Page 84 of The Beastly Earl

"Aye, but you did, lass." Ewan abraded the skin of her shoulder with his teeth. "You weren't intimidated by me in the least, and I remember wanting to kiss you to see if you tasted as fiery and passionate as you sounded."

"And was your curiosity ever satisfied?" she murmured as she slowly opened her eyes and reached up to caress the scarred side of his face.

"Every day since you agreed to marry the beast of Argaty."

"And should I help satisfy your curiosity once more?"

An alluring smile curved her beautiful mouth as her hand glided across his chest in a leisurely fashion. The sultry look in her hazel eyes made Ewan's heart slam into his chest. God, how he loved this woman. Her hand slid up around his neck as she pulled him downward to brush her mouth over his in a sweet, tender kiss that held the same promise of love she'd pledged to him the day they were married.

She moved against him until the warmth of her burrowed its way into his body. With an eagerness that betrayed her growing passion, lushly curved legs tangled with his as he rolled her onto her back and pressed her deep into the mattress. His mouth trailed a lazy path down her throat to her breast. The moment his tongue swirled around a stiff peak, she inhaled a sharp breath. The sound made him smile slightly as he nipped at the rigid tip. Lifting his head, his smile broadened at the frustration tightening her lips into a small pout.

"First you wake me at an ungodly hour, then in the middle of seducing me you stop," she said with exasperation. "Are you deliberately trying to irritate your wife this morning, my beastly earl?"

"I can assure you, Lady Argaty, I have no intention of ending this seduction," he said with a smile as he shifted his body slightly to illustrate his arousal. His heart swelled with emotion as he shook his head. "No, mo ghràdh, I simply wanted to say how much I love you."

The scowl on her face vanished at his words. Hazel eyes shining with love, she cupped his face in her hands, and her lips moved in a silent reply as he lowered his head to kiss her deeply. When he lifted his head, she uttered a sigh of what he knew was the same profound level of happiness he felt. Her gaze met his for a moment, before her hips shifted beneath his suggestively, and she slid her hand between them to caress his cock. He inhaled a sharp breath, and a familiar smile curved her mouth. It was filled with the mischief he loved so dearly about her and yet despaired of whenever she did something impulsive.

"Stop teasing your wife, my beastly Lord Argaty," she whispered with a smile. "She loves you far more than she can ever say, but there are limits to her patience when it comes to satisfying your curiosity."

The heat of her hand warmed his skin as she ran her fingertip along the hard length of him. It was an intoxicating caress that tugged a quiet groan from him as she opened herself up to him. The familiar fragrance of roses wafted up off her skin to mix with the subtle scent of desire. It sent his heart slamming into his chest as her fingers pressed deep in his hips with a silent demand for his possession.

Not about to deny her any longer, he thrust his body into hers with a powerful stroke. She gasped his name then met him stroke for stroke as their passion grew in strength until it was spent in a powerful completion. As he throbbed inside her, Ewan buried his face in the side of her neck his harsh, ragged breaths equaling hers.

Neither of them moved for several moments as they reveled in the afterglow of their lovemaking. Silence had never truly been silence between them. Whether with a small touch or a glance, they always knew what the other was thinking. When he pulled away from her to lie on his back, she curled up into his side with one leg draped over his.

It was one of the things he loved to wake up to in the middle of the night. The sensation of her body pressing into his was as much of a comfort as it was arousing. Fingers lightly caressing his chest until her palm came to rest over his heart, Louisa stretched upward to kiss his scarred cheek.

"Was your curiosity slaked to your satisfaction, Lord Argaty," she teased.

"It was, my lady," he said with a chuckle as he pressed his lips to her forehead.

"I thought it might be." The affectionate, smug note in her voice made him reach across his body to playfully slap her pleasingly plump bottom. She simply laughed at his loving punishment. Soft lips brushed across his chest as she yawned, then snuggled even deeper into his side.

"I love you, Ewan." It was a mere whisper, but he heard it echoing in his ears as if it was shout.

"And I you, mo ghràdh." His hand stroked her cheek before he cleared his throat. "I know our anniversary isn't for another two weeks, but the children have pointed out that my present will be a difficult surprise to keep from you. They suggested I give it too you today instead of waiting."

"A present," she exclaimed with a look of pleased excitement as she sat up in bed.

The sight of her bared to him reminded him of the night he'd carried her off the moor. Her body had filled out slightly over the years, but it made her even more lush, beautiful, and exquisite. When he didn’t speak, she leaned forward to block the view of her body.

"Stop teasing, you beast. Where is my present?"

The exasperation on her face made him laugh. He kissed her quickly before he rolled out of bed. He grabbed his robe and struggled to pull it on. Gentle hands caressed his as she helped him into the robe then caressed the back of his neck with her mouth. Ewan glanced over his shoulder and grinned at the impatience on his wife's face. With a deliberate, unhurried stride, he crossed the room to a large chifferobe. Behind him, Louisa uttered a small imprecation, and he looked over his shoulder again to grin broadly at the scowl on her face. The door of the large chifferobe squeaked as he opened the furniture's door and stuck his hand into the dark area behind his suits where he'd told Asadi to hide it. The moment his fingers touched the box, he realized it was too wide for him to grip with one hand.

"Fuck," he mumbled beneath his breath. Louisa released a sound of disapproval, and he turned to see her scrambled out of bed and hurry to his side. "Forgive me, mo leannan."

"I don't mind you saying it in bed as it's quite naughty and exciting. But you need to avoid saying it within ear shot of the children." Louisa gently pushed him aside as she reached inside the large wardrobe to pull out the box. "I heard Fiona say it the other week when she was having trouble putting Masie's bridle on."

"The hell she did," he muttered in surprise. Louisa pulled the box out of the chifferobe and looked up at him in silent rebuke. He shrugged slightly.

"I cannot give up all of my curses, mo ghràdh, but I promise to guard my tongue when the children are nearby." At his reply she gave him an absentminded nod as she stared down at the box with the craftsman's name on the lid.

"This was supposed to have been your Christmas present. Since the children convinced me to alter my plans, I wanted to be alone with you when you opened it."

Ewan saw the small chill bumps covering her arms and quickly retrieved her robe. She'd moved to stand in front of the fireplace, and as he offered her the garment, Louisa set the box on the table to push her arms through the sleeves then tie the belt at her waist.

"I should have put that infernal arm on before doing any of this."