by Platt, Meara
Fortunately, there were enough pines and rushes, and late blooming foliage on the surrounding trees to give them cover. “Aren’t we supposed to become responsible adults now that we’ll soon be wed?”
He shrugged. “What does yer precious book say about it?”
He was referring to The Book of Love, of course. “I’m sure it says nothing about this. Or if it does, it advises not to do anything idiotic the morning of your wedding.” They would be married within a few hours and share a cozy bedchamber from this evening on. They’d have plenty of opportunities to do all manner of things not deemed proper.
“But ye’re marrying a big, dumb Scot.” His gaze was boyish and wicked and so filled with love, she simply could not resist him.
“A big, wonderful Scot,” she corrected with a groan of surrender. She and Thad did not seem to do anything the proper way. Why start now? “And you are about to marry a love-crazed Harpy. Are you sure we’re only going to swim?”
“I can be talked into doing more.”
His hands were now sliding up and down her body, turning her blood to liquid pools of fire. She had no intention of stopping him, for she was experiencing new and wondrous sensations in response to his touch and would not be averse to allowing something more than a dip in the water.
She arched an eyebrow. “Your low brain hard at work, is it?”
“Aye. Always with ye, lass.”
Against her better judgement, she helped him off with his shirt. In typical Thad fashion, he’d dressed casually, wearing buff pants and a shirt. Not even a gentleman’s shirt, but one more suited to a farmer about to plow a field. No buttons or studs. This allowed the garment to be easily drawn over his head, displaying his massive, rippling muscles.
And oh, did this man have a fine body.
“Thad,” she said with a sudden ache to her voice.
He caressed her cheek. “I feel it too, lass.”
She supposed she ought to have insisted they wait until this evening. But when had she and Thad ever done anything according to Society’s rules? It seemed right that they should ignore the rules now. In truth, she liked that they misbehaved. More important, she wanted Thad to know that she loved him now and always.
Her love for him existed beyond the bond of marriage.
She trusted him with her heart.
She knew it was precious to him and he would protect her from harm until his last, gasping breath, and never cause her any hurt.
Perhaps they would take greater care to behave themselves once they had children, if they were so blessed. “Thad, about that something more. I can be talked into it, too.”
“Are ye sure, lass?”
She nodded.
“Blessed saints, what a relief.” He wasted no time in unfastening the laces of her gown and drawing the fashionably styled bodice down to her waist. She had no time to feel the bite of the chill wind, for his lips and hands were all over her, touching, exploring, tasting her. Sweet heaven! What this man did to her.
She laughed as he nibbled along the curve of her neck, for he had yet to shave and the bristle forming along his jaw tickled her. But her light laughter quickly turned to moans of delight as her body warmed and her senses heightened in response to his touch.
He slid his arm around her waist, drawing her close as her legs turned to butter and she feared they would never hold her up.
She also dared to explore him, reaching up on tiptoes to kiss him on the mouth, enjoying the warm press of his lips against hers when he responded to her touch. She trailed kisses along his broad shoulders and the curve of his neck, feeling the heat of his skin against her mouth and tasting its salty tang on her tongue.
“Lass, I wish to taste ye, too.” She inhaled sharply as he cupped her breast and began to knead it gently. He swirled his tongue lazily across its straining tip. Then his mouth was on her breast, suckling and nipping and stealing her breath away with the wonder of it.
She thought she might expire, for her heart was now beating so fast, she could not slow it down, nor did she care to slow this mounting, frenzied pleasure. Lost in the moment, she failed to realize her gown had slipped off her body until she almost tripped over it as it lay pooled at her feet. Oh, heavens! Were all innocents this clumsy? “I’m so sorry. I…”
“Och, love.” He bent to set aside her gown. As he rose, he removed her chemise for unhampered access to her body.
His look of wonder caused any shame she was feeling to melt away. Her hair was unbound and she was going to use the tumbling cascade to cover herself, but stopped.
This man.
