Epilogue
Mulgrave Manor, Derbyshire: Three months later
Rebecca stood at the window of their study overlooking the estate that had become her home. The nervous spinster who’d stumbled into the wrong room at a country inn was now the Countess of Mulgrave, and to her surprise, she was rather good at it.
And the former rake made for the most attentive, devoted husband.
“What has you grinning from ear to ear?” He wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her back against his chest.
She covered his hands with hers and melted into him. “Just content. I never dared to dream I’d find such happiness.”
“Neither had I, until my angel broke into my chamber and scandalized me.” He pressed his lips below her ear, and her body shivered.
“The innkeeper gave me the wrong room.”
“The best mistake an innkeeper ever made.” He nipped her earlobe. “Though you can hardly place blame for your nighttime requests.”
Her cheeks warmed. Three months of marriage hadn’t dulled the effect he had on her. Knowing exactly what those hands and mouth could do made everything worse.
“You kissed me first,” she said.
“Absolutely guilty.” His hands slid up her ribcage. “One of my better decisions.”
She glanced at the pile of invitations on the desk. “I might like to attend the Season with my husband by my side. I don’t know which of us will surprise the ton more.”
“I can’t promise I’ll be on my best behavior.” He licked and sucked along the side of her neck.
Rebecca turned to face him, grinning. “I wouldn’t have you any other way.”
His auburn hair was mussed, and he’d abandoned his coat somewhere. Not that he bothered with formality when they were alone.
“You can have me in any way you like, Angel.”
He kissed her, swallowing whatever clever response she’d been about to make. His tongue slid into her mouth. She met him eagerly, her fingers diving into his hair.
After a few minutes he pulled back.
“Did you have something else to say on the matter?” Harrison teased.
“I have no idea.” She let her hands drift to the buttons of his shirt.
“You are a naughty little minx,” he said, gripping her hips.
“Among other things,” she agreed, freeing the first button, then the second, exposing the chest she’d memorized with her hands and tongue.
He scooped her up and carried her to the nearby settee, setting her down on her feet before he started removing her dress.
His fingers made quick work of her stays then gathered the hem of her shift and drew it up her body, his knuckles brushing bare skin.
Once she was bare, he went still. All of the love he’d shown her the past few months was there on his face. “So perfect.”
“Do I please you, my lord?” She asked teasingly. She no longer tried to cover herself. Three months had taught her he meant every word when he called her beautiful.
“I’m the one who should be pleasing you, Angel.” One finger traced from her throat, down between her breasts, over her stomach. Then he urged her back on the settee and hovered over her. “Taking care of what’s mine.”
The possessiveness in his tone made her thighs clench. “Yours,” she agreed. “Just as you’re mine.”
“Completely.” His hand continued down until he reached the curls between her legs. He parted her and found her already wet. “Always ready for me.”
She gasped when he circled her pearl with his thumb.
“Tell me what you want,” he growled.
It had become their game of sorts. Harrison taught her to ask for what she wanted, and she grew bolder the more that he had her do so.
Rebecca took his hand and guided it lower.
“Here,” she whispered. “Inside me first.”
He groaned. “Fuck, I love when you tell me what you need.”
He pushed two fingers inside her while his thumb circled her pearl. She rocked against his hand, chasing the sensation.
“More,” she demanded, surprising herself with her boldness.
“Greedy.” But he added a third finger, stretching her. “Is this what you want?”
“Yes.” She gripped his shoulders and urged him down. “But I want your mouth on me too.”
“Anything for my angel.” He kissed down her body, stopping to give attention to her breasts before moving between her thighs.
His tongue traced her slit, and she cried out, her hands fisting in his hair. He circled her pearl, then sucked while continuing to work his fingers inside her.
Before she knew what was happening, he picked her up and laid down on the settee with her on top of him.
“Sit on my face,” he commanded.
She should feel embarrassed as she crawled up her husband to do as he said. She gripped the armrest as she positioned her knees on each side of Harrison’s head.
