Chapter 20 #4
“I think it’s safe to say things are much better than just well,” he said as he raised Genevieve’s hand and kissed it, before he turned back to Muireall. “Congratulate me, Mrs. Falkirk, after considerable time and effort, I’ve finally succeeded in securing a yes to my proposal from Genevieve.”
“Oh, that is wonderful. This calls for a celebration. Come, I’ll have Duncan bring out a bottle of one of his finest wines. We’ll make this a night to remember,” Muireall exclaimed with a broad smile.
Muireall kept her promise, and the evening’s meal was filled with laughter and toasts. Throughout it all, Theo’s hand rested over hers, and the looks they exchanged made Genevieve’s heart soar with happiness. When it came time for bed, Muireall smiled at them mischievously.
“I would imagine Theo is aware of the custom, but are you familiar with what bundling is, Genevieve?” At Muireall’s question, Genevieve frowned for a moment as she tried to remember where she’d heard the expression before.
“I know I’ve heard of it, but I can’t remember where,” she said as she eyed Muireall in puzzlement, before Theo caught her hand and brushed his lips across her fingertips.
“It’s when a betrothed couple spend the night together, with something between them to prevent any…rushing to the wedding night before the actual wedding.”
There was a wicked note in Theo’s soft murmur, and a slight tremor sailed through her as she saw the sinful twinkle in his eye. Heat spread across her cheeks, and Genevieve jerked her gaze away from him. A deep chuckle erupted out of Duncan Falkirk.
“Clearly, she remembers now.” At her husband’s observation, Muireall laughed.
“Duncan, can you find a suitable board?” Muireall said with a mischievous smile.
“Aye mo ghràdh, I kept the one Julian put between us each time I spent the night at Crianlarich. I was saving it for Sorcha,” Duncan’s reply was filled with amusement as he winked at his daughter, whose cheeks flushed red from her father’s teasing before Duncan’s gaze met his wife’s.
“I also remember your brother setting it up in the bed on our wedding night. I think he knew it would give me great pleasure to remove it, which it did.”
“Duncan Falkirk, go fetch that board now. I’ll nae have ye embarrassing me in front of our guests.” Muireall’s face turned pink as she waved her husband on his way.
“As ye wish, mo leannan. I cannae refuse such a lovely wife, especially with such rosy cheeks.” With that final parting shot, Muireall’s husband left the dining room to do her bidding.
More than a half-hour later, Genevieve and Theo were lying on her bed with a heavy slab of wood, which had been inserted into slots at the headboard and footboard between them, creating an almost foot-high barrier.
After Duncan had set the board into place, Muireall had attached a rope to the headboard, then stretched it out over the footboard and tied it to the dresser.
A large cowbell had been hung from the rope, which clanged an alarm at the slightest touch. While they could see each other, if they tried to reach either side of the bed, the bell would clang loudly. A fact confirmed by Muireall’s laughter as she demonstrated how the system worked.
Leaving a candle burning on Theo’s nightstand, Muireall smiled as she said goodnight to them and left the room. Raising himself up on one elbow, Theo looked over the board at Genevieve, ensuring there were several inches between him and the rope. Theo chuckled, and she turned her head toward him.
“And what precisely are you laughing at,” she demanded imperiously
“I think your frustration is even stronger than mine, mo leannan.”
“Can the board be moved?”
“Now, where would the fun be in that?”
“This is not fun, Lord Selbourne.”
“Why? Because you want to be beneath me as I drive my cock into that delicious sweet spot between your legs, mo leannan?”
“Yes,” she snapped, surprised by how easy it was to tell him what she wanted. Heat rose in her cheeks as she met his amused gaze.
“And I can think of nothing more pleasurable than doing that, mo ghràdh.”
It wasn’t the first time, Theo had said ‘my love’ in Gaelic, but as it had every other time he’d used the words, it made her heart swell with happiness.
As descendants of the Stewart clan, most of her relatives knew how to speak Gaelic. But to hear Theo use the words when talking to her made every part of her sing with joy. She’d never grow tired of hearing him use the Gaelic when expressing his love.
“I don’t think a board is the best way to forestall a couple from finding a way to make love before the wedding,” she muttered. “I think it probably has the opposite effect, and they find other places and moments.”
“Hmm, you might be right, mo leannan. Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do, except…” Theo’s voice faded away, and Genevieve watched as a slow, sinful smile curved his lips, and a sudden flare of passion darkened his stormy blue eyes.
“Except what?” she asked, scowling up at him.
“We could pleasure ourselves while the other watched.” At his suggestion, Genevieve’s eyes widened in her face as she stared up at him in shock, shaking her head vehemently.
“No, I could never do that,” she exclaimed with a soft gasp, while a small thrill streaked through her at the wickedly hedonistic proposal.
“Where has my bold and fearless Genevieve run off to, leaving me with such a timid bride-to-be?” His devilish smile broadened as she glared up at him.
“Do not be an ass, Lord Selbourne.”
“Then pull your nightgown up, mo ghràdh, and let me look at you,” he dared her in a low, velvety-smooth voice that sent a shiver of excitement rushing through her.
Heart pounding wildly in her breast, Genevieve kept her eyes fixed on Theo’s face while her trembling hands caught the soft cotton of her gown and slowly pulled it up to her thighs. Features taut with desire, Theo’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.
“That’s it, mo leannan, just a little higher.” The moment she was fully exposed, Theo sucked in a sharp breath. “My god, Genevieve, you’re exquisite.”
Theo’s eyes locked with hers, and she heard his ragged breathing. Silence filled the air for a long moment as he closed his eyes, his features displaying a pained look.
“Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea after all.” The words were a dark growl rumbling up out of his chest as he met her gaze once more.
“Is something wrong?” she asked, biting back a smile. It was obvious he was feeling the strain of watching her without being able to touch her.
“Other than my cock being hard as a hitching post?” His frustration made her laugh, and he scowled at her.
“I’m going to make you pay for that in the near future, mo leannan. But at the moment, I’m going to watch you stroke yourself.”
“I don’t…don’t understand.” Heat rose in her cheeks as his face darkened with desire.
“I want to see your fingers dipping into those delicious, pink folds between your legs, Genevieve,” he rasped with an intense note of passion in his voice. “I want to see you stroke yourself.”
With a hard shake of her head, Genevieve silently rejected his instructions.
A dark growl emanated out of him, and his eyes narrowed at her.
It was a silent demand, and she swallowed hard.
In a tentative movement, she slid her hand down over her stomach until she found the already creamy folds between her thighs.
As she touched herself, her tongue dampened her lips, and Theo uttered a guttural groan of need.
“Now, I want you to rub that sensitive nub of flesh between your thighs, mo leannan.”