Page 39 of Greed: The Savage (Seven Deadly Sins #7)

His vow breathed joy and hope into every corner of her body, and Addien hung on each word, letting them wash over her. “It wasn’t until I’d come back from my assignment today and discovered you’d gone”—Malric sent a hand slashing through the air—“to this place that I realized…I love you.”

There it was. The words she’d longed for but forever denied to herself. She’d yearned to be loved. Not just loved. Respected. Admired. Coveted. She’d wanted it so greatly, she’d not even let herself imagine a future with any man who offered her those gifts. “You love me?” she whispered.

The slight Adam’s apple in Malric’s throat moved up and down. “I do, Addien,” he said, his voice graveled with emotion. “I love you with all I am.”

“Come with me, Addien. I am not asking. I am not telling you.” He held her eyes, and there was some new message contained within.

“And if you do, I understand there will be events to come that might make you think I came for reasons other than out of my undying love for you. I’m begging you to go with me away from here. ”

She knew what he was saying without his saying it aloud for the duke’s ears.

The murder on Bond Street had been gossiped about amongst the Forbidden Pleasures’ staff she’d met throughout the day; they’d unknowingly dropped enough details for Addien to know—Diggory was back.

“I understand, Malric,” she murmured.

They held one another’s stares in an unspoken exchange where she confirmed to him she did in fact know what he was saying.

“If you choose a life with me, Addien, just say the word and I will take you to a place you deserve to be, one far better than this arse end of England.”

The familiarity of those words stilled Addien.

No. Surely he didn’t recall…

But she knew…

“I’ll bring you to parts of the kingdom, Addien, where the hills are made not of pavement but grass. Not the tiny, weedy, brown tufts by the docks and waste grounds, but real green-like…” Malric enticed, not with his words, but that he’d remembered them at all.

No, not at all. Completely.

Oh, God.

“You asked if I’ve got places like that, my love, and I do. Just like the ones in the painting I’m certain Argyll had put there because he—”

“I didn’t tell him!” Addien rasped. It was important he know that. “Oi didn’t ever share that part of my story with anyone but you. And it isn’t one I’ll share with anyone.” She moved between cockney and the King’s English.

“He no doubt observed you admiring it.”

Argyll gave his free hand not holding a drink a little waggle. “Guilty.”

What a remarkable read he had of people and situations. His work at the Home Office had served him well.

Malric touched a fist to his chest. “I blundered badly this morning. I am making another attempt.”

Her heart pounded.

“I want to give you everything, Addien,” he said thickly. “My heart. My soul. My body. Everything I am is yours. It belongs to you. Marry me, please. I beg you to be the one to remain at my side. I implore you to love me even half as much as I love you.”

A sob burst from Addien’s lips. Flying across the room, she leapt into Malric’s waiting arms, where he folded her in his secure embrace. “I l-love you,” she wept against his shoulder as he rocked her in his arms.

“Ah, God, Addien,” he rasped. Malric held Addien so tight; she clung to him even more tightly.

“You know me in ways I never knew myself, love. You’ve made me better and able to see everything with such damned clarity.

What is real. What matters. It is you. You are my reason for being.

” He placed a hard kiss against her temple. “I love you so bloody much, Addien.”

She wept into his shoulder. “I love you.”

Their mouths came together in a kiss that tasted of forever.

Breaking apart, Malric touched his brow once more to Addien’s. His breathing came fast. “It does occur to me, love, though you’ve made me the happiest of men by professing your love. It’d make me exponentially happier if you for once just said ‘yes’ to my—”

“Yes!” Laughing and crying together, Addien hugged him. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”

He smiled a secret, heated smile just for her.

“Splendid. Now, are you two finished in here?”

They looked over at Argyll; amusement sparkled in his eyes.

“We are,” Malric growled the other nobleman’s way. When Malric addressed Addien, it was tenderness most pure. “Let us go, love.”

At her husband-to-be’s impatience, she favored him with a reproachful look. “He offered me employment and wasn’t as beastly as I’d believed he would be.”

The duke preened. “Why, thank you, Miss Killoran.”

“He intended to seduce you, Addien,” Malric snapped. “My patience with the bastard only goes so far.” His gaze darkened. “Now, we really must leave, Addien.”

Mac Diggory was back.

As Malric took her by the hand and escorted her to the doorway, Addien considered the impending showdown coming to London.

The beast had roused terror in her heart since she’d been a girl. He’d hurt her. He’d shamed her. He’d robbed her of sleep, peace, and a life without fear.

But this time, with his return from the grave, Addien, for the first time in her life, was no longer alone.

She had Malric.

She didn’t know fear.

Love had a way of leaving one stronger.

Malric paused at the entryway.

Addien gave him a quizzical look.

“I have no grievances with you, Argyll,” Malric said coolly.

“Well, that is deeply reassuring,” the duke drawled.

“If anyone,” Malric continued, “my own brother included, did anything to jeopardize the woman I love…” Her own tripled in size. “I’d cut him down myself, and I’d do so viciously and happily.”

Surprise sparked in Argyll’s eyes. The discomposed gentleman cleared his throat. “I did not expect that.”

Malric held the other man’s eyes. “There is a lot you are not expecting. If I were in your employ, I’d put more attention to events on the streets and not games involving the women of other men.”

An undercurrent passed between them.

Addien sensed the moment the Duke of Argyll understood the unspoken message being conveyed. Would he gather it was Diggory?

Whether he had didn’t factor. Malric had extended him warning enough.

Then, with Argyll grinning wistfully at them, Addien and Malric left the Forbidden Pleasures hand in hand, and for the next great part of life’s adventure together.

The End