The Earl's Entanglement (Border Series Book 5)(43)

He still couldn’t look at her. England. Scotland. Acre. He’d never been with a woman who aroused such a passion in him. What would it be like to . . . Garrick, stop.

“Did I do something wrong?”

That did it. The horror that Emma would think such a thing, even for a moment, finally enabled him to gain the control he desperately needed. This time, his heart, not his manhood, stirred.

He turned onto his side, propping his head on his elbow. “Wrong? Never.”

She was so incredibly lovely. She’d pulled down her shift, and a good thing because his wandering eyes could not stop gazing downward. What would it be like to have those legs wrapped around him?

“You have that look again.”

He groaned and pulled her toward him. “No more looks this eve, my insatiable minx.”

They lay side by side, Emma’s face just inches from his own. He caught himself from leaning his head forward to kiss her. It would only make it harder in the end.

“You’d best be getting back.”

“Aye,” she said without moving.

“Garrick,” she whispered, her hair tickling his cheek. He moved it to the side, trying not to look at her. “That felt really good.”

And there it was again. Desire welling inside him, pulling at him, encouraging him to . . .

No. He could not have her.

Emma was not his.

“I’m glad to hear you say so.” He pulled her tighter.

“I don’t want to leave yet.”

“Then don’t.”

Despite all the reasons he should tell her to go, he found he could not. He wanted her to stay too, but if they were ever caught, the fallout would be considerable.

Garrick allowed his mind to wander down that path. They’d have to marry, of course. His broken betrothal would enrage the Earl of Magnus, mayhap enough so to start a clan war. His uncle would use the incident to steal the title out from under him, and his mother would lose a husband and her inheritance in one fell swoop.

And yet Garrick still found himself reaching for the back of her hair, pulling the strands together, and moving them aside so that he could touch her neck. It was only an innocent touch, certainly nothing like . . .

Emma sighed.

And then he imagined her lying like this with Graeme. He pictured her atop him, her expression filled with the pure pleasure of release. A release given to her by another man.

No!

“I’m going to delay the wedding.” Even as he said it, he knew the words made no sense. He had to marry. Would marry. A delay was pointless.

“I see.”

She didn’t ask why. Or what it meant. Instead, she moved her head to the side to give him better access to the exposed skin there.

Garrick flipped Emma onto her back and moved over her.

“Don’t marry Graeme.”

She blinked. “I have no intention—”

“He will ask.”

The corners of Emma’s lips lifted and her blue eyes sparkled with mischief. “You’re being silly—”

“Wait until I send for you. Promise me.”

“Send for me? Garrick, you aren’t making sense. Why would you—”

“Your brother and I spoke of a meeting, a gathering of the border lords to determine the next recourse from the attack. I will host it. Find a way to come with him.”

“That should not be a problem. But why?”

He shook his head, not understanding himself.

Or maybe he understood all too much.

“I can’t make any promises. My mother expects a wedding. Magnus and his daughter . . . they are all expecting a wedding. But . . .”

He reached up and laid her hand on his cheek. His heart raced as the implications washed over him. What he was about to say could not be unsaid. But it was the truth, and he could no more keep quiet than he could resist bringing this woman every pleasure she deserved.

“If there’s a way to stop it, I will.”

Her hand dropped. Garrick, propped above her, looked down at the most beautiful, spirited woman he’d ever known. One who had captured his heart and soul in the short time they’d known each other.

“I love you, Emma.”

Her eyes widened, and he wished the words back immediately. He’d never uttered them to a woman before, and in truth, he’d never expected to.

She cupped his face as if he were a newborn babe rather than a hardened warrior. “I love you too.”

His chest constricted and his mouth went dry. Garrick couldn’t get closer quickly enough. He leaned down and kissed her, every nerve ending in his body screaming, her lips all-consuming. He loved this woman with every part of himself, would give everything he owned to be closer to her, to be inside her, to show her the truth of his words. To make a life with her.

For now, he’d be content with a kiss, one that threatened to drag him into an eternal bliss from which he might never recover.

One that held promises he wasn’t sure he could keep.





16





I love you, Emma.

The words came back to her before she was fully awake. She repeated them over and over in her mind. He truly had said them.

And more.

By the time Emma left his chamber, Garrick had vowed to set up a meeting, and nothing would stop her from accompanying Geoffrey to Clave Castle.