Blinking open her heavy lids, she looked up at him, his face near tortured. “Your love?”
He brushed the hair back from her damp forehead. “I should have realized it sooner. I know I told you that I couldn’t give you all of me, but somehow you have healed those broken parts. I am yours forever, or as long as you’ll have me.”
Her own heart swelled in her chest. “I am yours too.” She kissed the side of his neck. “And I’ll take forever just as I want your love right now.”
“My love?” He leaned down and kissed her. “If you mean our bodies joining together, we should wait.” He cradled her head in his hands, kissing her over and over. “More than my body needs your touch, my soul needs your love.”
Her heart threatened to burst from her chest. “You can have both.”
She didn’t need to say anymore. He pulled her night rail up and over her head and then his own shirt went sailing off. When he came down on top of her and their bodies pressed together, she sighed at the delicious friction of his chest hair.
He pulled at the falls of his breeches until the warm soft head of his manhood pressed against her folds. A touch of fear made her nervous, but she held him tighter and brought her lips to his.
Gently he pushed inside her, his slow movements giving her time to adjust to his size and the pain as she stretched open for the first time. She held him
tighter, until he seated himself fully inside her, his strong arms cradling her against his chest. Her body began to adjust as he feathered kisses along her cheek and moved out of her and then back in, the sedate pace allowing her to relax. The pain subsided and a new wave of pleasure washed over her as he slid deep inside her. She jerked her head back to look into his eyes as her hips met his.
He smiled, rubbing his nose against hers. “Your brother had better recover quickly, we need to get married soon.”
Joy bubbled inside her. “I’ll be sure to tell him.” Her brother was recovering, she was getting married, and she’d found her heart.
But the rest of the words she’d meant to say slipped away as their passion climbed higher. When she broke apart in his arms, he groaned out his own pleasure. Dahlia knew she’d keep her promise. She’d be his forever.
Epilogue
Two weeks later…
Dahlia stood at the back of the church; her eyes locked with Gavin’s as he waited at the front by the altar. His cousin, Lord Wesley Preston, was at his side. Wes’s new wife, Penny, was positioned just on the other side of the priest. A small wedding, just the sort that Dahlia had always wanted. Summer flowers filled the urns and perfumed the morning air with their fresh summer scent.
Today was perfect.
She started down the short aisle, her brother’s short stride slowing their progress, but looking tall and strong next to her. She gave him a smile, happy that he was recovering so well.
After some correspondence back and forth with his employers, Sam had decided to turn down the job he’d been offered and work for Gavin instead. He’d stay in a cottage on the property. Dahlia’s heart was ready to burst with joy. To have them both here with her was more than she’d ever hoped for.
Gavin reached out his hand and Sam placed her fingers into those of her fiancé. She trembled at his touch, love and heat causing her cheeks to warm. He pulled her toward him, taking her other hand in his as they stood before the priest.
“Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?” The priest asked as he twined their hands in ribbon. Gavin had requested the Scottish custom in honor of his ancestors.
“I do,” he said, giving her hands a squeeze.
“And do you, Dalia, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do,” she answered, bouncing a little on her toes.
“I pronounce you man and wife. Lord de Wolfe, you may kiss your bride.” The priest stepped back as Gavin swept down to give Dahlia a long slow kiss as everyone cheered.
“We’ve begun our forever,” she whispered in his ear.
He leaned his forehead against hers. “We have. Thank you for taking a chance on me, even when I thought my heart was too broken to love again.”
She smiled up into his eyes. “Thank you for saving us, Gavin de Wolfe. You’re the best sort of man a woman could ask for.”
Wes clapped Gavin on the back. “Cheers to that. Now let’s go celebrate, shall we? I saw the cake that your cook was baking this morning, and I for one am famished.”
Penny reached for her husband’s hand. “Don’t rush them. There is only one wedding day and a lifetime of cake.”
Wes laughed, but Dahlia never looked away from Gavin. “I love you,” she said.