The Earl's Entanglement (Border Series Book 5)(84)

“What is it?” he asked.

She lifted her head, and Garrick moved to stand directly next to her. She handed the piece of parchment to him, its seal broken and unrecognizable. Not that she’d have known the Clan Scott crest by sight. Due to the warden’s decision to imprison his uncle and subsequent tension between Linkirk and Inverglen, Garrick thought it best they wait to visit Scotland until things settled.

As his expression changed from concern to anger, Emma said, “’Tis a kind gesture, is it not?”

He tossed the missive on the table, crossed his arms, and looked at her as if she’d asked for Graeme de Sowlis to write her.

“If you scowl at me so every time Graeme—”

“There will not be an ‘every time.’”

Emma rolled her eyes, pushed back the wooden chair, which scraped against the stone floor, and imitated her husband by crossing her arms as well.

She didn’t have to wait long.

He reached for her, pulling her arms apart, and hauled her up against his chest. “I do not like it.”

Unlike his harsh tone, the kiss he placed on her lips was soft and most welcome.

“You said yourself the man is honorable. He wishes only to congratulate us and offer continued assistance with the matter of Linkirk.”

This time, he kissed her neck, and Emma turned her head to allow for better access.

“He could have written me,” he murmured, his tongue flicking across her flesh as he moved his mouth closer and closer toward her chest.

“I had to apologize for all that happened. Besides, I do believe there’s a message for you as well.” Though she nodded to the still-scrolled missive addressed to Garrick, her husband didn’t look at it. Instead, he gave his full attention to his ministrations.

Knowing what was coming next, Emma reached behind Garrick and held on. Soon, she’d be unable to stand of her own volition. “You will need every ally you can get.”

His hand whipped around and began to untie the laces at the front of her gown. “Hmm.”

Her gown now completely untied, only her shift lay between Garrick and his destination. “Geoffrey says—”

“I don’t want to talk about your brother right now.” He moved lower still, pulling the fabric down to reveal the top of her breast.

“Then who,” she teased, “shall we speak of? I know, just this morn Conrad—”

She gasped as he continued lower still.

“I don’t wish to speak of anyone.” He looked up. “Or anything.”

She pretended to misunderstand. “Then what exactly do you wish to do?”

He groaned, lifted her up onto the table, and stood between her legs. “I wish, my lovely wife, to make love to you. And then, when the tide lowers, to take you on a ride and perhaps find another place to make love to you. Then tonight—”

“Let me guess. You wish to love me yet again?”

The corner of Garrick’s mouth lifted, just slightly, but she knew that look. In this, she found his “earlishness” to be most welcome.

“I do,” he said. “I will love every part of you, my sweet Emma.”

“And I you,” she said.

He was her earl.

Today and always.