Thirteen
On the eve of their wedding, Tristan paced restlessly within the confines of his study, his heart in turmoil.The realization that he could not bear the thought of a life without Emmeline tightened his chest and knotted his stomach.He, who had once prided himself on his bachelor status and carefree lifestyle, found himself captivated by the spirited beauty.It was as if their meeting at the ball had been ordained by the fates, their paths intertwined even before they knew it.
Memories of their stolen glances and flirtatious banter flooded his mind, each moment etched into his very being.In her presence, Tristan had found a witty, beautiful, and brave companion.A loyal friend.But it was the moments of quiet understanding, the times when their eyes met across a crowded room, that truly undid him.He recalled the feel of her soft hand in his, the heat that coursed through his veins with just a simple touch.
Tristan’s gaze fell upon the now-abandoned cards and dice upon his desk, the accoutrements of his once-beloved pastimes.But where they had once held his attention, they now paled compared to the memory of her beguiling hazel eyes and the lilt of her laughter.
With a resolve he had not felt in years, Tristan sat at his desk, absentmindedly shuffling the deck of cards as he rehearsed the words he would speak to Emmeline.He knew he must bare his soul, to lie before her the depth of his feelings and the sincerity of his intentions before they exchanged their wedding vows.He wanted her to come to the alter knowing how he cared for her—how he loved her.
“Emmeline,” he practiced aloud, testing the feel of her name on his lips, “You have challenged me, captivated me, and quite simply, upended my world.I cannot envision a future where you do not share my days and nights, my triumphs and tribulations.What started out as payment for a debt and the desire to protect an innocent lady has become so much more.You are everything.”
Tristan strode to the window and as he stared out at the bustling London streets below, he vowed to himself and whatever higher power may be listening that he would be the husband she deserved.He would trade in his rakish ways for a life of domestic bliss if it meant having her by his side.
Tristan looked at his reflection in the glass, a reminder of the libertine he had once been.But now, with the memory of Emmeline’s love transforming him, he saw a man capable of change, a man desperate to be worthy of her.
Not wishing to waste another moment, he ordered his horse brought round and set off for her residence.Tristan rode through the London streets, his heart racing as fast as his steed.Each clopping hoofbeat seemed to echo his own hammering pulse as he drew nearer to Emmeline’s townhouse.
Dismounting, Tristan took a steadying breath before climbing the steps to her door.He rapped sharply, the sound seeming to reverberate down to his bones.Moments passed like centuries before the door creaked open.
“My lord,” Emmeline’s butler said with a slight bow.“Lady Emmeline is in the drawing room.”
Tristan swept past him, not waiting to be announced.This was too important for propriety.He had bared his soul in solitude; now it was time to lay himself completely bare before his beloved.
Emmeline looked up in surprise as Tristan strode into the room.Rising swiftly, she blinked at him in shock.
“Tristan...what are you...”
He crossed the room in quick strides, taking her hands in his own.
“Emmeline, I have come here today to tell you what resides in my heart.What started as an arrangement has blossomed into so much more.You challenge me, you entrance me, you understand me as no other has before.”
Tristan gently cupped her cheek, thumb caressing the soft skin there.“I cannot imagine my life without you in it.I would give anything, pay any price, to deserve your love in return.”
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.“Oh Tristan… I thought...But to hear you say?—”
Unable to resist any longer, he brought his lips to hers.Emmeline melted against him with a sigh, returning his ardor with her own pent-up passion.They clung together as though afraid the other would slip away like a dream upon waking.
When at last they broke for air, Tristan rested his forehead against hers.“Emmeline, marry me.Not because of your father’s debt to me, and not to avoid scandal.Marry me because you want to.Because you love me.And let us forge a future together, one where I will spend every waking moment proving my devotion and love to you.And if you should ever doubt my feelings, look into my eyes, and you will find the truth there.You are my very heart, Emmeline.I cannot image a future without you in it.”
She smiled up at him radiantly through her tears.“Yes, my darling.Nothing would make me happier than to be your wife.”
Overwhelmed with joy, Tristan lifted her in his arms and spun her around exuberantly.Setting her down, he kissed her again, a promise sealed upon their lips.As their tongues danced together, passion ignited between them like an inferno, their pent-up desire for one another erupting in a maelstrom of sensations.Tristan’s hands roamed her figure, memorizing every curve and hollow, while she clung to him as if he were her lifeline.
“I want you, Emmeline,” he growled against her ear, his voice husky with need.“I want to make you mine, forever.”
Emmeline’s only response was to guide his hand to the buttons of her gown, a silent invitation he accepted readily.Fabric pooled on the floor, leaving her in her chemise and stockings.
Tristan took in the sight of her, before scooping her into his arms and striding toward her bedchamber.He laid her on the bed, then quickly divested himself of his trousers before climbing in beside her.
With aching tenderness, he brought her close, his eyes never leaving hers.He trailed kisses down her throat as she arched into him, craving more of his touch.His hands roamed over her body, caressing every inch of her through the thin chemise.Emmeline sighed in pleasure, running her fingers through his tousled hair.
“Tristan,” she said.“Make me yours.”
Growling in response, Tristan captured her lips in a searing kiss as his fingers deftly untied the ribbons of her chemise.He slipped the delicate fabric from Emmeline’s shoulders, baring her breasts to his heated gaze.He broke the kiss to trail more along her collarbone, before taking one taut nipple into his mouth.
She cried out at the exquisite sensation, clutching his shoulders as he lavished attention on her sensitive peaks.She squirmed beneath him, heat pooling low in her belly.
Tristan suckled her hungrily before moving lower, leaving open-mouthed kisses down her stomach as he divested her of the last scraps of clothing separating them.Emmeline lay bare before him now, flawless ivory skin begging to be explored.
