Military Romance Collection: Contemporary Soldier Alpha Male Romance (136 page)

              She had sounded so confident, like she had a plan. But really, she had no idea what she would request. She needed time to plan this out, and she knew that he didn’t have time.

              He must’ve came to the same conclusion. “I agree to the three mysterious tasks, but on my terms. They must be able to be completed within the next three days. They cannot require excessive travel, or items that cannot be obtained along my timeline. Agreed?”

              He held out an unquestioningly masculine hand. She stepped forward, placing her much softer hand in his. He gripped it tightly. She could feel the callouses, the muscle, the hair. His hand was so much different than her own. He squeezed her hand and held it for just a minute too long. She looked up in surprise, and lost herself in the depth of his stare. Her body started to tremble.

              What had she been thinking, taking on a man of his power and stature? She had not questioned the fact that he was a man in control of his life. For the first time, she actually felt a bit frightened. This was certainly not the Count. If he wanted her, he would take her.

              Instead, he released her hand and stepped back. They both took in a relieved breath. The tension in the room diminished.

              “When will I receive these tasks of yours?” He seemed nervous, no doubt expecting some birds of paradise to come in with the missive or some equally embarrassing mode of communication.

              “I’ll send a note to you no later than dinnertime tomorrow. Is that acceptable?”

              He didn’t even pause. “Of course. If I may, please take my footman on your way home. He will have instruction to wait until he gathers your response to return to me.”

              She nodded. He bowed low to her and then escorted her out. His touch on her arm heated her entire body. She welcomed the reprieve of the cold outside.

              While she readied for bed, she thought about all the options for figuring out what kind of man the Duke of Hayward really was.

***

Grayson received the missive earlier than he had expected. Whether Greer had taken pity on the footman who was not able to sleep in his own bed, or even that she had already planned out the tasks in advance before accepting, he did not know. Nor did he specifically care.

              He opened the wax dripped on the back of the sheet. He was surprised at the quality of the parchment she had written on, but then realized she must’ve ‘borrowed’ it from the Count. It shouldn’t have been surprising to him, but it was. She had seemed like she would not be indebted to the Count in any way, yet here she was…using his writing tools.

              There were only a few lines of text, written in an undoubtedly feminine hand.

I have heard of your prowess in the stables, but a worthy husband must yearn after the scent of a woman more than the scent of horseflesh. To prove your worth, you must lose the Tour d’Artis that was scheduled for this afternoon. If anyone questions the loss, tell them that your heart is now held elsewhere.

              His mind halted. Was this serious? In order to procure a wife, all he had to do was lose a horserace? It seemed too easy. Then again, a gentleman never threw a race. But, was that really true? He supposed that the gentlemanly thing to do would be to do anything for a lady in need. She certainly didn’t seem to need his aid, but if this was all it took to secure marriage, and the partnership, he would gladly do it.

***

              Greer heard about the Tour d’Artis but did not dare frequent the racetrack to see if he would really do it. As it turned out, the whole ton was aflutter that the notable Duke not only
lost
the race, but he didn’t even attempt it. In fact, he had taken ever wager that was offered, including the offer of a small piece of his property on the edge of Somerhalder. Then the flag had dropped, and his horse had taken one charge, and then stopped.

              When questioned, he had repeated over and over that ‘his heart was held by another’.

              Greer was shocked. She had assumed that he would ride at a breakneck pace, and then stop just short of the finish line to take second place. Instead, he had thrown her challenge back in her face and done the complete opposite of what she had expected.

              He had taken the ultimate blow of manhood. To not only lose the race, but also money and land, and then to blame it on love.

              She laughed at out loud. Maybe she had underestimated this Duke of hers.

***

He received the second task not even twelve hours after the first. He tried to steady himself, picture the little vixen that had stood up in front of him the other night. Her hair tumbling down, her gown drab and worn, she had not let the garb drown out her brightness in the least. He didn’t know why he hadn’t seen it at first. She was no mouse. She was truly the lioness.

              He unrolled the parchment.

             
The town is abuzz with the professionof your love. Bravo. However, a silly race cannot compare to the humiliation of dancing with wallflowers. At the ball at O’Creche manor this evening, you must ask at least three wallflowers to dance.

