Ryker returned home to change before he made his way to Tabbie’s family home. It would be important to make a good impression this evening.

The day had gone far better than he’d ever expected. While he questioned his former solicitor, the Prince Regent had taken it upon himself to capture the marquess for his crimes. Ryker still wasn’t sure how he’d been able to act so quickly. But he’d find out. He had an audience with his liege first thing in the morning to discuss the details, but tonight, he would turn his attention exclusively to his bride-to-be.

The family had already assembled in the salon before dinner, and he knew the moment he entered that the mood was jolly.

Tricia rose as he was announced, her smile glowing.

Luke gave him a nod and a wink that told him his new friend had made all the arrangements with the duchess.

Taking Tricia’s hand he tucked it into his elbow. “Thank you for having me.”

The duchess gave him a nod. “As family, you are welcome anytime.”

“Most kind,” he returned. “If there is anything I can do to help you, please let me know. I know His Grace has been ill. Is there work I can perhaps help with?” He’d be lying if he didn’t say there was an added bonus to offering his help. Nearly unlimited access to Tricia. Except, of course, the nights. He was going to have to figure something else out. Because two weeks until their wedding seemed like a dreadfully long time.

The duchess blinked, but then she smiled. “How wonderful. We’d like that very much.”

“I’ve a meeting first thing in the morning but then I will begin. Perhaps Teddie would like to join me? It’s a terrible bore but important nonetheless.”

Teddie nodded eagerly as Luke slapped the young man on the back. They would become his family in a way he’d never had before.

The rest of the evening passed in contented bliss. He enjoyed Tricia’s mother and brother as much as he did Luke and Tabbie.

But as it grew late, Ryker glanced at Tricia. He didn’t want to leave her. A wild plan to attempt to sneak into a duke’s home was forming in his mind when Tabbie interrupted the conversation.

“Mother, would you mind terribly if Tricia stayed with us again this evening? Unless you need her help with Father?” Tabbie leaned back in her chair. “She has been such a help and I have been feeling dreadful the past few days.”

“Tabbie, we shouldn’t discuss such things,” her mother waved her hand. “But of course your sister can stay with you.”

Tricia looked mildly confused but Luke gave him a wink. Ryker did not raise his eyebrows though his curiosity had been piqued.

A valise was packed for Tricia and then both carriages were brought to the front of the house. Tricia climbed in with her sister and brother-in-law and Ryker waved goodbye.

As his carriage began rumbling down the cobbled streets he was contemplating whether he’d have to wait outside Luke and Tabbie’s home to make sure that Tricia did not attempt to sneak to his. Though if she did, a wolfish smile turned up the corners of his lips, he’d simply have to make sure he gave her a proper escort.

But all at once, his carriage came to a halt.

He peered out the window to see what was happening when the door snapped open. Ryker grabbed at the pistol on his waist but it was only Luke’s grinning face. “Don’t shoot,” he held up his hands.

“Bloody hell,” he grumbled as he stashed the pistol away. “What do you want, scaring me like that?”

But instead of answering, he stepped aside and handed Tricia up into the carriage. “I thought after today you two would need some time together, as much as Tabbie and I did.”

Tricia gave him a glowing smile. “If you think I am bad, you should see the schemes these two come up with.”

Ryker was too happy to answer and then Luke was gone, snapping the door closed as Tricia launched herself into his arms. He held her tightly as he kissed every inch of her face and then devoured her lips.

“How did they get my driver to stop?” Ryker asked between kisses.

“Who knows,” she replied with a smile. “I’m just glad to be here.”

He kissed her again, long and slow. “Excellent point.”

Threading her arms around his neck, she twined her fingers in his hair. “What shall we do with all this time?”

He chuckled. “I think some rest is in order after the day you’ve had.” He kissed her again. “I’ll have to tuck you into my bed straight away.”

He felt her tense for just a moment before she relaxed again. “That sounds lovely.”

Easing back from her a bit, he kept her on his lap, kept his arms firmly around her. “We can wait to be intimate, I simply want you next to me where I know you are safe. Where I can hold you in my arms.”

