The Earl's Entanglement (Border Series Book 5)(53)
“Talk,” he said again once he’d finally managed to stop. A nearly impossible feat. He took a step back, but the temptation to return to her, to take her in his arms again, was too strong.
Reaching down for the robe, he picked it up, draped it around her shoulders, and reassessed the situation. “Better.”
“What are you about, Lord Clave?”
He didn’t miss her gaze, which dropped as she spoke. His mind started to wander as he pictured her mouth on his chest, moving lower and lower as he had done to her.
Garrick reached down again, this time grabbing his own shirt and tossing it back over his head.
“Talk,” he said again, as much to himself as to her.
His throat was dry, the air thick and heavy with the promise of what could be. He continued to back away, but it was still not far enough. Her sweet lavender scent overwhelmed him.
“Of course,” she said, as if they’d been having a logical conversation rather than nearly ravaging each other.
“I cannot yet promise you anything beyond my heart.” He swallowed. “But I came here with the intention of ravishing you.”
Emma stood as still as the bed beside her.
“To make love to you as I’ve dreamt of doing since the very moment you stood, covered in hay, in that stable. There is nothing I want more. That I’ve ever wanted more.”
“But?”
“But I can’t.”
“Can’t? Or won’t?”
“Does it matter?”
Emma opened her mouth to speak, but God help him, he couldn’t let her. Not just yet. If she uttered even one word to convince him to carry out his original plan, he would do it.
“Is this really what you want, Emma?” he asked, desperate to make her understand. “Do you want a man promised to another?”
She lifted her chin, and Garrick knew he’d gotten through to her.
“I can barely keep my hands from you. But you deserve more.” And he intended to give it to her. “I don’t want anything to stand between us when we make love for the first time. Not your brother. Not Magnus.”
“Not your mother.”
He could not deny it. She’d come to know him well. “Nor her.”
“Then what will we do?”
He nearly did go to her then, but Garrick didn’t trust himself.
“I’ve asked her to come to Clave.”
She didn’t have to ask who. “Before I left Kenshire, I sent a group of men back to Scotland to deliver the message that the wedding is to be delayed until spring. But I need to inform my mother before making any other decision. I’ve asked her to return to England for the time being.”
He wished he had all of the answers now, but he didn’t. “And the attack . . .”
“You believe it was your uncle?”
He shrugged. “Perhaps. Inquiries are being made. If it was him—”
“He will stop at nothing to gain the title.”
“I will kill him first.”
“You’re serious.”
Very serious. If he had put Emma in harm’s way, if he had thought for a moment to threaten Garrick’s mother . . .
“Garrick, please don’t do anything rash.”
“Rash? The bastard—”
“Might well be behind the attack. If so, allow the wardens to deal with it.”
“Emma, you don’t know what you’re asking.”
“I do. You’ll remember I have three brothers, all of whom would put themselves in danger to protect what is theirs. But at least two of them have learned a powerful lesson. Trust in the process you’re so willing to fight to protect.”
She didn’t realize what she asked for. To not seek vengeance? If his uncle truly was behind the attacks?
“As for us—”
“Just give me time to sort through it.”
She didn’t answer right away.
“Emma?”
“You heard my brother earlier. It seems Graeme is pressing his suit. If he—”
He reached her in two strides. “You will not marry Graeme.”
“Perhaps we can discuss it rather than you ordering me about—”
“Promise me, Emma. You will not entertain him.”
He didn’t like the look on her face. A line of frustration had formed between her eyes.
“Promise me.”
She shrugged off his hand.
“This no longer feels like a discussion.”
The image of Graeme lifting Emma’s hand to his mouth filled Garrick’s mind, muddying his thoughts. “I will not leave without your promise.”
He waited.
“I promise.” She didn’t look pleased, but he had her promise and her love.
It had to be enough for now.
“Tell me.”
Her brother’s voice, not Garrick’s.
Emma had found shelter in a peculiar room on the ground floor of the castle, just next to Clave’s great hall. She’d discovered the empty space just after breaking her fast. She’d spent the morning trying not to look at Garrick and not to be cornered by the overeager Lord Davenhill. Eager to escape it all, she’d wandered away and found this remarkable space. Housed inside a postern tower, the circular room had more windows than most, and none of them were arrow slits. Granted, the oriel windows were not in much danger of being attacked from the sea, but they were extremely rare on the ground floor. She rather liked them.