“You belittle yourself.” He chuckled. “That was pronounced flawlessly.”
“Thank You.” She fairly sparkled at the compliment and they both chuckled at the drastic change in topic.
He closed his eyes. “Your smile is enough to bring a man to his knees.” He gave her a wide smile of his own. “I was put on this earth to love you and be loved by you.”
She sagged against him at the hopeful twinkle that lit his eyes.
The smile in his eyes shimmered brightly. “I may be a bloody fool, but I am not afraid to give you my heart. Not anymore. I don’t want to marry you just because of things we have done.” He kissed her firmly on her lips. “I want to marry you because I cannot imagine my life without you and I look forward to the things we will do together in the future. I love you with all of my heart Poppy.”
She froze at his words, a giant lump forming in her throat.
Reluctantly he released her to pull a jewelers box out of his inner coat pocket. A three-carat flawless sapphire surrounded by bezel set diamonds winked up at her glittering brilliantly in the bright summer sun.
Poppy gasped covering her mouth as more tears formed in her blue eyes.
His chest tightened and with shaking fingers, he placed the ring on the third finger of her left hand. Lifting her hand, he kissed it joyfully staring into her radiant blue eyes brimming with happy tears. “I sent to Allingham Park for this right after we rode to your secret hide-away. I knew then that you were my missing piece.” He looked into her face and grinned. “Holly gave me one of your rarely used rings for sizing purposes. I hope you do not mind.” He smiled sheepishly.
She shook her head unable to speak.
“This ring belonged to my mother. My father gave it to her for their betrothal. I knew it would be perfect for you.” He grinned. His voice was rough with emotion, “I know she would have loved you, just like I do. Your tenacious spirit along with the abundant joy that follows you like a shadow.”
Tears ran unheeded down Poppy’s face after his impassioned speech.
“I need your heart.” He swallowed thickly. “You already have mine. Say you will be my bride?” Uncertainty clouded his features. “Tell me that I will never have to wake up alone again.”
She could not drag her eyes from his even if she tried. Her voice was thick with sudden tears. Breathless with joy she said, “You will never be alone again.” Her lip quivered. As she threw her arms around him, he lifted her into his arms so they were eye to eye.
Declan’s heart soared, smiling mistily. He abruptly sobered. “So that there can be no misunderstanding on my part, is that a yes?”
Poppy kissed him softly on the lips as she placed her hand gently over his heart. She could feel the fast beating against her palm. “Yes,” she shouted as a burst of joyous laughter escaped her lips. Her dimple deepened as she laughed exuberantly.
Drunk with desire and happiness, he feasted on her lips like a starving man. He crushed her to him as he thrust his tongue into her mouth seeking all of her sweetness.
She matched him thrust for thrust. Their tongues tangled with voracious need for one another and she cried out with desire, his mouth driving her wild. A raging fire burned low in her belly, her heart pounding fiercely in her chest.
He lowered her to her feet, leaving a trail of fire until his hands found their mark, filling his palms with the softness of her breast.
“I need you,” Poppy whispered. She kissed him with a wanton lack of restraint. She plundered his mouth with her nimble tongue making up for her innocence with passion. Frantic with an unknown need, she pulled his shirt out of his breeches aching to feel his naked flesh, sighing into his mouth when her hands met his heated skin.
At the same time, he quickly released the buttons that ran down the front of her gown.
He let go of her long enough to shrug off his coat and lay it on the ground as an impromptu blanket for their tryst. Removing his cravat, he tossed it in the air allowing it to flutter unheeded to the damp ground. He then pulled his shirt over his head with one swoop letting it fall unnoticed to the ground revealing a swatch of curly black hair that arrowed down a flat stomach ridged in muscles. Reaching down he pulled his off his boots not caring if they were scuffed beyond recognition.
Poppy pushed her gown to her waist and wiggled until it fell to the ground in a puddle at her feet. Raising her arms, she slowly pulled the pins one by one from her hair, shaking her head allowing the golden locks to fall to her waist in soft curls.
