The Captain of All Pleasures (Sutherland Brothers #1)(76)
Author: Kresley Cole

He saw her soften. Then her eyes became suspicious, and he could practically see her nimble mind putting everything together. “And you just happened to realize this right around the time Chancey came for me?”

Derek said nothing. He didn’t want to cause any grief for the man, but he wasn’t about to lie to her again.

She shook her head. “No wonder Chancey looked as though he needed to tell me something before they sailed,” she said to herself. “And he appeared so guilty all the way home.”

Derek remained silent.

Hesitantly, she asked, “What about the drinking?”

“I think in the back of my mind, I decided I was coming for you, even before I consciously realized it. I stopped drinking midway through the voyage back—I wanted to be a good man, a good husband for you. I haven’t had a drop since,” he said resolutely.

“Oh, Derek ” she breathed, and threw her arms around him.

“You know that you’re marrying me,” he said in what should have been a questioning tone, but he was confident, and it sounded more like a truth. When she leaned back and looked at him, he said, “I know you’ve got to feel it as much as I do, that this is right. Nicole, we are inevitable.”

Nicole knew it, too. When he said they would be married, it was as if a piece of a puzzle had just shifted into place.

He must have mistaken her silence, because he declared, “I will say this once—you don’t want to marry one of those lordlings. I cannot even begin to express the misery a bad union can make. You must believe me, because I’ve experienced it.”

She looked deeply into his eyes, so grave with warning. How much he must have suffered for the last few years! Could she trust him? He’d hurt her before. But when she looked into his eyes, she believed that he loved her, even though he’d never told her so. She was about to kiss him in assurance, when she recalled his dictatorial conduct this morning.

They were going to have to establish some rules.

She withdrew from him and assumed her best businesslike demeanor. In a brisk tone she announced, “I will warn you, I won’t be a conventional bride.”

His expression turned serious as well. “I won’t be a conventional husband.”

“I won’t abide your being unfaithful.”

“I won’t be unfaithful, and I won’t abide it in you, either.”

She gave him a quick that’s settled nod, then said, “I don’t want to live in England.”

He smiled thinly. “I must. Since I’m not letting you go, so shall you.” When she nibbled her lip, he said, “We can visit America as often as you like, but I believe you would like living at my estate, Whitestone. And your roots are here as well.”

She didn’t like his reasoning, but really, where else would they live? And it would be easier to help out her father and Maria from England.

“I don’t want to have a dozen children,” she announced with a tilt of her head. “Two would be nice, I think.”

He paused, then said, “Agreed for now. But I reserve the right to ask you again after we’ve had our first child.”

Our first child. Derek’s child. “Agreed.” This was too easy. “I want my father always to be welcome in our home, as well as Maria and Chancey.”

“Chancey and Maria will be—” Derek hedged.

“Sutherland ” she cut in warningly. God, but her father would kill her when he found out whom she’d married.

“He’ll be welcome.”

That was good enough for now, she supposed, and gave him a smile in conclusion.

A hungry look fired in his eyes. She read the desire in them just before he touched his lips to hers. She felt the desire in him when he slipped his tongue in to tease her to instant arousal, her breaths halting, her hands seeking. He smiled against her lips, and she pulled away. “What is it?”

“You, Nicole,” he said, running his hand over her hair and face, “are a treasure.”

She smiled, not knowing what prompted him to say that. His lips sought hers once more.

He tugged at the bodice of her gown to expose her br**sts. “What are you doing?” she murmured.

“I’m making love to you.”

She pulled back and frowned. “You can’t make love to me in a carriage.”

“Let me convince you that I can,” he uttered in a low, determined voice that stroked her inside.

“I can’t make love to you here, now.” She could hear the realization in her tone.

“Don’t pretend that you don’t want me as much as I want you,” he said, an edge in his voice.

“Of course I do,” she said in exasperation, and he grinned. “But making love to you outside of marriage was my first mistake with you—I won’t make it again,” she finished, her voice becoming more determined with each word.

Derek grabbed her hand and spread it over the front of his trousers, over his rigid flesh. “Do you feel this?” he asked in a pained tone. “Four months without being inside you. Do you feel how much I need you?”

She melted with heat and want, only a shred of her determination remaining. It was just enough. “Don’t do this, Derek. I want to make a fresh start with you—”

At once, his big hands were grasping her waist, pulling her off the seat. Part of her grew outraged while another became excited by the low, growling sound he made. Then his hands released her. Her eyes opened. She was sitting on the opposite side of the carriage.

“It seems I can deny you nothing,” he told her evenly, though his face looked tight with strain and his hands were clenched.

She began a conversation, mainly to keep her mind off the memory of her hand caressing his straining trouser front. After a time, he relaxed and joined in. Before long, she was cuddled on his lap, with him stroking her hair. Hours rolled by as they talked about their likes and dislikes, their desire for a family. He asked her question after question about her childhood and life.

He was so attentive, just as he’d been during their time in Sydney, and she easily recollected all the wonderful times they’d had. She also recollected the nights—the wild, hot nights. To mask her discomfiture, she asked, “Why are you suddenly so interested?”

He tucked a curl behind her ear. “Before, part of me didn’t want to get to know you better. I think I knew I wouldn’t want to let you go.”

She cast him a lazy grin. He loved her . He might not vocalize it, but he did.

With a returning smile, he asked, “Explain to me, please, how a young sailor with an uncanny knack for navigation can also be a future marchioness?”

“I was expected to return to England and follow in my grandmother’s footsteps, but I inveigled Father into keeping me with him and letting me sail. That is, until I was eighteen and ran out of ammunition,” she admitted with a frown. “During the time I was at sea, Grandmother used her influence to spread that story about me to save my reputation.”

“I thought the fear of traveling was a classic touch.”