“Yea.”
He turned to Thomasina. “Do ye offer him yer respect even when ye’re mad as hell? And agree to not withhold yerself from him?”
“Yea.”
Niall placed a long length of silken ribbon along the table. “Place yer hands together.”
Sean and Thomasina flattened their palms together.
Niall tied the ribbon as one around their wrists then continued wrapping. “With the tying of this ribbon, like the joining of yer lives, may yer strength be measured no longer as two but as one. For as two have joined together as one, having the blessing of our Lord, no man may break the tie that binds.”
He ended with a small bow atop their fingers. “And as the kiss symbolizes the acceptance of this unbreakable bond, Sean, ye may kiss yer wife and Tom—Thomasina, ye may kiss yer husband.”
Lachlann cheered and Niall joined in, slapping each other on the back as if they’d accomplished a great feat. Sean leaned in toward her, their bound hands a slight hindrance to the embrace. When she tipped her head up for his kiss, he felt suddenly shy and hesitated. He searched her lovely face to remember forever. This was where he belonged. This was the woman intended for him. This was where his happily ever after would be found.
He became overwhelmed with the need to tell her how he felt. Quite a revelation for the man who does not share how he feels. But with Niall and Lachlann watching them, this was not the time. He set it aside. Tonight would be soon enough to admit his feelings to her. He touched his lips to hers, savoring her taste, her smell, her timid response.
“A drink!” Lachlann held up the jug.
Thomasina tensed. A glance at her confirmed she preferred to not imbibe.
“Methinks yer lovely sister is quite intoxicating enough for me.” Sean said, then leaned closer toward Niall. “Perhaps ye would do us the honor of giving us some peace now?”
Lachlann’s jaw dropped. “We would miss Tommy’s cooking. I can smell it!”
Niall put an arm around his friend. “We will allow them their time, Lachlann.” He spoke over his shoulder. “We will see to ourselves.”
Sean pushed the door shut, having to wiggle it into place to do so. He turned toward Thomasina who went with him, their hands still joined. His chest expanded at the sight of her standing there. “Ye are lovely dressed as a lass, my Thomasina.”
She held his gaze. “I like beingyerThomasina.”
He closed the distance pulling their joined hands to his chest, untied the bow, and kissed her upturned palm.
“Was that unkind of us to kick them out into the night?” she asked.
“Not to my way of thinking.” Sean moved in close, placing a kiss on her cheek. Her sweet womanly scent stirred him.”Is it to yers?”
Her eyes were closed, her lips slightly parted. She shook her head. Gathering her in close, he held her tight against the length of his body. He took a deep breath, near to bursting with desire for her. That would not be the way of it. Not tonight. He needed to move slowly and see to her pleasure. Her stomach growled and they both laughed.
“Methinks ye need sustenance.”
Thomasina stepped away. “Methinks ye’re right. Are ye hungry?”
Only for ye.“Yea.”
“It must be hot enough.”
His eyes remained on her as she went to the fire. The dress swaying softly against her curves. Titillating him. “And what is this that ye make so well that it has our long-haired friend’s tongue all but hanging out?”
“A mix of the hardy squash and herbs ’tis all. It stores well.” She carefully removed the lid.
A delicious aroma filled the room. His own stomach gurgled. “We should eat.”
“Yea.” She filled two wooden plates and carried them to the trestle table where he’d dragged one of the hard benches. He motioned for her to sit beside him. “’Tis best to eat before… sleeping.”
Sean suddenly cared very much about offending her with ribald comments. He knew he’d feel differently when she was attired as a lass. There had only been one woman he’d thought to impress and that was Brighit. It wasn’t like that with Thomasina. He wanted her to be pleased with him as her husband, not impressed.
The food was warm and tasty. He ate with relish. “Very good.”
