Chapter One

October 15, 1819

No. 10 Orchard Street

Portman Square

Marylebone, London

Mary Tomlinson talked quietly with her maid, Maggie, as she sat at her vanity table and the maid wove a string of pearls into her upswept blonde tresses. Clad only in her under things, she had yet to don her gown for the night to minimize wrinkling the orange satin or inadvertently tearing the delicate lace and gold thread overskirt.

Tonight, she would attend the opera with her fiancé former Bow Street principal officer, the Honorable Gabriel Bright, but what had her nerves feeling strung too tight with flutters of excitement in her lower belly was the fact that they would be wed tomorrow morning. After nearly a year of an unorthodox courtship that had been much closer to a wildly torrid affair, she would become a married woman again .

And this union would prove as different as the men involved.

"I think your final look could use that butterfly brooch with the citrines in the wings," Maggie murmured to her as she peered into the cheval glass and smiled at Mary. "Once we are completely finished, then we'll put on your gown."

"Thank you, Maggie. I appreciate your artistry and creative eye." She hadn't given much thought personally to the gown she would wear tonight, for all her attention had gone into the gown for the nuptial ceremony.

"I'll go grab the brooch now." The maid went into the adjoining bedchamber from the dressing-sitting room and Mary relaxed.

It wasn't that she had misgivings about marrying the inspector, it was just that her last husband as well as marriage to him had been all too horrid. Once she wed Gabriel, would he turn into a different person as had been her previous experience? Surely not, for she knew him exceedingly well, and he wasn't the type of man who would lie to manipulate. In fact, everything between them had been grown and built on the altar of truth and being candid with each other.

She frowned into the mirror as she held up a pair of dangly golden earbobs against her cheek. No, those just weren't right for this evening. As she searched through her jewelry case, her mind wandered.

They'd met at a house party in the countryside at Christmastide last year where she'd escorted her niece and he'd done the same with his son. The host of the event—Viscount Stanwick, had been an old flame of hers before he'd ever taken the title, and that indiscretion from the past would prove unfortunate as time wore on, and it had made her quite upset. So upset that she had contemplated leaving the house party altogether. However, after an unexpected and lovely kiss shared with a strange man in a carriage house did she discover that man was in reality the brother of the viscount—Gabriel Bright. Barely did she have an opportunity to decide how she felt about the introduction of a possible romance—or something else—into her life when the butler—who was not a very nice person—was found murdered. That was when she discovered Gabriel turned out to be an inspector with Bow Street.

And straightaway, he'd accused her of said murder due to the ill-advised relationship with the viscount in her past.

What an evening that had been!

Mary smiled at her reflection in the mirror. It was the first time she'd ever been impressed by a man, for Gabriel had an intelligence and cleverness that had first drawn her to him. To say nothing of the fact they had been naturally attracted physically to each other from the first. As the house party had gone on, they'd entered a relationship of sorts with him investigating the murder and her assisting. Working so closely together had fueled that desire, and soon after that, they'd began their affair.

That relationship hadn't yet grown stale.

Last spring, the inspector had finally asked for her hand, but the engagement had been thrown into chaos when they'd stumbled onto a case where the murdered woman had ties to Bright's past. That meant it was his turn to have a murder investigation delve into his life, but it had been another opportunity for her and him to be honest with each other and unearth secrets from their pasts.

Now, on the morrow, they would be married after a six-month engagement period. There had been no other reason for the length other than he'd wanted her to enjoy the engagement, wished for her to have enough time to plan her outfit, to do a few renovations to the townhouse they shared, as well as to prepare their newly adopted daughter, Cassandra, for the changes that would follow. In fact, they'd come upon the young girl during their investigation of that memorable case, and since neither of them had wanted to leave her to fend for herself on the streets, they'd taken her in.

Now she was a part of their family. More or less. The adjustment period had been long for all of them.

Maggie's return wrenched Mary from her musings. "On second thought, I decided against the butterfly. Instead, I found a lovely silver and diamond brooch that will work better, and you can wear silver and ruby earbobs. Didn't the inspector gift you with a ruby necklace that will match?"

