Seducing September's Scoundrel by Diana Bold & The Rake Review

Author:Diana Bold & The Rake Review [Bold, Diana & Review, The Rake]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

Hadrian spent nearly two hours in the taproom, drinking ale and thinking about the turn his life had taken before finally gathering his courage and returning to the room he would share with Lilly. He was a little unsteady on his feet when he opened the door and found his new bride sleeping on the sofa.

A reluctant smile curved his lips at the sight of her before he finally gathered himself enough to shut the door behind him.

What was she doing in here? He had expected to find her sound asleep in the bed with the door closed between them. But she had obviously tried to wait up for him. Or perhaps she’d had some misguided intention of leaving the bed for him.

Well, he couldn’t have that. He wanted her comfort more than he wanted his own.

For a moment, he pondered that, wondering if he had ever felt like that about anyone before and feeling a tad guilty when he realized he hadn’t.

He approached the sofa and stared down at her, his gaze taking in the way her long eyelashes feathered across her high cheekbones and the dark smudges beneath her eyes. She had probably spent many sleepless nights leading up to their wedding. The weight of his responsibility toward her hung heavy on his shoulders. She was the one person in the world who had always accepted him as he was. He didn’t want to break her heart.

And yet, he felt it was inevitable.

With a sigh, he turned away and pulled down the bedcovers, fluffing the pillow and ensuring the sheets were clean. Then he returned to the sofa and picked her up in his arms, holding her close to his chest and just breathing in her lovely peaches and cream scent. Then he carried her to the bedroom and tucked her carefully into bed.

He was about to turn away when her eyes fluttered open. “Hadrian?” she whispered, her pretty brow crinkling with confusion. “Where am I?”

She was obviously still half-asleep. “We’re at the inn on the way to Autumnwood Hall. You must have fallen asleep on the sofa. I carried you to bed.”

She blinked up at him, still groggy. “I was waiting for you.”

The words tugged at something deep inside him. Had anyone ever waited for him? Probably only her, when they were young. While part of him chafed against the thought, the rest was undeniably pleased. Would it be the worst thing in the world to have someone? Someone who actually cared about him? He had been alone for so long that he could hardly fathom it.

“You should get some sleep,” he murmured. “We have to be up early in the morning.”

“The sofa is too short for you,” she told him, finally seeming aware of her surroundings. “You should have left me there and taken the bed.”

“Despite what the Brazen Belle says, I am a gentleman,” he said flippantly, although his heart raced strangely.

She glanced at the space beside her. “There’s enough room here.” She blushed crimson. “I know you’re not interested in me.

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