Anything but Innocent Read online

  “You can?”

  She smiled. “You’ve said it many times without saying it. From the very beginning, your actions spoke louder than your words. Your lips would say no, but your eyes would say yes.”

  “Now my lips, my eyes, my heart, and my head say the same thing. I love you.”

  Lucy took a deep breath, her heart swelling with her joy and love. She arched up and kissed him. Enough words had been said. She wanted to feel his love. She wanted to taste it on his skin. She kissed him hungrily or perhaps he kissed her. She didn’t know where she ended and he began anymore. They were one. He thrust inside her, holding her open as he filled her completely. He moved his hands to her shoulders and pulled her nightgown, freeing her breasts and breaking the kiss to pay homage to them.

  Lucy tossed her head back, riding the wave of his thrusts, losing herself in the tide of her pleasure and her love for him.

  “Stay with me. We have all night, we have forever.”

  Lucy couldn’t stop it. Her climax rushed over her, drowning her in sweet rapture.

  * * *

  Dean opened his eyes. He looked around the room, feeling the chill of the early morning now that the fire had burned low. He pulled the covers over her shoulders, drinking in her beauty, staring in wonder at the sole reason for his happiness. He stood and stretched, looking out the window to see the sun breaking through and the clouds glowing pink. Everywhere was still and quiet. Peaceful. That was exactly how he felt now. He’d found peace. After all this time. He’d spent years searching for a home for his soul, the place where the past could no longer touch him. He’d looked for it in the most distant and exotic places he could reach, the antithesis to his life in England. But all he needed was her. He looked around the room, pleased with the home he bought for them. It was like Aunt Harriet’s, and he knew she would love it as much as he did. It was a home for a family, a home for laughter and love.

  He looked around the room, laughing silently at the mess their lovemaking had created. He bent to pick up his jacket and waistcoat. He tossed them on the chair, but an envelope fell out. He frowned as he bent to pick it up. He couldn’t remember what it was? He turned it over. It was addressed to his father in a feminine script.

  He remembered now.

  He put on his trousers and crouched on his haunches to put another log on the fire and warm the room. He considered the letter. Should he burn it? The past was the past and this time, it would stay that way. Nothing but the future mattered now. But…that woman had a reason for giving it to him.

  He rested on one knee and tore the seal. He opened it with trepidation, afraid of the feelings that would come back when he faced anything to do with the past.

  * * *

  My Lord,

  I have longed to write this letter to you. Our families have been torn asunder, but I feel the blame for Lenora’s death was wrongly cast upon your son.

  All her life she was of a melancholy nature. She felt too deep, and it left her weak of heart. It was not Lord Winchester’s rejection that took her life. It was her heart. She’d given up some time ago. The damage was done and my daughter was taken from me. But it was by her own hand, not your son.

  I shall never forgive myself for pushing her into a marriage she did not want. She knew of her sister’s affections, as did I. If anyone is to blame, it is my husband and myself. We didn’t listen to our daughter or our conscience.

  Sincerely,

  Margarete Fallston

  * * *

  Dean crumpled the letter and closed his eyes. It wasn’t his fault. He was absolved of Lenora’s death. He waited for the sensation of relief. He was startled when Lucy appeared at his side and took the letter. She read it silently.

  He watched her, realizing she was the reason he didn’t feel relief. He didn’t need it any longer. She’d absolved him, cleansed him, and given him the ability to love again.

  She looked up and smiled at him. “I told you so.”

  A bark of laughter escaped him.

  “I’m usually correct in most matters, if not all.”

  He felt lighter, younger somehow. He stood and pulled his wife to her feet. “Have I told you I love you yet today?”

  “Not yet.”

  “I love you.” He touched his nose to hers.

  “I love you.” She grinned and then focused on his lips. “It’s too early to be out of bed.” She darted out her tongue and licked his bottom lip.

  “You are correct, as usual.” He swept her into his arms, the letter forgotten on the floor.

  Sneak Peek!

  Sneak Peek

  An Unconventional Innocent

  Dorothea raced through the frozen orchard. Her lungs burned ecstatically, her breath pluming out before her like a dragons. Her heart pumped, her fingers tingled inside her gloves, and her legs screamed for her to slow.

  She wouldn’t. Running felt too good. She waved her arms as her boot found a bit of ice on the ground and she squealed exuberantly as she caught her balance. She couldn’t help laughing at herself as she slowed at the last row of trees and stepped over the low stone wall marking the end of the property and orchard.

