Chapter Twenty-One

Selena wriggled against her earl in her bed.

Her Warrick.

Her betrothed.

Her man.

She liked that last title best. Simple. To the point.

Her man.

Selena was learning that happiness was not always what a person gained in life, but rather found in the voyage one took to achieve those rewards. And yet, who was to say when that voyage ended? Her own journey was still very much in motion. She was still en route breeching boundaries, overstepping norms, and hurtling through points of no return.

She also plucked a few rewards along the way. One of which was in her bed.

Selena kissed his shoulder.

A delightful grunt. "We are crossing the line again," Warrick breathed against her skin as he trailed kisses along her neck before kissing the inside of the palm that had slapped Lady Ridgeland. "Your brother will be here soon."

"I love crossing the line with you." Crossing lines was what they did best. Soon enough, they'd be wed and there would be few lines left, so Selena wanted to enjoy every single one.

"Are you saying we've crossed so many lines, crossing one more won't hurt?"

"Exactly that." She nipped at his lips. "Don't you love crossing them with me?"

"Too much."

"You know," she said teasingly, "you started it first."

"That's debatable, princess."

She laughed. "Then, let's debate some more." She traced a suggestive finger down his arm.

"I have a better idea," he breathed, his tongue slowly trailing her lower lip. "Let's elope. Because I can't stand the thought of living apart from you."

She arched her neck back to glance at him. "You don't have to live apart from me. You can move into my chamber until we marry."

"I want you in my chamber. My bed. A place where Saville doesn't prowl."

She laughed. "He doesn't prowl there?"

"Good point."

She snuggled closer. "Isn't eloping a bit too much?"

"No." He trailed his thumb over her lower lip. "We can have fun traveling."

"You mean you will have me all to yourself." She wasn't opposed. She could do with a bit of a reprieve from the strain and pace of these past days.

The kisses continued to trail. "I can seduce you in a carriage. In a field outside." He lowered his voice. "Everywhere."

"Is that what you mean by having fun?" She lifted onto her elbows to stare him down. "We shouldn't have too much fun before we marry or else there will be no more fun to be had, will there?"

"I disagree. There will always be fun to be had when I'm with you."

"Insatiable."

He tugged at her trousers. "In my heart we are already man in wife."

She laughed. "Well, I shall still require paperwork to make it legal. After all, knaves are best put on a leash." She nuzzled her nose against his neck.

"Leash?" He grinned, lifting his head. "Selena Savage, I didn't know you were into that sort of play. I'll oblige you."

"I'm not, you beast."

"But now you have put the picture in my mind. How ever shall you remove it?" His hand moved along her leg. "And didn't I tell you never to wear these trousers again and what do you do? Wear them and go off with a duke."

"On your rescue expedition."

"I don't care. Take them off."

Before she could tease him further, a voice bellowed through the house.

"Selena! Selena Savage! You are dead!"

Warrick stilled, and Selena sat up straight. She glanced at him. "That is not the roar of a man we left tied to a chair at a brothel."

"No?" He arched a brow, backing up against the pillows on her bed. "Then what roar is that?"

"It's the roar of a man who entered the drawing room first in search of us after he filled his belly."

"Dare I ask?"

She bit her lip and shrugged. "Well, the drawing room contains the remnants of his waistcoats. Also, a portrait of the current earl that has recently undergone renovation."

"Ah."

Selena tried not to grin too delightfully. "Theo joined in on both activities. I wonder if knowing that will calm his anger at me?"

The thud of footsteps drew close.

Strong arms circled around her. "We are about to find out."

The door slammed open, and Saville appeared in the doorway like the grim reaper, ready and eager to reap.

"Aha! When I heard your fiancé was still in the house but the two of you were nowhere to be found, I just knew you were up to things no unmarried man and woman should be doing!" His glare turned acid. "I see you are not even scattering apart at my presence."

Selena rolled her eyes.

"I'll say this again, old friend," Warrick murmured, his arms securing her more firmly against him, "but your temper will be the death of you one day."

"No matter," Saville waved a hand. "I'll let it slide today."

Selena blinked. That was it? "Let it slide?" Her tone held a wealth of suspicion.

