Page 23 of The Lyon’s Last Gamble (The Lyon’s Den Connected World #80)

Four weeks later

C hristopher had just settled in the back garden with a cup of tea and the day’s paper when a ruckus sounded. He turned toward the house gingerly. His ribs were still sore and he found when he moved too quickly, it felt like he was taking a dagger to the abdomen.

“What is all the commotion?”

Whitney shrugged innocently. “I haven’t the faintest idea. I should go check.”

She stood to go back inside and he grabbed her hand, pulling her towards him. “Ye, my wife, are a horrible liar. What’s happening?”

Worrying her bottom lip, her cheeks flushed. “I’ve arranged something. I hope you are not mad.”

He lifted her fingers to his lips, kissing each tip. “I could ne’er be angry with ye, love.” And he meant what he said. She was the kindest, caring women he had ever kenned. The way she’d taken such great care of him these past weeks. Nursing him back to health. Taking care of his every need. Overseeing Colthrop Hall. She’d even done some decorating, which he thought made the estate more personal.

Gideon appeared on the terrace, and behind him, was that Alexander?

His eyes shot to Whitney, who looked pale, and he quickly tried to make her feel better. “Ye brought my brother here?” He ran his fingers over her arm.

“Are you angry?”

“Nay, lass, no’ at all.” He moved to stand, but Alexander rushed over.

“Brother, dinna exert yourself. Stay sitting.”

Whitney dropped into a curtsy. “Your grace,” she addressed Alexander.

“Ye must be Whitney? The lovely woman who has made by brother a changed man.” He took her hand and pulled her to her feet, wrapping her in a hug. “Ye needna curtsy to me, lass. We are family and ’tis lovely to meet ye.”

“Likewise.”

Christopher had never seen his wife so quiet.

“Ye look like hell, brother.”

“Ye should see the other man,” he quipped with a smile. “I hadna any inkling ye were coming. I would have made sure to be prepared.”

It had been a long time since he’d seen his brother. When he’d left, they hadn’t parted on good terms, and he was sorry for that.

“Your wife has been more than kind in inviting Clarissa and I to London.” He turned back to Whitney. “I believe Clarissa is making small talk with Patricia if ye’d like to introduce yourself. I am certain she’ll be thrilled to have ye as a sister-in-law.”

“I would love to meet her. Thank you. Do you need anything?” She caressed Christopher’s arm, and he sighed.

He truly was the luckiest man alive. “I’ve all I need now, love.” He squeezed her hand. “Thank ye. I mean it.”

Her cheeks reddened. “I’d do anything for you.”

He crooked his finger, signaling for her to come closer. “I’ll take ye up on that offer later, love.”

She gasped and scurried away.

“She seems like a lovely lass. Ye did good, brother.”

“She’s been verra good to me. She keeps me grounded and on the right path.”

Alexander chuckled. “What happened here?” He waved his hand at the fading bruises and the cane leaning up against his chair that he used to help him walk.

“That last gamble was a wild one. A story for another day. I’m glad ye are here. There’s so much I want to apologize and make amends for. I caused so much trouble. I dinna ken how ye put up with me.”

“I’ve talked to ye for all of five minutes, and I can already see ye are a changed man, brother. I think I need to thank your wife as well.”

Christopher chuckled. “She’s an amazing woman. Without her I’d be dead in a gutter somewhere. And that’s no’ an exaggeration.

“’Tis good to see ye. We have much to catch up on.”

“I look forward to the conversation. Whisky?”

Alexander smiled. “I thought ye’d ne’er ask.”

Later that night, after mending he and Alexander’s relationship, thanks to the actions of his wife, he settled into bed, Whitney tucked into his side.

“Have I told ye how amazing a woman ye are, love?”

She cocked her head to the side, squinting as she pretended to ponder his question. “Ye may have mentioned it a time or two.” She lifted on her elbow, caressing his cheek. “Are you angry with me?”

“I could ne’er.” He shook his head. “I am glad that you got Alexander and Clarissa down here to London. We had many things to discuss and I had a lot of apologizing to do. It was long overdue.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Now, about how ye’d do anything for me?” He waggled his eyebrows and laughed at the wicked glint in her eyes.

“Whatever is it that you could want?” She shifted so she straddled his hips and smiled as she felt his hardness.

Closing her hand around him, she maneuvered his cock to her entrance, before sliding down the length of him in one swift movement, gasping as he felt her stretch around him.

He bit his lip with a groan, reveling at the feel of her. “I love ye, lass.” He thrust his hips, ignoring the pain in his ribs.

She gasped. “I love ye, too. Thank ye for taking a gamble on me.”

“’Twas my pleasure.”

As they worked toward their climax, he couldn’t imagine the direction his life would have taken had he not visited the Lyon’s Den that fateful night.

And when Whitney came, crying out his name, he kenned they were exactly where they were supposed to be—in each other’s arms.