The Rogue's Forbidden Love Rules

abandonment. She made a small sound of disappointment when the sound of horses' hooves disappeared and was

t herself, had she remained as a teetotaler, she wouldn't be here, all alone,

contemplated her chance to go back to the street and try the next arriving hackney, b

ngry by Benedick's ignorance and to hers

d life. She'd done that all on her own. Taking a deep breath, she accepted the facts of life...that she was in the middle

ice. It was impossible to stand on the street for the rest of the night.) While indoors she would plead with

gh one will be hard pushed to make the argument while her actions that evening perh

g their own doors. And secondly we were not likely to find this particular margrave

ds around a stunning and gorgeous lady. Yes. She had made a horrid mistake. The on

damning the knocker when the large oak door opened and an aged servant appeared on the threshold – a

door as she marvelled at the friendly and welcoming entrance to

at the same time that she was hidden away from view. Overcoming it she turned to the servant and asked him, "Thank you, good sir." "Indeed, m

k to respond, "Oh I do not mean to-" she proceeded to stutter

not, milady. It is no trouble. He will just say, "I

uestion ended mid-sentence, was a halt in her tracks.

ike a ninny herself, at least tha

stared at her and if glances could kill she'd have been a dead wo

s, her eyes opened wide as saucers. Good lord. He thought her a lightskirt! The sho

here. In the house. "I'm no

ess; however, she felt as though he had listened to the same

ss... No. She quashed the little voice. No unless. Her reputation was hanging by a thread. She'd be safer h

ontained a question interrogation was implied. Did that mean Elizabeth would be following? This was her chance. Well, in order misguided or not, this is

y to snare it. This is a perfect opportunity to show you are more than passive

e. We might both feel a little awkward, but he would not let her down. He

She moved it out of the way, offering a fervent word of thanks that she h

she wore, but she refused to let herself be captured by the margrave without using the last

ke someone singing right on the next room became louder and Elizabeth

ss of the music that was heard from the room. Forcing herself to keep her eyes from avertizing away,

ic. He opened the door but stood close thereto and did not enter it. Instead he

n shadow and sound. The large room was hardly bright, some rays of light from few candles available completing thei

t. All the furniture was very massive and towering in size – two of them have bookshelf, each of which was filled all the way to the top. On the third wall there was a very large

the host for the evening, a man who sat with his back to the door, at the pianoforte. Dolly had never envisoned

hand to silence any speech that might have followed. The tune was grim and rhythmic

o the rolled up/trainers having rolled his white-linen shirt; by his hands flying over th

showing his long, powerful thighs encased in tight breeches, his knees in black riding boots; his shirt was open at the neck and he wo

side to side as though struggling to remember who she was and where she came fr

t him idle and negligent, but Elizabeth's experience of observing more than

t happy to have a visitor. At least, not a female one. She parted her lips to do so, to offer an apology f

you would not accede to my desire to sever our correspondence.

more difficult than it had to be, Nastasia. It is over." Dear Lord. He thought her a tossed-over paramour! Yes, she was not a

ageous than standing in front of this tall stranger. He let out a heavy breath and seemed utterly bored, probably done with the one way communic

e left in your hands enough rein with which to rein in your next customer. Elizabeth stared giving him a serv

he shocked miss. We both know that naïveté escaped you long ago." He spoke to her

one of the expensive ladies, who was the part of the ton but only as mistresses of great lords and gentlemen, was t

ops that exists in manhood! She stood, hands bunched in anger li

his women should get out of this room

ably stupid. But that was not what she wanted to do. What she would have pre

make this any worse than it already is, Nastasia." "I regret t

ld not get irritated, then she would have been thoroughly amused indeed.

ide behind closed shutters once more. "Indeed you are not, Miss..." He paused, waiting

s seem so," I agreed. Elizabeth was shocked by he

t the women in your life, I realise that I don't want to be

mmediately did an about face and clutched the doorknob. She had opened the door ab

to force the door open, for that one muscular arm of his had well and truly locked it. "Pleas

red my domain. Didn't you think I deserved a courtesy of an introduction?" His reply was l

h leatTexImage her], Her body was settled against his, his chest rising and only a scan

dly at the doorpost and thinking about the ways she could avoid the expected future. She had started this e

ands along the lapel of her top and lightly touched her hand as if it were a

You have come too far now." He was right of course and Elizabeth was nothing if not practical/minded h

d up and remove the hood. He gave her just a hint of a glance and then examines he

d blushed and stammered. "Lady Cornella?" "The very same." Finally, she shut her eyes,

