Page 18 of The Villain’s Vixen (Wanton Wastrels)
CHAPTER 18
L exie stretched the next morning and inhaled the heavenly scent of eggs and bacon. If she had to hazard a guess, Dominic was cooking, although it might not be a full English breakfast. With the limited supplies he had at his disposal at this hideaway in the East End, she doubted that he had that sort of luxury currently at his disposal, but she was glad for anything that he might offer, because she had spent the night with him and that was all she could truly ask for.
She smiled and wiggled her toes, if just to ensure that she hadn’t passed away the night before from all of the pleasure Dominic had showered upon her. After a second round of lovemaking, he’d heated some water for a hip bath and by the time he assisted her with that, they had managed to tumble back into the bed for a third round.
Her body was definitely letting her know what had happened, and she loved every moment of it. Every twinge told her that she belonged to Dominic, every knowing glance he shot her way told her that he belonged to her. She was confident that their marriage would be a successful one. It wouldn’t be full of lies or deceit. They would enjoy companionship, desire, and although she knew it wouldn’t be perfect all the time, the tough days would make the good ones that much sweeter.
“Someone is happy this morning.”
She raised her arms above her head and smiled at Dominic as he carried a plate to the bed and sat it down beside her. “Breakfast in bed?” she asked with a teasing lift of her brow.
“I might be a scoundrel, or perhaps a villain to some, but when it comes to you, I am your humble servant.”
She laughed, finding it so easy to do with him.
She kept the coverlet about her breasts as she sat up and accepted the offering. “I’m impressed, Your Grace. You can cook.”
“I have learned to take care of all my own needs through the years as Avalon. It would certainly cause a bit of tongues to wag within the gang should I move about with a valet at my side.”
“Indeed,” she concurred. She took a bite of the fare and closed her eyes with a slight moan. “It’s delicious.”
He leaned forward and gave her a kiss. “So are you.”
She gasped in mock outrage. “Sir! You are entirely too bold with your tongue.”
He waggled his brows at her. “And you love it.”
She wrinkled her nose in return. “Yes. That I do.”
He kissed the tip and then moved away from her. The moment he did so, there was a knock at the cottage door. Immediately, he was on alert. “Stay here,” he ordered firmly.
“I can’t really go anywhere at the moment.” She gestured to her state of undress.
He frowned slightly, and then said, “We will rectify that issue momentarily.” He left her alone and went to answer the summons.
Lexie forgot about her tempting meal in favor of the sudden visitor. The hunger that had rumbled in her stomach fading with the concern that something was amiss.
However, when Dominic returned a short time later, there was no apprehension on his expression. “It was Amos’s son, Devon. He came to tell me that he is a new father of a baby daughter.”
Lexie’s lips curved in a broad smile. She had no idea who Devon was, but if he was anything like Amos, she knew that she would like him. “How wonderful! Did he call a name?”
“Annalise.” Dominic said nothing more and the look on his face seemed almost perplexed. “I never thought I would be envious of another’s happiness but I find myself in the position of wanting that sort of outcome for myself when I had never allowed such a possibility to cross my thoughts before.”
She loved that he was opening up to her like this. It gave her further hope that their marriage would not only survive but thrive. “You will make a wonderful father someday. I have no doubt of that.”
His mouth kicked up in the corner. “I believe you are right, because I have picked an exceptional woman to become a mother.”
Her breath caught, abruptly pulled into the strong emotions that his statement invoked.
Feeling that the air in the room had become thick with the words neither of them yet had the courage to express, Dominic cleared his throat. “Finish your breakfast and I will procure you something to wear.”
I love you. I love you.
I. Love. You.
Dear God, how difficult was it to say? Perhaps he could understand if he didn’t mean what he was expressing, but everything within him claimed that it was true. He loved Lexie with all of his heart and soul. And yet, he couldn’t manage to speak three little words that carried so much meaning. Was he scared to speak his heart’s desire? Surely maturity and the confidence in what he felt toward Lexie would push aside any lingering doubts that he’d endured thus far.
And yet…
The words wouldn’t form.
