Page 147 of The Lyon Returns
He shifted his gaze to the book he held. “Arlington. Do I know this author?”
“Mm. I don’t think so. Why?”
He flipped open the book to a random page and scanned the text. “The name seems familiar. Arlington. I’ve noted that on multiple occasions, just never thought to mention it.”
“Probably just a coincidence.”
“What’s this book about?”
She cocked her head in thought. “It’s a romantic novel. All G.T. Arlington’s books are romantic in nature, with a mystery thrown in for good measure, and feature the same two protagonists. It’s really quite astonishing how the author has managed to keep the romance so thrilling, book after book.”
“I see.” He supposed she must be right. He doubted anyone of his acquaintance wrote romantic novels.
His wife shifted closer to brush her soft lips against his neck. “Gideon, have I mentioned that I love you beyond reason?”
His manhood stirred. Pressed up against him as she was, she could not fail to have noticed. By the smile he felt curving her mouth as she feathered kisses over him, he’d say she had.
He set the book aside, tightened his arm around her waist and hefted her into the air. When he started forward, she shrieked with laughter. “Sir, where are you…”
Her words died when he plopped her down upon the sun-warmed desk. “Wrap your legs around me, sweetheart,” he ordered, already pushing her skirts up to pool around her hips.
She did.
He kissed her then, reveling in the taste of her, the feel of her, the love she gave him so freely.
“Make love to me?” she whispered.
“Always.”
A long whilelater, their bodies naked and tangled and languorous on the sofa, Gwen could only marvel at the turn her life had taken when,on the advice of her friends and a gambling den proprietress she’d never met, she’d claimed this amazing, beautiful, sensitive man as her husband.
She curled atop him, as he sifted his fingers through her hair, eyes closed, a contented smile on his handsome face. She could not love him more.
“You know,” he murmured, “it occurs to me, I almost owe my ex-friend, Brice, currently ensconced in Newgate and awaiting trial for treason, a heartfelt thanks.”
“What utter rubbish,” she said with a huff.
One corner of his mouth quirked upward and his brilliant eyes slit open. “Perhaps that is going too far. Still, had I not been on the run and presumed dead, the crafty Black Widow of Whitehall might never have matched us.”
She considered. “When you put it that way.”
Suddenly, Gideon’s eyelids snapped fully open and his green-gold gaze sharpened. He sat, bolt upright, nearly dislodging her, though he caught her easily as she was still nearly boneless from their lovemaking.
“Gideon, what on earth?”
“Sorry, my love,” he said, pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose. Then he disentangled himself, rose, and padded over to the bookshelf.
As she watched, curious now, he picked up the book he’d left open earlier and scanned several pages. He picked up another book, which also looked to be one of Georgina’s, and flipped through it. Then he eyed her. “G.T. Arlington, eh?”
“What about it?” She sat up slowly, hugging a pillow to her chest.
He stared at her. “You’re so beautiful.”
Her heart squeezed with pleasure. The way this man made her feel. So seen, so cherished. “Enough of that,” she chided without any heat. “What about the author?”
“Right. I know this man,” he said.
She sent him a condescending smile. As Georgina, the authoress,was hardly a man, that made his assertion highly doubtful.
