Hector guided Gabriella into the corridor, pulling the door closed behind them. The familiar sounds of the castle—servants preparing for the evening, guards changing shifts, and the distant clatter of dishes from the kitchen—wrapped around them like a comforting blanket.
“She’s going to be fine,”Gabriella said, though Hector heard the lingering worry in her voice.
“Aye.She’s tougher than leather, me maither.” He paused, studying her face in the torchlight. “How are ye feelin’? Truly?”
“Tired. Grateful. Ready for tomorrow.”She met his gaze steadily. “Ready to be yer wife.”
The simple wordshit him like a physical blow, awakening something primal and possessive in his chest. Tomorrow suddenly felt like an eternity away.
“Gabriella…”His voice came out rougher than intended.
“Aye?”
“Come.”He shook his head, trying to clear it. “Let’s get ye some food and rest.”
But as theywalked toward the Great Hall, Hector found his thoughts turning in a dangerous direction. She’d said she was ready to be his wife. And after today, after nearly losing her, the careful boundaries he’d maintained between them felt increasingly meaningless.
“Hector?”Gabriella’s voice was soft, concerned. “Ye’ve gone very quiet.”
He stopped walkingand turned to face her in the shadowed alcove between two doorways. In the torchlight, her face was all sharp angles and soft curves, beautiful and alive andhis.
“Gabriella… today changed somethin’for me.”
“What do ye mean?”
“I mean,”he said slowly, “that the weddin’ cannae come soon enough.”
Understanding flickered in her eyes,followed by something that might have been relief. “For me neither.”
“The careful courtship, the proper boundaries…”He stepped closer, backing her gently against the stone wall. “None of that matters anymore, does it?”
“Did it ever?”Her hands came up to rest on his chest, her touch burning through his shirt. “We’ve been dancin’ around this for weeks, both of us pretendin’ we dinnae want…”
“What?”His voice was barely audible. “What do we want?”
“Each other.”The words came out breathless but certain. “Completely. Tonight.”
The admission hithim like a blow to the gut. She was offering herself to him—not tomorrow after proper vows, but now, tonight, when they both needed the connection more than they needed propriety.
“Gabriella,”he growled low, his eyes dark with want, “if we do this now, there’s nay going back. I’ll claim every inch of ye tonight, and tomorrow the whole kirk will see exactly what kind of beast yer husband truly is when he looks at his bride.”
“Good.”Her fingers curled into his shirt, pulling him closer. “I dinnae want to pretend anymore. I want to be yers, Hector. Completely yers. And I want ye to be mine.”
The possessive certaintyin her voice shattered the last shreds of his control. Without warning, he scooped her up into his arms, cradling her against his.
“What are ye doing?”she gasped, though her arms immediately went around his neck.
“Takin’ye to me chambers. Claimin’ what’s mine.”
His voice wasrough with need and determination.
“Gabriella.”Her name was a prayer on his lips
“Aye?”
“I hopeye’re ready for this. Because after today, after nearly losin’ ye…” He paused at the door to his chambers, looking down into her flushed face. “I dinnae think I can hold back anymore.”
Her smile wassoft and knowing and full of promises that made his blood simmer.