She stood in her thin chemise, indecent in its length; barely reaching mid-thigh leaving little to a man’s imagination. And he had a hearty imagination, his mouth watering at the shadow of one dusky nipple teasing him through the thin silk and he groaned.
Poppy slid her hands deliberately down her legs until crossing her arms she grasped the bottom edge of her chemise and pulled it over her head tossing it to the rocky earth.
Never losing eye contact, after kicking off her slippers, she stood in only her white silk stockings and lacy garters grinning unabashedly, a rosy flush covering her cheeks refusing to fight her desire, choosing to surrender completely.
He closed his eyes. “You are so magnificent,” he groaned, swallowing convulsively. Never could he have imagined the erotic vision of her standing before him in stockings and frivolous lace garters.
He was envious of the golden curl that spilled over her naked breast he took a deep breath. “Silk sheets be damned, I believe them to be overrated anyway,” Declan murmured on a moan as he seized her wrist and hauled her to him. He cradled her head as they fell softly to the ground. Holding her in his arms, he expertly protected her from the rocky, uneven earth beneath them. Then he kissed her, plundering and devouring her with his lips and tongue.
Her insatiable curiosity was getting the better of her. Eyes wide, she asked timidly, “You are going to remove all your clothes this time?” She raised her brows, half-sitting and half leaning on her elbows absently tracing a pattern on his sun-bronzed chest with the tip of her finger. Her bottom lip captured coyly by her teeth.
He noticed the darkening of her eyes. Trembling with need, he growled low in his throat. Tearing at the fall on his breeches, he pushed them down allowing his manhood to spring forward hard and throbbing with need, which only grew larger beneath her fascinated stare.
Without warning, a smile caught the corners of her mouth and a sparkle settled in her eyes. Hesitantly she reached out, gripping him in her small fist. Her fingers wrapped around his pulsing flesh in wonder surprised by the velvety smoothness of his hard member.
Declan groaned, attempting to control his desire, suppressing a shudder as her small hand caressed his throbbing staff. A mere slip of a girl controlled the storm that was breaking inside of him. He covered her with his hard heated body running his hands over her overheated flesh licking the pulse at the base of her throat. Trailing his mouth over her collarbone until he drew one of her rosy nipples between is hot lips. Pulling and tugging with his teeth causing sparks of pleasure to shoot all the way to her toes.
Her spine bowed with the onslaught of his mouth and tongue. Squirming uncontrollably beneath him, she gripped his waist tightly. Floating, her senses heightened, her cheeks flushed and her lush lips parted with a beckoning need.
He trailed one of his hands down her belly and felt her muscles jump beneath his palm. Slowly he slid his big work-roughened hand down until he reached the thatch of glistening golden curls covering her mound. Pressing the heel of his hand against her, he raised his head to look into her eyes as he stroked her slick flesh.
Lowering his head, he trailed his lips down the center of her body planting kisses on her belly her muscles quivering beneath his lips. He buried his face in her curls, inhaling her musky scent.
Shocked by what he was doing, Poppy gasped and squeezed her knees together. Squeaking out, “What are…?”
He gently stroked her belly, looking into her eyes, “Trust me, love.” A serious look flitte
red across his face for a moment as he continued to stroke between her legs. Slow, rhythmic strokes until Poppy’s legs fell open. Spreading her thighs wide he raised one of her knees.
Poppy’s back arched off the ground at the first stroke of his tongue along her sensitive folds making her cry out.
He devoted himself to her responsive flesh. His wicked tongue licked and suckled until she sobbed and begged for a physical release.
She had never expected anything like this assault. The invasion of his thrusting tongue deep inside caused her to climax on a loud scream that echoed loudly in the quiet outdoors.
Deep-seated contentment took over, as she lay limp on the ground. The harsh sound of her breathing was the only sound for miles around.
He rose over her the feel of his wiry hair brushing against her sensitized flesh forced her heavy eyelids to open revealing her dazed blue eyes.
