The Wounded Nobleman (The Regimental Heroes) Read Online Free PDF

attempting to stay still.
    Holding her gaze captive, he moved to stand in front of her. Gently, he pulled her against him.
    This is my husband , her voice said in her head. She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. “For the first time in as long as I can remember, I feel like I have come home.”
    “This is your home.” He took her hand and kissed the knuckles “But tonight, I am going to leave.”
    “It’s our wedding night.”
    He’d removed his coat before coming upstairs with her. Her eyes skimmed his broad chest and muscles barely hidden beneath the soft folds of his cotton shirt. She swallowed. Callie looked into his dark eyes, noting they were shuttered with need but clear. In her limited knowledge of the subject she read desire, but mainly she saw love. For me.
    “Will you kiss me goodnight?” she asked angry with herself that she couldn’t muster the courage to ask him to stay.
    “You will never need to ask me twice for that request.” He brushed his lips across hers with whisper soft contact. He smelled of outdoor pine and leather.
    “This is only the beginning of our lifetime together. I made the decision before we returned. You are still working through being attacked. I cannot have you afraid of me. I could never live with myself. So, when I lie with you as my wife, it will be your decision… not mine.”
    He kissed her again, and her mouth softened. She could feel his fingers unclench at her side and slide into the small of her back. She tensed.
    “But tonight is not the night.” Ellis stepped back, but not before she felt the press of his manhood against her stomach. “You will know when you are ready, and until that day comes, I will wait for you.”

Chapter 5
     
    Ellis hadn’t contacted Clarke, but instead showed up unannounced to Spencer’s card club. He walked through the large wooden doors and closed them behind him. His brother and Spencer stopped their conversation and looked up.
    “Ellis?” Clarke rose to his feet to greet him. “I didn’t think you would come.”
    “I like to surprise you once in a while, big brother.”
    “That you have. Come and sit.”
    He and Clarke chose seats as Spencer poured them each a finger of whiskey.
    Ellis drained the glass and set it on the table in front of him. “And speaking of surprises, I feel I have one which will rate slightly higher than my being here today.”
    Clarke’s brow rose in question as he eyed his brother.
    “No, I am not leaving you with the horses. I know how much you hate them and I would never do that to the poor animals.” The relief he saw on his brother’s face made him laugh. “I married Callie.”
    “You what?” Clarke sat up so quickly his drink splashed over the edge of the glass and stained a dark splotch on his waistcoat. “When did this happen?”
    “Two days ago and about a minute after her father tried to accuse me of taking her virtue. The bastard gave me permission to take her out unescorted to set me up. He’s a drunken sot who never deserved a daughter as fine as Callie.”
    “So you let him force you into marrying her?”
    “No one has ever forced me into doing anything I did not wish. You are my brother; you know that better than anyone does. I love her, Clarke. I loved her before we went to war but she was promised to another. I figured that was the end of it, but this is a second chance to prove to her I can be the husband she desires.”
    Clarke settled back in the chair and leveled his gaze at him. “I guess it should not come as such a surprise. I only expected a little more… notice.”
    “I would have liked that too, but some things just happen” Ellis grinned. “So, tell me more about this club.” He sighed and settled back.
    Spencer took the seat across from them. “We all suffered from the Crimean. Some mentally, some physical ly.” He motioned to Ellis’s leg. “Myself, it is mental. I don’t know if this will help, but I feel like the things eating at my mind grow