Her breath caught then, and she gave him another glowing smile. “That is…” The words caught in her throat for a moment. “So thoughtful.” She kissed him again. “But I want to be with you.”

He smiled against her lips before his kisses began in earnest again.

“But I should warn you,” she said pulling back a little. “You might have to hire a new staff.”

He chuckled, “They will be discreet.”

She hardly noticed when the carriage rolled to a stop nor could she have found her way to his bedchamber again. She had no idea if any of the staff saw them because, as he carried her in his arms, he continued his onslaught of kisses.

She did hear the door bang into its frame but it barely registered as it clicked closed again. The next moment, she was under him, a soft feather mattress cushioning her body as his weight pressed into her. It was divine.

She was aware at how deftly he undid the tiny buttons on her bodice, how easily he maneuvered the strings on her corset. “You’ve done this before,” she managed to say as she tugged at his cravat without much success.

His lips slowed then as he leaned back and cupped her face with his hands. “I must confess, in my youth, to indulging a time or two. But I want you to know that this is something different entirely.”

Tricia wondered if she should confess that she didn’t understand. But as his lips nuzzled at her neck, her collarbone, and his hand began to slide up her body, to remove her shift, she forgot the question.

Just before taking the garment off, he stood and stripped all but his breeches off. The sight of his lean, muscular torso nearly undid her, but she blinked several times, trying to focus.

“What makes this different?” she finally blurted out.

But she almost instantly regretted it, because rather than pressing against her again, he sat down next to her. “My feelings for you,” he said as he reached to caress her arm, her shoulder. “They make me far more concerned about giving you pleasure than receiving my own.”

“Oh,” she sat up then, her arms wrapping around his neck. “Show me everything.”

He pulled her tightly against him and the feel of his back against her bare arms was delicious. She wanted to strip the rest of the clothing between them and feel every inch of his skin.

“It’s going to take a while to show you everything.” He gave a low guttural groan from deep in his throat. “But I think I know where we might start.”

Then he lay her back down and stripped off the last of her clothing. As his lips trailed kisses down her body, the heat and need built inside of her.

He stopped to suck on each of her nipples and she thought she might perish from longing.

As he skimmed his lips down her torso, he massaged her thighs higher and higher until his fingers were desperately close to the most intimate place. She knew that she wanted him to touch her there. And without meaning to, she found herself pressing closer in need.

Finally, he skimmed his fingers along her seam and a moan escaped her lips. Then, he placed a kiss in the same place. Her hips bucked of their own volition and she was lost in her desire.

As he increased the tempo, the pressure, she cried his name as she broke apart, shattering as she dug her hands into his hair.

“Tricia,” he groaned as her waves of pleasure finally subsided.

She wanted to hold him close and so she found herself tugging on his shoulders to bring him back against her chest.

He fumbled with his breeches as he moved back up her body and the moment his chest pressed against hers, the tip of his manhood touched her seam. Rather than be frightened, she found it to be…exciting.

Without realizing what she was doing, she thrust her hips up to feel more of him and found that he slid inside of her. “Tricia,” he gasped this time and she nearly chuckled. He seemed incapable of saying anything else. She managed to hold it in, sure that laughter was not appropriate now.

But she wound her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Doesn’t this feel like the beginning? The start to the rest of our lives?”

“Yes, my love,” he murmured against her lips. “I never realized how much I needed you until you were here.” He thrust inside her and she felt a pinch of pain but he stilled and kissed her over and over. “I’ve been missing so much. You have brought such color and warmth to my life.”

Emotion swept through her at his words. “And you to mine.”

Then he moved again and rather than pain, pleasure radiated through her.

They moved, nearly as one, as pleasure built again. Never had she felt more connected to one person. In her heart, she knew that what she felt for Ryker was forever.

It was with that thought that her passion broke again, and then he groaned, his own release following hers.

As they lay twined in each other’s arms, Tricia knew she’d found exactly where she was meant to be.