"He did." For no other reason than he'd seen the parure in the window of a jewelry store and thought she should have it. Her heart squeezed. "Perhaps I shall indeed wear it tonight." When she'd turned five and thirty at the end of last month, he'd given her an exquisite cloisonné case to carry in her reticule. It had a tiny receptacle on one side for headache powders or snuff—if one was into that—but she used it to keep a few mint tablets, and on the other side was a dear little clock so that she would always know the time.

Truly, he was a thoughtful, remarkable man, and so different from her last husband.

The maid nodded as she fixed the brooch into Mary's upswept blonde hair. "It is lightly raining tonight, so be sure to put the hood of your cloak up. Don't want to muss the hair, Mrs. Tomlinson."

"Thank you, Maggie. I will remember. "

"While you are at the opera tonight, I am going to press your gown for tomorrow."

"I appreciate the thoughtfulness." Mary glanced across the dressing room to where the gown she would wear in the morning rested on the back of a chair.

It was a gorgeous affair of ivory velvet with silver embroidery and had seed pearls sewn all over the skirting as well as along the bodice. The neckline was rather lower than she was comfortable with, but that was one of the things that made it exciting, and it would be certain to grab Gabriel's notice. It also featured long sleeves that tapered at the wrist. Silver satin slippers matched the embroidery work and had also been enhanced with pearls. She would wear a strand of pearls woven into her hair and perhaps another around her neck, for her brother had given her both long ago. As a whole, the costume was showier and more feminine than she usually wore, but she wanted this wedding to be extremely different from her first one.

Since the men were different as well.

Before either of them could say anything else, Gabriel came into the room. Dear heavens, he was resplendent in his evening clothes, complete with tailcoat and a brown brocade waistcoat. As always, the curls in his brown hair remained untamed, but that was the way she liked him. Seeing him in such finery accelerated her heartbeat.

"Why am I not surprised your toilette is not finished?" As she watched him in the mirror, he winked at Maggie. "Has she been woolgathering again?"

The maid blushed, which wasn't surprising since every woman within Mary's employ had fallen beneath Bright's spell. Possibly because he was charming, handsome, and he treated everyone he met with respect. "A bit, Inspector, but then, we still have plenty of time before the carriage arrives."

"Indeed. I will help Mrs. Tomlinson complete dressing for the evening, Maggie, if you don't mind."

"Of course, Inspector." Maggie met her eyes in the mirror. "Enjoy the opera. Ring if you should need me either before you leave or when you return." She gathered the wedding gown and then took her leave, softly closing the door behind her.

"You realize that the servants no doubt talk about how scandalous you are behind closed doors, don't you?" Mary couldn't help but tease, for it was well known that the inspector enjoyed helping her dress for the mere excuse of getting handsy.

"I am aware of that, but I'm choosing to let them think what they will, for I am not ashamed of showing my love and affection for my soon-to-be wife." Moving behind her, he dropped his hands on her shoulders. "And I particularly enjoy it when you are in this state of dishabille before you've donned your gown."

That prompted a grin. His scent of sandalwood and orange wafted to her nose, and she sighed. "It should be criminal for you to look so handsome."

The cheeky man leaned down to nuzzle the crook of her shoulder, and a shiver of need twisted down her spine. "Well, I have been fortunate." When he gently tugged her into a standing position, he led her away from the vanity then wrapped his arms around her. "In many aspects of my life, including winning you."

Despite being with him in various ways over the past ten months, heat sank into her cheeks. "Hush, you. I rather think I'm receiving the better portion of this union."

"I beg to differ." With a wicked grin that threatened to make her knees weaken, he lowered his head and fit his lips to hers.

Every time the man kissed her, Mary nearly lost herself. It was still a marvel to her that any of it had happened, let alone the fact she would marry him tomorrow, but the fact he never failed to ignite her desire each time they were together made her breathless. It was only natural that she return his embrace, and in doing so, she slipped her hands up his chest to loop her arms about the broad breadth of his shoulders.

