“No. But this sounds like something I want to hear.”
A heated kiss rewarded this heartfelt answer, a kiss that quickly became as hot and passionate as their usual kisses. When they finally drew away, Aife was breathless.
“Well?” Torsten purred. “I’m waiting. I still want to hear why you fell in love with the stone.”
She blinked. He really expected her to have to ability to talk right now, after the kiss they had shared? She cleared her throat, doing her best to focus and give him the explanation he wanted.
“The color reminds me of your eyes.” She suspected he had no idea how closely the rock mirrored the molten honey irises, having never seen his own eyes the way others could see them. “I’ve always found them fascinating, so unlike anyone else’s in the village, even your mother’s. And also, that day on the beach, I understood that I had fallen in love with you. I wanted a reminder of that moment.”
“You have one now. Me.” He placed a kiss on her forehead in a gesture that had now become familiar. “You’ll always have me.I will make sure to remind you at least twice a day that you love me.”
“Only twice a day? I hope that doesn’t include the nights. I will definitely expect you to remind me then, again and again.” Aife laughed, then stopped abruptly when Torsten burrowed his face into the crook of her neck and started to nibble at her like a starving wolf about to devour his prey.
“Mm, do you know why I love your laugh so much?” he asked, before taking her earlobe between his teeth, sending shards of delight all the way to her toes.
“No. But this sounds like something I want to hear as well.” He had told her he loved her laugh before finding the stone, and it had sent her senses into a flurry.
“Because it makes me harder than steel. Feel it.”
Bringing their two bodies in contact, he nudged at her. Aife gasped when she felt how aroused he was.
“Yes, steel indeed,” she murmured. “But why would my laugh send you mad with lust?” It was the last thing she had expected to hear. She had never heard that laughter was what aroused men.
He groaned, his lips still at her throat. “Right now, we have to go and get married. I cannot tell you, because if I do, I will want to tumble you into bed. But one day soon I will tell you.”
This sounded promising, and Aife almost begged him to do it there and then. The people waiting to go to the wedding could wait. She forced herself to reason. It wouldn’t be fair on everyone who had worked ceaselessly from dawn. Besides, there was still something she needed to do. Now seemed as good a time as any.
“Before we go, I, too, have a surprise for you.”
“Mm. Is it what I think it is?”
“I know not. What are you thinking?”
The look Torsten threw her was so evocative Aife went red to the roots of her hair. She knew he was imagining her on herknees, giving him pleasure in the most scandalous manner. “No. It’s not that.”
A mock sigh of resignation left Torsten’s lips. “Very well. I guess I will have to wait until tonight.”
Heat bloomed in her loins at the thought of welcoming him into her mouth again, so hot and heavy, so hard and smooth, so perfect for her. This wedding night would be memorable.
“I’ll make sure you don’t regret waiting. Now come,” she said, taking him by the hand. “You will have to go outside to get your present.”
Unable to resist, she ordered him to close his eyes as well. Then she led him to the back of the hut, and came to a halt in front of a newly installed wooden box. Smiling, she turned to him to see if he had recognized what it was. Of course, he had.
“You got me a hive?” He sounded both incredulous and delighted.
“Well, yes. I got it the other day, actually.” Before they had decided to get married. “I meant to ask your father for help, as I have no idea how to get the bees inside it, but I didn’t have time. But I thought that way you could have all the honey you want and be less at risk of being stung. It seemed the perfect solution for?—”
She was prevented from finishing her sentence by Torsten sweeping her into his arms.
“Your back!” she immediately protested. Was he mad? What if he hurt himself again? “Put me down!”
“No. Not before you kiss me.”
As if she would refuse such a request. Wrapping her arms about his neck, she gave him the fiercest kiss she could give him in that position.
As promised, he let her go as soon as their lips parted.
“Aife, my love, what would I do without you?” he asked, his forehead against her.
