I traced my fingers down her collarbone, across the swell of her breasts, watching goosebumps rise in my wake. She arched into my touch, a soft sound escaping her lips.
“More,” she whispered.
“Patience.”
“Hang patience.”
“Let’s consider it payback for making me wait all theseyears. So now we’re going to take our time and enjoy this.” I unclasped her bra and let it fall away, then bent to press my mouth to the curve of her breast. “Every. Single. Moment.”
She gasped as my lips found her nipple, her fingers digging into my shoulders. I took my time there, learning what made her moan, what made her arch, what made her say my name in that breathless way that went straight to my cock.
“You’re wearing too many clothes,” she managed.
“Mm. That does seem unfair.”
“So do something about it.”
I sat back and pulled my shirt over my head, watching her eyes track down my body with gratifying hunger. Then her gaze caught on something and her expression shifted.
“Graham. Your chest.”
I looked down. There were bruises there—already deep purple and blue—spreading across my ribs where Faelan’s healing magick had done its work.
I’d felt them aching, but I hadn’t looked. I guess I hadn’t wanted to see the evidence of how close I’d come.I don’t want to consider how close I came to being taken from this earth. From Agnes.And I certainly hadn’t spent time reflecting on the moment I “came to” and felt Agnes pulling me out of the water and Ramsay carrying me away from it.
“It’s nothing,” I said.I’m alive. I’m with you.
“It’s not nothing. The curse did that.”But I’m here and you said yes to be my wife.
“Faelan healed the worst of it.”
“That is the worst of it?” Agnes sat up, herfingers hovering over the bruises without quite touching. “Graham...”
“I’m fine.” I caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “I’m here. I’m with you. That’s all that matters.”
“I almost lost you.”
“But you didn’t.” I guided her hand to my chest, pressing it flat over my heart. “Feel that? Still beating. Because of you.”
Her eyes were bright with tears again. “I can’t—if something happened to you?—”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me. Not now that I know you’ll fight a whole loch to keep me.” I kissed her tears away. “We’re going to break this curse, Agnes. And then we’re getting married. And then we’re going to have a spectacularly boring life where the most dangerous thing that happens is me burning dinner or coming home too late from a busy night at the pub.”
She laughed, and though it was a bit watery, it was still a laugh.
“There’s my lass.” I kissed her properly, tasting salt and want. “Now. Where were we?”
“You were taking your clothes off.”
“Och. Right.” I stood and finished undressing, watching her watch me. When I was bare, I reached for the zip of her trousers. “Your turn.”
I undressed Agnes, marveling at her beauty, still amazed that she was mine for all of time. We slowed, trading kisses and soft words and touches that made us both gasp. By the time we were skin to skin, I was aching with want, but I forced myself to go slow.
“I love you,” I said, settling over her, feeling her warmthagainst every inch of me. “I love you, Agnes Wright. Soon to be Agnes Kincaid, if you’ll have me.”
“I’ll have you.” She wrapped her legs around my waist, pulling me closer. “I’ll always have you.”
I sank into her slowly, watching her face, watching her eyes flutter closed and her lips part on a moan. She felt like coming home. Like everything I’d ever wanted and never thought I’d have.
