“My lord, I believe you have stirred me to the point of distraction.”
He sucked in his breath. He deserved that as his loins tightened at her admission. Aye, he would need to desist lest they both make a spectacle of themselves before all these witnesses. They were to witness the nuptials, not the consummation!
“My lady, I promise to behave myself until such time as we are alone, as long as you do not do that thing with your eyes watching my mouth. If you do, all bets are off, and I will fling you over my shoulder and carry you off to our chamber without a care who is offended.”
He chuckled when she sucked in her breath. Oh, but it was growing painfully clear they had the capacity to drive one another to distraction, and upon her knowledge of lovemaking, he was not sure he would be able to remain in control of their passions. A part of him was wary of relinquishing control, but another very visceral part longed for it—for her to command him and be free with her needs.
Christ, would this aisle never end?
But eventually it did. He led her to the walkway to enter the courtyard and onward to the great hall. He wanted her to see it before anyone else arrived so had requested they all remain in the abbey for afew moments until he could let her take it all in.
They ascended the steps and turned the corner, and when they did, she gasped and placed her hand on her heart. She looked to him with tears welling in her eyes.
“Please tell me those are tears of joy and not abhorrence.”
“How did you make this happen? What sort of magic could offer such a transformation?”
“It was all the king’s doing. You have him to thank. I merely tried to illustrate the difference in our preferences.”
He was pleased the king had clearly listened. The entire walls were covered in white and pale pink flowers of many variations, but the effect was as though the hall sat in the middle of a garden. Each table was adorned with bouquets of similar flowers of the same palette, but protruding from them were feathers shaped to resemble a white peacock. The head table was dressed in pine garlands decorated with roses, thistle, and a touch of the design in the hall. Butterflies flitted about the flowers, giving a faerie-like visage.
“Alexander, ’tis the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” she said and turned to him, a small tear rolling down one cheek.
He placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead, each cheek, and then her lips.
“You are more beautiful than anything here. Do you know you have made me the happiest man in all of Scotland—nay, the world this day? I love you, my sweet countess.”
They stood there for a few moments longer in an embrace, looking at the sight before them, holding onto the moment before the crowd would descend and the celebrations commence.
Chapter Nineteen
Between the musicand the feast and the overall joviality, Marion had plenty to distract her from the man sitting beside her. Except that it didn’t. She was keenly aware of every inch of him and each movement he made. He’d moved his foot so that it rested alongside hers, and he was now leaning on the arm of the chair so that his arm touched hers. Her skin tingled where they touched.
“Are you enjoying the feast?” he asked in a low deep voice that sent shivers through her.
A part of her wanted the evening to last forever, but a much more visceral part, that part of her as a woman who knew instinctively what she wanted from a man, wanted him to fling her over his shoulder and carry her off to their bed.
Their bed.
Marion turned to him and mustered up whatever courage she could find.
“I am, my lord. But I am hungry for something else.”
She almost giggled as the words came out of her mouth at the sight of his eyes dropping to her lips and back to meet her gaze. He drew a shaky breath and leaned in close to her ear.
“Do you wish to leave the hall?”
His hot breath on her neck made her belly tighten and wetness pool between her legs. What did she want? She wanted to feel his skinon hers. She wanted him kissing her everywhere and most of all, she didn’t want anyone to bear witness to the wantonness that conflicted her.
“Do you think our hosts will be offended if we leave the feast early?”
“I am certain they will understand.”
Alexander turned to speak with the king and then back to her.
In a low voice, he said, “The king said he is surprised we are still here.”
In the next moment, the king was on his feet and addressing those gathered.