The raw feel of his solid body against hers, the warmth of his mouth on hers, the tender yet forceful way he held her and caressed his hands over her person all worked to see her undone, and all he'd done was kiss her. Make no mistake, he claimed her mouth with authority and skill, but it was insanity how much and how quickly she wanted to couple with him.

And it had been that way since they'd met last Christmastide.

As she sighed and fairly melted into him, she realized being with Gabriel was more than just having a need fulfilled. He made her feel protected, wanted, respected, and beyond that, being in his company was exciting and had taught her what it was to truly live.

Slowly, hoping to tease him, Mary drew one of her hands down his body cup the bulge that pressed against the front of his black satin evening breeches. When he stifled a groan, his eyelids flickered and she smiled. So predictable. "I want you." At her age and in this relationship, there was no point in games or coquettish behavior.

"Stop, sweeting," he said against her lips. "Otherwise, I will indulge you, and we will be late to the opera."

"Ha!" She gave his engorged length an experimental squeeze, smiling when he shuddered. "We have time because you always tell me to be ready by at least a quarter of an hour more than we need." When she raised her gaze to his, she caught matching desire in his dark eyes. "And if we are late, it will only be for dinner before the opera, and besides, with the planning for the wedding, as well as Cassandra's inability to acclimate to us as a family, you and I haven't been as intimate as we are accustomed to being."

"True." He briefly kissed her lips again. "Where is the girl?"

"Taking dinner with her governess. She had an outing today to the British Museum."

"Oh? How did she like it?" As he spoke, he loosened the laces at the back of her stays.

"I think she was overwhelmed but curious. She's slowly coming to grips with her new life, except her relationship with me isn't going all that well." Despite the flutters of arousal in her belly, she couldn't help a frown. "I'd hoped she would have been happy in having a mother, a family, a house to live in, a new life."

Over the course of the last six months, Bright had worked a handful of cases as a consultant or even on his own, and while that income was much appreciated, Mary had been left alone with Cassandra during those times. Only occasionally did she work a case with him now that they had a child.

She missed him in that capacity as well.

"Perhaps the girl is still skittish." When he'd finished with the stays and the garment sagged, he undid the few buttons at the bodice of her plain lawn shift. "Living as she had on the streets, being treated like rubbish by nearly everyone she's ever met is bound to have taken a toll on the psyche."

"I know, but I had hoped she might have warmed up to me by now, that she would have realized I mean her no harm and want nothing more than to be a mother." It was another reason why she wanted the distraction of Gabriel's touch, because it would help her forget. Otherwise, the situation was too sad. As she spoke, Mary fumbled at the buttons of his front falls and freed his shaft. When the hot, hard length of him fell into her palm, she blew out a breath and gave into a shiver.

In this, she wouldn't be denied.

"Perhaps she needs more time, love. Don't give up. Draw from your own experience or even mine. After what we both went through with our marriages, trust is difficult." Since she hadn't yet donned her gown, it was easy work for him to uncover her breasts from the loosened stays and chemise beneath. As soon as he cupped those mounds of flesh, squeezed them, pressed them together, he grinned. "God, I need this after the week I've had. "

A moan escaped her throat as he brushed the pads of his thumbs over her taut nipples and wild sensation coursed down her spine. "I'm sorry your last case didn't end happily." She could hardly concentrate on conversation when all she wanted was to feel him moving against her.

"Sometimes they don't." Then he dipped his head and took one of her sensitive nipples into the warm cavern of his mouth, suckled hard until she moaned, then he soothed the bud with the flat of his tongue.

"Oh, you…" There was no need to talk, for carnal communication was much more effective. As he teased and tormented her breasts and nipples, Mary curled her fingers around his thick shaft and slowly stroked her hand along his length. The more she played, the more he did, and it took very little time to have them both panting and heated. She clung to his lapels as the strength in her knees wavered. "Will you take me against the wall tonight?" Throughout their history together, they weren't strangers regarding coupling in odd places or positions.

