Page 43 of The Notorious Lord Sin
The sound of Paris's voice outside his door had him sitting up, his heart kicking up a beat. Her words to his butler worked, and she opened his door, closing it just as quickly and snicking the lock.
Seeing her again eased the pain in his chest and the sick feeling that had plagued his stomach since he left Landon Hall.
Dominic sat on the side of the bed, watching her, wondering what she would say. He hoped it wasn't to recap their disagreements. He was certain he could not stand any more of that.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, not moving to take her in his arms, even though that is where he wanted her. With him, as his wife, his forever, if only she would forgive him.
She pulled off her bonnet. It hung from the ribbons in her hands as she slowly came to stand before him. "I came to speak to you. We cannot keep going the way we are, Dominic. I cannot bare it."
Her words sparked a flame of hope within him, and he nodded, hoping they could come back to each other.
"I was ashamed, Paris. I have only just admitted my failure to my family, a failure that will impact them and the matches my sisters make. But had I just wanted to marry a woman for her wealth and not care for her in the least, I would have married Lady Esme. Hell, I would have offered to her the moment I left Landon Hall to secure my family's future, but I did not. I cannot marry anyone, wealthy or as poor as I am, for they are not you. I love you. Even when you berate me, reveal my many flaws, it's you I love. I want you as my wife. I want to be a father to your children, to Maya, even if that is a secret we only ever know of. I do not care about the past. I only care for the future, and that cannot be with anyone else but you," he stated, watching, hoping, praying that she would forgive him.
Give him a second chance. Or was it a third by now?
She slipped her hands about his neck and cupped them around his nape. He swallowed the lump in his throat as longing tore through him.
"You are not the only person who's made errors of judgment. You are not wholly to blame for what happened to me. I should have told you, but we were so young, you were so powerful, and I was nothing compared to your status that I feared being rejected. I thought you would turn your back on me anyway, and then someone else would know my secret. I could not do that to Maya, so I remained silent. I allowed Lord Hervey to think there was more between us than there was, and I married him. And while I did come to care for him, that was wrong. I've always known that, but I blamed you for everything."
"I should never have been so careless to take your innocence and think nothing would come of it," he admitted, hating that he had acted so sinfully. Such a stupid fool.
"What is done is done and I do not want our past, our mistake, or your ruin to change what I think our future can be," she said.
"You want a future with me?" he asked outright, needing to hear her say such wonderous things.
She nodded, stepping between his legs. "I do think that is the case. You love me, and I love you, and I'm wealthy enough to save you this time, and you, me, in return."
Dominic frowned, not sure of her words. "Save you? What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well," she said, slipping onto his lap, her teasing grin making his lips twitch. "I think I'm pregnant and so we had better marry because if it has escaped your notice, I do not have a husband," she teased.
Dominic stilled before he wrenched her into his arms, holding her close. "You're carrying my child?" He shook his head, unable to comprehend the happiness running through him. "I do not know what to say." He laughed, hugging her close.
"You had better ask me to be your wife. We can start there," she said, hugging him.
He pulled back and met her gaze. "Marry me. You're the love of my life, and it would be an honor to be your husband."
"Hmm, let me see," she teased, tapping her chin with her hand. He tickled her, and she squealed before he let her go. "Very well, my lord. I shall marry you. It is only fair, I suppose, since you, too, are the love of my life, and it would be an honor to be your wife."
"So we're betrothed." He rolled her onto the bed, coming down atop her. "Shall we seal the deal with a kiss?"
"I was hoping for a little more than that," she said before he lost himself in a searing kiss that did indeed seal their agreement.
ChapterTwenty-Six
Paris stripped what was left of Dominic's attire, not that he was wearing much upon her storming into his room. The lack of a cravat, socks, and shoes enabled her to rip his shirt from his body. Her fingers worked quickly to untie the buttons on his falls.
He, too, was busy with her gown, and they were soon naked on his bed, soon to be her room and home when they married.
The idea warmed a part of her that had long lay dormant and chilled.
She kissed him, reveled in the feel of his hunger, his need for her that was equal to her own.
They came together with a frenzied need. He filled her, thrust into her with such exquisite ability that she gasped. "Dominic," she moaned, pinning her legs behind his back, wanting him deeper, harder than she had before.
"I'm getting a special license. Three days is too long not to have you in my bed," he said, kissing down the side of her neck, electing delicious shivers down her spine.
She moaned, wanting that for herself. Wanting everything that he offered. "You have the most bountiful breasts." His mouth covered one of her nipples, his tongue swirling about her beaded bud, and pleasure shot to her core.
