Page 31 of Beauty and the Rake (Endless Love #1)

Deciding there was nothing further she could do, she crossed the room to the adjoining door.

Holding the handle, she attempted to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge.

It was locked. She knocked on the thick door, hoping to gain Graham’s attention, but got no response.

Surely, he must be wondering where she was or what was taking her so long.

There was only one other thing she could try and that was to go out in the hall and walk to his door.

She figured it would be unlocked. Opening her door, she stuck her head out in the corridor to make sure there was no one wandering around.

She bolted out of her room to his door. She tried the door, but it was locked and again he didn’t answer her knocks.

She concluded he must be taking a bath, so she went back to her room and began looking around for a key.

There had to be one near the door. There was nothing above the door and further detection led her to the writing desk.

Roxanne had noticed a small bowl perched to one side of the desk.

She looked into the blue bowl and at the bottom, a key waited.

She took it back to the door and inserted it in the lock.

The door swung open, and she walked through.

Graham was nowhere to be found until she walked to the bed and found him lying on his stomach, and naked as he was the day he was born, snoring.

She smiled, unsure what to do next. Quietly she walked through the two rooms before deciding that she too was tired.

There was certainly more than enough room on the bed for them both.

Perhaps a quick nap was what she needed as well.

Not wanting to wake him by moving the covers about, she removed her slippers and arranged herself on the bed near him.

The next thing she remembered was the feel of his hot breath on her neck as he kissed and nuzzled her.

If he was trying to awaken her, his efforts were working.

He lifted himself to his knees and quickly, with hands holding her tightly, moved her to the middle of the mattress.

He mounted her, bending her knees and then grasping her shins.

Never had she felt as exposed as he looked her over.

Cock in hand he sank into her. She was his, and he was letting her know she was not only his wife, but also his lover.

He pounded into her as hard as he could, taking her in deep, hard strokes.

Roxanne began to feel something inside, her body needing and wanting more as she succumbed to the intensity of the orgasm he gave her. He continued to thrust hard and deep before he shuddered into her the next few times. His cock jerked inside her as her inner muscles clutched him.

“That was incredible,” he said hoarsely as he rolled off of her and tucked her against his body.

His hands wandered. He could certainly turn it on and off at will. A gentleman one moment, a demanding lover the next. He took a nipple between his teeth and slowly bit down. The combination of teeth and his beard prickling her skin sent her to another realm.

He stared down at her, his dark hair falling forward.

He could be dangerous and dominant if he wanted to be.

He sucked at one of her nipples again until it was hard.

His mouth pulled away from her breasts and moved down her body.

When he reached his intended destination, he spread her legs wide as he dipped his mouth to her cunny.

That same feeling began to overcome her.

Rather than helping her finish whatever this was he’d started, he stopped and sat, his hard cock in his hand as he pulled it.

“Open your mouth. I want to teach you what pleases me.”

Eyes wide open, she stared but accepted him as he buried his cock deep in her mouth. He began to push then withdraw his cock in slow, precise movements. It was natural, a part of their essence. She found her tongue darting over his hardness.

When he withdrew, he laid her on her back and entered her.

This time she met him stroke for stroke as he drilled into her.

She finally trembled beneath him as her eyes widened.

Her back arched to take him deeper as he called out her name before his cock spilled his seed deep inside her.

She called out his name as she climaxed.

“Graham?” she finally said as she ran her hand across his chest.

“Yes?”

“Will it always be like this?”

He kissed the top of her head. “God, I hope so.”

“You know this is new to me. Casper never wanted anything to do with me once he learned I was with child, and he wasn’t a particularly caring lover.”

“I’ll try to remember that and be a little more conscientious for the immediate future.”

Remembering her gift for her husband, Roxanne smiled and wrapped a sheet around her. “I almost forgot… no, you made me forget. I have something for you. I just need to retrieve it from the countess’s rooms.”

“I’m intrigued,” he said, propping himself up on his elbow.

It was all Roxanne could do not to stare at his chest as she walked to the door separating the two rooms. His upper body was muscular, and he had a distinct patch of dark hair on his chest. She diverted her attention to something else, anything else, because she found herself wanting to return to the bed.

She breathed a little easier as she entered the living area in the countess’s suite.

She had wrapped the book a couple of days previously and placed it in a drawer for safekeeping.

Picking the volume up, she held it to her chest before retracing her tracks back to their shared bedchamber.

When she walked through the door, she found Graham nowhere to be found.

Placing the book on the bedside table, she removed the sheet she’d been using to cover herself and crawled onto the mattress.

She called out for Graham, not wanting to look for him. He may have needed some time for himself. “Graham? I’m back.”

Silence filled the room, but a moment later Graham appeared holding two glasses and a bottle of champagne.

“I thought we should celebrate.” He moved to a table by the window, set down the two glasses before uncorking the bottle.

He then filled the glasses and passed her one.

Interlocking their arms, they toasted to their new future and new life together.

Graham opened a drawer and withdrew a box. He turned and carried it to his bride, placing it in her hands, saying nothing.

Roxanne, in turn, placed the wrapped book in her husband’s hands.

Sitting on the bed still, she carefully opened the box.

She gasped as inside lay the most exquisite sapphire and diamond necklace.

In a separate box she found not only a matching bracelet but earrings and a brooch. She was at a loss for words.

