Chapter 10

After sending a note to Pinerose that Letty was safely at his print shop and that he would return her once they had a moment to speak, Mac made his way up to the apartment he called home.

Letty, a vision in a crimson gown, wandered around the modest room peering at the numerous articles and images from The Hard Truth. His décor was strictly functional: a dark blue sofa with a matching armchair and an expansive bookshelf took up most of his parlor.

He had little spare time, the only person who did visit him was his brother, Gilbert. Neither his mother nor his eldest brother had ever graced his home with their presence. His mother always thought he lived far beneath their station in life, and Mac and his eldest brother weren’t able to occupy the same space for more than a brief moment without a disagreement erupting.

Letty turned from the framed pamphlet—a depiction of a man in chains—to face him, a sad smile on her lips. “I did tell you to do everything in your power to save your print shop.” She waved her hand at the wall, where most of his best work was on display. “This is why.”

It was the only thing he had done since moving into the small space—the only thing he’d ever been proud of was his work. He’d once thought he’d do anything to save the paper.

Unable to keep his distance from her, he closed the gap between them, wrapping his hands around her waist. “I couldn’t do it.” He let out a weary breath.

She took a step away from him, breaking his heart into pieces. Letty sat down on the dark blue sofa, looking out of place in his meager abode in her sinful gown.

She stared up at him, her golden eyes filled with pain. “But you originally agreed to the plan, did you not?”

Shame filled him at how na?ve and desperate he’d been. He hadn’t even liked Cedemoor, but the other man had attended Eton with Mac’s eldest brother, Rafe.

“Yes. The print shop was failing, rent was astronomical, and my eldest brother refused to give me the funds. Cedemoor’s offer was simple: get to know his sister and compromise her. I didn’t think it would take much more than simply being caught alone together. However, being with you was more than I’d ever hoped or dreamed.” He sat in the armchair across from her, struggling to keep his distance. “I was a fool to agree to his offer, and I realized it the moment I saw you.”

“But you did agree. When did you inform my brother that you wouldn’t compromise me?” She folder her arms, her voice shaking with anger.

Mac deserved her anger, and he would gladly take it for the rest of his life as long as the end result was her forgiveness.

“I left Norfolk and thought that if I didn’t contact him, the matter would be closed, but he paid me a visit the day after Richmore’s ball. I told him then that I had feelings for you and that I would not be a part of his plan.” Mac rose from his chair, moving toward her. Bending, he took her by the hand. “I love you Letty, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Cedemoor’s scheme.”

She stood, leaving him kneeling on the floor. Mac rose, wanting to chase her across the room and fall to his knees, but he was frozen in place, his heart inundated with hope.

“Am I supposed to just forgive you?” she asked, standing in front of the small window. “Act like it never happened, like you didn’t break my heart into a thousand pieces?” She pressed her balled fist to the center of her chest. “Is that what you’re expecting by bringing me here?”

“No.” he strolled over to stand in front of her. “I expect you to make me pay for the rest of our lives for even believing for a moment that I could’ve done anything to hurt you.” He wrapped a hand around her waist, dragging her to him. “I expect you to make me beg every night for your forgiveness.” He cupped her cheek, his heart pounding as loud as cannon fire in his ears. “And if in twenty years, you still doubt that I have loved you from the moment I saw you, then you have my permission to rip my fucking heart out and keep it as your own.”

Tears fell from her eyes, and he held his breath, hoping and praying that the beautiful temptress in front of him would forgive him and make him whole again. He was lost without her, his Letty, his love.

“If you ever lie to me again or do anything to vex me.” A smile played at the corner of her lips. “I promise you Mac Meriweather, I will gladly rip your heart out.” She took hold of his lapels, pulling him to her.

Her words filled him with unspeakable joy and relief. He pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss before pulling back to stare in her eyes. “Sweetheart, if I do anything, you have my full permission to punish me in any way you see fit. I love you, Letty. I was a fool to care about my business more than my happiness, and now I know the one person that makes me happy in this entire miserable world is you.”

“Mac, you make me happy too, and I love you,” she said, pressing her hand to his whiskered cheek.

They were the sweetest words he’d ever heard in his life, and he wanted to hear them forever and ever from her lips. Mac kissed her palm, her wrist, and down her arm, happiness pulsing through his veins as she laughed at his antics.

His lips found hers again, this kiss hungrier than the last as they clung to each other like their very lives depended on that one connection. Her fingers dragged through his hair, as his lips trailed to her neck. Pressing his hard length against her, Mac forced himself to pull away from her tempting form.

