Page 44 of The Earl That Got Away (Sirens in Silk #2)

“This is scandalous,” she said as he closed the door. “Are you trying to ruin me?”

“Too late for that,” he quipped. “Although I would not mind ruining you again and again.”

“If the boatkeeper tells anyone that I was here with you, my reputation will be ruined. People will avoid my salons.”

“I know the boatkeeper. And I will pay him handsomely for his discretion. If he values his position, he won’t say anything to anyone.”

Her cheeks flushed even more. “How dare you believe that I would get engaged to Kareem? He is just a friend.”

“What the devil took you so long to respond to my letter?”

“Auntie Majida held on to it for a couple of days. She only gave it to me this afternoon.”

“You won’t let her come between us again.” It was a statement. Not a question.

“Never.” Her dark eyes blazed. “I don’t care how that impacts my reputation or my matchmaking enterprise. I want you and I intend to have you.”

His eyes flashed. He took a step toward her. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say that.”

She set her hand flat against his chest, stopping his advance. “Now, you tell me what your excuse is for believing I would agree to marry another man the day after we... you know... in the boathouse.”

“I was told by Charles that you were betrothed. That the architect visited you at Strickland House to declare his undying love.”

She shook her head. “You do know that I am not the only Miss Darwish currently staying at the ducal residence.”

“Are you saying... ?” Hawk felt like a fool. “The architect is marrying Miss Hind?”

“Yes, you idiot!”

“How did that come about? All this time, I thought the man was pining for you.”

“We have always been friends, nothing more,” she explained. “Hind and Kareem developed feelings for each other during Hind’s convalescence at Briar Hall.”

“Hmm.” Hawk was floating on air. “He did visit every day.”

“And it never occurred to you that he did so because he was interested in Hind?” she asked. “I believe Hind is the reason he stayed behind and didn’t come to London with the rest of us.”

“I am an idiot.” He advanced on her, pushing her up against the door with his body. This time she allowed it. “A very happy idiot.” He bent down to kiss her even though he was in desperate need of a bath. She kissed him back with equal parts irritation and passion.

He broke the kiss. “Charles said that Kareem came to Strickland House and specifically asked to speak with you in private.”

Her hair was slightly askew and she was breathless from his kiss. He resolved right then to keep Naila as breathless as possible as often as possible. He pressed his open mouth against hers, tangling his tongue with hers.

After an arousing clash of lips and tongue, she turned her head to the side so she could speak. “After he talked with Hind, he came to ask to speak with me.”

“Why?”

“On account of our friendship, he and Hind wanted to tell me first before informing the rest of the family.”

“That was thoughtful of them.” He cupped her breast and her breath caught. “It saves me the trouble of calling him out.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” She brushed a hand against the hard ridge of his prick. “Does anyone still duel?”

Hawk sucked in a breath. He liked it when Naila took what she wanted. “I would absolutely resurrect the practice if required.”

She rubbed more insistently against his prick. “Or you could just believe in me.”

“Oh, I believe in you.” He started to hitch up her skirt. “More than you know.”

She adjusted her stance, widening her legs to better his access. “What are you doing?”

“Do I really have to explain it to you?” His seeking fingers found her sweet moist pussy. “Or should I just show you?”

She hitched up one leg and he took firm hold of it, giving himself license to touch her more liberally. “Showing me... will... be sufficient,” she gasped.

“Good.” He slid a finger inside her.

“Oh!” she panted.

He added a second finger. “You could be carrying my child right now. We weren’t careful.”

She moved against his fingers, her plush lips open, her eyes locked on his. “We didn’t need to be.”

“Does this mean that you accept my proposal?”

She hesitated. His fingers stilled.

“Don’t stop,” she protested.

“Answer my question,” he demanded.

“Keep going and I will.”

He resumed his exploration, feeling the tightness of her sheath, relishing how she was practically dripping for him. “Well?”

She moaned with pleasure. And he couldn’t stop himself from bringing her off. He sped up the movement of his fingers, thumbing her clit the way he knew she liked. It didn’t take long before she tensed and cried out. He covered her mouth with his, swallowing her orgasm, kissing her hard and rough.

“Oh my,” she said when her body was so relaxed he thought she might slide to the ground.

“Now answer the question.” He held her up. “Do you accept my proposal?”

Her lazy satisfied smile made his aching prick jerk. “Should we take care of you?” she asked, brushing the back of her hand against the placket of his trousers.

“Later.” He stilled her exploration, not wanting to come against her hand. “Answer the question.”

“Well,” she said, yawning and stretching, “accepting your proposal will ruin my plans.”

“What plans are those?” he growled.

“I came here to propose to you . It seemed only fair, considering that you had to ask the last time.”

He smiled. “I should turn you down. Turnabout is fair play.”

She pretended to pout. “I could always see if Kareem would agree to marry me instead of Hind.”

“Don’t you dare,” he snarled.

“Well,” she asked. “What do you say? Will you marry me?”

“Hell yes!” He scooped her up in his arms and set her on the table.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

He undid his trousers, taking his aching prick into his hand. “We’re going to take care of me now.”

She lay back, spreading her legs. “Mmm,” she said. “I cannot think of a better way to celebrate our engagement.”

He pushed into her, seating himself as deeply as he’d ever seated himself in any woman. “Neither can I.”

“I suppose this means we are definitely getting married.”

“Until death parts us.”

“No.” She shook her head. “That’s not good enough.”

“It isn’t?” He stroked into her. “What is?”

“In Arabic we say, fil dunya wal akhra .”

“And the translation?”

“It means in this world. And the next.”

“I had no idea that Arabic is so poetic.” He kissed her gently. “Exactly so, my love. May we be together always—in this world and the next.”