Page 84 of Courting Claudia
“What did you tell him?”
“That you were with me the entire time. That it was probably a burglary.”
“I’m only being cautious.” He turned her chin so that their eyes met. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
His hand rubbed against her back, soothing her doubts. Derrick cared about her. He might not be in love with her, but he cared about her, was concerned for her safety. That’s why he’d been angry. That’s why he was suspicious of her father. It didn’t make her feel any better about the latter, but she understood.
Today when he’d come home and she’d been gone, he’d thought the worst. It had terrified him. He’d gone to Poppy’s to try to find her, only to be told Poppy hadn’t heard from Claudia all day. He should have known she’d go to see her father. Derrick could have gone to check for himself, but he’d wanted to know if she would come back.
She had come home. And she’d been honest with him. He pulled her tighter to him, loving the crush of her body next to his and the smell of her hair as it tickled his nose. He loved the gentle curve of her neck and her big, amazing eyes that nearly made him forget everything else around him. He loved her excited chatter and the passion she saved for only him. He loved her ridiculous hats and the way she bit down on her lip to concentrate. He loved…everything about her.
He loved her.
The thought hit him so hard he nearly fell over. His heart raced, and he had to bite his tongue to keep from saying it aloud.
He’d thought he’d loved Julia, but now he saw how limited those feelings had been. With Julia he’d been giddy and starry-eyed and so hopeful for the future. But with Claudia, the feelings had snuck up on him. She’d silently wormed her way into his heart, into his very soul, and the feelings ran much deeper and stronger than the foolish infatuation he’d had for his first bride.
Claudia was different from Julia, and their marriage was different. But still, a man stood between Derrick and his wife.
Which was why he couldn’t tell Claudia about his feelings now. Not until he knew the truth about her father. Not until he was able to tell her everything about his past. But he could show her. He took her mouth and kissed her passionately, releasing all the worry he’d felt all day.
She put her arms around his neck and kissed him back. He brought them both to a standing position, and his fingers worked the buttons of her dress, trying to get her undressed as quickly as he could. Finally he was able to free her, and the dress pooled at her feet. They made it to the bed between kisses and the removal of their clothes.
Tonight there wouldn’t be slow, patient lovemaking. Tonight it would be hot and hard and hurried. Her hands were all over him, driving him mad with desire.
They were both so ready by the time he entered her that it took only a few thrusts before they both climaxed. Her moans echoed in the room, and he hugged her close.
As much as he’d tried to protect his heart, he’d failed. He loved her, and now he’d have to do the one thing that would probably lose her to him forever.
Go after her father.
Chapter 19
“I do hope he hasn’t been drinking today,” Claudia said.
The carriage rounded the corner onto her father’s street.
“If he has, then we’ll leave,” Derrick said.
“No, I promised him I would come.”
“You are fulfilling that promise. But you’re coming to visit him, and if he doesn’t have the common courtesy not to get himself drunk as a boiled owl before you arrive, then we shall leave.”
They were shown into the front parlor not ten minutes later to wait for her father. She heard the telltale rapping of her father’s cane on the floor, and then he entered the room looking more like his old self, although heavy bags sat beneath his eyes.
He stopped short in the doorway. “What the devil is he doing here?”
“He escorted me,” Claudia said.
“Well, I don’t want him here.” He puffed his chest out, looking very much like a country ram about to charge. “You hear that, Middleton, you’re not welcome here.”
“Then we shall take our leave.”
“Leave Claudia here. I’ll have a carriage return her later.”
“If I leave, she’s going with me.”
“Stop it, both of you.” Both men turned to face her. Derrick nodded. Her father scowled. “Father, Derrick is my husband, and you will have to accept him. Now let’s all sit and have a nice visit.”