Going Rogue (30 page)

She took a shaky breath, then started to untie the ribbon around her wrist. “This . . .” She dangled the yellow ribbon between two fingers. “This was never a replacement for you. It was just another distraction, something to fill the void. But it never worked. Nothing did.”

He stood and began walking toward her, closing the distance between them. “I think I know what will work. But first you must promise me you won’t move to Italy.”

She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. It was possibly the most unladylike thing he’d ever seen in all his life, but it only served to endear her to him even more. “I promise.”

He reached inside his jacket and fished the gold and emerald ring out of his pocket.

Meredith looked up at him, tears coming more heavily now. “But I thought it was gone forever . . . how?”

“Don’t.” He held a finger to her lips. “It doesn’t matter how.”

“After all that’s happened, I feel so foolish . . .”

He shook his head. “You’re not at all foolish. You’re lovely, perfect, beautiful, my golden goddess. I owe you an apology. I should have never doubted you.”

He took her hand in his and slipped the ring onto her finger. “It’s an emerald, from Scotland. The insignia . . .” He pointed to the side of the ring. “. . . belongs to the Earl of Sutherland.”

She fingered the ring. “I loved it even when I thought it was just a piece of green glass. I didn’t care about its value, I adored it because it came from you.”

He smiled. “Five years ago, I asked you to marry me in this very house, with this very ring.”

“And I foolishly said no.”

He sank down to one knee. “Perhaps we can try again?”

She covered her mouth with both hands.

“Mere, will you marry me?”

Her tears had stopped, replaced by a brilliant smile. “Of course I will.”

He stood slowly. “Wrap your arms around me,” he whispered, his lips caressing the soft patch of skin under her ear.

She hugged him, and he swept her into his arms.

“Put me down,” she protested through giggles.

“Absolutely not. No escaping this time.” He carried her out of the drawing room. “Now that I’ve made an honest woman out of you, I plan on keeping you by me at all times, starting now.” He began his slow ascent up the stairs.

She playfully slapped his arm. “But you
haven’t
made an honest woman out of me, we’re only engaged . . .”

“I told you, I’m not the same man I was before. The former Derek Weston would leave you in peace until we’re properly married. But
I
have no intention of doing that, not for a single minute. Your aunt said she’ll return in the morning, and we’re going to make use of our time alone.”

Meredith’s eyes grew wide. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Afraid I am. Now, which bedroom’s yours?”

“Third door on the right.”

Derek kicked the door open.

She was his . . . almost.

He was kissing her now, both of them hungry, feeding off one another. He set her down on the bed, his hands moving quickly over her body. She pulled off his jacket and he was trying his damndest to release her breasts from the confines of her gown.

He stretched out beside her, allowing him greater access to her body. His lips left hers, inciting small grunts of defiance, which were quickly replaced by moans of pleasure as his mouth found her tender earlobe. He flicked his tongue along the edge of her ear, then made his way down the column of her neck. Soon he was kissing the swells of her chest, his hand slipping up her gown, touching and teasing her long, slim thighs.

He’d managed to free one of her breasts, taking it into his mouth, suckling her into a hard peak. She tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer to her body. His fingers were on her now, gliding over her wet core. No longer able to contain his desire, he plunged a finger into her tight center. He slid his hand over her, her body already wet and ready for his. He swept his thumb lightly over the tight bud.

“I want you ready for me,” he said, his mouth at the hollow of her neck.

“Why do I need to be
ready
?” she asked, her voice trembling from both nerves and desire.

“So I can make love to you in all the ways I’ve ever dreamed of.”

He dipped another finger inside her slick core, her hips thrusting up to meet his hand. “You’ve dreamed of me?”

He pressed his arousal against her. “Every night. I’ve made love to you a hundred different ways over the years.”

His words were enough to send her over the edge. He felt her core tighten around his fingers. She convulsed, then released, her hips bucking wildly.

She pushed his hand aside. “No more.”

He looked down at her. “You didn’t like it?” He grinned, knowing good and well that she loved it. She was naturally passionate and responsive, just as he’d always known she would be.

