Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Alexander found Gwenllian still sitting on the stone bench, staring into the distance.
Before going into the garden, he took a moment to admire her.
The tilt of her nose, the curve of her neck, the sensuality of—well, of every part of her.
She was beautiful, from the crown of her exquisite head to the tips of her delicate fingers.
This extraordinary woman, who had sacrificed herself for him, was to be his wife.
If she was still willing to have him.
He had used her, taking her time and time again without ever making any promise of an honorable future, then when she had tried to explain what she had done, he had doubted her word. He would not blame her if she told him she could not marry someone who did not trust her.
Unable to wait a moment longer, he stepped into the enclosed space. This was it, the most important moment of his life.
Gwenllian raised her head at the sound of his footsteps. Tears instantly sprang to her eyes, as if she feared he was about to send her away with a curse. He stopped in front of her, oddly intimidated. Because, suddenly, he was very conscious of all he owed to her and all he had made her go through.
“Hugh has left. I hope I have finally seen the last of him.”
She appeared relieved to know that the man was gone, but still anxious. “Did you manage to speak to him before he left? Whatever he told you, I swear we never—”
“I know.” He gave a sigh and sat down next to her.
“I could tell that he was confused by his lack of recollections about what had happened last night but reluctant to admit as much, just as you said. All he found to convince me that he had made love to you was to tell me that you liked to submit to your lover.”
“Oh.”
“Oh, indeed. No man who’s had you in his bed could have that impression.”
She reddened, as if embarrassed when thinking of her brazenness. But he didn’t mind, rather the opposite. He loved her brazenness, and with luck, he would get to enjoy it for the rest of his life.
“So you believe me,” she said hesitantly, “because of this?”
“No. I believe you because I realized that I trust you more than I ever trusted anyone. And because Hugh fell right into my trap. I told him you had a stain to see how he would react. Here.”
Slipping a hand under her skirt, he brushed the inside of her left thigh slowly. The skin was so soft it drew a groan from him.
“I don’t have a stain there,” she said, as breathless as he was.
“No, you don’t. You’re perfect. I should know. I’ve spent enough time with my head between your legs.”
Her eyes threw sparks that ignited his loins. “I disagree. You haven’t spent anywhere near as long as you should with your head between my thighs.”
“You want me to remedy the situation, my lady?”
“Yes. Right here. Right now. The garden is private enough, is it not?” It was, he supposed.
Private enough, especially as his people would never have dared disturb him while he was with a woman.
“Get on your knees, Alexander. You wanted to ask me to marry you anyway, so you might as well assume the position.”
Before he could say anything, the minx reclined on the bench and gathered the hem of her skirt, exposing her milky, unmarred thighs to the sunlight—and his enraptured gaze.
Alexander fell to his knees. There was no other option.
When he made no move to lean in, she grabbed his hair and brought his face a bare inch from the sweet temptation covered with golden curls.
Which happened to be the exact place he wanted to put it.
But two could play at this teasing game.
“Will you marry me, my little Welsh hellion?” Even though his mouth was already watering at the prospect of the delight awaiting him, he forced himself to ask the question. “I will not do anything until you say you will.”
“Yes, of course, I’ll marry you. I realized the other night that I would be your wife.” A groan betrayed her frustration. She made it sound as if she thought he was only stalling. “Now, stop talking. I need you.”
He did stop talking. He used his lips and tongue to worship her instead.
She tasted so good, just as sweet as he remembered, and the pleasure of knowing they would end up their lives together added to his enjoyment.
He lapped at her slowly, languorously, taking care to explore every inch of the slick offering before focusing on the place he knew would bring her the best sensations.
Taking the small bud between his lips, he started the suckling motion she liked.
“Alexander!” It was a strangled cry. He wondered for a moment if, lost to his pleasure, he was not being too intense. He drew back slightly, only to feel her fingers dig into his scalp, holding him in place. “No! More.”
There were no more hesitations. He gave her more, he gave her all she wanted, adding a finger, then a second one, coaxing her into what hoped would be the best release of her life.
The feel of her spasming around his fingers was the sweetest reward.