“I don’t know what to say, Graham. These are magnificent. I will treasure them always.”

“I’m glad you like them. They belonged to my mother, and before that they had been my grandmother’s. My father’s mother. As my bride and countess, it’s only right that you wear them.”

“Thank you. I will cherish them always. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen such a deep shade of blue.”

“I know. My mother would have adored you, so it’s only fitting you enjoy them as much as she did.”

They shared a kiss before he ripped the paper off the book like a child would do.

He stopped once he realized what he was holding.

“Shakespeare. It’s in pristine condition.

” He opened the book and saw it was a first edition.

“A first edition? Do you know how difficult it is to find a first edition, not to mention one in such amazing condition? I will cherish it always.”

Taking the necklace from its box, Roxanne held it to her throat for an idea of what it would look like.

It was exquisite, something she would never have expected.

The cut and clarity of the diamonds and sapphires were amazing.

She looked up from the mirror and saw Graham watching her.

He was now behind her and picked up the bracelet, putting it on her wrist. That was followed by him securing the necklace so she could get a real idea of how breathtakingly beautiful both pieces really were. “I will treasure them always.”

“Only the best for my bride,” he said.

“What shall we do tomorrow?”

“Anything or anywhere your heart desires, though I must say I’m a bit hurt you don’t want to spend all our time in bed making love.”

“You’ll get over it,” she quipped.

“Now I’m really hurt,” he pouted, thrusting out his lower lip for maximum effect.

“We could go on a picnic in the gardens.”

“The gardens? You don’t want to go to one of the parks or drive a ways out of town? Or did you have the gardens in mind for maximum privacy?” He waggled his eyebrows and grinned.

She uncharacteristically snorted at his remarks. “This is supposed to be time just for us. There’ll be plenty of opportunities in the future. Let’s enjoy each other’s company because I don’t want to share you with anyone.”

“I agree. I was afraid you might get bored if we stayed here.”

“I could never get bored if you’re with me. You believe in living life to the fullest. That’s one of the things I love about you.”

“That’s all?” he mocked.

“Well, I do love your spontaneity. It’s rare in a man.”

It was true. Graham did have some unique characteristics.

He loved to do things on the spur of the moment, finding it unnecessary to always plan things out.

And while a good majority of men thought women didn’t have a head for anything outside of the household and should stay there, Graham treated her as though she were an equal.

At least life with Graham wasn’t going to be boring.

“I suppose the spontaneity is left over from my days as a rake,” he said with a devilish gleam in his eyes.

“So you admit to it!”

He chuckled. “Admit to what?”

“That you were a rake.”

“All men are rakes, in one form or fashion. Most, though, grow out of it.”

“So you say,” she said.

“Yes, in fact, we should do something that’ll throw people off balance.”

“Such as?”

“Let me give it some thought.”

Roxanne began removing the jewelry and carefully putting it back in the boxes when Graham started smiling.

“I know what we can do! We can go to the park and take Mary for a walk in her pram.”

“That’ll sure get people gossiping,” she replied.

“Well? Shall we do it?”

“Yes!”

He had a smug grin on his face. He loved her willingness to try things ordinary women would never try because it was something society might disapprove of.

A soft knock on the door redirected their attention. Graham stood and neared the door when Roxanne called out to him.

“You are going to cover yourself, aren’t you? You’re not going to answer the door naked?”

“Why not? No one should be there. I instructed our meals be left at the door, that I would take care of the rest.”

She shook her head and took a deep breath, afraid she might burst out laughing. “Someone might be in the shadows, thinking you’ll answer the door with no clothes.”

“If it’s a show they want, it’s a show they’ll get,” he said. He had a devilish grin pasted on his face. Being bold obviously was left over from his earlier days after university.

Roxanne stood and, with a sheet around her, walked into the bed chamber so if there was someone at the door, they wouldn’t get an eyeful. She strained to see if there was someone present, but all she heard was Graham mumbling to himself and the door shutting.

“You can come out. Dinner has arrived.”

She came out of her hiding spot and reentered the room. He was standing over a tray he’d just placed on a small round mahogany table.

“That smells heavenly,” she said. She walked to the table where Graham handed her a plate.

“Cook’s rosemary chicken. It’s one of my favorites.”

“Apples, pears, cheese, bread, wine. Everything we need.”

Graham picked up the bottle of wine and two glasses. “I’ll pour us some wine while you lay everything out.”

“We could eat at that small table,” she said, referring to another small table; this one was in front of windows and overlooked the small and functional gardens.

“Whatever you want is fine by me.”

He joined her and placed two glasses on the table and began to pour the dark red liquid in each. Roxanne placed a plate in front of both chairs and sat. The two of them were famished, having not eaten since the wedding breakfast. Roxanne had been so nervous she barely ate.

“I think the wedding was very nice, don’t you? I’m so glad we had it outside,” Roxanne said.

“Yes, I must agree.”

She picked up a piece of apple Graham had sliced with his knife and bit into it. “I’ve been meaning to ask how your investigation of the man who owns those ships is coming along.”

“Slowly. The man seems to be a chameleon. He can blend into any situation. Trying to find someone he’s actually done business with is proving a daunting task.”

“Well, if I know anything about you and Arthur, you’re both persistent.”