Chapter 31 #3
He chuckled deeply, raising his voice as he carried her up the stairs. “We’ll dine later, Kitty. Have Sergeant Fletcher escort you home. Oh, yes, and tell him everything is fine! Couldn’t be better!”
Madeleine felt his body tense as they neared their bedchamber, and she felt a wild tremor of excitement.
“If you’ll kindly open the door for us, m’lady,” Garrett said playfully, his warm breath tickling her ear.
She did as he asked and they entered the darkened room, then she swung the door closed behind them.
“Well done.” He set her down gently, cradling her face as he kissed her fervently. “Just a moment, love, while I light the fire,” he said, moving away from her.
Madeleine stood there shivering, missing him terribly even though he was so close. In a few moments a bright fire was blazing in the hearth. She rushed forward, holding out her hands to warm them.
“‘Tis grown so cold in here,” she said through chattering teeth, watching as he shoved the large tub into a corner.
“It will heat up soon enough,” Garrett said huskily, returning to embrace her.
Then he was gone from her again, wrenching pillows, the tartan blanket, and the heavy bedspread off the bed.
He quickly arranged them on the floor in front of the fireplace, then grabbed her hand and pulled her down beside him.
“How do you like our bower?” he said softly, running his fingers through her lustrous hair as they lay together before the fire. “Do you think it will do for our wedding night?”
Madeleine’s heart seemed to skip a beat, and she blushed in confusion. “Wedding night? But we’ve already—”
He silenced her with a lingering kiss, then drew back, staring into her eyes. “This is our wedding night, sweet Madeleine. From this night we start anew, you and I. Love has made it so.”
“Aye, love has made it so,” she repeated softly, tracing the sensuous curve of his mouth with her fingers. “‘Tis a fine wedding bower, Garrett.” She thought she might faint when he took her hand and tenderly kissed each fingertip in turn, his tongue teasing the hollow of her curved palm.
“I would that my hunger be sated, my lady wife,” he said, a wicked glint burning in his eyes.
A seductive smile played about her lips as she gazed at him boldly, his words filling her with daring. She wound her arms about his neck. “Yer bride is willing and awaits yer pleasure,” she said saucily, pressing her mouth to his.
Garrett groaned against her lips, his arms tightening around her like strong bands.
For a long time they were lost in the glory of their shared kiss, and it was with great reluctance that he pulled away from her and stood up.
His movements were impatient as he kicked off his boots and worked at the buttons on his shirt.
Madeleine rose to her knees, staying his hands. “No, husband, allow me,” she insisted brazenly, smiling at his startled expression. “Come.” She drew him down to kneel in front of her.
One by one she slowly undid the buttons, revealing his bronzed chest with its sprinkling of blond curls. She gently pushed the shirt from his broad shoulders, her hands caressing and exploring the rugged breadth of him, as if touching him for the first time.
“Never before was a man as beautiful as ye, Garrett,” she whispered, her desire making her even bolder. She wanted to please him, wanted desperately to make up for everything that had gone before.
She reveled in the hard strength of the muscles that bulged as his arms reached out for her.
She ran her hands down his chest, delighting in the sinewy power beneath her fingertips and the smooth, supple texture of his skin.
Her hands strayed lower, over a taut abdomen ridged with muscle, until her fingers found his leather belt.
“You’re a wanton lass,” Garrett said, his eyes searing into hers as he allowed her to unbuckle the belt and slide it from his waist.
“Only with ye, my love,” Madeleine replied, tossing the belt aside.
Her fingers wandered to the vertical row of buttons at the front of his breeches.
Garrett moaned and caught her hand. “Would ye have me stop, then, husband?” she asked, taunting him provocatively.
When he did not answer, she undid the first three buttons, blushing when she encountered the hard swelling beneath the fabric.
Anticipation streaked through her, her skin dimpling with goosebumps, and she dared to caress him.
“Enough!” Garrett commanded thickly, rising and yanking off his breeches.
Madeleine had barely an instant to feast her eyes on his glorious nakedness before he was pushing her down on the soft blankets. He stretched his long length atop her, supporting his weight with his elbows.
“It’s my turn to play the wanton, my lady wife,” he said, his narrowed eyes glinting with heat and fire. He traced his finger along her lace-edged bodice, just grazing the lush curve of her breasts. “Though I promise I will not dally as long as you.”
Garrett drew himself up and knelt over her, his powerful thighs straddling her hips.
He deftly untied the sash securing her gown.
“I like these wrapping gowns best of all,” he murmured, chuckling deep in his throat as the lustrous silk fell away from her body.
“I’ll see that you have dozens. They reveal your hidden treasures so easily.
” He slid his hand under the hem of her chemise.
“And as for this,” he whispered roguishly, “the seamstresses shall be kept busy stitching these as well.”