She’s pacing the length of the garden, the sun catching strands of her hair, the blond shining radiantly. She steals my breath and stirs my cock in equal measure. I have never stood a chance against Trinli, and I accepted that fact quite some time ago.
Wringing her hands together, she keeps her eyes focused in front of her as she walks back and forth. “With Darragh’s death, our housing is forfeit. I was notified the day of the accident that I had 5 days to either marry another Magnus miner or move. I could travel back to Baltimore, closer to my family, though I am not confident that they would provide any assistance. And to be honest, I am so out of touch with the rest of the world, I do not even know the price of such a trip. I have some money saved. How much is train fare?” She throws her hands up in exasperation, which normally I would find adorable, but she is talking about leaving me and I will not allow such nonsense. “If it was just me, I might be able to convince my father to take me back, but with four more mouths to feed? He will be apoplectic at the suggestion! And my babies, must I take them away from the only home they know or remember, their friends, the community we’ve built here over the years? All gone, my plans squashed as flat as Darragh’s body! He died 2 days ago and that…that…greedy bastard expects me to sign my life and security over to someone else because they need the house for another miner!”
“Marry me.” I state firmly when she fills her lungs with oxygen, temporarily halting her runs of the mouth. She trips over her own feet when she stops pacing abruptly to stare at me aghast. Iclose the distance between us and force her to arch her neck to look up at me. Tension stiffens her entire body, but her eyes…cautious hope. “Marry me. Move in with me. Give to me your life and security and know that you will always be healthy and happy with me.”
She shakes her head, her eyes remaining locked on mine. “I am a widow of 22, a mother of four wee children, and—”
“Those aremybabes, Trinli. Mine.” Her expression softens at my vehemence.
“Paddy, be realistic. This is a lot to take on for anyone. You could meet someone, fall in love, and have children of your blood, and live a happy life, unburdened by the baggage of another.”
“Jakob, Riordan, Gabriel, and Noemi aremychildren. Not of my body, but most certainly of my heart. They reside snugly inside right next to theirMutti.” She gasps, her lips parting. I slide my good arm around her waist and tug her tightly to my body. “I have met someone. I have fallen in love. Deep, overwhelming, consuming love. I have four beautiful children, not baggage of another, but treasured blessings. And God willing, we will have more to surround us as we grow old together.” My lips a hair’s breadth from hers, I tell her plainly, “You are mine. And it is a privilege and honor to be yours.”
I seal my vow with a kiss. Our first, not our last. Her lips are soft beneath mine, warm, hesitant, perfect. I fight the urge to devour, moving my lips over hers, tracing my tongue along her plump bottom lip. Her tongue darts out and strokes along mine, a deep groan clawing up from my chest at my first real taste of her. My purpose. When she whimpers with need, I lose a bit of my control and drive my tongue into her mouth, searching, exploring. Her arms loop around my neck as she rises on hertiptoes, my arm cinching tighter around her small waist and lifting her slightly as I stand up straighter.
“MUTTI!” She harrumphs, a disappointed sound that settles in my cock, as she pulls back. Jakob is looking for her. I put her gently back on her feet, my arm still around her, as we stare at one another. Her pupils are large, cheeks flushed, her chest heaving with arousal. Want. Need. Desire.
That kiss was years in the making and it did not disappoint. I always knew if we could ever come together it would be more explosive than the mines.
Little feet pound the wooden floors inside, ending our stare off. Trinli smirks, smoothing her hands down her apron and skirts, brushing the hair back from her face. “I refuse to marry in the company chapel.”
Pure, unadulterated, brilliant ecstasy courses through my veins. I nod, my head bobbing up and down rapidly. “Understood. Give me a day to arrange it.”
She cups my jaw with her small hand, eyes glittering with unshed happy tears. “I have been yours since the day I met you, Padraig. A day or two will not change that.”
I close my eyes, absorbing the truth of her words. “A mhuirnin, I love ye.”
She giggles a light and happy sound. “And I love you.”
Paddy 11.
“I, Padraig Fitzgerald, take thee, Trinli Byrne, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health. A faithful husband to love and cherish you, till death do us part.”
Trinli’s bright and teary smile hits me in the gut like a sucker punch. Happiness pours from her more freely than any tavern ale back home. The simple light blue dress fits her snugly around the breast, following the feminine curve of her waist and generous hips.
My heart stopped at the sight of her at the end of the town’s small church aisle. The boys and I stared in awe as she glided toward us. The church’s pews are filled with the wives and children of the patch and a few husbands I have become friendly with during my time here.
“I, Trinli Byrne, take thee, Padraig Fitzgerald, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health. An obedient and faithful wife to love and cherish you, till death do us part.” Her voice breaks with emotion as she recites her vows. Every word another brick in the foundation of our family.
The pastor speaks, but I cannot understand a word, my gaze locked with Trinli’s, our entire future laid out before me as far as the eye can see. The laughter of the guests registers a momentbefore Jakob tugs on my trousers. I glance down at him and smile.
“Da, he says to kissMutti.” He stares up at me with an angry tilt to his head and his brows slanted. “Kiss her!”
Trinli giggles, though it fades quickly when I cup her jaw and lift her chin. I whisper, “I love ye, wife of mine,” and press my lips to hers. She sighs, that feminine breathy sound a woman makes when she is happy. Reluctantly, I break the kiss and rest my forehead against hers.
“Husband.” Hearing that word, that long-yearned title falling from her sweet and sinful lips is almost too much.
“I need ye, Trin.”
“I know, Paddy. Soon.” She gives me a chaste kiss, then bends to hug the boys. They will be staying with Margaret tonight, giving Trinli and I a night alone to celebrate our union.
“Da, I a Fissgerd now,” Riordan states proudly.
“Fitzgerald,” Trinli corrects.
Riordan bobs his little head with a serious expression. “Yup.”
I kneel next to Trinli and pat each boy on their shoulder. “Ye are true Fitzgerald men, now. Mysons.” I cough to clear my throat; my voice threaded with unexpected emotion. I hug each of them, squeezing a little tighter than I should. “Tomorrow, we will collect you from Margaret’s and you will move in with me.”
