Chapter 46

Earl looked from the man to Nellie, naturally, he would have been very relieved to find that she was still here, but what the hell was she doing down in the parlor- at that time of the night, with Richard Lorey, the clumsy arrogant son of Lord Lorey, whose quest for power and his loud mouth was nothing compared to that of a market woman? Had she resorted to finding herself a suitable husband while he was away for just a few days?

Damned woman! She should have had some dignity to wait a few more weeks, or days. Or at least until she was sure he had died before bringing her new love interest into his house. Now he couldn't promise he wouldn't kill anyone, not with the way he was feeling anyway, not with the anger and frustration he came home with.

Earl fumed as he stood by the hard wooden floor of his parlor. It was raining outside- pouring actually and a cold draft seeped into the room from outside the window. Usually, Earl found the sound of rain soothing. He even enjoyed taking over sleeping in his bed during the storm. There was something primal about them that stimulated all his senses. He wasn't going to get the opportunity tonight. He couldn't sleep. Even if he tried, with his head against the wall. It wouldn't be the first time he had been in an uncomfortable place these past days, and sitting up, for that matter. But it just wasn't going to happen here, not with the clumsy brute standing in his parlor with the woman he had given him sleepless nights in a comfy position only a few feet away from him.

Actually, that was just one of the reasons why he had come home, to take responsibility, to decide what he wanted with the dark haired woman standing next to Richard… Was she eluding him? The emotions churning in his gut were a bigger deterrent. He couldn't remember ever feeling this angry and he was having a difficult time dealing with it. Not even when Ina was taken away from him, But then, he had never had something taken from him right under his nose before. He couldn't believe Nellie was doing this. She was so angry
with him that she couldn't just wait for his return?

He had been heading home two days ago and he could have easily been persuaded to kneel before Nellie if he found her at his home, just to get her forgiveness. Well, maybe not easily. She was the reason he'd decided to come home a few days earlier than he'd originally planned. He wanted to get close to her as quickly as he could because of the temptation she presented. That temptation had grown. As soon as she stopped being disagreeable, he'd started thinking of how nice she'd look in his bed. It got to the point where he'd wanted her so much, he'd thrown caution to the wind and actually admitted to himself that he had never wanted any woman as much before.

Stupid thing to do, that. It had just made him want her more. And she hadn't waited for him. Instead, she had begun hunting for a husband. That was like adding a spark to the smoldering fire, and was probably why he'd gotten so drunk those last two days on port, and why he had gone to that ball and foolishly tried to sabotage the Rodhalm girls' husband hunt. And then seeing her with Richard now in his, the one suitor she seemed to favor the most. .. he wasn't surprised he had embarrassed Judy much as she claimed he did. He couldn't recall exactly what she had said, but he certainly remembered their mother scolding them for it.

He sighed to himself. It appeared that he'd succeeded and she'd revealed her true colors now. Damned woman really was going to take a husband and leave before he even got a chance to explain himself! Right under his nose. But he should have made her amenable to him already. She was attracted to him. He'd noticed it from the beginning. He could have at least cajoled her into a better sleeping arrangement. But his anger was getting in the way. The thought of trying to charm her was abhorrent to him right now. Because she held the upper hand. Because she'd stolen his heart, yes. He could finally admit it now, cracked a space open in his heart that needed to be filled. Or because despite all that, he still wanted her? What is wrong with you Earl?

Earl eased from the doorway and stepped into the parlor now, "Nellie, I never imagined you would need an husband to go back with, I would have arranged for a very suitable one"

"Earl, you are back" Nellie stuttered.

"Yes. I guess I would have been better off dead, but I am here" He said it with such calm that he cussed himself silently.

He did not want to be calm, he wanted to shout, he wanted to be pissed, he wanted to tear the brute beside her limb by limb, to unrecognizable pieces.

"Lord Earl, Lord Charlie, you are welcome"

Earl tuned to see Ariel, the woman whose name had not left his friend's lips the whole time they were on the road back, Charlie had promised he would make things right with her if he came back home alive when they had been faced with the Rogues on the way and it had seemed it would be their last day. Now, he looked so uncomfortable standing there, in the same room with her.

"I'll go in now, since you are here already," Ariel added before heading up the stairs.

Right, so she had come to chaperone her mistress while she was at it with her new suitor. Just right, Charlie gave him a look that told him not to kill anyone or cause any more trouble with Nellie before running up the stairs. He seemed to have compelled Astrid to do the same because she reluctantly headed up the steps, hardly tearing her gaze from Nellie.