He shrugged. "In my mind, you are already married."

Hah! That just confirmed Selena's belief about the male brain—it could convince itself of anything. Her gaze shifted between her brother and Warrick. Her earl. Her future husband. Her man. And she? Wife, sister, and whoever the hell she chose to be.

She understood now.

Who was she?

She suddenly laughed.

She was Selena Savage.

Saville sent her a worried look even as the arms around her flexed. "Why are you laughing like that?"

And Selena Savage loved riling up her brother. "Oh, I just imaged you searching for us in the drawing room first."

He jabbed a finger at her. "You can say that when you destroyed my face? Do you know how many hours I stood for that painting? How many days?"

"That was not just my handiwork. Theo loaned her expertise."

He froze. "What did you just say?"

Selena grinned, sending out a small apology to her friend. "Theo is responsible for the rouge on your cheeks and coloring your eyes black."

His brows furrowed, unfurrowed, then furrowed again. "She turned me into the devil?"

Selene wriggled her fingers. "She had a hand in it. Just a tiny hand. A brushstroke, really."

Warrick gave a soft snort beside her.

"That little minx," Saville complained. "I shall have to pay her a visit and demand retribution."

"Oh, that won't be possible."

"Why not?"

"She is in Brighton," she informed him brightly.

"She left London?" he exploded. "Why the hell did she leave London?"

To escape you."That is a question better directed at her."

Steely eyes narrowed to slits. "You are right."

"I am?" She was? Saville rarely agreed with her. Well! Just when she thought she could never be shocked or surprised again!

"It is a question I should direct at her. Directly."

Had her brother finally lost his mind? She could practically see it racing.

He gave a nod. "And demand compensation for my destroyed property while I'm at it."

"Are you sure that is wise?" Selena asked slowly.

His next words confirmed that he had indeed, lost every last ounce of sanity.

"I'm leaving London. Warrick will have to see to your needs."

She wanted to laugh, but she didn't know at which part—him leaving to chase her friend or his remark about his friend—so she just blurted, "He has been seeing to my needs, dear brother."

"You damn brat! Where are your manners? You cannot speak of such things. I've been casting my eyes elsewhere, but you admit to your affair so bluntly, I'm caught off guard every time."

There was the brother she knew. Selena threw her leg over Warrick. "It's just as well you are leaving London." She suddenly grinned. "I have it on good authority that the King brothers are on their way to town. They might want your head."

"Well, then." He waved at them with a look of disgust. "I'll be off then. Behave in the meantime. Get married or something."

Selena blinked, then laughed at his back as he marched out. "I do believe he is in trouble."

"So do I." Warrick rolled her over, pressing her into the bed. "But care more about the trouble in my arms." He kissed the corner of her lips. "Now where were we?"

She pushed at him. "You have such a male brain."

"Then appease it, princess."

"I still want to apply ointment on the spots your skin chaffed," she protested. "That harridan..."

"Later. First, we need to remove these trousers."

"Why?" That dark tone didn't bode well for her trousers.

"They are dying tonight."

Her eyes widened. "You want to cut up my trousers?"

"They cut me up every time I look at them."

"But, I've grown quite attached to them." She flashed her teeth. "I love them undoing you too much for you to cut them up."

"Saucy wench. They are still being cut up."

"Later." She'd commission more. "First, let's see what damage that rope did."

He flipped her again and this time she was on top. Selena stared down at him, hands resting on his chest. She liked this.

"All right." His gaze bore into her, but this time all those unreadable emotions revealed themselves. "First, touch me."

Lord. "Where?"

"Everywhere." His face took on a meaningful edge. "I need to replace that creature's touch with yours."

That, Selena was happy to do, and do it forever. She dragged all ten fingers down his chest. He groaned. "You know," she leaned over to whisper, "I love how your body feels beneath mine."

"Ah, Christ."

Christ, indeed.

*

The next day

Warrick stared atthe luggage lining the wall of his parlor. Selena. She had insisted on sending her belongings to his residence while keeping an iron hand on the process. He shook his head, following the line of trunks to the drawing room where she discussed a list of her instructions to her maids.

