Page 20 of To Tame a Wicked Widow

For the longest time they lay together on the cushion, gasping for breath. He was a hot and heavy weight on her back, yet she didn’t want him to move, the warmth and connection of his cock inside her while her pussy still pulsed, his arms around her and his face in the crook of her neck far too good. “Mmmm,” she said, utterly content.

“I’m going to need a minute,” he mumbled. “You drained me dry.”

Madeline giggled. “I could’ve sworn that wasn’t an issue for younger men.”

“Minx.”

“Oh, yes,” she said softly. “One in need of equal parts discipline and affection.”

“Don’t dissemble. Love.”

She tensed and shifted her hand so she could twine her fingers with his. “Do you think that is possible?”

Very gently, Ethan withdrew, then turned her over onto her back. Even in the low light, his expression was grave. “Love is already a certainty, sweetheart. I believe I had an inkling from the day we met, but it only grew over time. The thought of you wedding another…I was crushed when you said you wanted a man of great and varied experience.”

Heat burned her cheeks. “I shouldn’t have worried so much about our ages. Neither of us can change that. And it really doesn’t matter when everything else is satisfactory.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Satisfactory?”

Somehow, she nodded. “Well, yes. A long way to paradise yet, my lord. Many, many years of study and exploration.”

“I see. Best get started, then,” he replied, lowering his head to flick his tongue across her nipple.

Madeline laughed. “I love you so.”

He grinned, his gaze at once scalding and tender. “Good.”

And then his hand slid between her legs, and she couldn’t think at all.

* * *

“I hope no one in the family has a weak heart.”

Ethan glanced down at Madeline, his lips twitching. “Do you think we should have arranged a physician to be on hand for the grand announcement?”

A mischievous glint lit her eyes. “They’ll just have to make do with a large brandy and a good snort of hartshorn.”

“Indeed they will. Now remember, no laughing.”

“Yes, my lord,” she replied, batting her lashes with such false demureness he almost turned around and hauled her upstairs to bed. Except they had the audience with his family and hers that they needed to get over and done with.

Taking her arm, he instead led her into the first floor drawing room at Dare House. Already waiting were Madeline’s mother, Mark, Penelope, Faith and Winifred, and the vicar.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” he said politely, inclining his head. “Thank you for being so prompt.”

“Of course, Dare,” said Winifred. “We are eager to hear your news. It must be terribly important to gather us all together like this.”

“Quite. And we’ll hear it much faster when Madeline remembers her manners and takes a seat,” said Faith.

Penelope sighed audibly. “Do hurry, dear. Perhaps you’ve forgotten, but we aren’t under your roof anymore.”

Ethan smiled. “On the contrary, Mrs. Smythe…” Every single person in the room looked at him in confusion, and his blood fizzed. This was going to bring him a great deal of satisfaction. “You are under Lady Dare’s roof, so I strongly advise keeping a civil tongue in your head.”

There was a moment of aghast silence, and then began a crescendo of gasps and shrieks that might have grated his last nerve if they weren’t so comical.

“What?” spluttered Faith. “How?”

“I’m delighted to confirm that Dare and I were married this morning by special license,” said Madeline sweetly. “Archbishop Manners-Sutton kindly did the honors at Lambeth Palace, witnessed by Lord and Lady Yardley.”