Poppy’s stunned gaze locked with his satisfied emerald green eyes. He lowered his eyes to her mouth watching as her tongue peeked out stroking slowly across her bottom lip.
His mouth went suddenly dry. Swallowing, Declan groaned at the erotic sight, mentally listing all the things he wanted her to do with her little pink tongue.
He lowered his head and captured her lips in a dark hungry kiss.
She gasped with pleasure as his mouth feathered hot, wet kisses down her jaw, over her neck and then continued across her collarbone. Her breath came in gulps as he lavished her breast with similar attention. She cried out as the little flicks of his rough tongue on her taught aching nipples sending bolts of lightning shooting to her core.
His hand slid down her side over her taught belly once more, down over her curls to ease one of his fingers deep into her slick folds.
Poppy threaded her fingers into his hair and gripped his head not wanting him to stop. Her breathing was short puffs of air, spellbound by the turbulent emotions that coursed throughout her body.
He pressed his mouth more tightly to her breast and suckled fiercely until she cried out with the shock of pleasure. He was driving her wild with his attentions her breasts soon tender from his intense exploration. He then transferred his mouth to her other breast where he licked with his raspy tongue and suckled until she writhed in ecstasy beneath him.
Inserting a second finger along the first, he continued to thrust in and out of her wet femininity in a rhythmic tempo until she began to buck against his hand in a yearning need. At her unreserved response, a wolfish smile curved his lips.
“Declan,” she cried out when his mouth left her breast, soon appeased when he captured her mouth in a ravenous kiss that swallowed her cries of pleasure as she spiraled out of control once again.
Against her mouth he whispered, “I love you.” His voice was thick and strained. Shifting, he rose above her, wedging his hips deep between her thighs. Sliding his hand under her bottom, he lifted her to receive his pulsing erection.
Poppy’s eyes opened wide as she felt the blunt head of his erection slowly ease into her opening.
Bracing himself on his forearms, he steadily pressed deep into her slick heat, stretching her until he reached the restriction of her maidenhead.
Holding still for a moment, she shifted beneath him, clawing restlessly at his back begging him to continue.
Teetering on the brink of his self-control, Declan took a deep breath then drove deep into her hot, slick passage breaching the final barrier to her innocence.
She arched up as Declan entered her, grabbing his shoulders for support, her fingers hot on his skin, her eyes flaring even wider as he filled her to overflowing.
Declan’s gaze snapped up.
Her eyes smiled as she whispered, “Don’t you dare stop now!” Her lower lip thrust out just a little in a charming pout.
He bit back a chuckle, sighing at the sensation of being sheathed in her. His muscles bunched as he began to move within her, her hips rose to meet his and he captured her lips again in a fiery kiss their tongues tangled greedily. With each slow measured thrust, again and again her body filled as he stretched her.
Panting as she became familiar with the rhythm of each powerful stroke, she eagerly met each one with her very own raw urgency. Matching, receiving, taking and giving.
Poppy trailed hot openmouthed kisses across his chest needing the taste of him on her tongue. She circled her tongue around the flat disc of his nipple; gently biting the nub producing a deep, guttural groan to escape his lips. She continued to run her tongue over his salty flesh. Almost urgently, she ran her hands across the muscular ridges of his abdomen, then around his back to cup his taut muscular buttocks.
A whisper of a breeze stirred the air around them as she clung to him wanting more seeking all that she could until a powerful explosion ripped through her body pushing her over the brink, shattering into millions of pieces. The muscles of her sheath continued to contract as he thrust once, twice and then a final time driving into her hard and deep emptying himself into her, his body shuddering and convulsing powerfully.
He collapsed on top of her barely avoiding crushing her by propping himself up on his elbows. He rested his bowed head lightly against hers, slowly working at controlling his breathing.
Rolling over, he gathered her closer, crushing her curves against his hard body.
Drawing in a deep breath as she waited for her body to quiet, she pushed her tousled hair out of her eyes. A slow dreamy half-smile curved up the corners of her mouth.