He leaned against the door with his shoulder.

God, what an endearing sight.

Thank you.

Thank you for her.

He had lived a privileged life. A few trials here and there. But Selena... she wasn't one of those trials. She'd always been part of his life. Since he and Saville became friends as boys. But she stormed into his heart like a tempest, sweeping away everything in her path and fully claiming her space.

He was a man who learned from his mistakes.

But he hoped he would never learn everything when it came to Selena Savage. I look forward to being corrected.

"Warrick? What are you staring at?"

He blinked away his musings, smiling when Selena walked up to him. She was here. In his home. She was his in every sense.

Well, almost. "Not much," he murmured. His gaze swept over her trunks again. If this was a dream, Warrick never wanted to be disturbed from his sleep. "I can't believe your brother left London, and he left me with you. Alone."

"Not that hard, considering all that happened, and we are leaving today as well."

Yes, they were eloping.

She had agreed last night, and of course Warrick, as a gentleman, had to seal the agreement with a night of devotion. Too much devotion. Especially for someone who had been tied to a chair for two days. His body could barely move today.

"You look tired." Selena led him to a sofa and pushed him down. "The carriage is being readied. You can rest once we are on the road, or we can delay another day."

"No delays."

"So hasty." She poured them each a cup of tea.

He tracked her movements, smiling when she handed him his cup. "Thank you."

"A pleasure." She took a sip of tea, and promptly sprayed it all over the table.

"Not a pleasure after all?" Warrick teased. That had been his own reaction when he first took a sip of this particular tea, reminding him why he preferred the strong brew of coffee.

"This is terrible!" She frowned and sniffed the tea. "Has the tea gone bad? Dear Lord."

He shrugged. "It's the tea you sent me as a gift."

Her eyes widened. "Surely not."

Warrick nodded and took a sip. He'd grown accustomed to the taste. "The very same."

"And you drink this?"

"The stuff is atrocious, I agree." His eyes delved into hers. "But you gifted the tea, so I drink the tea." And she mentioned it helped with hair growth. A man had to try all the remedies he could get, didn't he?

She set down her cup. "Why on earth would you torture your tastebuds so?"

"You get used to the taste." He nudged her foot with his. "Do you understand how much I love you now? This is the only tea I drink."

"Shall I purchase you more?"

"Please don't."

She snorted. "So much for this love. However, even if you don't drink this stuff, even if you turn bald, I will still love you. Don't drink stuff you don't like."

Warrick's heart warmed. And he said he'd try all remedies, not commit to them for the rest of his life. In that regard, he only needed one. He only needed her. "Turn bald? Don't even utter such blasphemy."

Her brows suddenly puckered. "By the by, I seem to recall you prefer older women."

It was his turn to choke. "Where the hell did you hear that?"

"I overheard you talking to my brother once."

He set down the tea, turning to her. "When?"

"Years ago."

"Lord, woman, I have said a lot of things over the years and didn't mean half of them. Do not take it to heart. Even if I did at the time, now I only prefer you."

"Are you sure? Best tell me now before we leave for Gretna Green."

"Are you threatening to leave me? Don't. I will lock you in my chamber."

Selena laughed. "No bedchamber can hold me."

"That's true." A begrudging admittance. She did have a way of slipping from a person's grasp. But not his. Not anymore. "Any more questions before we depart?"

She tapped her chin thoughtfully. A gesture he'd come to find endearing.

"No questions," she said after some time. "Only a statement."

Dear Lord. "Why am I getting shivers down my spine?"

She punched him in the arm lightly. "Do not jest. From now on I shall be your protector, too. See, this time I rescued you. I am strong, too."

"You seem to be under a mistaken impression, love." Warrick smiled at her. This woman planted all sorts of miraculous seeds in his heart. "I didn't protect you because you were weak. I protected you because you are important. Much more than even I first imagined, but instinctively I knew."

She sidled closer to him. "When did you get such a slick tongue?"

He pulled her into his embrace, lowering his head to her neck and inhaled. "Shall we test how slick it can get?"

"Knave!"

Warrick laughed.

What an intriguing ever after this was going to be.

The End