Page 79 of The Secret of the Dashing Detective
“Very well,” Giles said.
“Before we continue, there is something else we must speak about,” Matthew said, actually pleased they were all there so he wouldn’t have to complete the story. “A man attempted to abduct Juliana tonight, and it was not Dr. Lewis who tried to do so.”
“What?” Giles practically roared.
Matthew and Juliana explained the story as best and concisely as they could, but Giles was already pacing the floor.
“So we still have work to do,” Matthew finished.
“Argh!” Giles said, kicking an umbrella stand in the corner that made all of the women jump.
“For what its worth, I will keep on it,” Matthew said, “and not as a job. As a member of your family.”
“Very good,” Giles said grimly. “Thank you.” He reached out his hand. “Brother.”
* * *
They had agreedto wait three weeks – the required three weeks for the banns to be read. Giles had offered to secure a special license for them to wed earlier and at Warwick House, but Juliana had insisted that she wanted to be married as they would be if her brother had not been a duke. It was the life she was going to be living soon, so she might as well start now, without any special privileges.
In those three weeks, Matthew had also given up his suite in the boarding house and found a small cottage in Holborn near to his parents’ house – but not too near – and Juliana had spent a great deal of time along with Emma, Prudence, and Matthew’s sisters in creating her own home. A home that was not extravagant by the standards she was used to, but was comfortable, and was hers – and Matthew’s.
He walked her through the threshold now, a smile on his face that told her that he was up to something.
“Is this a good surprise or a bad surprise?” she asked with an eyebrow raised.
“What makes you think I have a surprise?”
“Perhaps you are not the only detective around here,” she said with a smile.
He couldn’t keep it within any longer, his mouth widening across his face as Juliana heard the scrambling of feet over the floor. She couldn’t contain her glee as Lucy came running across the room and jumped into her waiting arms.
“Lucy!” she exclaimed before turning to Matthew in shock. “What is she doing here?”
“She’s here to stay with us,” Matthew said. “She’s my wedding gift to you.”
“This is—she is—you are—” Juliana was speechless. “This is incredible, Matthew. Thank you so much. I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” he said, reaching down and scooping Juliana up into his arms, dog and all. He walked her through the small house into their bedroom at the back, depositing her on the bed before gently taking Lucy from her arms and placing her into the pallet on the floor he had made for her.
“Now come here, wife.”
She squealed as he climbed overtop of her on the bed.
Juliana let her thighs fall open, welcoming him, and she smiled in appreciation for his exquisite form as he began to undress the top half of his body, until only a light smattering of hair covered his chest. She knew she was likely supposed to wait for him, but that wasn’t in Juliana’s nature. Instead, she lifted herself up from the bed and leaned in and kissed his collarbone on one side and then the other, feeling the fast beat of his pulse just below his skin.
“Jules,” he groaned, her name a low rumble on his lips, and she liked it, this feeling of control over a man as strong as Matthew. She ran her hands over the muscles of his abdomen, kissing her way down his chest before leaning in, her nipples standing to attention when they brushed against his chest, even through the fabric covering them.
Matthew quickly made sure that was also out of the way as he pushed down her bodice and freed her breasts, before reaching behind her to try to untie the gown’s elaborate fastenings.
He finally loosened the first one and then turned her over slightly to look at the rest and groaned aloud.
Juliana couldn’t help but gasp when each clasp started to rip as he tore them all out.
“You will destroy the dress!” she exclaimed.
“I’ll fix it,” he muttered, before he pulled first the garment and then her chemise off her and leaned down, finally taking her lips. They had shared plenty of stolen kisses in the past few weeks, but this one was different. This was a thorough branding, a reminder of who she was now and who would be with her, every night, lying by her side.
He thrust his tongue into her mouth in a love play, and she moaned, especially when he began to squeeze her breasts with his large, rough palms.