As he left the cottage intent on doing as he’d promised and secure some gowns for Lexie to wear, he decided that his hesitancy was due to the current danger he’d embroiled them in. Until the threat to his life was abolished, he couldn’t do anything further to secure his love for her. Unfortunately, time was running out. He had wanted to do right by Lexie and have the banns read properly and with no doubt as to the legitimacy of their promise to marry. However, now that they had shared a bed, and it was unlikely they would be able to make their claim in person at church as they’d planned, it seemed he would have to procure a special license to wed as soon as he was able to appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The thought wasn’t unappealing in the least. That just meant she would be his duchess sooner than originally anticipated. Thinking of her in his bed, stretching out along the sheets in all her glorious naked beauty made him eager to return to her side and perhaps spend this soggy day inside wrapped in each other’s arms.
The end of a knife abruptly pierced the side of his throat. “Where do ye think ye’re goin’, guvn’r?”
Dominic inwardly cursed his inattention. It was becoming more frequent. And more bothersome. Without turning toward his captor, he drawled, “I’m afraid I don’t?—”
“I know ye’re not who ye claim t’ be.” The other man spat on the ground at his feet. “I know th’ truth, Avalon. Or should I call ye, Yer Grace?”
Dominic instantly stilled. Was this the man who had been creating havoc in his life? If not, he was certainly working for the man responsible. Lifting his chin as much as the weapon would allow, he returned in his best ducal tone, “You seem to be well informed. I would have the name of your source.”
“Not so fast, guvn’r. I think I’ll lighten yer purse an’ then?—”
Taking advantage of his slight inattention, Dominic spun around and had the assailant pinned against the brick wall of a nearby building, the knife wrenched from his grasp and placed near the bottom of his scruffy chin. He looked as though he’d crawled out from the gutter, his clothes rumpled and dirty and the stench coming from him nearly made Dominic retch. “Now, I am going to tell you what is actually going to happen unless you want this blade to slide into the lower half of your jaw and make it impossible for you to threaten anyone ever again.” He narrowed his eyes and nicked the flesh enough that a trickle of blood slid down his throat. “Then again, that idea holds quite a bit of merit on its own.” When the man didn’t beg for his life or plea for his release, Dominic wondered if he was losing his power of intimidation. He allowed the tip of the blade to go a bit deeper, until the man winced in pain. “ Tell me who wants me dead or you will soon find yourself in the same state.”
This time, there was a flash of fear in the dull brown eyes that faced him, and Dominic realized that the reason for his delayed reaction was the glossy effects of opium. It dulled the senses and turned the most reputable men into scoundrels. He’d witnessed it too many times to count.
“I don’t know ’is name,” muttered the man.
“Perhaps not,” Dominic said smoothly. “But you do know how to contact him.”
Blinking, the man nodded.
“Then that is sufficient for me.” He pocketed the knife and grabbed the man by the collar. “Don’t try anything stupid.” He proceeded to drag the assailant behind him. Finally, he had the lead he’d been searching for. Sadly, this meant his daydream of spending time with Lexie would be delayed, but he vowed that once this nightmare had concluded, he would have plenty of lazy days to spend in her arms.
Lexie paced the length of the cottage several times over. She was forced to wear her ruined gown for lack of anything else, as Dominic had yet to return.
He’d departed hours earlier.
While she’d eaten a hearty breakfast earlier that morning, her stomach was churning, threatening to empty what might be left inside of it.
Something dreadful had happened. She was sure of it. Otherwise, he would have returned. Naturally, she feared the worst, that the assailant had managed to succeed where he’d failed before and Dominic was lying in a deserted alleyway somewhere breathing his last.
The image was terrifying and not something she wished to dwell on, but as time passed and he didn’t return, she couldn’t help but think the worst.
When there was an abrupt knock at the door, Lexie immediately rushed over, expecting to see Dominic standing there with blood covering him and barely clinging to life, but instead, it was Amos. His eyepatch hadn’t really bothered her before, but for some reason, it looked more ominous now. “Dominic…” She reached out and grasped the lapels of Amos’s jacket, barely able to breathe her lover’s name.
“He sent me to collect you.”
Relief flooded her but was quickly replaced with anger. Releasing Avalon’s trusted confidante, she accused, “I have been out of my mind with worry! He better have a good explanation for not being here on hands and knees.”
His mouth kicked up at the corner as he brought forth a brown wrapped parcel. “How about you put this on and you can ask him the reasons yourself.”
Lexie snatched the gift and opened it to reveal— “He expects me to wear this?”
Amos lifted a brow. “He said it was the price to pay for allowing you into Avalon’s inner sanctuary.”