Declan brushed a kiss against her lips. His muscular arm wrapped around Poppy’s waist as his hand made soft circles on her belly. His dark lashes fanned out against the curve of his cheek, inhaling her sweet vanilla and honey fragrance. Conscious of the bone-deep satisfaction that coursed through his body he lay still drinking it all in.
Poppy was the first to break the silence, exclaiming breathlessly, “Heavens!”
He gently tugged on a lock of her hair with a wide grin on his face. “Poppy, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me.” His hand slid languidly over her naked body.
She stirred in his arms arching shamelessly against him.
He lifted himself up on one elbow staring into her shimmering blue eyes.
Her lashes fluttered and her lips parted when his hand shifted to cradle her jaw.
His thumb reverently stroked her lower lip. Bending down he claimed her lips possessively, his tongue once again sliding deep into her heat.
Grudgingly pulling his lips from hers and untangling their limbs, he rose to his feet perfectly at ease with his nakedness, holding out his hand to lift her from the ground.
Tipping her chin with one finger, he leaned down lingeringly kissing her pouting mouth a final time before pushing her toward her untidy pile of clothing swatting her deliciously naked bottom, “Now, get dressed before they send out a search party.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
or bends with the remover to remove.
O no, it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand’ ring bark,
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
Sonnet 116
*William Shakespeare
The morning of their wedding arrived clear and sunny as only a duke could command. Declan explained to Poppy that he had fallen in love with her the moment their eyes first met and after his private talk with her brother, the day they had returned scandalously late from the ruins, he had immediately left to acquire a special license.
Their ceremony was anything but traditional. A private ceremony at a castle ruins with giggling school girls running around was definitely not the norm. Nevertheless, Poppy thought it perfect.
The men resplendent in their formal attire befitting the marriage of one of their best friends were anxiously awaiting the br
ide.
The white painted arch covered abundantly with a variety of colorful blooms stood prettily near the ruins and underneath stood the vicar and the handsome groom.
Declan stood proudly, his legs braced a little apart, hands clasped behind his back impatiently waiting for his first glimpse of Poppy for the day. Dressed elegantly, a beaver hat, a frock coat of olive green superfine with velvet lapels and cuffs that fit him like a second skin, his crisp neck cloth tied elaborately beneath his chin, a cream silk double-breasted waist coat with gold thread, fawn breeches and well-polished Hessians covered his feet.
Declan held his breath when the carriage came to a halt over the rise to deposit the flushed and giggling women at the top of the slight incline, tumbling out of the carriage, surrounding Poppy in an effort to keep her hidden from Declan’s watchful eyes.
Poppy’s breath caught as their gazes collided and the most beautiful smile she had ever witnessed spread across his face.
Declan’s mouth went dry as he finally beheld his bride-to-be dressed in a pristine white satin gown that glimmered in the sunshine, the square-cut bodice encrusted with brilliants sent out sparks of light as she moved. The dress lovingly cupped the delicious swell of her bosom. Short cap sleeves woven in a basket weave design that showed her slender arms to perfection. The slim skirt skimmed seductively over her hips. Side slits up to her knees revealed an underskirt of silver tissue that peeped out when she walked. Her outfit complete with white gloves and white satin slippers with silver embroidery. The train caught up with a silver ribbon fell down her back to cascade behind like a waterfall. Her golden hair caught up in loose curls and decorated with more brilliants and of course, Declan’s favorite flower, poppies.
Declan bit back a chuckle when he caught sight of the hem whimsically embroidered with fluffy silver lambs, later revealed to be a clever idea thought up by Chloe.
Ending her procession directly in front of Declan with a brilliant smile, she tenderly laid her hand on his arm.
Mr. Timmons cleared his throat, the curate, a short round man of indeterminate age with a shock of gray hair standing up all over his head. “His Grace wants to say a few words before we begin the ceremony.” Bowing, he withdrew.
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