“That’s it, Angel,” he murmured against her thigh. “Take your pleasure.”
He gripped her arse as his tongue circled her pearl again.
Something inside her broke loose, and she rocked against his face, finding the rhythm that felt the best against his licks and sucks.
She didn’t hold back, lost to everything but the pleasure between her legs. This was what marriage had given her—freedom to be wanton, to be demanding, to be herself.
Her thighs trembled. “Harrison, I’m going to—”
“Mmmm.” He sucked hard on her pearl and slid two fingers inside of her, making her fuck herself on them as she rocked.
She cried out his name, pleasure crashing through her. Her body arched and shook as she rode out the wave.
He helped her reposition until she lay on top of him again, and then their lips met in a searing kiss.
She tasted herself on his tongue, and it made her body need his.
“I think it’s your turn,” she whispered. “To show me what you want.”
“You never have to ask me twice.”
He flipped them so she was on her back again, and he fumbled with his falls. He notched his long, thick cock at her entrance and then was inside her with a single thrust.
She wrapped her legs around him as he moved against her, setting a punishing rhythm.
“You feel like heaven,” Harrison said, pressing his forehead to hers. “Every single time.”
“Don’t go easy on me, Harrison.”
He groaned and withdrew almost completely before thrusting back in. She matched him thrust for thrust, their rhythm perfected over weeks of learning each other.
“Touch yourself,” Harrison commanded. “I want to feel you come around me.”
She slipped her hand between their bodies, finding her pearl and circling it. With his cock inside her and her own touch, she pushed herself toward another peak.
“That’s it,” Harrison groaned, his thrusts growing harder. “Fuck, you’re perfect. I can feel you getting close.”
“Don’t stop,” she begged.
He shifted the angle, and she cried out as he hit an even more intense spot inside her with each thrust. She increased the pressure on her sensitive flesh, chasing the release she could feel building.
“Come with me, Angel,” Harrison ground out. “I need to feel you while I fill you.”
Rebecca couldn’t hold back any longer. Her orgasm hit hard. She clenched around him, crying his name as pleasure tore through her.
Harrison thrust twice more before following her over the edge with a groan. He shuddered, spending deep inside her. His arms shook, and she pulled him down until he covered her completely.
They collapsed together, still breathing hard.
“I love you,” Harrison whispered against her hair.
Rebecca turned her head to kiss his jaw. “And I love you. Even though it is impossible to get anything done with you around.”
He laughed. “You started it.”
“Not this time.” She placed a tender kiss on his jaw.
“Fair point.” He rolled to his side, taking her with him. He cupped her cheek, his thumb stroking her skin. “Are you happy, Rebecca? Truly?”
The vulnerability in his voice caught her off guard. “Deliriously. Are you?”
“I spent years running from feeling anything.” His green eyes were serious. “Then you stumbled into my room and made me want everything I’d been avoiding. A home. A partner. A future.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I wake up every morning terrified this has all been a dream.”
Her eyes stung. “You won’t. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” She kissed him softly. “Though you might regret your choice when my brother comes to visit.”
Harrison was quiet for a moment. “I’d like to host your brother for Christmas. Perhaps some other guests.” He paused. “Would you like that?”
“I would very much so.” She kissed his shoulder.
“Consider it done.” He caught her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Anything else I can do to please my wife today?”
She held him tighter. “I just need you.”
“You have me.” He kissed her softly. “For the rest of our lives, Angel. Every morning I get to wake up next to you is a gift I never thought I’d receive.”
Rebecca settled back against his chest. She’d gone to his room that night at the inn expecting nothing more than one night with a notorious rake.
Instead, she’d found her partner, her purpose, and the love of her life.
THE END
Want more of Harrison and Rebecca? See them in A Wager With A Rake, featuring Rebecca's brother and best friend! Read on for a sneak peek at Chapter 1!
Also enjoy this freebie novella from me: