Page 62 of Dare to Risk it All

“Yes,” she agreed simply. “I could never have married a man who didn’t know how to be bad. He’d not know what to do with me.”

“Whereas I know exactly what to do with you.” He leaned down, brushing his lips over her neck and pressing a kiss to the curve where it met her shoulder. Her breath caught, her hands moving over him, setting fires wherever she touched him.

“I have something for you,” he whispered.

“I know,” she replied, stroking his hard length through his trousers.

Raphe snorted, helpless with laughter. “Not that!” he replied, charmed beyond reason by her boldness.

“Oh, but, Raphe,” she said, sounding like she might stamp her foot.

He pulled her hands away from his body, pinning her to the door.

“No,” he said, trying and failing to keep a straight face. “I meant, I have a present for you.”

“Oh,” she perked up a little at that, but then frowned, worry in her eyes. “But, darling. I told you I didn’t need gifts. You’ve bought everyone presents, and that’s very generous, but—”

He silenced her with a kiss, parting her lips and plundering without mercy, intent on scattering her wits and making her forget her objections.

“What were you saying?” he asked as he released her, pleased to see she was glassy-eyed and breathless.

“W-What? What was I saying?” she repeated and then gave up, shaking her head. “I forget.”

Feeling smug, Raphe thought perhaps his misspent life had not been a complete waste of time. He released her and hurried to the bed, retrieving the jewellery box that had been waiting for her all evening.

“This is for you, love, and I want no arguments, because for me, it’s an investment. I’m giving you everything I have. All of it. Because I have nothing worth a damn without you.”

“Oh, Raphe,” she said, the adoration in her eyes making him feel like the king of the world.

She took the box from him and went to sit on the edge of the bed, carefully undoing the pale green ribbon he’d bought because it matched her eyes. Raphe moved about the room, lighting the lamps so he could see as Greer tugged the paper aside to reveal the elegant blue leather box and flicked the little clasp holding it shut. Her breath caught as she revealed a double strand of large pearls laying upon a bed on blue silk. It was an exquisite set and had been extraordinarily expensive, costing him every penny he’d gained from the sale of the painting. The double row of sixty-eight pearls glowed with an inner light that seemed almost unearthly. They shone a creamy pink and seemed to illuminate her face as she held them up, staring at Raphe with shining eyes.

“I’ve seen nothing so beautiful in my life,” she said, her voice quavering. “I love them, and I love you. Oh, but, Raphe,” she hesitated, but Raphe understood her concern.

“I sold a painting,” he said, replying in a daze as her words flooded his heart. She loved him. Happiness was a fierce burn in his chest, and he moved to sit beside her. “Don’t worry. I’m bringing little enough to this marriage. At least let me give you something that will give us both pleasure.”

She smiled, handing him the necklace. “Put it on me, please,” she said, turning around.

Raphe draped the pearls in front of her, his hands not entirely steady as he fastened the diamond and gold clasp at the back of her neck. He smoothed the fine skin of her shoulders, exposed by the cut of her gown, and bent his head, pressing his mouth to her neck.

Greer’s breathing quickened, and he slid his arms about her, pulling her back against his chest.

“The day after tomorrow, you’ll be mine,” he said, a thrill of satisfaction lancing through him with the words.

She let out a soft breath of laughter, turning to look at him. “Silly man, I’m already yours. You don’t need a wedding ceremony to prove that.”

“I want one, though. People will think you’ve made a bad bargain as it is.”

Greer laughed again, louder now, the merry sound that always made him want to smile with her. She laughed with such ease, always ready to enjoy life, finding happiness in the smallest of pleasures. It was a rare gift, and one he would always cherish.

“I can assure you, the ladies will not think you a bad bargain. My word, they’ll be green with envy when they see I’ve caught such a handsome man.”

Raphe quirked an eyebrow at her. “Will you lord it over them for having tamed such a notorious libertine?” he asked, cupping her breasts with both hands and squeezing gently.

“Tamed?” she asked, her breath hitching as he caressed the taut peaks of her nipples through the gown. “Is that what I’ve done? I see no evidence of it. You’re as wicked as you’ve ever been.”

“True,” he murmured, moving to kneel on the floor in front of her. “Only now all my bad behaviour is reserved for you.”

Greer stared down at the big, handsome man at her feet. He looked like a dark angel, devastatingly beautiful, his eyes promising pleasure and sin in equal measure. It was becoming harder to breathe, her heart performing an erratic dance behind her ribs as his large, warm hands slid about her ankles and moved higher.