Chapter Fourteen

G awain bent his head and closed his mouth over Cherish’s beautifully shaped lips with a heartfelt urgency and deep sense of satisfaction. He kissed her with possessive hunger, for he had finally found the one person who would always share his heart.

The one person he could always trust with his heart.

Cherish lifted on tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck, sighing as she surrendered herself to him. He deepened the kiss as she responded with warmth to the pressure of his mouth on hers.

Her lips were soft, and they tasted so sweet.

She moaned and melted against him, pressing her body to his with innocent urgency. He’d ached to feel her against him, to breathe in her intoxicating scent, that delicate hint of rose blossoms as their petals unfurled in sunlight. The roses in Fiona’s garden held a fragrant trace of lemon, which he also inhaled on Cherish’s warm skin.

This was what she was—a beautiful garden rose.

She leaned into him, the soft pillow of her breasts molding to his chest and setting his blood on fire. She fit so perfectly against Gawain, as though she were made just for him. He slipped the ribbon out of her hair and buried his fingers in her silken strands, aching for the moment he would see their golden shimmer against his pillows.

He felt a satisfaction he had never known before, a peace that had eluded him for all of his life until now. It had taken him all these years to understand what those romantic poets were going on about, this matching of one soul to another.

Truly, theirs had to be a love eternal, one that could not be measured merely by time. He had never believed such a thing possible. And yet here was Cherish Northam. Perfect, beautiful.

His.

He ran his hands along her body, allowing no more than a graze of her full breasts despite the urge to explore them with his hands and lips. Cherish had a woman’s body, and he looked forward to drawing out her hidden inner passion in the privacy of their bedchamber.

He knew she would not hold back, either. She was inexperienced but also a woman full grown and ready to be a wife. He could tell by the way she held on to him and arched against him that she was eager to embark on this journey of intimate discovery. He hadn’t a doubt they would suit each other in bed as well as in life.

One more night and he would claim her for his own.

Not that he wished to wait even another hour, but it did not feel right to take her outside of the bonds of marriage when he would have the lawful right to do so within a day.

Although she was not resisting his advances, he gently broke off their kiss when he heard others approaching. He wanted to do more than run his hands over the curves of her body, but an innocent first kiss would have to be enough for now. He had a marriage license to obtain still.

“This is what I hope for us, Cherish,” he said, his voice rasping as he ended the kiss. “To live truly as husband and wife.”

She nodded. “Perhaps in time a love match for us both. I know my feelings for you run deeper than those you have for me.”

He should have denied it, for he had known he was going to marry her from the moment they first met. It was sheer stubbornness on his part that delayed his admitting the inevitable. Well, it was also the brevity of their acquaintance.

Even though he felt as though they had known each other all of their lives, in fact it had only been a few days. What duke in his right mind would ever propose on such short acquaintance? Perhaps it helped that Fiona knew her so well and liked her as well as she would a sister. Indeed, Cherish fit in splendidly with his family.

Her smile shone in her eyes, revealing she was well pleased by their first kiss. “This has been quite a day, but all worth it for this happy end. I hope you shall kiss me often. This first was very nice.”

She had a way of looking at him that lightened his heart. He grinned, for he was quite willing to accommodate her request. “There shall be more, if you wish them.”

“Oh, I do wish them.” She laughed, but then turned serious a moment later. “Thank you for this. I am still worried this is a dream and I will soon wake up.”

“You did receive a bump on the head,” he said with a frown. “But your eyes look clear and you do not appear to be unsteady.”

“I am floating on a cloud, Gawain. Nothing can ruin this day for me now. Not a jealous countess or a cheating, scheming toad of an uncle. Are you sure this is not a dream?”

“No dream, Cherish. Nor do I need you to thank me for something I did as much for myself as I did for you. I’m sorry it was not more of a courtship.”

She shook her head. “A Silver Duke courting a young lady? Chaos would have erupted. To even hint at an interest in me would have caused a riot in ton circles.”

“Perhaps, but we seem to have caused quite a stir anyway.” Between Katie’s mischief and Northam’s rants, plenty of entertainment had been provided for Fiona’s guests. There would be plenty of gossip fodder for the London papers, too.

“That is true. No proper courtship, but it shall still be a fun tale to regale our children. My little imps, if ever I told you of your father’s… ” She gasped. “Oh, but you do not wish to have children. I…I did not mean…”

He took her hands in his. “Cherish, forget every stupid thing I’ve said or have been rumored to say. It is all different with you. If you wish to have children, then we shall have them. With you as their mother, I know they will be cared for and loved whether or not I am around to see them grow up.”

She regarded him in dismay. “Do not say that. You must be with me into our dotage.”

“I hope to be,” he assured her, “for I am not keen to depart this world so soon. Especially while you are in it. But you know our lives will not necessarily turn out as we hope. Things happen. Whether I live or die is not in my control. So, let us take one day at a time and be grateful for every moment we have together.”

“All right. But I will not let you go without a fight,” she said, closing her eyes and leaning into him as he dipped his head to hers for another kiss, this one scorching and ravenous, for he wanted her to feel the heat between them and know he was going to bring out all her fiery passion in their marriage bed.

She sighed when he eased his lips off hers.

“You taste as sweet as honeysuckle,” he said.

She nestled in his arms, each of them content as they stood beneath the summer sun and soaked in the warmth of their future life together.

Most of the guests had gathered in the dining room by the time they made their way back to Fiona’s house. They entered through the parlor only to encounter Fiona, Reggie, and Margaret waiting for them.

Fiona smiled. “I knew he would kiss you. I hope you liked it.”

“Oh, dear heaven,” Cherish muttered as a blush crawled up her neck and into her cheeks. “Am I that obvious?”

Gawain merely arched an eyebrow. He loved his cousin, but she could be irritating at times.

“I cannot wait to be kissed.” Margaret sighed and set her gaze on Reggie, who grinned at her wickedly.

“That can be arranged,” Reggie said.

Gawain groaned. “Come on, whelp, I’ll need that license if I am to get married tomorrow.”

“I’ll unpack my things while you’re gone,” Cherish said as she let go of Gawain’s arm.

“I’ll help you, Cherish,” Margaret squealed, and walked out with her, leaving Gawain alone with his cousin and his nephew.

Fiona cleared her throat.

Gawain sighed. “What? All I did was kiss her, I promise. Reggie, care to join me while I obtain the license?”

His nephew threw his arms around him and gave him an enormous hug. “With greatest pleasure, Uncle Gawain.”

Gawain laughed and hugged him back.

“Will you not join us for a meal first?” Fiona asked. “Or I can have my cook pack up something for you.”

Gawain shook his head. “Reggie and I will grab a bite in town. I want that license. I mean to marry Cherish at the parish church tomorrow morning. Would you mind turning tomorrow’s breakfast into a wedding breakfast? I know it is very short notice, Fiona. But I dare not put this off for even a day. I don’t trust Northam.”

“It is disheartening how many bad men like him exist,” Reggie muttered.

Gawain nodded. “Which is why it is important that good men always step forward to counter them.”

“I’m glad you are marrying Cherish, Uncle Gawain.”

Fiona nodded. “I have already put my kitchen staff to the task. After all my meddling and plotting to put you two together, did you even need to ask?”