Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

F leur's moan broke through Drake's reverie. He thought he had been dreaming but he realized rather quickly that his consciousness had blurred the line between wake and sleep. His hand was stroking her core and yet, he still had to shake off the last of the cobwebs in his brain.

However, when his cock began to pulse with need, he knew that he couldn't stop now. He wanted her too much. He needed her too much.

He moved his hips back and forth against her, mimicking the act of lovemaking as she did the same against his hand. His other arm was beneath her, so he cupped her breasts, toying with the hardened nipples as he kissed and sucked the delicate curve where her neck met her shoulder. It seemed to be a particular favorite of hers.

The sharp gasp she emitted told him he'd acted appropriately. As her heart began to pound against his hand and a rush of moisture coated his other hand, she released a low moan as her body shook with her release. He was relentless in his teasing of her, wringing every last tremor from her body. As she lay limp and replete in his arms, he slid his cock into her. Holding her close, he thrust in and out, grunting with the force of his rhythm.

It didn't take long before she was clutching his arm and crying out his name. "Drake, please."

Together, they found their mutual completion.

In the quiet aftermath, as their breathing slowly began to return to normal, Drake sensed a change in Fleur. "What's wrong?"

She slowly turned in his arms until she was lying on her back. Ensuring that she stayed wrapped up in his warm embrace, she looked at him in concern. "We haven't been using any… preventative measures against… having a child."

Drake stilled and then realized that he had been the fool. "Damn." He fell back against the pillows and stared at the ceiling overhead. "I haven't been thinking…" He shook his head and looked at her. "I will remedy that oversight today and procure some sheaths."

She worried her lower lip. "What if it's already too late?" she whispered.

He grew quiet. He had been so wrapped up in the chaos that generally surrounded him that he hadn't stopped to consider the ramifications of his own actions. The women he'd lain with before had usually used some form of remedies to prevent an accidental pregnancy. He had pulled out before his seed was spilled as well but he was so fazed by how good it felt to be inside of Fleur that he'd failed to do even that.

"When did you last have your courses?"

She hesitated and then said, "I can't say for sure. Three weeks ago, perhaps? I daresay I lost track with the move to London and the subsequent events that proceeded it."

"Then we shall wait."

"And if I do not bleed?" she prodded.

He frowned at the ceiling. "I don't know. But there is no use putting the proverbial cart before the horse. We will take things as they come. I have never looked for tomorrow."

She said nothing further but Drake could tell that she was still troubled. He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Get some rest. I'm sorry for having disturbed you."

She offered a slight smile. "I'm not."

His gaze swept her naked form. "Much more talk like that and we will be up rather late, indeed."

She wrapped her arms around his neck at the same time her legs went lax. "I don't see any problem with that," she murmured seductively.

Drake wasn't sure if this woman was his salvation—or if she would end up being the death of him. Either way, he was eagerly heading toward the light.

* * *

Later the following morning, Drake was in his study when Amos strode in. Until that point, he'd been able to pretend as though things weren't as dire as he'd imagined. The night he'd spent entangled in Fleur's arms had been one of the most spectacular of his entire life. He couldn't actually recall a moment that had held such tenderness and warmth, not even when he'd been with Elina. He could almost forget that the harsh realities he'd suffered since he was a lad had faded away, leaving nothing behind but a pure, unadulterated… contentment.

However, the moment Amos entered the room he could tell his expression didn't bode well and any happiness that Drake might have tried to grasp dissipated in front of him. "I heard you had an altercation with Avalon."

Drake leaned back in his chair. Withdrawing a coin from his vest pocket he began to thread it through his fingers. "I wouldn't necessarily call it an altercation but more of an involved discussion."

Amos didn't find his assessment amusing in the least. "What the bloody hell were you thinking to challenge him like that? He has a veritable army at his disposal. Are you trying to paint a target on your back?"

Drake slammed the coin down on the table with his palm. "Things change!"

Never before had Drake raised his voice, not to Amos, not to his worst enemies. A show of such strong emotion was a definite sign of weakness and would cause him to lose the last of his reputation with the underground. If he were to best Avalon at his own game, he had to remember to play his part just as well. It was true that Avalon had the Blue Boys but Drake wasn't without his own resources. Amos had been a formidable ally and to have their acquaintance blow up now would be disastrous.

The single blue eye narrowed in disapproval. "I expected more of you. I don't care to drag you out of another alley because of the mistakes you made regarding another woman."

Drake glanced away. "Fleur is different."

A derisive snort was his reply. "They all are until the lights go out." Amos stalked to the desk causing Drake's focus to snap back to him. As the other man slammed his own palms on the top of the wood, he growled, "You can't honestly sit there and tell me that you are confident that should the decision arise where your courtesan has to choose between you and Flavian, she won't choose her brother?"

Drake stilled. If anyone else of his acquaintance dared to call him out like Amos, he would have ensured they weren't able to speak again afterward. Unfortunately, for all of his current assurances that Fleur cared for him, Amos was right. The entire reason Fleur had ruined herself to begin with was to save her twin. If he actually hoped that her affection for him would trump that of her flesh and blood, he was fooling himself.

