Page 92 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

…

Dorie had wanted to hear these words from Bryce since the first time they’d kissed, but she hadn’t ever thought it could be possible. She was terrified she would wake up and find herself still in the carriage on the way home from the duke’s dinner.

But the warmth of Bryce’s body under her palms assured her he was really there, just as the smile on his lips and the love in his eyes told her how much he wanted her to be with him.

“There is no one true love,” he whispered. “I see that now. As long as you open your heart to the possibility, you can love someone else as deeply. I know because I feel it with you. Maggie was a wonderful woman, and I did love her very much. But loving you doesn’t betray what I had with her. I need to live my life. I know now how much I love you. More than I thought I could.”

Looking in his eyes as he spoke, she didn’t see anything but sincerity.

She placed a hand on his cheek. She loved this man. It didn’t matter how many men she met at dinners and events, or how elaborate their compliments became; they wouldn’t stir her heart like Bryce did. She’d been planning to leave for Scotland to beg him to take her back and love her however he was able. But now she could have all of him. It was almost too much happiness to manage.

Rather than speak, she leaned up and kissed him.

He pulled her close and kissed her like he never had before. She could feel the desperation and need in his touch, though he drew back. She wanted nothing of that and reached for him, but he put up his hand.

“I want you, Dorie. In my bed. Well, this bed, tonight. But we’re no longer married, so before I lie with you, I’d like to secure your promise.” He swallowed, looking rather nervous and entirely too handsome. “Would you marry me again, Dorie? Now that you have a choice in the matter?”

“Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you again.” This time he allowed her onslaught of kisses and wrapped his warm arms around her.

“Thank you, Dorie. You won’t regret this.”

“I know I won’t. I was planning to leave in the morning to come to you and ask you to take me back. I didn’t want to live without you anymore.”

“A new beginning, the way we should have been all along.”

“Aye. Now take off your shirt.”

He laughed and kissed her again while tugging his shirt over his head, pulling away from her lips only to free the garment. He was naked and she wanted to be naked with him.

She reached for her shift, but his hands were already sliding up her thighs, taking her gown with them. When she was naked, he stood back and gazed at her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Slowly, he shook his head. “Nothing is wrong. I am just enjoying being with you without the guilt I felt before. I feel so different. So free.”

She couldn’t help the grin that took over her face when he wrapped his arms around her and carried her to the bed. After dropping her atop his tangled linens, he crawled into bed next to her. Propped on his elbow, he smiled down at her while his fingers traced over her skin, making her shift with impatience.

“I’ve missed this,” she said.

“You thought of me in your bed?”

She nodded.

“What did you think of? What favorite fantasy of yours should I make reality?”

Her face heated, but she told him the things she’d longed for when she was alone in her cold bed.

He laughed and kissed her. “You shall have your every wish. I’m just glad we have the rest of the night. I think I might need it.”

With that, he began fulfilling every fantasy she’d shared, as well as a few that must have been on his own list.

…

Bryce kissed Dorie’s hair while she slept and smiled at how lucky he was she hadn’t found someone else. He could have lost her forever and had no one to blame but himself. He was glad he’d gotten his head out of his arse before it was too late.

In a few hours he would talk to her father about marrying her again so he could take her home to Dunardry. As he thought of how wonderful it would be to have someone to share his life with, he looked around the room being lit by the approaching sun.

He’d never seen such fine things before. Doubt trickled in, ruining the moment and chilling him despite the warmth their naked bodies created under the exquisite bedding.