              He almost laughed, an urge he hadn’t felt in a good long while. Wallflowers? She thought
wallflowers
would keep him from his business venture? At this point, he would give up nearly anything to be able to succeed in this endeavor, and prove the little nettle wrong about him. Clearly she believed too many of the rumors around ton. He was not nearly the rake the papers put him out to be. Sure, he’d had his dalliances, but what young man hadn’t?

              He called for Herron. “Ready my blue and gray. We’ve a ball to attend.”

***

She heard about the ball from at least half a dozen of her friends before the sun had even risen. The whole ton was awash with the new gossip. Rumor had it the Duke of Hayward had danced with the entire
row
of wallflowers at O’Creche manor.

              She nearly giggled in pure delight. Apparently the Duke was throwing her rules to the wolves and trying to show her that he was more than she thought.

              A part of her actually regretted that he would not complete the last task.

***

He waited by the front window for his footman. The last task had come earlier than the previous and he hoped that this one too would be earlier still. He wondered what it would be. Parading about the square naked? Dancing a jig in the middle of Parliament? Professing his undying love to his horse?

              The missive was shorter than the rest and he grew nervous. How far would she make him go?

             
Find an innocent that you have seduced and ruined, and offer marriage to her.

              He halted mid-step to his study. Surely she couldn’t be serious? She must think him the biggest rakehell, and wolf in sheep’s clothing. He had not made a habit of seducing innocents. He stuck to married and widowed women – much less drama.

              Suddenly, he hatched a plan in his mind. If she was determined to make him out to be a tried scoundrel, then a scoundrel he would be…

              Two hours later, he walked out of Rutherford’s drawing room with his head spinning. According to the Count, the woman he had been considering marrying was
not
a governess. She was, in fact, a lady! She wasn’t as titled as a duchess, but she was the daughter of a Viscount. That was not insignificant. Worse yet, he knew the Viscount Sutherland. He was a good, and powerful, man about ton. The fact that he offered marriage to her, not in the proper circumstances, would not likely go unnoticed around ton. In fact, he was sure to be the laughingstock of ton if this got out.

              A part of him questioned her motives. What she out to make a fool of him? Had that been her plan from the beginning?

              His plan that he had so meticulously drawn up suddenly seemed to strangle him. It had been such a decent plan. If she wanted him to seduce and propose to an innocent, he would do so. Because, after all, she had declared she was still an innocent herself!

              Besides that, the thought of seducing the comely lass wasn’t a completely unwelcome task. He hardened as he thought of her long blonde tresses, and full figure.

              At this point, he had only days left before his time would be up. He knew that he didn’t have time to seek another bride. And part of him really looked forward to making the little minx pay for the tasks she had put him through.

             
Seduction it is
, he decided.

              He contacted James, his friend from Eton and requested he delve into Lady Greer Maxwell. It didn’t even take the private eye an hour before he had her schedule. Grayson read through the list of activities. It appeared that the Lady Maxwell would be present this evening at Vaux Hall.

             
Apparently he was going to one last ball as a single man.

***

Greer clicked through the heavy double doors and into the Hall. She noticed that a group of gents immediately to the right of the stairway were giving her the once-over. She suppressed a shudder. She hadn’t quite recovered from the incident with Count such a small time ago.

              She smoothed down her merlot-colored silk gown. It was one of her favorites. It made her
assets
appear to their advantage, according to Addy. She saw one of her friends and headed over to her direction. On her way over, she caught sight of the clock. Only a few more hours before she’d know what the Duke of Hayward had decided to do. Was it wrong that part of her hoped he would turn down her task?

              Striding faster, she tried to leave those kinds of thoughts behind. The Duke of Hayward was not for her. He was callous. A rake. A scoundrel. She could find a decent man that would give up everything to be with her. And for the rest of her life, not just months. She understood what he apparently did not – that she would be ruined if they indeed proceeded with marriage followed by an annulment.

***

Maxwell walked into the crowded Hall. He searched around for Greer but without her plain clothing, he figured she would be hard to pick apart in a crowd. He knew her signature golden tresses, but unfortunately not a lot more. Her figure was buried in plain loose clothing, but he was fairly certain her curves would stand out.