Scrubbing a hand down his face, Drake leaned back in his chair. He had required someone to wake him up from the daze he was starting to slip into with Fleur. Thankfully, he wasn't so far gone in his besotted state that he couldn't allow logical thinking to return.

"Do you have a list of possible females?"

Rather than act confused by the sudden change in topic, Amos straightened and withdrew the paper from his vest. Drake removed a slip of paper from his desk and as they exchanged names, it didn't take Drake long to discount most. He did, however, keep Miss Wilson as a likely suspect for arson.

Amos took both lists and after tearing them up, he tossed them in the fire. "I suppose we know who the guilty parties are. I can't say I'm surprised. They have been giving you the most trouble of late."

"Indeed," Drake murmured. "It would seem that way, unless there is someone else that we haven't yet considered." He steepled his hands before him. He had one more name but he wasn't giving it up just yet. But then, it might behoove him to tell Amos so the individual could be watched carefully. "There is young Flavian."

Amos's brows winged upward. "I was wondering when you were going to count him. Of the three, he has the most reason to do you harm. You absconded with his sister and he is, no doubt, wishing to enact revenge."

"If he might be sober long enough to do the job," Drake added. "I do think his movements should be monitored closely."

Amos inclined his head. "Consider it done."

* * *

As purposeful steps began to approach the door, Fleur quickly fled back down the hallway, ducking into the closest room and securing herself behind the door.

Once Amos strode past, she put a hand to her pounding heart. Unfortunately, it wasn't racing due to her rapid flight, but rather the conversation that she had overheard.

She had intended to approach Drake and let him know that their nightly worries had been unfounded, as she had gotten her courses that morning. Relief had flowed through her and she had eagerly gone down the stairs. Her hand was poised to knock when she paused just in time. Drake's outburst had startled her, so instantly she feared something must be wrong. Desperate to know if it had anything to do with Flavian, she'd pressed her ear to the wood and strained to listen, half scared to actually enter and discover her brother was dead—or worse.

What she'd learned next caused ice to freeze in her veins. Following everything that had transpired between her and Drake, he still didn't want to trust her. It caused her heart to break, but then, she couldn't really fault Drake because if the decision arose where she had to choose between her lover and her brother, she would be honor bound, if nothing else, to save Flavian. That had hurt nearly as much as thinking Drake believed her brother was responsible for the heinous crime of arson.

She shut her eyes tightly and tried to ignore the desire to hear Drake's voice, to be held in the warmth of his arms. She was starting to find it entirely too comforting to rely on him when she had known all along it was nothing but an illusion. She had known from the beginning that he had a cold heart, that he was incapable of love, although she thought she might be the one to change him. For someone as tender and caring, to ensure her needs were met before his, she imagined that her patience and understanding might have started thawing his icy demeanor. Instead, she was the fool who had allowed herself to believe there could ever be more between them, that a criminal like Drake Porter could be persuaded to accept someone— anyone —into his life forever.

What disturbed her the most was that she had started to picture a life with him. As absurd as that sounded, for it wasn't as though they were completely infatuated with one another, nor was there any true hope of a blissful future together, Fleur had started to imagine what it might be like to have his child. She pictured a raven-haired daughter with piercing silver eyes, or perhaps a boy that had his father's smooth personality and his mother's green gaze that saw the world through a different perspective.

It was the furthest thing from a poet's romance or a childish fairy tale, and yet, Fleur was starting to think it was perfect. For them. Not everyone's love story was the same, and while she told herself she wasn't in love with Drake, neither could she deny she could easily fall to his charms, because he had them in abundance. He just chose not to share them with the rest of the world. She thrilled at the idea he saved those coveted moments when they were alone. Then, and only then, could she catch a glimpse of the man that Drake had once been, before society had jaded his positivity.

Taking a few deep restorative breaths, she had to come up with a way to get out of this house. She needed some space from him, some time to sort out her thoughts, and she decided that a brisk walk through the park would do much to help restore her broken spirits.

Walking back out into the hallway, Fleur hadn't taken more than a handful of steps before Drake called her name. She reluctantly turned to face him.

"I was just coming to see you."

He offered her a slight upturn of his lips, as if smiling was still something he found difficult to do. At the moment, Fleur felt much the same.

"I had considered doing the same, but I didn't think you would grant my request."

His gaze turned wary. "Which would be?"

"To take a walk in the park. I'm finding the walls a bit too close for comfort today."

"I see." He studied her expression, as if trying to ferret out the true reason for her escape. She did her best to adopt a perfectly neutral repose. Finally, he gave a curt nod. "Very well, I shall escort you?—"

"No, please." She shook her head. "That's not necessary. I think that would only be courting danger should we be seen together. Two birds with one stone, if someone is truly out to do you harm." She prayed that her explanation was enough to throw him off of the scent that something was amiss.

Thankfully, although he frowned darkly, he exhaled sharply. "Very well. I shall have Amos escort you."

Fleur wasn't thrilled at the prospect of his henchman following her about, knowing that he also thought the worst of Flavian but since she knew she wasn't going to get out of there without an escort, she nodded her head. "Of course."