“I want to touch you,” she said, biting at her lip. Her hands were on him now, travelling down the hard planes of his body, stopping once they touched buckskin.

His own breath caught in his throat as her hand worked its way inside his breeches, taking the length of him into her palm. Her soft hand squeezed around him and he thought he might finish right then and there if she didn’t stop.

He pulled himself off her. He said nothing, but started removing his clothing, one piece at a time. “Don’t,” he commanded when she started to look away. “I want you to see me, to see what you do to me.” She watched him, her pupils dark and her eyelids heavy with lust.

He was naked now. He held his hand out to her. She accepted and he pulled her off the bed. He moved to the back of her, pressing his erection against her. He unfastened her dress with painstaking attention, kissing each new piece of skin as it became unveiled. Soon, her dress and chemise were pooled at her feet and she was standing before him, completely nude, his own private Venus to worship. He kissed her shoulders from behind, rubbing himself up against her arse, pleasure building to unbearable heights.

He kissed his way around her body until he was in front of her once again. He took a step back and admired her lovely form. Then he kissed her lips, slowly and sweetly. “Exactly how I pictured you to be . . .” he whispered, gently easing her onto the bed.

He maneuvered himself between her legs, spreading her with his hips. He looked down at her. “Do you know what happens next, Mere?”

She swallowed. “
Yes
.”

“It may hurt,” he warned, his gaze locking with hers as the tip of his manhood plied against her. “Just for a second, then I promise nothing but pleasure after that.”

Her eyes widened as he pressed slowly into her.

“We can stop,” he said, praying that she wouldn’t agree; his body rigid, never before having experienced arousal to such an extreme. He needed release.

She shook her head. “I want this. I want you.”

It was all the urging he needed. He powered forward another couple inches, finally breaching her resistance. She was breathing heavy now, her body adjusting to his length. Then she started to move, an invitation. He thrust deeper still, until he was buried, her warm center enveloping him completely.

She was moaning under him, her words unintelligible, but their meaning unmistakable. He was rocking against her now, her hips coming off the bed to meet him, demanding her climax.

Her core was clenching at him now, pulling him deeper. And then she grabbed him, digging her nails into his back, her legs wrapping around his waist until he could get no closer.

She shouted, crying his name. He shattered, her body draining his.

They lay like that for what seemed an eternity. Finally, he rolled off her, taking her into his arms and sleeping with her firmly nestled against his body.

Chapter 37

Meredith woke up, sensing something was missing.

He was gone.

She flew from the bed, her body startling with the touch of her bare feet against the cold floor. In a panic, she skimmed over the room, searching for something to cover herself with. She found her discarded gown on the floor, a wrinkled mess. Not bothering with her chemise, she quickly pulled the gown over her head. Unable to button it all the way, she used a throw from the bed to cover herself.

She slammed the door to her room open and ran down the stairs.

She didn’t know what had happened between last night and this morning that could have driven him away. He’d woken her at one point in the night to make love again. This time, he’d taken her from behind and she’d reached her climax in a delicious sleepy haze that made her wonder if it really happened at all.

He’d fled, but this time she refused to let him go without a fight.

She ran out into the middle of the street outside her aunt’s townhome. The sun was just starting to come up and the roads were still dark with shadows. She brought the corners of the blanket tighter around her, knowing that her reputation would never recover from being seen in such a state of disarray. Not that she cared—reputation be damned if it meant finding Derek.

The sound of hooves startled her and she turned to see a carriage barreling toward her. She quickly jumped to the side, only to watch it slow down, then stop just ahead of her.

The door opened.

Derek stepped down from the coach. “Meredith? Is that you?”

She felt her nostrils flare, anger seething through her. “How could you leave me?” She didn’t care if anyone heard her.

“How could I
what
?” he asked.

“You left me!” she yelled, noticing windows starting to light up in the houses surrounding them.

He looked around. “Meredith, get in the carriage and I’ll explain on the way.”

She stomped her foot. “I’m not going anywhere with you until you tell me what’s going on!”

