Page 27 of Wallflower Gone Wild
Shame filled him at how naïve and desperate he’d been. He hadn’t even liked Cedemoor, but the other man had attended Eton with Mac’s eldest brother, Rafe.
“Yes. The print shop was failing, rent was astronomical, and my eldest brother refused to give me the funds. Cedemoor’s offer was simple: get to know his sister and compromise her. I didn’t think it would take much more than simply being caught alone together. However, being with you was more than I’d ever hoped or dreamed.” He sat in the armchair across from her, struggling to keep his distance. “I was a fool to agree to his offer, and I realized it the moment I saw you.”
“But you did agree. When did you inform my brother that you wouldn’t compromise me?” She folder her arms, her voice shaking with anger.
Mac deserved her anger, and he would gladly take it for the rest of his life as long as the end result was her forgiveness.
“I left Norfolk and thought that if I didn’t contact him, the matter would be closed, but he paid me a visit the day after Richmore’s ball. I told him then that I had feelings for you and that I would not be a part of his plan.” Mac rose from his chair, moving toward her. Bending, he took her by the hand. “I love you Letty, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Cedemoor’s scheme.”
She stood, leaving him kneeling on the floor. Mac rose, wanting to chase her across the room and fall to his knees, but he was frozen in place, his heart inundated with hope.
“Am I supposed to just forgive you?” she asked, standing in front of the small window. “Act like it never happened, like you didn’t break my heart into a thousand pieces?” She pressed her balled fist to the center of her chest. “Is that what you’re expecting by bringing me here?”
“No.” he strolled over to stand in front of her. “I expect you to make me pay for the rest of our lives for even believing for a moment that I could’ve done anything to hurt you.” He wrapped a hand around her waist, dragging her to him. “I expect you to make me beg every night for your forgiveness.” He cupped her cheek, his heart pounding as loud as cannon fire in his ears. “And if in twenty years, you still doubt that I have loved you from the moment I saw you, then you have my permission to rip my fucking heart out and keep it as your own.”
Tears fell from her eyes, and he held his breath, hoping and praying that the beautiful temptress in front of him would forgive him and make him whole again. He was lost without her, his Letty, his love.
“If you ever lie to me again or do anything to vex me.” A smile played at the corner of her lips. “I promise you Mac Meriweather, I will gladly rip your heart out.” She took hold of his lapels, pulling him to her.
Her words filled him with unspeakable joy and relief. He pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss before pulling back to stare in her eyes. “Sweetheart, if I do anything, you have my full permission to punish me in any way you see fit. I love you, Letty. I was a fool to care about my business more than my happiness, and now I know the one person that makes me happy in this entire miserable world is you.”
“Mac, you make me happy too, and I love you,” she said, pressing her hand to his whiskered cheek.
They were the sweetest words he’d ever heard in his life, and he wanted to hear them forever and ever from her lips. Mac kissed her palm, her wrist, and down her arm, happiness pulsing through his veins as she laughed at his antics.
His lips found hers again, this kiss hungrier than the last as they clung to each other like their very lives depended on that one connection. Her fingers dragged through his hair, as his lips trailed to her neck. Pressing his hard length against her, Mac forced himself to pull away from her tempting form.
“I better return you to your father before it’s too late?—”
“No, I want to stay with you,” she whispered standing on her toes to tease his lips. “We are getting married after all, aren’t we?”
“God yes,” He lifted her in his arms, walking toward his bedchamber. “As soon as humanly possible.”
Once inside the sparsely decorated bedchamber, he set her down on her feet, his lips unable to part from hers for more than seconds at a time. Letty removed his coat before making quick work of his waistcoat, her eagerness spurring Mac into action.
Slowly turning her around, Mac kissed the shell of her ear as he unbuttoned the back of her gown. His tongue trailed down her exposed back, her smooth skin awakening a hunger in him.
“You were being very wicked wearing this dress, Lady Leticia,” he said as the last button was freed and the dress loosened on her curvy form.
“I wanted something scandalous. I just wasn’t prepared for the amount of attention I would receive.”
The dress fell to her feet, revealing her lack of underclothes. Mac stared at the temptress in front of him, dressed in nothing but a thin chemise and stays that had her delectable breast spilling out.
“Whose attention?” he asked turning her back around to face him.
If any one of those degenerates at Pleasure House had done anything to her, he would make them pay.
“Don’t worry, I was saved by two gallant ladies—Madam Delcour and the Duchess of Richmore.” Letty stepped out of her gown as she began unlacing the front of her stays.
Mac couldn’t help the smile at two ladies saving his love. He had met Madam Delcour on several occasions, and he knew the formidable woman would not allow any harm to come to anyone attending one of her famous events.
Letty placed her stays on the chaise lounge in his chamber while Mac picked up her discarded gown.
“Perhaps you should wear this on our wedding day,” he said, placing the gown down beside her discarded stays.
“Mac!” She hit his chest playfully, and he took her hand, pressing her to him.
If this was going to be the rest of his life, he was going to be blissfully happy. Nothing else mattered, but the woman in his arms.