Page 131 of Ruthless with a Rogue
One week later.
The door to his chamber snicked shut, and Derek’s attention snapped up from his newspaper.To Livy.She leaned against the slab of oak, the soft early morning light glowing off her features.Her golden waves spilled over her shoulders, peeking into her loosely tied ebony silk robe.Black and gold.Just like the dress she wore atThe Devil’s Eye.He wondered if she still had that mask…
“Hullo,” she whispered.
A gentle flutter took up in his chest.“Hullo,” he whispered back, a soft smile spreading over his face.
Her lips tilted up at the corners, barely there but one of the sweetest smiles he’d ever seen.He could feel that look, the warmth, the affection, deep inside his chest.They both remained still, just staring dumbly at each other with foolish smiles on their faces, she against the door, he in his armchair by the hearth.Besotted idiots, that’s what they were.
He loved it.
He stood and made his way to her at the same moment she pushed off the door.They met in the middle of his chamber, gazes locked.
She lifted her hand and traced the rim of his spectacles.Her lips parted softly, and she let out a shaky breath.
It was too tempting.He dipped down and took a taste of that breathlessness.He hummed against her lips.“Delicious.”
He pulled back, and a little cheeky smile bunched her cheeks.“I just had some shortbread.”
“Oh, trust me, minx, I know.I find I quite enjoy the sweetness of your shortbread lingering on my tongue.”
Her pupils flared, and a light blush painted her cheeks.He bit back a chuckle.“How I’ve corrupted you,” he said softly.“That made you think something wicked, didn’t it?”
“I’m not sure I can be faulted when you manage to smuggle innuendo into everything you say.Heavens, we manage to get…carried away…over mathematics.”
She brushed his hair back.It was a hand-tousled mess at this point.He had a habit of running his hand through it a bit aggressively when he read the morning paper.Her hand settled on his cheek, and he subtly leaned into the touch.He arched a brow and pressed a quick kiss to her palm.“Everyone knows mathematics is the language of seduction.”
She nodded seriously as she slowly traced a finger over his bare chest.“There are improper integrals after all.”
A chuckle rumbled through his chest, and he leaned forward to press a hard kiss to her forehead.He slowly inhaled, and more of that warm feeling came over him.Happiness.Her calming presence, her vanilla scent, her soft voice—they caused everything inside him to settle.It was the feeling of being exactly where he belonged, everything finally falling into place.
“Don’t you need to start getting ready soon?”he murmured.It was still early, but they did have a wedding to attend this morning.
Their wedding.His heart took off.Probably racing down to the drawing room to stand in wait for the ceremony to begin.Because, bloody fucking hell, he was marrying this magnificent woman today.He swallowed harshly.
She popped a shoulder.“I have to be in the dowager’s dressing chamber in an hour.”She bit her lip, her teeth skating across the plump flesh.Tease.
“Couldn’t wait a few more hours, could you, clever girl?”He was proud of how steady his voice came out despite the storm of emotion that had taken up residence in his chest.
Her smile faded, and her eyes glinted with a heady sincerity.“Any length of time is too long to be without you, Derek.”
His lungs faltered.She was going to kill him with the sweet things she said.It was too much.“Livy,” he whispered hoarsely.“You really need to slow down with these feelings.I’ve heard overexposure to feelings can cause injury.There’s only so much a jaded rogue like me can take.”
Her lips pressed tight against her amusement.“My poor, poor rogue.”
He glared at her.There was so much mocking sympathy in her saucy tone.
The minx’s brows drew together, and those wide blue eyes glimmered with concern.“Where does it hurt?”She slowly dropped to her knees, her black silk robe pooling around her.She slid her hands up his thighs and blinked up at him.“Do you need me to kiss it better?”
Every single muscle in his body went taut, and he cursed.“Trouble, minx.You have been trouble since the day I met you.”
Eyes locked, something impossible to name passed between them.The shared connection of two people perfectly made for each other.She started undoing the buttons of his trousers, gaze never straying.“And I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.”
Hell, he hoped not.He loved her breed of trouble.
His placket fell open, and she loosened his smalls.Her smile turned coy, and then she pulled both down in a swift movement, his cock springing free.She trailed one elegant finger down his length, and then softly pushed down on the crown before letting go.His cock bounced back up, and amusement danced in her large doe-eyes.She bit her lip against a grin and did it again.
A choked laugh escaped him.“Livy, bloody hell.Are youplayingwith my cock?”