              He made the necessary small talk until he could take it no longer. Perhaps she had not come. He had turned to head out the front door when he caught sight of her.

             
Her.
The women that had been in lavender and cream when he had first seen her. She was deliciously rounded in all the right places, and only a few feet from him. Again, she had her back turned towards him. This time he could hear her voice. And he knew it instantly.

              She tilted her head in his direction and he stumbled to a halt. Her gaze caught his, and he heard her audible intake.

              It was Greer. Her hair was curled and piled high on her head, and her dress was tailor made of shiny silk, but it was definitely her.

              How had he missed this? He should’ve recognized even just the backside of her. But somehow, he would never have placed the haggard governess in the same visage as the angel before him.

              He quirked his head in the direction of the retiring room. She answered with an impersonal smile and then turned her head back around.

              That little tease! Well, he’d show her. They were no longer on her turf. She owed a debt to
him
.

              He came upon the group, and all eyes turned curiously toward him. It wasn’t every day that the Duke of Hayward joined an intimate gathering like this.

              “Lady Maxwell, would you care for a turn about the room?”

              He saw her eyes widen. Clearly she had not been expecting that. “Unfortunately, my lord, I fear I’ve just recently twisted my ankle. I will not be able to walk with you.”

              All the female members of the party sucked in a breath. This was not done. An eligible female turning down an eligible duke?

              He retaliated in a smooth and overly charming manner. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Please, let me escort you to the retiring room so you may have a brief reprieve.”

              He held out his arm. To ignore such a gesture would be a cut direct, and of course Greer knew that. She clenched her jaw visibly and took his arm.

              She waited until they were behind the doors of the retiring room to start to berate him. “How dare you take ahold of me in that manner! I’m am a
lady
, not your servant! You cannot drag me around like a limping dog!”

              He bit back a smile. Clearly this cat had found her claws. Well, he had talons. He stepped forward, forcing her back. They repeated this awkward dance until her back was to the wallpaper and his body was inches from her.

              He was so close he could even see her pupils dilate when his finger rose to caress her face. “Little Greer. What a merry chase you’ve led me on.”

              She stuttered, “It-t wasn’t my intention to play games, my lord. It was y-you who offered me a proposal below my station, and insulted my virtue!”

              His fingertips trailed down from her hairline to her jaw and tilted her head up. “About this virtue. It would appear that our bet is still on.”

              She gasped. “Surely, you cannot mean that…but I…you wouldn’t!”

              He smiled a Cheshire cat smile. “Oh, wouldn’t I?”

              He dropped his mouth to rest on hers gently, giving her the feeling that if she truly pulled away he would let her go. Problem was, her limbs wouldn’t seem to cooperate and pull away from him! Maybe it was the punch. Or the heat from the ballroom. For whatever reason, she stood there and let the assault on her mouth happen.

              It started slow and heated, but when she couldn’t hold back a whimper, the onslaught became much more passionate. His mouth bruised hers, biting gently on her swollen lower lip. She allowed his tongue inside her mouth, groaned at the sensation of his warmth inside hers.

              He pressed against her and she could not miss the inescapable hardness. She shivered when his mouth trailed down her neck to place open mouthed kisses on her exposed collarbone. To her shame, she even planted her hands in his thick hair and dragged his mouth down to her breast. Thankfully he had the intuition to move the silk aside first before it was stained permanently.

              She gave a breathy scream when he bit down on herturgid nipple. In retaliation, she slid her hands up underneath his evening clothes until she felt bare skin on bare skin. It was his turn to shudder when her nails gently slid over his silky torso.

              He placed his hands on her waist, and she hugged his shoulders. He lifted her up against the wall, just forcefully enough for her to gasp, although whether it was from the sudden movement, or the press of his heat against hercore , she didn’t know.

              He kept her pinned to the wall while he gathered her dress in his hand. She felt the cool air on her calf, then her knee, and finally, her thigh. He kept her distracted with kisses to her breasts, mouth, and neck. When his fingertips traced the garter at her thigh, she pressed into his palm. He caressed her mound until she was shaking in need.