  “Drat,” she huffed. Mr. Hale was gone. Her letter to Rose would not go out today. Hands on her hips, pulse pounding wildly, she huffed in annoyance and turned to walk back to the cottage.

  It was then she saw the man a little ways down the lane.

  She froze, on the verge of slipping back into the orchard before being seen, but something stopped her.

  He swayed on his feet, his arms hugging himself.

  “Oh dear,” she whispered. Lucy and Winchester had only left yesterday, but Thea had already taken to talking to herself in their absence. Who was this man? What was he doing walking in this dreadful cold without a coat? Thea chided herself. She didn’t have a proper coat either, having forgotten it in her haste to catch Mr. Hale.

  She shouldn’t intervene. He could be a drifter, or a drunk. Lord knows what he would do if she intercepted him. She waited in indecision. He was walking slowly—limping really, and he didn’t appear to have noticed her.

  “Sir?” She called out. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.

  He looked up, swaying again as he raised one hand in…salute? She frowned.

  “Are you in need of aide?” She called out. She had a sinking feeling in her stomach.

  He hobbled quicker, a muffled reply erupting from him, and then he stumbled and fell to the ground.

  Thea cried out as she ran toward him. “Help!” She screamed, though she didn’t think anyone could hear this far from the cottage. She reached his side.

  “Sir?” She helped him roll to his side. He was shaking, his teeth chattering. His lips were blue, his cheeks red and veined from the cold.

  “My God, you’re nearly frozen.”

  His blue eyes looked up at her. “Win—win—test—ter.”

  “I’m sorry?” Thea hadn’t a clue what he was saying. She knelt on the ground, cradling his head in her lap. She had nothing to cover him with, nothing to provide warmth. She cursed herself for having left the house without a coat. Nothing in her letter had been so important that it couldn’t wait. Her hands shook as she pulled him by his lapels to bring him closer to her.

  “There is a cottage just up the lane. You can get warm there. We can summon the doctor.”

  “Win—win.”

  Thea shook her head. “Whatever it is, it can wait until you’ve warmed up a bit. Can you stand?”

  He nodded. Thea came to her feet and helped him to his. It was not easy. He was much taller than her and his movements were slow and disordered. He spun his arms as he came to his feet. He did an odd hop and Thea surmised that one of his legs must be injured.

  “Pleas, let me help you.” She ducked under his left arm and put and arm around his back. He winced and settled his arm over her shoulders.

  “Are you injured?”

  He nodded jerkily.

  “Come, then.”
r />   They started off slow. The further they moved, the more he learned on her and the more Thea realized how gravely his condition was. Had she not seen him, he may well have died out here on the lane alone.

  “Only a bit further now.” She tried to be cheerful. Her own teeth had begun to clatter.

  They reached the post that indicated the beginning of the drive to the cottage.

  “You see? We’re half way there.” She folded her hands into fists to warm them. She did notice that the side of her that was presently pressed up against him, was growing comfortably warm. She also noticed that the body she was pressed against felt rather nice and muscular. She bit her lip. She didn’t have to worry about a tell-tale blush, her cheeks were already stinging and red from the cold.

  “W—wait.” He stopped them just inside the drive. The shelter of the shrubbery along the drive shielding them from the biting wind.

  “L—le—eave me. Get—tt help.”

  Thea looked up at him and frowned. “I couldn’t do that. I can’t leave you here alone. It’s only a little further.”

  “I—can’t—move.” He leaned into the shrubbery and his eyes drooped.

  He’s too cold, Thea thought. He needed help immediately. She looked down the drive. It was so close and yet so far. The curve in drive kept the cottage just out of sight. She moved closer to him, seeking the warmth derived from their shared body heat while she frantically thought of what to do. Inspiration struck. If he was making her warm, she would do the same for him. She pressed her whole front to his and folded her arms around him. She rubbed his back vigorously.

  “Lean in to me and put your arms around me,” she urged him. “If I can warm you up a little than we can get you warm enough to make it to the cottage.”

  He slumped into her, burying his face in her neck. His skin was alarmingly cold, but she was reassured by the warm gust of his breath on her neck. She shivered again, but this time it wasn’t from the cold. She’d never held a man like this before. She’d never been pressed so tightly against someone.

  There was a long list of things she’d never done.

  Thea pressed her lips together and closed her eyes. She should be ashamed to admit that she was enjoying this moment.

  “There.” She made herself pull away. “It’s just around the bend. Can you make it?”

