Make Me Love You (43 page)

“No, to keep from being disowned. I could imagine the terror of that. And I actually experienced it m’self last year.”

“Then warn him if you must, but Dominic has sworn he won’t try to kill him. Ella doesn’t want that. But I’m pretty sure he’s going to get disowned anyway, once Dominic visits Benton’s father as well as the girl’s parents, and that he
will
do before the wedding. So Benton Seamons won’t get the heiress in either case. It’s time to bow out, Robert, before you get caught up in a duke’s wrath instead.”

“It feels like a betrayal to do nothing.”

She was surprised enough to remark, “I never thought I would say this, but you’re proving yourself a worthy friend, Robert.” She would have added
in a callous way,
since people did get hurt by his definition of friendship, but this was her wedding day, so she didn’t need to be that blunt. “You’ll find some new friends worthy to be yours. You know, we could have been friends like they are.” She nodded behind her at Dominic and his sister. “I’m sorry it never happened for us.”

She should probably have left that unsaid as well, she realized, when she saw him wince. But then he said, “Jealousy is a monstrous thing when you’re too young to know what it is.”

She caught sight of her mother joining Dominic and Ella. Everyone was so happy today—except Robert, and probably Thomas. While Brooke finally had the relationship she’d always wanted with her mother, and she finally had the family she’d always wanted with the Wolfes, she was still reminded by Robert’s words that for too many years she didn’t have either. Because of his childhood jealousy, his selfishness, his arrogance . . . she forced herself to stop there.

She knew he was about to apologize for that, but she just wasn’t ready to hear it. So she nodded and walked away before he said the words that would make her cry or snarl or—she didn’t know what would happen. Maybe someday she’d let them find out. . . .

B
ROOKE WAS LAUGHING WHEN
they fell on the bed together. The dogs only looked up briefly to see why, then lay back down in their favorite spot in front of the fireplace. Kissing, and making love, were nothing new to the two wolflike animals that were usually around to witness it. Wolf whined about it once, probably thinking Brooke was hurting his master when Dominic was heard to groan. But Storm nipped at Wolf for the noise and he never made it again.

The rest of the house was quiet, though they could hear Annabelle giggling with her mother in the distance. Dominic had started calling his niece, named in part for her grandmother, Bella instead, and the nickname stuck. Every time Brooke looked at or held the child, she was nearly moved to tears. Bella was so happy and so loved by everyone, the way a child should be raised.

Eloise and Anna both came home with them to Rothdale after their wedding two months ago. Harriet had already visited three times, too. Brooke hadn’t wanted a wedding trip,
though she did go with Dominic to visit those parents that he’d intended to visit. She’d even thought ahead and brought salve with her just in case he got his knuckles a little bloody, which he did. Only Ella looked a little sad when Benton’s name got mentioned. Disowned, disgraced, and apparently without friends to turn to, he’d left the country, no one knew where. He never got to meet his daughter and probably never would now. “Just as well” was the general consensus. The man didn’t deserve the precious child he’d turned his back on.

But tonight Brooke had news for Dominic that she’d only just found out today. But when those feral eyes were so filled with passion and were looking down at her the way they were just then, she couldn’t think of anything else. Making love with this man was the highlight of every day for her. Sleeping curled against him each night was a close second. She loved him so much it could still make her cry in happiness sometimes.

Just now she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her lips. They were already naked. They slept like that every night. She hoped they still would when the weather turned cold, though she couldn’t imagine being cold pressed to him. . . .

He took his time. He didn’t always. Sometimes the passion just overcame them both. But when he took his time, he treated her like a sculpture he was creating, molding her with the gentlest of touches. It tended to drive her crazy. Maybe that’s why he did it, to hear her moans and cries and demands. She was pretty good at demanding these days, to have him inside her, to feel him so deep. Or maybe it was because she would retaliate the next time and drive him crazy with her hands. They both expected it. Neither was ever disappointed. But laughing tonight, she pushed him over and climbed on top
of him to control the pace. Maybe she didn’t always do what he expected. . . .

Utterly out of breath a while later, utterly replete and in her favorite place curled against him, she remembered. “By the by, we’re having a baby.”

“Of course we will.” He hugged her a little closer. “Lots of them if you want. Didn’t I once promise you that?”

“No, I mean, we’re already having one. That night in the highwaymen’s camp . . .”

He laughed. “You virgins have the worst luck—or the best in this case.”

“I quite agree, though I’m not looking forward to the next few months of sickness that come with it, which will be starting any day now.”

“I’m sure your witchy maid will have something to ease that for you.”

She leaned up to grin at him. “She teased me with no promises, but I’m hoping so.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

She laughed, remembering Alfreda cornering her today to demand the same thing. Alfreda had wanted to know why Brooke wasn’t crowing about it when Freda had known about it a month ago.

So surprised, Brooke had replied, “Then why didn’t you tell
me
sooner?”

The maid had huffed, “When do I ever get to see you without him by your side anymore?”

Brooke had laughed. “Well, that’s true.”

“And I expected you to make an announcement about it last month. Did you really not know?”

Brooke gave him the same answer she’d given Alfreda today. “I’ve been too happy to notice.”

Rebel was with foal, too, which had thrilled Brooke when she’d been told. And Storm was also having babies. They’d only just figured that out yesterday. She’d gone off to find her mate somewhere in the wilds, had been gone for a few weeks. They’d searched extensively for her. Wolf had cried and whined for her every day. Then she’d come home a few days ago, scruffy, a little thin, and a little tender. But just then, with both animals on the floor nearby, a howl was heard out on the moors.

Brooke sat up just as both dogs did. “I really hope she hasn’t brought her pack home with her.”

Dominic chuckled and pulled Brooke back down to him. “
That
would be a problem. It’s probably just her mate saying good-bye—until the next time. It’s rumored they mate for life, you know. In that, maybe I do have a little wolf blood in me.”

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