As he strode off, presumably to collect Amos, Fleur released a slow breath. She walked to the foyer, and after donning her pelisse, she waited patiently.

A short time later, Amos appeared, his single blue eye regarding her steadily. She said nothing but walked for the door where the housekeeper opened it from the other side. Sometimes she forgot that there were other people about in the house. They seldom made an appearance unless they were needed. She was sure that Drake had ensured it remained that way. He enjoyed his privacy, and if she was honest with herself, Fleur did too. She wished she was alone at the moment, as she didn't feel any sort of threat, but she knew that nothing short of a miracle would have convinced Drake to let her leave on her own. She should have been grateful that he was concerned for her safety.

Instead, it made her feel like she was some sort of prisoner that had to be watched constantly. That sensation had faded after she had been with Drake for a while but after today, she was starting to experience the same uncomfortable feeling.

Rather than hailing down a hackney, Fleur opted to walk the short distance to the park. The air had finally turned brisk with the approaching autumn, and as her cheeks and nose became cold, it helped to numb the rest of her body as well. It had been the right idea to head out for this little excursion.

"Is there something you wanted to say to me?"

Fleur glanced quizzically at her companion. He faced her with his eyepatch on the opposite side. While there was only one eye peering at her, it seemed more intimidating than if he'd had full sight. "What happened to your eye?"

She hadn't meant to speak so boldly, because Amos didn't seem like the sort of man to openly speak about his afflictions. However, he didn't seem to take offense as he returned matter-of-fact, "It was a knife fight."

"How… dreadful."

"Not for me." That blue eye flashed. "I retained my life. He wasn't so fortunate."

"Oh. I… see."

"Does it bother you to know that I have killed someone?"

Fleur considered that statement. "I suppose it should but something tells me you aren't a cruel man. You wouldn't have acted so rashly if it wasn't warranted."

Some of the stiffness in his shoulders relaxed slightly. "Then you would be correct. Believe me when I say the man I fought was not a great loss to anyone."

She inclined her head but didn't reply. She didn't feel there was a need to do so.

They allowed silence to envelop them until they reached the park. As they walked toward the toll gate, Amos noted, "This will soon be a distant memory for the park."

Fleur glanced at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

"The city has requested a man by the name of Decimus Burton to construct an arch honoring Wellington's effort during the war, as well as a grand new entrance."

"Interesting," Fleur murmured. "Although I saw nothing wrong with the current one."

"Aye. But there are some who prefer the newest and most fashionable, and who want to remind everyone that England is the greatest country in the world."

She slid her focus to him. "You sound as though you don't agree."

He shrugged. "For someone who has had to struggle under the tutelage of such a revered nation, perhaps I'm not the best person to ask when it comes to my opinion. I know several other people who would agree with my assessment, that for all the wonderful things England stands for, it has a habit of neglecting its own people."

Fleur had never thought about her own existence in those terms. "I would have to disagree." He looked at her steadily, so she explained, "I have not had an easy time of it myself. After our parents died, I devoted my life to taking care of my brother. We struggled but not once did I blame anyone for our dire straits. I knew I hadn't been born to the upper ten thousand but it didn't make me bitter or despise them because of it. I have heard of many members of the peerage who are not content when they should be able to buy their happiness. It shouldn't matter whether you are poor or rich. The fact remains that you have to discover the determination and find a way to better your circumstances."

He gave a light snort. "Is that what you've done by aligning with Drake?"

She stopped abruptly and glared at him. "It doesn't matter if Drake had anything at all to his name. It matters how he treats me. He might have been insufferable at first but he has been more than kind to me since." She set her hands on her hips. "Since it seems I must explain myself, I should set the account straight. I don't ask for charity or fancy baubles. I'm not his mistress. He bought my virtue in an auction. " As a couple of curious heads swiveled in their direction, Fleur lowered her frustrated tone. "I know you wish to perceive me as a villain, perhaps because Drake told me about Elina, but rest assured, I am not intent on hurting him."

She turned and started to proceed further into the park, however she could feel Amos's presence behind her.

"I can tell you care about him."

Her steps faltered. "I do."

Another slight silence fell and then, "I can't believe he told you about her."

Fleur didn't know if he was actually speaking to her or muttering aloud but she responded. "He did."

"He doesn't confide in anyone."

"I gathered that," she said dryly.

"Did he tell you about the paintings?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes." Her cheeks warmed. "He told me everything about his life before I met him if that's what you're wondering."

There was another hesitation, and then he said softly, "You must mean a great deal to him. He doesn't confide in anyone."

Her chest ached. "I hope so."

She felt a hand on her arm and she glanced at Amos. "I know you will have to make a tough decision soon. Don't regret your choice."

Fleur froze, wondering if he had known she'd been listening at the door when he had been discussing her brother with Drake. Gathering her conviction, she said firmly, "I won't. Anything I decide will be for the good of everyone."

Amos didn't seem to know what to think of that reply but he gave a curt nod and released her.

As Fleur continued the rest of her walk, she was glad that she had been able to clear the air with Amos. At least he would know where she stood if things turned sour.