              Just as she was about to burst, he pulled away. She made a moan and he let out a breathy chuckle that turned into a groan when she fondled him through his breeches. He hastily let out the ties. He tipped her chin up to meet his eyes.

              “Greer.”

              She let out an inquiring moan, still undulating against his hand.

              “Greer!”

              She finally blinked his face into focus.

              He shook his head like he couldn’t believe he was saying this. “Tell me to stop.”

              “What?” she breathed.

              “Tell me to stop, and I will. If you don’t tell me stop, I’m going to have you up against this wall. Right now.”

              She let out a soft wail in response. He felt her wetness drip down her thigh. His eyes glazed over. How could he function when she was so responsive? Here he was, trying to do the right thing for once!

              “Greer! Tell me what you want,” he ordered.

              “I want you,” she responded instantly. His cock twitched even further to attention. He doubted she even knew what she did to him.

              “I’m not going to say it again. Just one word from you, and I’ll stop.” Anticipating her reaction, he lifted her skirt until the bottom of her drawers were visible. Caressing her through the slit in the frail linen, he only waited a moment longer before allowing himself to rub against her. They both let out a moan, and he placed his tip against her. She pulled him down to her mouth and he couldn’t hold back.

              He slid inside her slowly, keeping an eye on her face and prepared to stop if she was in intense pain. He could see the twinge of discomfort, but she glared at him and dared him to say anything. He wanted to laugh, but the feeling of her tight passage squeezing his arousal was too overwhelming for him much to do anything but breathe and concentrate on not spilling himself inside her.

              He placed his thumb on her sensitive bud. Every time he thrust, he felt her clench around him. When her body started to shake around him, he lost control. He bit down on her shoulder, felt her nails rake down his back, and lost himself inside her.

              He stood there, heaving, bracing her weight against his, until finally he let her slide down the wall. He cleaned her carefully with his handkerchief, allowing no stains to mar her pristine gown.

              When they were both reasonably put back together, he didn’t let her speak.

              “I’m not going to apologize, Greer. I knew that you were the one I wanted. I just didn’t know it until I saw you here.”

              She shivered in the absence of his warmth. “You mean, because I have a dowry and am not a destitute servant.”

              “No,” he retorted. “It’s because I didn’t think I could have such strong feelings for two people. That wouldn’t be fair to my
wife
.”

              “What do you mean, two people?”

              He stilled. Maybe it was better to not tell her. Quelling his fair that she’d think him mad, he told her, “I saw you. Back at Rutherford’s. In the purple dress. I had this…instant attraction to you, but I didn’t know who you were. And then you were gone.”

              She looked up at him curiously. “Why, Hayward. How romantic!”

              He placed a warning kiss on her lips until she was giddy. “Careful, minx,” he growled in a dangerous-sounding voice.

              Before he knew it, she had danced away from him and out the door. Damn it. She was going to get away, again! Not this time.

              He followed her back into the crowded ballroom. The musicians were in the middle of a lively jig, but when he caught their eye, they immediately stopped. Even the musicians recognized his authority here. If only his fiancé-to-be would, as well!

              He cleared his throat, making eye contact with Greer, who stood shocked. He could only imagine what she must be thinking.

              “I have an announcement to make. Several of you are aware that my feelings have been tied up in a rather odd fashion towards a lady of limited acquaintance. What you don’t know is that I’ve just asked her to be my wife. And she has
agreed
.”

              At his last word, the ballroom broke out in a stunned roar. It would be the wedding of the year. It was not every day that a Duke married, especially one of Hayward’s reputation and status.

              He calmed them down with a slice of his hand, and held that same hand out in Greer’s direction. “May I present my
fianceé
, Lady Greer Maxwell.”

              She hesitantly placed her hand in his. Her eyes glared at him, knowing that he had circumvented both the rule and proper etiquette of requesting her father’s permission first. However, one did not defy a duke.

              He let her look away, but then knelt down before her. She snapped her head back at him in astonishment. Dukes did not kneel at the feet of ordinary ladies.

              “Greer,” he murmured only for her ears. “Marry me. A real marriage. With love, hopefully, and children. And lots of bedding.”

              She let out a bemused chuckle. Apparently the rake was not gone forever.

***

THE END