"Mmm, while that does sound delicious, perhaps we'll do something more daring, I think, something unexpected but highly pleasurable for us both." So saying, he urged her hand from his shaft and then led her to the settee that rested at the foot of the four-poster bed. "Though it will go quickly, we will be satisfied and can still leave at a decent time for the opera."

"Oh?" Excitement buzzed at the base of her spine. "What have you in mind, Bright?"

"Just this." Gently but with firm pressure, Gabriel led her to a sofa and bent her over the bolstered end, tossed her petticoat and chemise up over her back. "I'll take you from behind."

A shudder of need ricocheted down her spine. "Lovely," she managed to whisper. They didn't often indulge this way, for it did go by quickly and they couldn't see each other's faces during the coupling, but it was highly pleasurable. It always reminded her of his dominant side and that he sometimes liked to show it when he felt helpless regarding one of his cases.

His last one had gone wildly unsolved; there hadn't been enough evidence, and it would probably be one that would haunt him.

"Do I have your agreement?" When he caught her gaze once more, his eyes were dark with raw need.

"Do you even have to ask? I thought you knew me better than that." With a grin, she wriggled her hips, which made her naked backside brush against his erection.

He caught his breath, and she snickered. "Vixen. I will show you how well I know you, indeed." With a soft growl that sent awareness over her skin, he delivered a sharp smack to one of her buttocks. "You've tempted me beyond reason this night and my patience for foreplay has quite vanished, Mrs. Tomlinson."

The command in his graveled voice sent shivers down her spine. "Oh, I can't wait to be able to drop that surname." When she glanced over her shoulder at him, her heart squeezed, for she loved him so much. "I like this forceful side of you." Tingles made themselves known between her thighs, brought her to the edge of bliss before he'd even manipulated any of her more sensitive parts.

"You bring it out of me," he all but growled. "Exactly when I need it." As he gripped her hips while she splayed her legs with her pulse racing in anticipation, Gabriel fit the wide tip of his length to her opening.

"That is but reason why you and I are so good together, why we work—"

Her words were abruptly cut off when he thrust into her passage with such authority and went so deeply that they both groaned with appreciation. "Ooh…" Mary's eyes briefly shuddered closed as intense pleasure danced through her body. Coupling in this manner was so incredibly wonderful. "That's a good start," she managed to gasp while shifting her stance into something more comfortable that would accommodate his girth. "Send me flying, Bright. Dissolve my anxiety about all th at is going on."

At this different angle, every movement, each thrust seemed amplified and larger. Every time he penetrated her channel, he went deep, oh so deep. His shaft rubbed against the swollen nubbin at her center, enhancing the need he'd already invoked.

"Ah!"

Gabriel's hold on her hips was hard enough that he'd probably leave marks on her skin. Oddly, she craved that souvenir—his claim. "This will go fast." His whisper was quite thrilling. "I can't sustain momentum."

She was lost to the sweet madness he created. "Make it unforgettable, Bright." Her knuckles were white as she gripped the cushions of the settee as best she could. A low moan released from her when he slammed into her. "Give me all of you. I don't want gentle and tender tonight."

"But this goes against everything a gentleman should be."

As if this was a lovemaking position of a gentleman. She huffed with both frustration and amusement. "Put that thought out of your mind for the time being. Claim me as if this is our last night on earth."

"If that were so, love, I would take you slow and sweet and all night long to savor it. Stare into your eyes to see your emotions and let you see mine as we face the end. "

Was there any reason why she adored him? "Gabriel, please!" She bit her bottom lip for his next push nearly hurtled her over the edge toward bliss.

"As you wish, sweeting, but on our wedding night tomorrow, we shall do it my way, as many times as you will let me."

The words nearly finished her off. "I can't wait."

"Such a managing baggage." Soon, he found a rhythm, tightened his hold on her hips, and apparently set out to send her to the heights of pleasure with alacrity and conviction, just like he'd done numerous times over the ten months.

