The Desperate Love of a Lord by Jane Lark Read Free Book Online Page B

to fear what others think.”
    She nodded, a nod which expressed conviction and a desire to do battle for their son, or daughter. His hand pressed to her stomach again as he kissed her once more, embracing their child as he embraced her too. “Vi.” Her name was an echo of need slipping from his lips into her mouth. “Let’s go up to bed.”
    She laughed.
    He smiled.
    “Geoffrey Sparks, you are a rogue.”
    “A rogue who thinks we ought to consummate our engagement.”
    She tipped her head to one side and then shook it. He thought she was saying no but then she smiled in that swift sudden look of appreciation which was all her . Her eyes burned just as he’d remembered them doing the very first night she’d walked up to him.

    “You are irresistible, Geoff.” She laughed again, then kissed him.
    This was a slow kiss, one of longing and love. He wished to reiterate that things had changed between them. He pulled away, lifting his eyebrows. “I love you, Violet. This is nothing more or less than that, the need a man has to show a woman he loves her.” She smiled and tears brimmed in her eyes as they widened. “And just to make this very clear, I am always going to love you. I am never going to look elsewhere. We will be a pair from now on. I will always expect you to warm my bed, even if it is only to sleep.”
    Her smile lifted higher. He could see she recognised this was him taking the reins she’d always held. “I’ll not play master to you. We’ll be a partnership.”
    Her smile suddenly tilted and shone in her eyes, then she said, “I’ll let you,” before pulling his mouth back to hers.
    He laughed, the moment before his lips touched hers.
    They went upstairs as they had gone upstairs the first night, with her leading him by the hand. Then in her small humble room, which bore nothing of Violet’s nature, she stripped off his neckcloth as he began undoing the buttons at her back, and then she pushed his morning coat from his shoulders and his arms.
    When he exposed skin he worshiped it, with his fingers, tongue and lips. It had not been that long since they’d last done this, yet it felt so different. She loved him, he knew that now.
    She said, “I do love you, Geoff,” as he stripped off his shirt, as if she thought the same. “I have for weeks,” she continued, when his shirt fell on the floor. “I have known it, but been afraid of it. I thought it would grip you with horror.”
    He laughed as she raised her arms, then he lifted off her chemise. “Horrified, Violet?” His voice had lowered an octave or two, with need. “Look at you, why would I be horrified…”
    His gaze dropped to the outward curve of her stomach. The back of his fingers ran across it. The skin was stretched, and beneath there was no give, just a hard little bump. His child. Theirs. What a fool not to have noticed in London? Emotion welled inside him and his fingers trailed upwards as his gaze met hers.

    With an odd smile, as though she thought he might change his mind about taking her to bed, she unbuttoned his falls.
    He was in her hand, aching and throbbing with need as she touched him.
    He knew exactly why Violet had favoured him in the beginning, because of his looks, his size and his prowess in a bed. He smiled down at her as she looked down, her slender hand, now bearing his ring, ran upward, then her thumb brushed over his tip. His stomach muscles clasped, in a sudden sharp spasm of need.
    Bracing her face in both his hand, he lifted her gaze, then he kissed her, deeply, his tongue slipping into her mouth. When he broke it he whispered over her lips. “Do you wish to go on top? Would it be easier with the child?”
    She shook her head. “We only did this a few days back, Geoff, it is no different.”
    Her eyes shone with the emotion that churned inside him too. “And yet it is very different. Isn’t it, Vi?”
    Her breath came out on a sigh. “Yes.”
    In a moment they were on the short narrow bed. She with