What he did to her with his caresses and the smoldering heat of his desire.
She felt a pulsing warmth build between her legs as he continued to touch her and explore. This was her body craving his, no doubt. She’d never experienced such longing, nor had she ever felt such aching emptiness inside of her. It was a good ache, a desire to take Thad into her body. An ache that only he could satisfy.
She whispered his name and clutched his shoulders because she couldn’t bear to let him go.
“I’ve got you, my love.” He lowered his mouth to her breast once again, his tongue flicking over its swollen tip and drawing a moan of pleasure from her lips. At the same time, he slid his hand to the V of her legs and cupped her there, holding still for a long moment to allow her to absorb the intimacy of his hand upon her. “It wasn’t my intention to rush ye. I’ll wait, if ye wish.”
“No, Thad. Heavens, my heart is about to burst.”
He laughed softly. “So is mine.”
She held on to him, gripping the hard, golden muscles of his arms as he began to stroke her intimately. She sensed his tension, for he was holding back his own hot need, his only thought to pleasure her. He was a magnificent beast, this big, rugged Scot who had stolen her heart. “I love you, Thad.”
He set her down on his shirt that was spread out over the carpet of fallen leaves. “Mo cridhe,” he whispered, removing his fingers where he’d stroked her and replacing them with – oh, sweet mercy! – with his mouth. “Thad!”
“Let me taste ye, lass.” He dipped his head to her most intimate spot, his mouth now on her and touching her with his lips and tongue as he’d done to her breasts. Only this was…they were in danger of setting the copse ablaze with the scorching heat of their desire.
Her blood turned thick and molten.
Her skin was aflame.
This feeling was something raw and savage and eternal. She’d only read about the senses, but now she understood their power with every thrum and throb of her body. Nothing would satisfy her but to take this man inside her.
Yet, as she tugged on his shoulders to bring him up to her, she felt a tingling heat rush through her and an inexplicable lightness surround her. She was being carried to a place she’d never been before.
A place where she felt everything.
She clutched the edges of his shirt, as though the coarse fabric was enough to prevent her from floating away. But she needn’t have worried, Thad’s hands were on her, caressing her. Holding her to him so that she would not be lost in the air.
When it seemed she could bear no more, the world suddenly erupted before her eyes. The scent of pine and impending winter surrounded her as she took deep, gasping breaths. Thad replaced his mouth with his finger and shifted his hard, muscled body upward to rest on his elbows and watch her as her body soared to new and unexplored heights. “Mo cridhe, let yerself go.”
She did, because she couldn’t stop the sensations rushing through her. When she soared, he was there to catch her as she slowly floated down to earth.
He swallowed her in his arms to warm her damp, trembling body. Wordlessly, he held her against his chest, caressing her. Running his fingers gently through her hair.
She felt the wild beat of his heart against her own.
And felt his hard, aching need pressed against her thigh.
She would have allowed him his release and was surprised that
he did not take advantage. Instead, he carried her into the water and swam with her in his arms. “We both need to cool off, lass.”
“I thought you’d…”
“I’ll claim ye tonight, my love. When I have the husbandly right to do so. But I wanted this moment for us. I wanted to taste ye. To breathe ye in and know yer scent in the mindless, low-brain way a beast would know its mate. Our connection runs deeper than shared memories or mere attraction. It extends beyond our bodies. It’s in our souls.”
The water was cold, but Penelope only felt the warmth of the moment.
Thad held her in his powerful arms.
This man loved her.
He kissed her again and then began to swim them back to shore, for the household would soon awaken, and they were both without their clothes.
“Oh, my heavens!” Her eyes grew wide as a sudden, distressing thought gripped her.
“What’s wrong, lass?”
“Do you think Pip’s awake?”
Thad groaned. “Bollocks, I hope not.”
They returned to the copse in haste, seeking their garments. “Thank The Graces, the lad hasn’t touched them,” Thad muttered, picking up his shirt and using it to dry her off. “Ye’re so beautiful, lass. I dinna think I can keep my hands off ye until this evening.”