She blinked. “You’re taking me to the Crown & Sceptre?” She never thought Dominic would allow her to step foot past the threshold. Whatever must have occurred must be very important indeed. Perhaps he’d finally discovered the identity of his assailant.
She suddenly forgot about the ridiculous gown she was about to don and quickly changed into the nun habit. Rather ironic, considering she wasn’t Catholic. But she would play along with Dominic’s rules for the game if it meant learning what had happened.
Amos was careful to survey the area beyond the cottage before he allowed her to follow him the few blocks to the popular East End pub. For a Saturday night, it was relatively busy inside, the noise almost deafening as Lexie followed respectfully behind her host, careful to keep her head down and portray the modesty of her costume.
While some of the din quieted to a dull murmur when she entered, it didn’t take long before the crowd erupted into cheers and whistles of approval. Apparently, they weren’t worried about their eternal souls if they were eager to welcome a fallen nun into their midst.
Moving past the merriment above, she glanced toward a set of stairs that led down and heard the unmistakable sounds of shouting coming from below. “What’s going on down there?” she whispered to Amos.
“Bare knuckle fighting.”
“Oh.” Lexie was curious despite herself. She’d heard of such events before but had never had the opportunity to witness such a violent sport. But since she was more interested in what had befallen Dominic, she said nothing more as Amos paused before an unmarked door.
He rapped sharply on the door, and it was opened in short order by a man who looked as though he’d had several bare knuckle matches in his day. The hard glint in his eyes was not very welcoming, but when his gaze flicked over her, he opened the door wider to allow her entrée.
She tentatively walked over the threshold and discovered that the room was filled with four more men similar to the one who had answered the summons. More interesting than that was the beaten man who was tied up in a chair, his head lolling on his shoulders as he tried to remain upright. If that wasn’t horrifying enough, Lexie’s glance slid to the man beyond the captive.
Dominic.
But no, that wasn’t right.
This was Avalon, the famed criminal of the fearsome London underworld. Which meant that the men surrounding him in silent reverence must belong to the Blue Boys gang.
For a moment, Lexie wasn’t sure if she was impressed—or some other sensation that she couldn’t quite name.
As Avalon turned around and pinned her with a blank expression, as if he hadn’t just made love to her so passionately earlier that morning, she decided that her first reaction was annoyance. However, since he had to play a part to continue this ruse, she clenched her fists at her sides and held her tongue.
“Ah, here is your redeeming angel, Mr. Dartmouth.” He waved her closer. “I realize it is the job of the priest to deliver the last rites, but since this is the best I could gain on such short notice, perhaps she can pray for your miserable, worthless soul.”
Lexie had no idea how to properly pray for someone who was about to meet the Lord, but surely something would come to her. It was regrettable she didn’t have any rosary beads, but she wasn’t sure the man would notice at this point .
She kept her focus carefully averted from Dominic as she approached the man in the chair. She knelt by his side and made the sign of the cross. “Dear Heavenly Father?—”
“Damn your eyes, Avalon!” he abruptly growled, blood-laced spittle flying from his lips and landing on her habit.
Lexie gasped, but before she could react, she was jerked aside and Avalon took her place. Setting his face directly in the other man’s sight, he snapped, “ Where . And perhaps once you kindly offer that information, I will ensure my Boys let you disappear from London. For good.”
Dominic had never hated Avalon more than he did in this moment. He had hoped to spare Lexie the dark truth of his past, but there was no help for it. Mr. Dartmouth had refused to speak without a priest present. While Dominic knew it was a ploy to bide some time in case the man he worked for decided that his life was worth sparing, he’d had no choice but to play along with the ruse. Thus, he’d sent Amos out to procure a nun’s habit and retrieve Lexie, the only woman he could trust to not expose all of his secrets.
He hadn’t missed the flash of recognition in her gaze, nor the anger and frustration that had followed. She didn’t approve of Avalon and he would be inclined to agree with her. While the Blue Boys weren’t as ruthless as they had been made to appear, their actions had to be brutal on occasion out of necessity to keep the peace. That didn’t make it right, but it was one of the things that had to be done.
He hoped he would be able to soothe Lexie’s frustrations, but for now, he had to concentrate on the matter at hand. He was so close to uncovering who intended him harm and he couldn’t allow that information to be ignored.
After a bit of blubbering and a few curses for good measure, the man lifted his head and glared out of the one eye that wasn’t swollen shut. “We meet every Wednesday mornin’ just before dawn at th’ bridge crossin’ over th’ Serpentine in Hyde Park.”
