twins.
 
She felt as if she and the children were being torn apart after years of being their everything.

“How is everyone settling in?” Wulfe’s deep voice boomed as he entered the room.
 
He took in the children sniffling and clutching at Rebekah’s hands and her shimmery eyes.
 
Letting out his breath in a sigh, he knew he had to diffuse this situation quickly and gently, or she would never let the children out of her sight.
 
“Ladies,” he nodded to the new nanny and governess, “welcome to our household.
 
Barkley!”
 
A few moments later his valet arrived in the nursery.

“You bellowed, my lord?” the man sarcastically asked.

Wulfe shot him a look promising retribution which Barkley seemed to ignore.
 
Sometimes the man had Thorn wondering who belonged as a member of the
ton
more.
 
“This is Miss Smith and Nanny Beatrice Collins.
 
Please take the women below stairs and introduce them to the rest of the staff and show them around the house before bringing them back to the nursery.”

“Very well, my lord.”
 
The valet left the room with the two women trailing after him.

“Now, what’s the matter with my little ones?” Thorn went down on one knee in front of the twins and Rebekah, who remained in the rocking chair.

“We don’t want anyone else to watch us,” Zachary spoke out.

“Aunt Bekah doesn’t love us anymore.”

Thorn heard the pained sound his wife could not hide.
 
“Now that is not fair, young lady.
 
Your aunt and I love you very much.”

“Then why isn’t she going to do things with us anymore?” she asked mutinously.

He saw Rebekah quickly swipe at the outer corner of her eye before blinking rapidly.
 
“We will still do things with you, but it is time for your aunt and I to do things with other adults.”

“Why?
 
She never did anything when we lived at Wulfecrest,” Zachary piped in.

“Tell me, how would you feel if you did not have each other to play with?”

“Sad,” Ivy said.

“Lonely,” Zachary added.

“And now that you have made friends with the other twins and Jace?
 
What if we told you that you could not play with them anymore?”

“But we like them!” Ivy cried.

“Of course you do.
 
Now think about your Aunt Bekah.
 
Have you ever known her to go to a party and leave you behind?”

“Not unless Papa made her,” Zachary answered.

He watched Rebekah stiffen.
 
“Pretend I am taking your Papa’s place.
 
I think it is time your aunt made friends of her own.
 
Sometimes I will accompany her, like I am tonight.
 
Other times she will do things with other ladies.
 
But you need to know that just because we are not always present, does not mean we love you any less.”