A door behind her started to open and Meredith soon found herself making a beeline for the carriage.

Derek sat across from her, looking her over with an amused smile on his face. “What are you wearing?”

“My gown.”

“What else are you wearing? Obviously, it’s not your chemise.” He looked down at her breasts.

She folded her arms across her chest, hiding her nipples from his prying eyes. “I’ll admit, it’s a bit thin, so I brought along a wrap.”

“The blanket from your bed?”

“Dual purpose,” she said bluntly.

“Meredith, what were you doing outside at such an hour?”

“One could ask the same of you!”

He smiled broadly. “Were you really worried that I’d left you?”

She jutted her chin. “Why wouldn’t I be? It wouldn’t be the first time you ran away after we were . . . intimate.”

His smile softened and his blue eyes crinkled at the corners, melting her. “I told you. I love you and I’m never leaving. You have to learn to trust me, Mere. Just as I will have to learn to trust you.”

“Why did you leave then?” she asked, looking out the carriage window. They were near the water now.

“I thought I’d step out before you woke and get some papers from the office. I’d hoped to return before you even noticed I was gone.”

“It couldn’t wait?”

He shook his head. “I didn’t want it to. It’s waited long enough already.”

The carriage stopped and Meredith started to get up. Derek put his arm out, gently stopping her from going any further. “Wait in here. No man will ever get to see my wife in this state except for me.”

She laughed, tickled by his flare of jealousy.

As he’d said, it only took a few minutes. He returned with a stack of papers secured with a leather strap.

“What are those?”

He gave her a lopsided grin. “I’m selling the majority of King’s Ransom Transports to my partners. I just need to sign these papers, then I’m free to go.”

“You mean, you’re not going to travel anymore?”

“Very, very rarely. And never without you.” He took her hands in his. “I was lost without you, so I did whatever I could to try and find a place to call home. And when that didn’t work, I chose to have no home. A stupid move on my part.”

“Pirate.”

“Procurer,” he corrected. “Besides, it was only ever a distraction. I was trying to get my mind off you.”

“Now where will we go? Back to Middlebury?” she asked.

“Not unless you want to . . .” He waited for her reply.

She shook her head. That had been their past—she wanted a future with a fresh start.

“Then I hope you’ll consider Scotland. I have a fairly nice home there. Land and plenty of ponds to swim in, my golden goddess.” He winked, a wicked gleam in his eye.

“Scotland sounds lovely,” she said. “Or is it
bonnie
?”

He chuckled. “Good. We leave as soon as you’re packed. Scotland it is, by way of Gretna Greene, of course.”

“I love you,” she said, laughing.

“I love you, too.”

Meredith leaned back on the bench and closed her eyes.

She had only ever lived in Middlebury, but it was Derek who’d been her home. The location had no bearing on where her heart was . . . because he’d had it all along. And she’d gladly give her ribbon to spend the rest of her life with him, anywhere.

Epilogue

Lady Alexandra smacked the desk with the gavel. “Ladies?
Ribbons
? Can I have your attention, please?”

The gaggle of girls in front of her looked to the front of the room at the statuesque blonde.

Ophelia’s heart was racing now.

She’d been waiting months for this moment. Tonight was her nomination to become a Ribbon. Of course, she wouldn’t be granted full Ribbon status straight away. She’d need to complete a series of tasks and tests before moving her ribbon from her right wrist, the location all new pledges wore their ribbons, to the left.

She took a calming breath. This time last year, she could have never envisioned herself in such a position. She’d always been so shy, and now she was sitting amongst London’s most elite young ladies to compete for membership in its most exclusive organization.

She’d experienced so much over the last year. Her good friend Meredith had been instrumental in her growth. She’d learned things,
she’d done things
, she didn’t dare think were possible. Meredith was gone now—run off to Gretna Greene with Derek, and living in Scotland at his manor. By all reports, the two were blissfully happy. And honestly, why wouldn’t they be? She’d never seen two people more in love, and blessed enough to be pregnant on top of it all.