“What does he look like?” Dominic was done asking questions. Now they were demands if the man valued his life.
“’E’s a toff. Neat beard. Yellow hair. But a nasty disposition.”
Dominic searched his brain to see if that description met anyone of his acquaintance, but he was drawing a blank. Perhaps because his mind was racing with too many possibilities to light on one for too long.
Retrieving the knife that Mr. Dartmouth had initially used on him, he grabbed his arm and brought him to his feet. He shoved him in the direction of one of the Blue Boys. “Take care of this one.”
Without a word, the men of the gang removed themselves from the room with their captive in tow.
The moment they were gone and the door shut, leaving him along with Amos and his fiery nun, she wasted no time in demanding, “What are they going to do to him?”
Rather than reply directly, he wondered what sort of opinion she held of him. Allowing his lips to twitch, he asked, “Does it matter? The world would likely be a better place if he was no longer involved in it.”
“But that’s not for you, or anyone else, to decide,” she returned emphatically.
He considered allowing her to continue thinking the worst, but he already had the answer he’d been searching for. “No. He will be set free, but for society’s sake, it will appear as though his body washes up on the shores of the Thames so that he can start anew. Let’s just hope he makes the right choices this time.”
Some of Lexie’s fury abated, but he could tell their discussions were far from over. He glanced at Amos. “Might I have a word with the lady in private?”
Amos inclined his head. “Of course. I’ll just be at the bar should you need my… assistance.” With a brief clearing of his throat that seemed as though he was trying to withhold a chuckle, he took his leave.
Once Lexie was alone with Dominic, he started to speak, but she did so first. “It’s Lord Lindley.”
Dominic frowned. “What do you mean?”
Her expression changed from avenging angel to one of abject concern. She rubbed the sides of her covered arms. “The man in the park. It was the Earl of Lindley.”
He stilled. “Are you quite certain?”
She nodded her head. “The description suits him.”
“As it does most of the men in London.”
“I saw him one morning.”
At this, Dominic felt a shiver of disquiet settle over him. “Go on.”
“It wasn’t long after I’d made my way to London. I was walking along the same bridge he mentioned over the Serpentine. I glanced up and saw a man standing in the shadows and thought he looked rather menacing. It must have been Mr. Dartmouth.”
“And the earl?” he prompted when she hesitated.
“It was foggy that morning and difficult to see. He nearly ran me over with his horse. It was how we initially met.” She visibly shuddered.
Dominic scrubbed a hand down his face. “I would be lying if I said it didn’t make perfect sense. But I was so blinded by my jealousy of him trying to win you over that I missed the signs that were right in front of me.”
Her blue eyes were shining with moisture that he couldn’t discern when she glanced at him. “You were?”
“I was,” he admitted. Slowly moving closer to her, he added softly, “I nearly went out of my mind, consumed with thoughts of you night and day. I still am. ”
He was granted a slight upturn of her lips, and he breathed a sigh of relief. “I was worried about you today.”
He reached out to cup her cheek with his hand. “I am sorry about that. But Mr. Dartmouth caught me unaware as I’d left the cottage and I knew I couldn’t let him go until I had gained the information I needed from him.”
She nodded. “I understand that now, but—” She turned her head to the side and moved away slightly. Ice abruptly trailed in his veins and clenched over his heart. “Being here, seeing how real Avalon actually is—I’ve learned something.”
He swallowed hard over the lump clogging his throat. “Oh? And what is that?”
She reached up and slowly removed the hood of her habit, and then she slowly removed the rest of the covering until she was standing before him in nothing but that tempting, thin chemise. “I find it all rather… erotic.”
This abrupt turn clenched Dominic’s chest until he found it difficult to breathe.
She returned to him and lowered her hand, allowing it to trail across the front of his trousers. He was instantly aroused, his cock pulsing with interest.
Not until she started to remove the buttons and slipped her hand inside to tease him with her bare hand did he find something to grasp onto. Thankfully, his desk was nearby and he clutched the edge. No doubt his knuckles were already white because all the blood had drained from his body to pool in the vicinity of his manhood.
“I should like to suck the cock of such a powerful, domineering man.”
He wasn’t feeling very powerful in that moment, but neither did he care. “As my lady commands.”
As she dropped to her knees, he ground his teeth together, and when her lips surrounded his length and slid with perfection, he groaned.