“I will try, but I make nay promises,” he said with a grin. “They had better understand that once we are wed, I will have ye to meself whenever I please, and I will do me best to make it worth yer time, as I always have.”
Her cheeks reddened, but she didn’t argue further.
He had indeed made it worth her time every time they were together with his mouth and hands, and she left wanting even more. She sometimes wished she knew how to reciprocate, but he was in no hurry to do more than pleasure her.
She wished she could ask Amber what to do, but the topic seemed so forbidden that she couldn’t bring herself to ask.
“Have I upset ye?” Darragh asked, frowning.
“Nay,” she answered. “I only wish I could make ye as happy as ye make me.”
He grinned and placed another kiss on her forehead. “Ye already make me happy, Talia,” he assured her. “I daenae need ye to do anythin’ more.”
“But…” she sighed. “I daenae ken how to bring ye pleasure.”
He chuckled darkly. “I daenae stop ye for nay reason, Talia.” He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Me lust for ye burns hot, and I daenae trust meself to stop if ye touch me.”
Her breath caught in her chest, and her mouth went dry.
This man and his naughty words.
“I believe I have assuaged yer fears now, wife?” he asked with a pointed look.
She nodded.
“Good,” he said, rising. “Now, let’s go.”
She let him lead her away to the gardens, where they spent a better part of the day kissing.
The morning of the engagement party started like others, but Talia found herself surrounded by a horde of women intent on making her look beautiful.
She was scrubbed, dried, dressed, and pulled in different directions as they tried to get her ready for the day, and shefound herself excitedly listening as they traded gossip, even though she wished they were gentler with her hair.
When they finally finished, she was allowed to look in the mirror, and she gasped at the woman staring back at her. They had made her look beautiful. Her hair was tamed and pinned in ringlets atop her head with a few strands to frame her face in a way that made her look elegant. They had applied the juice of a crushed rose to her lips and cheek and the color made her eyes shine brighter.
Tears welled up in her eyes in anticipation of Darragh’s reaction when he finally saw her.
“We must go now, Talia,” Orlagh announced. “The guests started arriving, and I am eager to see me son’s face when he sees ye.”
“Aye,” Talia agreed and followed them out of the room.
When they entered the Great Hall, she couldn’t hide her smile when she saw Darragh’s face. He had been smiling as he was speaking to Cohen, but when he saw her, his eyes went wide.
He was pleased, she could tell from the pleasant surprise on his face. She grinned and lowered her eyes quickly, but when she lifted them again, she found him walking quickly over to her.
“Ye look… bonny,” he murmured.
She grinned, cocking her head. “Ye’re dashing as well,” she complimented, looking him over.
He was even more handsome than usual. His usually unruly hair had been tamed, and his linen shirt was crisp and fit snugly around his frame. When she lifted her eyes to his again, they had darkened, and she knew if they were alone, he would kiss her again.
Alas, they were soon interrupted by well-wishers. They only had each other for a few minutes before they were interrupted, and she sensed his mounting frustration.
When he pulled her behind him and out of the hall, she couldn’t help the smile on her face. He was so predictable, she found it comforting that he couldn’t control himself around her. It flattered her as well as appeased her that it was not only she who was bothered by him.
“Do ye want to go back?” he asked, when he finally stopped.
He was breathing as hard as she was, and the look in his eyes was desperate, almost pleading.
