Page 4 of Ruthless with a Rogue
Experience had shown she wasn’t good enough as she was.How long was she going to pretend she was fine with being less than?It was time to change.
Improve.
“Do you recall the time Bonny and I landed that jump all you boys thought we couldn’t?”Bonny nickered in agreement, and Livy grinned.“We proved you all wrong.I’m going to do it again, Quint.”
Quinton studied her, head cocked in question.
“I am going to London.I’ll prove to Warren and his parents just how worthy I am of his regard.”
I’m going to prove them all wrong.
4
Derek
Two weeks later…
London, England.
As Roderick Blackwood, Marquess of Dunmore, stared at the voluptuous nude woman frozen in front of him, it occurred to him he was getting too old for climbing out windows.Perhaps he should cease his dalliances.He coughed, choking back his laugh.
That’s a bloody corker.
At eight-and-twenty, he had many windows and many women ahead of him.
Footsteps thundered from out in the hallway, an almighty roar reverberating through the house.
Derek glanced over at the bed to see the rosy-cheeked brunettestillfrozen in place.Shadows danced off the sheet clutched to her chest in the dim candlelight of her bedchamber, eyes wide as saucers fixed on the large oak door.
“You have to be fucking kidding me,” Derek muttered.
Clearly, this woman was a novice at assignations.He closed his eyes and sent a prayer to the gods of debauchery.He had just wanted to drown himself in her overabundance of curves,forgetfor a brief moment, and be on his way.Down the stairs.Exiting through a bloody door.But no,he was going to be inconvenienced by leaving through a window.
“Cora!”the voice bellowed, closer now.
Derek snapped his fingers.“Well, don’t just sit there.”He shook his head and started looking for his boots.Shewas going to feign shock after cuckolding her husband?“Don your robe and get ready to answer the damn door.”
Ah!There’s one.He scrambled over and grabbed his Hessian boot.Hopping on one foot, he pulled it on and scanned the room for its twin.He spotted it and stealthily ran to the other side of the room.He moved to put it on and froze.He frowned down at his bare toes, wiggling them.Where was his stocking?He shrugged and pulled on his boot.No time to find it.
He hurried over to the window, sweeping his shirt and cravat off the ground and grabbing his coat off the armchair next to the window.
The brunette…what was her name again?Cora was what the enraged husband in the hall had said?Corayanked her arms through her dark rose silk robe, forgoing a night rail, generous breasts bouncing with her movements.
Derek paused to enjoy the view.Perhaps they were worth an exit through a window.He grinned and threw up the sash.He glanced back, attention falling on her ivory night rail on the floor, the delicate fabric ripped in half down the front.His grin widened as dark delight rushed through him.Best of luck explaining that one, dear.
Bang!A door crashed against something hard in the adjoining room.Another roar.“Cora!”
“I’m coming, my lord,” Cora squeaked, her hands fumbling in her haste.
Derek chuckled.Not the first time she’d said that tonight.Nor the second.“A word of advice,” he drawled.“The next time you consort with a gentleman, ensure your husband won’t be returning home.”He swung his leg over the window frame and straddled it.
A sniffle sounded from inside the room, and his gaze flew to her face.Slightly furrowed eyebrows.Puckered, plush lips.He homed in on her mouth—her surprisingly talented mouth.Fine, he’d admit it—the window exit was worth it.
“Next time I consort with a man…” She inhaled a shaky breath.“Are you implying you won’t be seeing me again?”
His gaze shot back to her eyes.They were glossy.Another sniff.Shite.Tears.He let out a large breath and pinched his nose.God save him from emotional women.This was why he never bedded a woman more than once.Emotions.His lip curled in disgust.Emotions were what destroyed families, either wielded for self-interest or as instruments of manipulation.
A pounding shook the door to the adjoining chamber.“Cora!Open the bloody door!”