She turned to pick up her chemise and slip it over her head, her body still thrumming and her blood still coursing hotly through her veins despite the dip in the cold water. “Oh, Thad. What we did just now…” She blushed furiously. “I had no idea loving someone could ever be like this.”
“Ye felt so good in my arms, lass. It’ll be even better tonight, although I expect I’ll make a fool of myself. I won’t be able to hold back, ye give me that much pleasure.” He lazily rubbed his shirt against his golden skin.
Penelope’s heart melted. “Help me on with my gown. I’m scheduled to marry a big, handsome Scot this morning, and I have no wish to be late.”
“Nor does he.” He put on his pants, then helped her on with her gown, which turned into a most inefficient affair because they were distracted kissing each other. But Thad allowed nothing more than kisses. “Tonight, lass.” He glanced skyward. “Lord, help me survive until then.”
He took her hand in his as they walked back to the house together.
Since his shirt was wet, he did not bother to put it on, but merely draped it over his shoulder.
When they entered the house, he turned her over to her waiting maid and left to ready himself for their wedding which would take place shortly. “Lud, m’lady,” Emily said, licking her lips as Thad walked off. “I hope that he made love to you proper. Now, don’t you go blushing and pretending nothing happened. I can tell by the heat in your cheeks and the fire in his eyes that something did. Well, I always said that big Scot would know how to do it proper.”
*
Thad took everyone’s ribbing in good nature. Nothing was going to dampen his enjoyment of this perfect day. Loopy now stood before him, looking like a blessed angel in a gown of cream silk and lace. There might have been pearls sewn in as well. He wasn’t really looking at her gown, but recalling the exquisitely soft body hidden beneath it.
Vicar Carstairs cleared his throat. “Thaddius MacLauren, Laird Caithness, Captain…” he began to recite his military honors and a list of titles recently bestowed on him now that he was Hume’s heir. “Do you take…” The ‘aye’ was ready to spring from his lips, but he waited until the vicar had finished reciting Penelope’s name and string of her connections.
“I do,” he said with a nod, taking Penelope’s hand and giving it a light squeeze.
Penelope responded with a solemn “I do” to the vicar’s question similarly posed to her. But he knew by the way her fingers entwined in his, that she was ready to leap out of her skin with excitement. However, she held herself together like a proper lady, obviously trained in the genteel arts and knowing how to use them when necessary.
Never with him, however.
Lord, he couldn’t wait to be alone with the wild Penelope, the beautiful girl who’d clutched the edges of his shirt and allowed herself to soar under the guidance of his touch. Tonight. And ever after. He only had a few more hours to get past before he held her in his arms again.
And he was counting the minutes.
They left the church and rode through Wellesford, taking a turn through the town before heading to Sherbourne Manor where the wedding breakfast would be held. “You look handsome in your uniform,” Loopy said, smiling up at him as they rode in her brother’s open curricle, the better to be seen by those who had turned out for the wedding.
“Ye look lovely in yer gown.” He grinned. “Ye’ll look lovelier without it, but that’ll have to wait, I suppose.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, it will have to wait. Besides, you must be hungry by now.”
He shrugged. “I’m always hungry, lass. Verra well, I’ll wait until after we’ve eaten to carry ye away. Not that we’ve far to go. Or that we’ll have much privacy since we’re staying here for the night.” He sighed. “Nor will we have much privacy at Coldstream Castle, but at least there, we’ll have our own private quarters. It’s a big, rambling fortress. Built and rebuilt many times over.”
“I’ll make do. I don’t care where we are so long as we’re together.”
He nodded. “I have a bride gift for ye, lass.”
She tipped her head to smile at him. “Dare I ask what it is?”
“Malcolm and Robbie said I was an idiot. But I had the jeweler fashion it anyway.” He fished into his pocket and withdrew a tiny box. “It’s a charm, to be worn on a bracelet or a necklace.”
