A smile spreadacross her face as she remembered the night before, the way he’d loved her so completely and pleasured her so thoroughly.
“Hector!”came a voice from outside the door. “The sun’s been up for an hour! Where’s our bride?”
Erica.
Gabriella’s eyeswidened as she realized what this looked like—her, naked in Hector’s bed, the morning of their wedding.
Hector stirred beside her,his arm tightening around her waist. “Tell them to go away,” he mumbled into her hair.
“I cannae do that.”Gabriella laughed softly. “It’s our wedding day.”
“Hector!”Erica’s voice was more insistent now. “Maither sent me to fetch Gabriella for the preparations! She’s nae in her chambers. Where is she?”
Hector sighed dramaticallyand raised his voice. “She’s… right here but indisposed at the moment.”
There was a pause,and then Erica’s scandalized gasp carried through the heavy door. “Hector Muir! Did ye… the night before yer weddin’?”
“Actually,”Gabriella called out, surprising herself with her boldness, “it was me idea!”
Another pause,then Erica’s delighted laughter. “Well, well! Our shy little bride has some fire in her, after all!”
Hector grinned down at Gabriella,pride and love shining in his eyes. “That she does.”
“But fire or nay fire,”Erica continued, “Maither and the other women are waitin’ in the solar. They’ve got flowers to braid, a dress to fit, and enough fussin’ planned to last until sunset. So, unless ye want them comin’ up here to drag her out themselves…”
“We’re comin’,”Hector called, though Gabriella made no move to leave the warmth of his arms.
“We?”Erica’s voice rose. “Oh nay, Hector. Ye’ve had yer fun. Now it’s time for the women to take over. Ye willnae see yer bride again until she walks down the aisle.”
Hector groaned. “Cruel tradition.”
“Necessary tradition,”Erica corrected. “Now, put some clothes on the girl and send her out before I have to explain to our maither why her future daughter-in-law is late for her own weddin’ preparations.”
Gabriella pressedher face against Hector’s chest, trying to muffle her laughter. “I should go.”
“Should,”he agreed, but made no move to release her. “But I dinnae want to let ye go.”
“Hector Muir!”Erica pounded on the door again. “Dinnae make me get Noah and Malcolm to break down the door!”
“Ye wouldnae dare,”Hector called back.
“Try me!”
Gabriella pushedherself up on her elbow, looking down at the man who would be her husband in just a few hours. He looked younger in the morning light, his dark hair tousled, his eyes soft with love and contentment.
“I love ye,”she said simply.
His hand cameup to cup her cheek. “And I love ye. Forever and always,mo chridhe.”
She leaneddown to kiss him, soft and sweet, before reluctantly pulling away. “But if I dinnae go now, Erica really will break down the door.”
“Aye,”he sighed, sitting up. “And me maither will have me head if ye’re late.”
He foundher chemise and helped her into it, his touch reverent and gentle. As she dressed, he pulled on his clothes, both of them moving with the easy intimacy of lovers.
“Ready?”he asked, his hand on the doorknob.
Gabriella smoothedher hair and squared her shoulders. She felt different this morning—more confident, more sure of herself and her place in the world.