“I better return you to your father before it’s too late?—”

“No, I want to stay with you,” she whispered standing on her toes to tease his lips. “We are getting married after all, aren’t we?”

“God yes,” He lifted her in his arms, walking toward his bedchamber. “As soon as humanly possible.”

Once inside the sparsely decorated bedchamber, he set her down on her feet, his lips unable to part from hers for more than seconds at a time. Letty removed his coat before making quick work of his waistcoat, her eagerness spurring Mac into action.

Slowly turning her around, Mac kissed the shell of her ear as he unbuttoned the back of her gown. His tongue trailed down her exposed back, her smooth skin awakening a hunger in him.

“You were being very wicked wearing this dress, Lady Leticia,” he said as the last button was freed and the dress loosened on her curvy form.

“I wanted something scandalous. I just wasn’t prepared for the amount of attention I would receive.”

The dress fell to her feet, revealing her lack of underclothes. Mac stared at the temptress in front of him, dressed in nothing but a thin chemise and stays that had her delectable breast spilling out.

“Whose attention?” he asked turning her back around to face him.

If any one of those degenerates at Pleasure House had done anything to her, he would make them pay.

“Don’t worry, I was saved by two gallant ladies—Madam Delcour and the Duchess of Richmore.” Letty stepped out of her gown as she began unlacing the front of her stays.

Mac couldn’t help the smile at two ladies saving his love. He had met Madam Delcour on several occasions, and he knew the formidable woman would not allow any harm to come to anyone attending one of her famous events.

Letty placed her stays on the chaise lounge in his chamber while Mac picked up her discarded gown.

“Perhaps you should wear this on our wedding day,” he said, placing the gown down beside her discarded stays.

“Mac!” She hit his chest playfully, and he took her hand, pressing her to him.

If this was going to be the rest of his life, he was going to be blissfully happy. Nothing else mattered, but the woman in his arms.

He lifted her chemise over her head, adding it to the pile of clothing on the chaise.

Mac let out an animalistic groan at the sight in front of him. She was bare from the waist up, her smooth brown skin on display, her perfect breasts begging for his touch.

Letty stepped back, her fingers tugging at the waist of her drawers.

“Take them off.” Mac couldn’t help the command in his voice as the light from the fireplace danced on her skin.

He pulled his own shirt over his head, enjoying how her eyes widened at the sight of his bare chest. He was rather proud of his body. Years of manual labor at the print shop, and bareknuckle boxing with his brother and Richmore had enhanced Mac’s physical appearance greatly.

Swallowing, she slid her drawers down long legs, revealing thighs and calves toned from her enjoyment of riding.

Unable to stand the space between them a second longer, Mac reached her in one stride, lifting her off the floor and crashing his mouth to hers. He groaned in pure bliss as her taste erupted on his tongue.

Striding over to the large brass bed, Mac laid her down, unable to tear his lips away from hers. If he had his choice, he would kiss her for all eternity.

“You have on too many clothes,” she panted against his lips.

Standing, Mac made quick work of removing his boots and trousers. Her fingers reached out and traced the hard planes of his abdomen, and he thought that he would complete himself right there on the side of the bed.

Taking her hand, he crawled in beside her, covering her much smaller body with his. She shivered slightly as his mouth found hers in a slow sensual kiss. Small hands traveled up and down his back, torturing his aching cock. Mac was unbelievably hard but knew she was an innocent. He couldn’t claim her like she was an experienced woman.

Nor did he want to.

What he wanted was to treasure and worship her for a lifetime.

Staring into her eyes, he twirled a lose curl around his finger. “Never leave me again,” he said, unable to hide the pain he’d felt for the last twenty-four hours.

“To be fair, I only left you for one day.” She gave him a breathtaking smile, mending his heart.

“It felt like an eternity without you,” he admitted, not caring how vulnerable it made him.

It had been the longest day of his life, thinking she would never forgive him, trying to figure out how he was going to survive without her. Now he would never have to fathom it; she was going to be his forever.

“I love you,” he whispered, wanting to say it as often as he possible.

She pulled him to her, taking control of his mouth. He allowed her the freedom to devour him, her fingers entwined in his hair while his hands memorized every inch of her.

Mac kissed down her neck to the swell of her breasts then trailed his hand up her long leg. Every part of her felt like the finest silk he had ever touched, and he wanted to wrap her around him forever.

Savoring one breast and then the other, Mac teased her nipple with the tip of his tongue, eliciting a needy whimper from her lips.