Over and over, he slammed into her, giving her exactly what she'd asked of him. It was heady stuff, addicting, like a fever dream, and she couldn't have enough. "I need more," she gasped, lifting her head, and looking at him from over her shoulder. Pleasure lined his face, his eyes were mere slits, but there was a smug grin on his lips that betrayed the fact he was enjoying this all too much.

Truly, he was the most handsome man she'd ever seen.

"I want to feel all of you, Gabriel." Her voice broke. "To know beyond a doubt you would have chosen me if you could decide again."

"Of course I would. You are my greatest strength." Enough emotion rode on those words that her eyes filled with tears.

Deeper he stroked. Faster he moved. This coupling was raw, real, and based in mutual need and primal passion, not the fact they would be forever linked as husband and wife on the morrow. The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed in her ears, but she was ever mindful to keep her cries muffled lest the servants hear or worse, Cassandra in her room upstairs. Mary's breasts swung wildly from the exercise, her sensitive nipples scraping against the velvet of the settee. Heat engulfed her, and still he thrust while she bucked her hips backward, meeting each one with her own power, which only sent him ever deeper.

And it made her feel not only loved but worshipped, needed, wanted, powerful.

Other women might be aghast at that or say she was immoral or even fast, but this man… he was her partner in everything. He had shown her what it was to truly be on equal terms, to have a man's respect, to not be treated as an object, what it felt like to be loved.

She couldn't imagine life without him.

"Yes!" When he snaked his free hand around her hips to rub his fingers over her swollen button, her control shattered. "Hurry, Gabriel! I'm nearly done. "

"I'm trying my best, sweeting." He followed the words with a series of deep, oh so impossibly deep and hard, teeth-shatteringly hard, thrusts that sought to separate her soul from her body. "Mary, for the love of God say you are there."

"I am." White light moved up to meet her as she fell over the edge and tumbled, hurtled really, into an intense release. A keening cry pulled from her throat, but she pressed her face into the settee cushion to keep it muffled. It was all she could do to keep her toes on the floor as he continued to spear into her. Her core convulsed erratically around his member. "Ah!"

Seconds later, Gabriel hit release. He shouted her name despite the risk of bringing a maid running, buried himself in her passage while tugging her tight to his body. His shaft pulsed, and her body greedily sucked at him until he was spent.

"Bloody hell that almost bordered on madness," he whispered and put his arms around her, hugging her to him. His breathing was as ragged as hers. "It has been a long time since I found release that exaggerated."

Oh, he was adorable. "Perhaps we both needed that outlet tonight." She laughed, but it was a shaky affair. Exhaustion clung to the sound and made her legs shake. "It was wonderful, and I rather think you've spoiled me for anyone else."

"I should hope so, since I'm marrying you tomorrow." A few seconds later, once they had both recovered, Gabriel leaned down and kissed her hip, the small of her back, her left shoulder blade, then he pulled her up, turned her about, and deeply kissed her as if he would never see her again. "I can't wait to marry you," he said as he settled her into his arms and held her close.

A tear fell to her cheek. I am the most fortunate of women. "It is going to be the highlight of the year for me."

"In this, we are in agreement." Eventually, he stood slightly back enough to cup her cheek. With shining eyes, he brushed his lips over hers then he kissed her forehead. "Let me help you dress as I'd told Maggie I would do. No doubt the carriage will be here soon."

A few minutes after he'd put his clothing to rights and tightened the laces of her stays while she tucked her breasts back into her own underthings, there was a knock on the door.

"Inspector Bright, your carriage has pulled up," the butler, Mr. Davies, announced, for yes, since Gabriel had become a consulting inspector, it meant they often had callers, which meant it was necessary to hire more staff.

Gabriel winked at her. "Thank you, Davies. We shall be down directly. Mrs. Tomlinson is still fussing with her gown."

Cheeky man. Mary smiled as she retrieved the exquisite gown. Life was essentially perfect.