Free His Wicked Lady by Ruth Ann Nordin Page A

after we
get to the townhouse?” she finally asked Malcolm.
    “Might as well do it before. I don’t wish to
be arguing in front of an innocent child.” Then, he quickly added,
“Or your mother-in-law.” He turned his gaze to her. “Do they know
you were going to marry me today?”
    “Yes. I told Leonard you were going to be his
father after I left your townhouse the other day.”
    “How unfortunate it is you didn’t think to
tell me.”
    “You had your chance, Malcolm. I sent you a
missive requesting to meet with you. You were too busy to waste any
time on me. You had your pressing engagements.”
    “And yet you came by unannounced to talk to
me.”
    “I had to know if you would be good to my
son.”
    “Apparently, I was or else you would have
stopped this travesty.”
    She knew he wasn’t trying to be funny, but
something in the way he crossed his arms and cocked his head to the
side, his eyes going skyward, made her laugh. If there was one
thing she could say about him, it was that he had no trouble
letting her know exactly what was on his mind.
    “Part of this is your fault, Malcolm,” she
said. “You should accept that instead of trying to blame it all on
me.”
    She wasn’t sure he would listen to her or
not, but fortunately, good sense prevailed. He uncrossed his arms.
“You’re right. I should have taken the time to meet with you before
today. Though, it would have been nice if you had mentioned
something about you being my bride when you brought Leonard
over.”
    “Maybe this will teach you a good lesson. You
shouldn’t ever assume anything.”
    “Well, I just hope you’re happy with how
things developed. You’ll be stuck with me. I married for the sole
purpose of having children. I want people I can pass on my legacy
to.”
    “I understand, and I’m more than willing to
comply.”
    He stared at her, a critical frown on his
face.
    “What?” she asked. “Don’t you believe
me?”
    “You seem all too agreeable to my
demands.”
    “We are married,” she replied with a
suggestive grin. “The process of begetting children will be a part
of things.”
    “Process of begetting children? I’m far more
interested in actually having the children.”
    She smirked. “Just how do you think you’re
going to get those children?”
    “I’m not naive. I know full well how I’m
going to get them. It’s a matter of joining our bodies together.
After the…exchange…is done, we’ll wait for you to have the child
before trying for another. It’s like a business transaction.”
    She’d figured he hadn’t been around ladies
much, but she had no idea he was completely unaware of how
pleasurable the bed could be. “Don’t you ever have needs?” When he
frowned, she explained, “Basic urges that lead to an erection?”
    He paled. “I would thank you to refrain from
such bold speech.”
    “Why? We’re alone.”
    “That’s not the point. The point is, you’re a
lady. You shouldn’t be speaking of things like a gentleman’s…” He
waved his hand, as if trying to think of the right word to say.
    “Erect penis?” she provided.
    He grimaced and shifted in his seat, once
again crossing his arms. “Such a thing shouldn’t come out of a
lady’s lips. You are the gentler and fairer sex, after all.”
    “I’m a widow, Malcolm. I’m not some untried
lady. And more than that, I have a son. There’s only one way that
son got here. It’s the only way you’ll get those children you want
so much. And as much as I hate to shock you, it’s how you came to
be. Had it not been for your parents—”
    He put his hands over his ears and shut his
eyes. “Don’t say it. I forbid you to say it.” After a few seconds,
he opened his eyes and glanced over at her.
    She waited until he lowered his hands before
letting out an exasperated sigh. “It’s a natural part of life.
There’s nothing wrong about it.”
    “I didn’t say there was something wrong with
it.”
    “It’s how you’re acting.