“I believe you.” He gave her a soft smile.
Joy bubbled up inside her at the words. He believed her. Gemma made a vow. She’d be the woman he deserved.
Chapter Eight
Will fingered the paper inside his pocket as he sat by the fire, the day nearly done. He’d read the words several times over the course of the day. The paper had many a muddy print on them from his fingers. Every time he’d ceased running the plow, he’d opened it up to look again.
A couple with a nearby croft were looking for two children. The Dunlearys had lost their own to disease and they’d be willing to take on Fiona and Ewan.
In some ways, they could be ideal. The children had lost their parents in a similar fashion. It was the life they’d been meant to live.
But now, he wasn’t sure he wanted them to go. In fact, he was nearly certain that they really belonged with him—and Gemma too.
He considered sending them a letter with his regrets but their croft was near his brother Blair’s. And, what was more, he wanted to tell them about the orphanage that Fiona and Ewan had come from. There were more children who needed homes.
With that in mind, he decided to journey to speak with the couple himself. He’d take the children and Gemma with him so that, after he’d talked with the Dunlearys, they might meet his family. Well a few of them, anyhow.
A soft knock came at the door of his study. “Come in,” he called, setting the paper aside.
Gemma opened the door. “Is everything all right?” she asked, her eyes going right to the folded up note on his desk.
“It’s fine,” he replied, picking up the note and holding it out to her. She crossed the room and took it from his hand.
After unfolding the parchment, her eyes scanned the page. Then she looked up at him, her eyes wide. “What will you do?”
“I’m going to meet them,” he answered. “But I think Fiona and Ewan will live with me.”
Gemma dropped the note back on his desk. Will’s cha
ir by the fire wasn’t a foot from the corner of the large cherry top. Without warning, Gemma plopped down in his lap, her feet dangling off one arm of the chair as she twisted her body to wrap her arms around his neck. As her behind wiggled against his legs his whole body tightened. Her cheek pressed to his as she whispered in his ear, “You’re a good man, William Sinclair.”
He opened his mouth to tell her that she should meet the rest of the Sinclairs. But before he could get the words out, she pressed her lips to his. The push of her bosom against his chest made his throat rumble with desire as he held her hip and his other hand slid up her rib cage. She parted her lips and touched her tongue to his.
The desire that had been embers between them lit into a blaze. He reached her chest and cupped one of her breasts, then kneaded the flesh. She groaned and arched into the touch even as their kiss deepened. Lifting her, which was far too easy—he made a mental note to feed her even more—he straddled her across his lap. She yanked at the buttons on his shirt, pulling it open as she raked her hands up and down his chest.
The touch sent delicious shivers through his flesh as their kiss heightened the tension between them. Holding her backside in both hands, they moved together, even with the clothing between them. He wanted to savor this, to draw it out and make it last, but inertia and passion were spinning them to dizzying heights.
He gathered her skirts in his hand until they were bunched up about her waist. “Yer so lovely,” he murmured as his hands slid down her legs.
“I want to feel you,” she said back and then tugged at the buttons of his breeches until they were undone enough for him to wiggle down the pants. Lifting herself a little, she shifted so that he was sliding inside of her.
She was so warm and wet that he let out a groan of satisfaction, which was drowned out only by hers. Her eyes half open, her lips parted, she began to move on top of him, her moans quick and needy. Always beautiful, he caught his breath as he looked at her. Gemma was stunning now.
He watched her, Will’s own passion building at her pleasure and the feel of her on top of him.
Her insides tightened around him, making it difficult to hold back as her moans grew faster and louder. He felt her spasm around him and his own climax broke. “Gemma,” he grunted as her lips crashed down on his again.
Her forehead pressed to his as their ragged breaths mingled. “That was…” she started.
“What?” he asked, his hands giving her hips a little squeeze.
“Divine,” she answered.
They both chuckled and then he stood, taking her with him. It had been divine. But Will had questions and it was time to get answers.
“What are you doing,” she asked as he lifted her off him and set her lightly on the ground to begin fixing her clothing.
“We are going somewhere more private where we can talk.” He ran his hand down her cheek. “And then we are going to make love slowly and thoroughly where I can explore every inch of you.”