Crazy woman! He was tempted to toss her to the Rogues through their ride here, the woman had no sword skills! Naturally, they would have arrived the same day they left the Rodhalm mansion, which was two days ago, but they had run into an ambush of Rogues who seemed to have been eagerly waiting for them. They had had to juggle between killing the Rogues to save their lives and keeping Astrid from being killed or taken by them. He couldn't abhor her any less.

"You are drenched in rain Earl, you will catch a cold" He thought he heard concern in her voice, but he ignored it, he hadn't even noticed he was drenched after he came into this blasted house.

"Am I?" He looked from her to her suitor, he covered the distance between them and stood in front of Richard Lorey now, "Mind telling me why you are here Richard? I thought I made myself clear the last time our paths crossed, there are levels to trespassing"

"Lord Earl…" Lorey began

"It is Alpha for you" Earl cut in.

The man shuddered when Earl reached out to grab his neck, he didn't even know he was making for his neck until he saw Richard's eyes widen in horror and his face twisted in pain.

"Earl, you are going to kill him!"

Nellie tore his hands away from Richard's neck, was his grip on the man too tight? It was just a simple contact his hands made with his neck, he shrugged, he probably didn't realize how angry he was. His wolf must have taken control. Especially when his wolf was far too protective of Nellie than it had ever been with any other person he had known, bad choice.

"Get out, Richard. And don't ever imagine yourself coming an inch close to her again. The next time you do, I'll hunt you in your dream." Earl did not doubt the tone with which he said it, with Nellie involved, he could do it.

No sooner had he said it than Richard ran out of the door, shaking. Foolish man! Not only did he talk like a woman, he also had the wit of a woman. He had said nothing to him ever since he came in.

With Richard gone now, Earl did not spare Nellie a glance, he was not ready to apologize to her for spoiling her little get together with her new found love interest. He just made his way up the stairs to the hall that led to his room, what was he going to say to her anyway?

He had expected she was no longer staying in his room at least, but it was both to his surprise and relief when he found her things still where she had left them the last time. It appeared she had been undressing before her lover joined her, evidence in the mahogany brown ball gown that lay on the bed. He was tempted to pick it up and sniff it, to inhale her heavenly scent which he missed so much, but he was glad he didn't because no sooner had he walked past the bed than the door opened and she came in.

Earl took off his wet clothes and hung them to dry, he totally ignored her and made for the bathroom instead. He spent a long time in the bath, he didn't call for a maid to wash his hair or run him a warm bath, he just sat there in the tub, enjoying the feel of the cold water on his skin.

He had missed her, God! He had spent the whole of the ride back here thinking of what he would say to her, thinking of how to trace her back to her pack if it turned out she had left the castle before he got here. He had nearly died, the hell he had! Those reckless Rogues had nearly killed him out there, but all he had thought of was Nellie, while that gave him the edge- the thought that he had to come back and apologize to her, and make things right, and tell her what he felt. It had also made him realize how vulnerable he was, when it came to her, if only the few Rogues whose life he spared would go back to inform Ina and Tony or whoever sent them.

One other thing bothered him, someone had betrayed him. Someone had snitched on his whereabouts to the Rogues, either to Bella's or Tony's, he wasn't sure. But one thing was certain now, they hated him enough to want him dead. Sending Nellie away was not a good idea after all, if she had left the castle, which he was grateful she hadn't, she would probably have been long dead or captured before he got around to going after her, although he knew Nellie would never give up without a fight. Earl realized that was one thing she loved about her, she had the heart of a warrior. Did he just use the word 'love' in place of 'like'? Drat it! He just did. Admonishing himself that he had cussed too much today, Earl dried himself and left the bathroom.

Nellie was sitting on the bed by the time he entered the room again, he walked to the wardrobe and took out a shirt which he wore. He had no will to talk to her tonight, he was afraid what he might say or do if he did.

"You must be hungry, I called for a late dinner for you while you were washing" Her voice was oh my god I don't know soothing and calm, just as he had missed it.

He was going to tell her he wasn't hungry, but it was almost like his stomach spoke before him and he had no choice but to mutter, "That was very thoughtful of you, thank you"

The food tasted as good as he remembered it. There was no doubt it was Ma'am Dodda's cooking, he had actually missed it. Earl ate hungrily while Nellie sat on the bed, apparently watching and waiting for him to finish eating, she looked nervous. He hoped she wouldn't try to instigate a conversation because he had no wit for that, he was still trying to figure how he would sleep next to her with his burning desire for her without actually touching her.