He already knew he would spend hours on his knees in the years to come, pleasuring his responsive, wild lover—his wife.
He drew out her release for as long as he could, then sat down next to her and lifted her onto his waiting lap.
“My turn,” he growled, feeling on the verge of madness. “You cannot leave me like this. I’m in actual pain.”
“I have no intention of leaving you ever again. As to this,” she rasped, grabbing his aching cock through his hose, “don’t worry, it will get the relief it needs. By the time I’m finished with you, you won’t be able to lift even your little finger.”
That was the hope. “You don’t like to be tamed, then?” he asked, freeing himself with jerky movements.
“No. I prefer to be wild.”
“And you like me being blunt and speaking my mind?”
“I love it.”
“Then fuck me, Gwenllian. I’m yours to use for your pleasure.”
He could tell that his crude instruction had set her body aflame. Despite having just come undone under his caresses, she was ready for more, ready to erupt again.
“Yes. I will fuck you, Alexander. Because you’re mine. And this time I will not allow you to spend anywhere other than inside me.”
“This time I will spend deep inside you,” he agreed, almost losing control at the thought of doing something he had never allowed himself to do before. “I love you, Gwenllian. Forgive me for not telling you so earlier.”
The smile she gave him split his heart in two. “You’re forgiven, since your mouth was busy at the time. And I love you too. I should have mentioned it as well.”
As she said the words, she lowered herself onto him, sheathing him in exquisite softness. Her eyes fluttered at the same time as his shaft quivered. Damnation, this was not going to last long. He didn’t know if he wanted her to move or stay a moment like this, with his cock buried inside her heat.
The choice was made for him. Gwenllian started to move, very slowly at first, as if testing the feel of him inside her, as if making sure every inch of her inner walls connected with him.
Then her movements became more decisive, her breathing faster.
Riding him had been a favorite of hers from the start—and as a consequence, had become one of his as well.
“So…” she started, head thrown back.
“…good,” he finished, tightening his grip on her waist. “So fucking perfect.”
For a long moment, he let Gwenllian slide up and down his shaft. She was taking her time, teasing him, enjoying every plunge, dragging out each withdrawal. Then she shivered and seemed to lose the ability to hold herself. Her whole body went limp.
“My love,” she whimpered. “Help me. I can’t…”
He closed his hands around her waist in support and helped her movements, increasing the speed and the depth of his thrusts.
This change in pace was their undoing. Gwenllian moaned, then crushed her mouth against his, as if to stifle her cries of ecstasy.
Her sheath started to pulse around him slowly at first, then more fiercely, squeezing the part of him that seemed to hold his soul.
He could not hold any longer.
White stars exploded behind his eyelids.
Alexander thought he might have shouted, perhaps even roared.
Yet he could not find the will to care. Let everyone hear him make love to his woman, giving her pleasure.
This was the best release of his life, and he would not allow anything to spoil it.
Holding Gwenllian tight against him, he let himself be consumed by pleasure.
For a while, he just held her close to his heaving chest.
Finally, he was home, in all senses of the word.
“Alexander and I are going to get married.”
While Sian threw herself into her sister’s arms, Christopher looked him up and down as he would have done with a stranger, as if to assess his character and establish his intentions.
From the way he behaved, one would have thought that Gwenllian was his own sister.
The scrutiny from someone he knew so well and had never before had reason to fear was unnerving.
Finally, his friend seemed to conclude that the man he had known all his life would make a suitable husband for Gwenllian and smiled.
“Hunter girls, hey?” was all he said. “We never stood a chance.”
No. They were irresistible. God help the man who crossed little Seren’s path in a few years’ time.
While the two sisters hugged and chatted animatedly in Welsh, Christopher drew Alexander to the side, looking serious once more.
“Your brother came to visit this morning, you know, brandishing the deeds I signed the other day, asking when I intended to leave his castle. He truly is as vile as I remembered him.”
“Even more than you think,” Alexander said grimly. “I’m sorry for that.”
The apology was waived away. “He told me he had bedded a certain Glenda while he was at Audley. I could tell he hoped to get a reaction out of me, but I’m afraid I could not indulge him, as I know no one of that name.”
Glenda. Gwenllian.