  He nodded once. He fell into her again as if he didn’t want to let her go, or at least, that’s what Thea preferred to think. She wiggled to his side and struggled to get him moving again. He hung on her heavily, only one of his legs moving efficiently, the other mostly dragging. They came in view of the cottage and were half way across the circular turnabout when the door opened and Jacob came out to assist them, followed by Mrs. Hale.

  “Good heavens!” She waved a towel in the air.

  “I found him on the lane. He is injured.” Thea huffed as Jacob took the man from the other side and assisted him into the cottage. Thea reluctantly relinquished her foundling when unexpectedly he grabbed her hand. He leaned heavily on Jacob, eyes closed, but his grasp on her hand was firm.

  Thea held his hand as she followed them into the cottage and up the stairs to one of the guest rooms. The fire was built high and a tub brought in.

  “Put him on the bed, Jacob.” Mrs. Hale instructed.

  The man was lain on the bed. He was still conscious, but held his eyes closed and grimaced at every movement.

  “Fetch the tub, Mrs. Croft and plenty of buckets, if you please, Jacob.”

  “What shall I do?” Thea asked with worry.

  “Rub his hands, Miss Manton. We’ll try to get what we can warm before the bath is ready.”

  Thea rubbed his hand vigorously and Mrs. Hale did the same with the other. His fingers felt like ice in her hand and his skin was very pale. “How long do you think he was out there?”

  “I can’t rightly say. A long time, it seems. No coat, to boot. You saved his life.” Mrs. Hale smiled at her.

  Thea smiled bashfully. “I don’t know about that.”

  “The ground is frozen, and snow is imminent. He very well could have died out there.” Mrs. Hale went on. She rubbed his jaw briskly with her hands to warm his cheeks. “The poor soul. I bet he’s mighty handsome with some color in his skin.”

  “Mrs. Hale!” Thea said with a scandalized whisper.

  Mrs. Hale chuckled. “He looks like a gentleman, Miss Manton,” she winked.

  Thea didn’t know what that wink meant. She wasn’t versed in the language of winks. She looked down to see his blue lips smiling and his eyes blinking open. He tried to speak but his teeth only chattered.

  “You’ve arrived at Winchester cottage, sir, by the grace of the fair Miss Manton.” Mrs. Hale nodded toward Thea.

  Thea stuttered in embarrassment. “I—Mrs. Hale,” she ground out in warning. “Will you desist?”

  Mrs. Hale chuckled as Jacob and Mrs. Croft returned. “You will have to leave now, Miss Manton. What would your mother say if I were to let you undress a man?”

  Thea wanted to stay, but she couldn’t for the sake of propriety, and because she couldn’t endure any more of Mrs. Hales teasing.

  She moved away, stopped short by the grip of his hand on hers. She’d forgotten she still held his hand. “I have to go now, sir. You will be well taken care of, I promise.”

  His blink was slow and weary as his eyes focused on her. “M—my Angel.”

  A warm flush filled her. “I will check in when I can.” She squeezed his hand one more time and let go. She bit her cheek as she left the room, fighting back a smile. She closed the door behind her and went to her room.

  She didn’t want to be smitten with a stranger, but she was.

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  About the Author

  Dayna Quince was only fourteen when she developed a serious addiction to romance novels. What began as an innocent desire to read became an all-out obsession with the romance genre. She gave book reports on romance novels, got in trouble for reading during lectures, and would rather spend her time reading than attending high school parties. After all, high school boys could not compete with the likes of Stephanie Laurens Devil Cynster. After getting her first job, her addiction only got worse. She now had her own money to spend and a car to get to Barnes and Noble as frequently as she wanted. She managed to maintain a somewhat normal life, marrying her high school boyfriend who was aware he was competing with fictional men for her attention. Dayna soon began writing her own romance novels, inspired by her love for all things romance. Dayna and her husband live in Southern California with their two children and three fur babies. Dayna is happiest at home where she can be with her family and write to her heart’s content.

  For more information about Dayna, please visit her website, “like” Dayna on Facebook and follow her on Twitter or Instagram. Sign up for Dayna’s newsletter to be notified about upcoming releases. She’s loves hearing from her readers. Email her directly at [email protected].

  Also by Dayna Quince

  The Fated for Love Series:

  Mine, All Mine

  Sweet Torture

  Storm on the Horizon

  To Love, Honor, and Obey

  Desperate and Daring Series:

  Desperate for a Duke

  Belle of the Ball

  Just One Kiss

  Anything But Innocent

  An Unconventional Innocent

  Mad About You

  Withered Rose

  Wildwood Flower

  An Undesirable Duke

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