Page 31 of The Tantalizing of a Scandalous Rake

“Very. And strong, too.” That mother and child had survived such a birth was a miracle.

Rosie washed her hands in a basin. Adam tried not to notice the trickle of sweat sliding down the back of her neck. It only brought his attention to her skin and how much he longed to touch it.

“Thank you for delivering my baby boy,” Jane sighed. Her gaze swept to Adam. “Both of you.”

He stood. “I only did what was instructed of me,” he said, looking pointedly at Rosie, who had spent the last four hours barking commands at him like they were back at the inn and swarmed with patrons. He’d only intended to be of some vague comfort to Simon and Rosie but somehow, he’d found himself assisting in the birth when it became clear brute force was needed.

He glanced at Simon who still looked pale but relieved. The large man’s eyes were filled with tears and Adam still could not be certain the man would not faint. There was most certainly a reason the husband remained outside of the bedroom during such events. Men, he concluded, were simply not strong enough to handle such matters.

Simon met his gaze and gave him a grateful smile then moved slowly to his wife’s side.

“She just needs rest,” the midwife said. “I do not foresee any problems but I shall remain here.”

“Go to her,” Rosie urged Simon.

Jolting, Simon hastened over and dropped to his wife’s side.

Rosie finished cleaning up while the couple ogled their new child, and then the two of them took their leave.

Adam helped Rosie onto the wagon before climbing up himself, leaning against the wooden frame with a sigh. “Remind me never to agree to help deliver a baby again,” he said with a weary smile.

“What, you didn’t enjoy it?” she asked, cocking a brow.

Her periwinkle blue eyes shimmered in the evening light, her pale hair sticking out like a messy halo around her head.

“I did not expect so much blood,” he said in answer to her question. “Or screaming.”

She laughed. He appreciated her laugh, how there was substance to it. He’d never met a woman who laughed like her—full and round and genuine.

“One day, when you sire a child, you’ll know what to expect.” There was a dullness to her tone.

The urge to leap to her side of the carriage and engulf those lips in his own made him clench his fists. Now was most certainly not the time.

They arrived back at the inn to find it silent and dark. Light snores emanated from the comfiest chair by the fire.

“Should we wake her?” Adam asked, eyeing the sleeping Harriet.

“Let her rest. I imagine her day was almost as tiring as ours.”

He smothered a yawn with the back of his hand. Running the inn with just Harriet had been…well… difficult. They had managed of course, but the place simply did not function smoothly without Rosie in charge.

“Not quite as tiring, I should imagine,” he murmured.

“Straight to bed I think,” Rosie announced and he nodded, following her blindly upstairs. She paused outside her bedroom and glanced at the door when he remained behind her waiting for her to open it. “This isn’t your room, Adam.”

He blinked. “No.”

But suddenly it seemed an excellent idea to remain here.

They’d brought life into the world today. Together. He was not certain he wanted to experience it again but he could not fathom retreating to bed alone—without Rosie.

He saw her gaze widen, even in the shadows of the darkened hallway. He swore he heard a swift intake of breath. If she was not thinking the same thing as him, then someone should throw him in the asylum. He’d wager his entire fortune upon it.

Who made the first move, he could not be certain but as soon as his fingers touched her warm, soft flesh, his will vanished entirely. He gripped her arms tightly and put his mouth to hers, hard and firm. Demanding.

She kissed him with reckless abandon, her hands winding around his neck, her body writhing against his. He could scarcely breathe, let alone think, but somehow he fumbled the door open and urged her back into the room. She stumbled slightly but it did not prevent her from kissing him with such hunger his whole body flared with need.

When he broke the kiss for a breath, she paused, and he feared he’d ruined it. She would back away again. But instead, she fumbled with the two tiny pearl buttons on the front of his shirt and pressed a hand against his skin. Her fingers were cool from the night air and he hissed out a breath and tilted his head back.

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