ss half laugh. "I will admit it was something I never thought I would e

my lord, I assure you that contrary to what you may have observ

ze where they were. 'Well, madam, this is not at all the sort of place a lady ought to be.' I sugges

the door. Much as she was not interested in elongating this disastrous meeting, Elizabeth m

sation at all. I was here in Ralston House under very strange condition and

loak which she wore. Ralsiton heard her message, then said nothing until the quiet descended on them. Espec

ild hostility developed into curiosity and h

women who came to me in my bedroom as you have seen one of them tonight. Her

." Elizabeth scrambled for a response. "I was...nearby." "In the middle of the nig

disbelief. "Indeed." Maybe if she did not attempt to expla

dea?" She was instantly on the alert at the tone of_voice with which he asked the question. "I would pre

He crossed his arms arrogantly as he let the slide into amused disbelief color his voice. "And so, you naturally

a peer of the realm, after all." He snorted. She turned to lo

truth this time?" She looked down to the ground one more time and prayed under her breath for the next lie to come so she coul

eyes. "Elizabeth..." He cajooned, using the kind of voice that she was sure was reserved for when

wer him. In fact, the worse start of the evening cannot become worse, there is no way that it could go on. Holding his hand

uld hardly believe it; but the fiery glow that scarlet spread over her face was sufficient to assure him that the prop

had dined with his family, still new of Juliana, then went to his room,

o his music. Until there came the knock on the door for

ack robe. She had full lips, clear skin, beautiful wide eyes that changed depending on her feelings. He ha

know beforehand that she had never been linked to anyone before, then her uneasiness, which was thick enough to cut with a knife, left him no choice but

then looked away – Years of experience masking his feelings. She could not even look at him directly – she was nervously crumpl

who was apparently out of her depth. He could be a gentleman about the whole th

ncomfortable, there was a streak of her that yea

and glanced at him for only a second before l

mpliment?" Not that I am not flattered, you know, but you'll admit it is a littl

call me that. It is too familiar." He gave the faintest

you. I suppose we are getting well beyond th

ment that rushed into her face and neck. F

was time." The words shocked him-they were not pathetic and did not appeal for sympathy either. Rather, t

se. "Why me?" She clearly seemed more confident after her brief confession and responded without any hesitatio

refer?" She cleared her throat. 'I heard that you once took a certain viscountess half-

"A gross exaggeration." She met his eyes. "What about the vicar's daughter who foll

as to what may be overheard on the fringes of any dance hall." It i

She laughed at his words but the sound was stuck in her throat when he continu

ne of bitterness and he cut her short. "Why now? Why do not one just sit

intended to come he is lost in the wilderness, my lord.

ell, yes, uncontested you look far more amusing than I've ever supposed you are, my lady and, yes, intrigue is the fire of passion."

ntroduction into society. Devise another plan right after that blinked a

hundreds of miles farther-on the same day as his lost sister. He felt a wave of satis

e then; that way, putting more room between them. "What kind o

t surprised myself." He related to her how Juliana arrived, how he decided to introduce her as his sister, how he

eally as a blessing." You are the perfect solution. Providing, that is, that you do not have a syst

d out later what had made her to come visiting at night. "And the last – which I am at le

d as payment, you get your kiss." "Sorry but you must value your kisses very h

w I suppose, but I'll expect one again one day... actually, I suppose I will expe

like no other." She blushed again. "You seem shocked by your boldness," he said. She n

ept your terms." He followed her, speaking softly, in a lustful tone. "Shall we

ed him through her big, dark eyes, and unease melted into something warm and fuzzy in his chest. He drew closer, carefully, the way people do with animals th

at all, my lord. That is-Thank you." His breath exhaled on a half laugh. 'The illusion I am sorry to think you may have never really tasted,' He paused, watching the confusion cross

uncomfortable again because she immediately went back to twirling her cloak tassel. "Oh, well. It was quite nice.

ld the kiss leave you satisfied." She pulled for a moment and when he did not release her she instead pulled her towards him placing her hands on h

. His lips; full, rapt and hot touched her lips pleasure her until she felt like she had no air left in her lungs. He cupped the sound in his mouth, gettin

scream, he pulled her nearer and increased the tension of the

his big round shoulders and encircling his neck. Reluctantly, she gently twined her tongue with his, and for her efforts she receiv

ndalously around her tongue and he pulled on it gently – all this electrified her.

er body with pleasure. Elizabeth listened to the sound well, well, far away, only now she heard a whimper, and it was her own. His lips form

with a deep, intoxicating kiss. All she wanted was to approach him, be embraced more tightly. And, in wha

if they know all her shame. When he drew his mouth from hers she was done for complet