Fuck, he had never heard anything more sinful in all his life.

His finger teased her wet core, his cock pulsing in jealousy. If he didn’t take her soon, he was sure to spill all over his bedding.

“God, Mac!” she cried, her back arching, fingers pulling at his hair.

Her wetness coated his finger, and he so desperately wanted it to be his tongue.

“I’ve thought of nothing but tasting you again.” He kissed a trail from her breast down to the apex of her thighs, where he was greeted by a thick thatch of dark curls.

Without hesitation or thought, he buried his face in her sex, loving the quiver in her thighs as they grazed against his cheeks.

Lifting her bottom, he chuckled darkly at her squeal of surprise as he pulled her to him, devouring her sweet little honey pot. Her essence on his tongue sent him into delirium as he entered her tight hole with his tongue.

“Oh!” She shook her head from side to side, pulling painfully at his hair.

He savored every damn sound, every shiver. She was his, and he was hers, now and forever.

She let out an agonizing cry of pleasure that had his cock weeping. Her body stiffened in his embrace as she lifted her hips off the bed.

He swallowed her nectar, relishing in her taste.

Mac teased her nub as he fucked her with his tongue. Her walls tightened as her thighs squeezed around his head nearly suffocating him, but he didn’t bloody care. Her release was all that mattered to him, and he feasted on her as he licked a sinful path to her swollen bud, sucking it in his mouth.

“Oh God, Mac! No more! I can’t! I’m going to swoon!” she cried, hitting his shoulders.

Kissing up her body, he worshipped her breasts as she panted heavily beneath him, her hand gripping his aching cock.

“Take me, make me yours forever.” She kissed his damp lips, and he knew she could taste herself.

“My wild little temptress, you’re already mine forever,” he said, taking his cock out of her hand and lining it up with her soaking flesh.

Slowly, Mac thrusted forward, groaning in pleasure at the tight sheath around his member.

Letty whimpered, her arms tightening around his neck.

“Open for me, sweetheart. I have you,” he whispered, pushing the hair out of her eyes as he pushed himself deeper.

All movement stopped as he pierced her maidenhead. He captured her cry of distress with his lips, trying to ignore the swell of pride at knowing he would be the first and the only man to ever be inside of her in such a way.

“Dear God, Letty, I love you,” he whispered against her lips.

His body shook in a desperate need to move, but he would wait until she was ready. Mac’s heart felt so full of love and adoration for the woman in his arms that he couldn’t contain the emotion spilling from him.

“Mac,” she said, brushing the tears from his cheeks. “I love you.”

Capturing her lips, he began slowly moving inside of her. The only sounds in the room were their breathy sighs and moans as he claimed her as his bride.

It didn’t matter that they still had to procure a special license and marry, she was his wife in every way that mattered to Mac.

Interlacing his fingers with hers, he held them over her head as he thrusted deeper inside her. Her legs were spread wide, her lips swollen from his kisses. She was a vision in her rapture, and he vowed to always give her such pleasure as her husband.

“Kiss me,” she demanded, her body quaking with each powerful lunge.

He slanted his mouth to hers without stopping his desperate movements. Her wetness coated his member, her breasts pressed against his chest, and he tried to prolong his own release, but he couldn’t.

Slipping a hand between them, he massaged her swollen nub, wanting to feel her come apart on his manhood.

“I want to feel your wetness on my cock, Letty. Can you do that for me, sweetheart?” he asked, before he bit her bottom lip.

Increasing his speed, he swirled his finger one last time, her body jerking in pleasure, her walls squeezing around him.

“Fuck!” he shouted unable to contain himself a moment longer as he spent inside of her.

She cried out under him, her teeth biting his shoulder as she moved her hips meeting his jerky movements with her own.

They stayed wrapped in each other arms for what felt like an eternity until Mac rolled them over, pulling her into his side and kissing her forehead.

He’d never love another like he loved Lady Leticia Crane, and that single thought pleased him more than delivering the truth ever would.

“Mac,” she said, playing with the thin hairs on his chest.

“Hmm?” he asked, his eyes closed and his body so relaxed that sleep wasn’t far off.

“We’re not living over the print shop.” She kissed his chest, and his flaccid member jerked in anticipation.

He laughed, pulling her naked body impossibly closer to his own. He never knew such happiness ever existed, and now that he did, he would never let it go.

“I’ll live wherever you want me to, as long you’re with me,” he assured her, kissing the tip of her nose.

“Always,” she said before pressing her lips to his.