"I take it you enjoyed the meal" Nellie said immediately as he got up from the table.

"I did." His tone was neutral.

Nellie called for a maid to clear the dishes, she waited until the maid was gone and the door was securely closed before she stood up to face Earl . He almost turned away from her but she held his hands to stop him, he closed his eyes as the spark passed between them.

"Did you feel that?" Nellie asked him to his surprise.

Earl raised one brow at her, "Feel what?"

"The current that passes between us each time our bodies come in contact" She held his eyes as she said it.

Earl swallowed, he had thought he was the only one that actually felt it. What was she doing telling him this? Ignore her. He resorted to that and just stood there, returning her gaze with intensity.

"I allowed Richard Lorey to touch me today" She said it in one breath.

Earl felt his blood run cold, he should have kept that brute a little longer, held him as a prisoner at least. That way, it would have been easier for him to tear him apart the way he felt like doing now.

Nelly continued, "I actually let him kiss me, a little too long before you came in"

Earl tightened his fists, why was she telling him about her little escapades? "I believe that must have been wonderful for you, you have quite a taste in men" He said that part in utter disgust. "But don't you think it's a little disrespectful to bring your lover into my home in my absence?"

"Why? Do you hate the idea or you just hate the fact that it was me?" There was a teasing glint in her voice.

"Do you go about having romantic escapades with men you barely know? I suppose I have to think twice before trusting a lady now, when will I learn?"

Did he really trust her? Nellie smiled at that, "What kept you so long, Earl. It was almost like you were running from me"

One dark eyebrow went up in a questioning glare, "Now why would I do that?"

She shrugged, "Do you know why I allowed the clumsy Richard Lorey kiss me?"

Earl drowned, just what was she doing rubbing her bouts of fun with her lover in his face? "Am I supposed to know?"

She smiled now, a very teasing smile that disoriented his senses, "You are. But not to worry, I'll tell you"

She moved closer to him, too close that he was inhaling her sweet scent, he had missed it so much, what was she doing? He didn't know when he closed his eyes to inhale more of her.

She leaned in and kissed him, it was a deliberate act, done so passionately that Earl did not have the strength to protest. Again and again, his lips moved softly across hers, drawing her carefully into his sensual web. He couldn't think, didn't want to. And then his tongue gently nudged her mouth open and suddenly the kiss was much more intense, infinitely more tantalizing. There was so much passion in her kiss now that he felt a moment's alarm.

"Nellie, I don't think..."

"Don't think," She cut in. "Just let me warm you. You spent too much time in the cold, you're freezing"

Was he? He hadn't even noticed! But her mouth returned to his and the passion was immediately there again. She wrapped her arms about his neck. He cradled her head with one hand while the other was rubbing up and down her back, but also pushing her closer towards him so that her breasts were pressed tightly against his chest. He wasn't thinking, like she had admonished him not to, he had missed her so much that holding her now felt like heaven, he wasn't sure he would let her slip out of his grip, not tonight anyway.

When they finally separated, the air felt like steam between them. they had generated so much heat while kissing. He didn't even realize they had reached the bed until he felt his legs against it. He took her hand and helped her down on the bed gently.

He could have done anything he'd wanted with either of the Rodhalm girls in that ball, or Astrid, when she threw herself at him on different occasions. Even the blonde wench who could have passed as the most beautiful girl at the ball that day. But none of them moved him the way a simple touch from Nellie did, he really had to admit she was different.

He had been so inflamed by what she had made him feel, but all she had done was kiss him- more like initiate a kiss, he had taken over and she had warmed him in such an exciting, delightful way. Later, he would think about all he had done and was about to do. But right now, he couldn't get past the way she tasted and the way her body felt under his hands.

He leaned in and kissed her again, she welcomed him with the same passion and heat, it seemed the hunger in him matched hers, he had waited too long to do this with her. They were lying in bed now, with him on top of her, he stopped kissing her long enough to whisper,

"I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself if we continue any further, Nellie. You can ask me to stop now and I will" His voice was low and husky, filled with the burning desire that threatened to explode in him.

"I don't want you to stop, Earl. I have waited too long for this" Her voice was as husky as his.

"Good, because I want you naked and moaning my name"