She opened the box and stared at the gift, obviously puzzled by what it was. In the next moment, she understood and gasped. “Thad, it’s a raisin scone!”
“The raisins are tiny sapphires. The scone is silver.”
Tears formed in her eyes. “Are ye crying, lass?”
She nodded. “This is the best gift ever.”
He sighed in relief. “Aye, I knew ye’d understand and appreciate my meaning. It isn’t just a charm ye’ll be wearing, it’s my heart. It’s all of me. My every hope. My every dream. My every wish come true.”
“I know, Thad. I appreciate it more than I can say.”
But that night, as the festivities ended and everyone retired to their quarters, she showed him just how much she did appreciate him. He was afraid he might hurt her when they coupled, for he was that eager to fulfill their union. But she was ready for him, her body warm and her arms inviting as they opened to him.
After he’d brought her to passion and claimed his own, he took her into his arms and held her close against his body. “I love ye, lass.”
“How much do you love me?”
“Och, dinna ask such a question.”
Was he supposed to say something romantic, perhaps something poetic? But only one thing came to mind, and he knew she wouldn’t like it. She stared at him, giving him that look, and he knew he had to give her an answer. She’d understood the meaning in the charm he’d given her earlier today. He hoped she would understand his response to her question, for one thing had always stood out for him when reading The Book of Love. The chapters dealt with sensations, the power of the five senses. His sense had always been taste.
A hunger for the love he’d been deprived of as a child.
A hunger for food, because he was a big ox even as a boy and didn’t get that way by being shy around food.
A hunger for Penelope because no one and nothing tasted sweeter than this girl.
Indeed, his was the sense of taste.
No one satisfied it better than Penelope. “How much do I love ye? I love ye more than a sausage patty.”
There, he’d said it.
He braced himself, prepared to be kicked out of bed.
Instead, she snuggled closer. “Thank you, Thad. I’m flattered.”
“Ye are?” Indeed, this angel understood him.
&
nbsp; “Yes, my love.” She leaned her body over his and gave him a kiss on the lips.
He loved the way her auburn hair spilled over her bare shoulders and onto his chest. He loved the feel of her soft lips against his mouth. And the softness of her body as she rested it against him. All of her was soft and beautiful. Soft and warm and pink. “How much do ye love me?”
“That’s easy, Thad.” She lay atop him now, her breasts pillowed against his chest. “I love you to the depths of my soul.”
He rolled her under him, shifting their positions in one swift move. “Och, lass. That’s a good answer. Much better than mine.”
She cupped his face in her hands. “Yours was perfect. It was you. Will you make love to me a second time?”
“I’m at yer service, lass. As many times as ye wish.”
Book of Love Series
Book 1 – The Look of Love
Book 2 – The Touch of Love
Book 3 – The Taste of Love
Book 4 – The Song of Love
Book 5 – The Scent of Love
Book 6 – The Kiss of Love
READ ON FOR A SNEAK PEEK AT THE LOOK OF LOVE!
Chapter One
London, England
July 1815
Lady Olivia Gosling was minding her own business, browsing along the musty shelves of Gresham’s Antiquarian Books, when one of those books suddenly fell off the top shelf and landed on her head. “Ouch!”
She peered around the corner, certain that someone had carelessly knocked over the tome bound in faded red leather. But she was alone amid the narrow stacks bulging with old texts and piles of dust.
“The Book of Love,” she muttered, reading the title after picking it up and dusting it off. She placed it back on the shelf and sighed, for love is what she sorely needed to rescue her from her desperate situation.
The book promptly fell back atop her head. “Oh, for pity’s sake. Do that again and I shall toss you into the ash bin.”
She rubbed her head where a small lump was beginning to form. “Love, indeed.” The way her life had been going lately, she would never find happiness. She was doomed to have an unsuccessful debut Season. Doomed to be a wallflower. Doomed to be a spinster. Or worse, cast off in marriage by her guardian to one of his unsavory friends. “You are most certainly getting tossed into the ash bin.”