Page 85 of The Untamed Heart

Marcus unlatched the front door and pushed it open but put his hand on Eustacia’s arm to stop her before she could step inside.

“If you don’t mind, Mrs Hamilton,” he said gravely, before sweeping her into his arms and carrying her over the threshold.

Eustacia laughed as he carefully put her down. Little fluttering wings seemed to flurry madly in her stomach, and she could not stop gazing at him like the verriest fool. “How romantic you are.”

Marcus grinned, looking sheepish. “I’ll have you know I am very romantic.”

“I cannot wait to have you prove it,” she replied, still unable to look away from him. Marcus seemed likewise afflicted, and they just stood there for a moment, staring at each other, as if neither of them could quite believe it.

“How quiet the house is,” he said after a moment.

Eustacia nodded. “Just you and I. Mrs Wainwright has left us enough food to feed an army on the march for a sennight, but she’s only over at the cottage with Neil if we need anything. But they won’t come in again until they are invited, so we are quite alone.”

“Quite alone,” he repeated, and then grinned at her.

Eustacia blushed, which was ridiculous, but now she was at sixes and sevens. She had waited and waited for this day, each hour of the past week dragging by like a month. Yet suddenly, she was a little anxious.

“Should you like to see our bedroom? I have made a few changes to accommodate my new husband, so you need not fear there is no room for you,” she said, taking his hand and leading him up the stairs.

“I wasn’t worried. I’ve spent the majority of my life on campaign. I take up very little room.”

Eustacia snorted and shook her head as she led him into the bedroom. “Foolish man, you have taken over the entirety of my heart and my life. Very little room, indeed!”

“Have I?” he asked, his expression intent.

Eustacia turned to look at him. “You know that you have. To tell the truth, I always feared I would never marry. Many men would not like me taking my work so seriously, you know. They would have not allowed me to consider it as a career, only a hobby, but I could not have stood that. It’s important to me, vitally important.”

“Many men are blithering idiots,” he said, his eyes twinkling. He took her hands and placed them on his chest, and she felt the cold metal of his medals under her palms and knew he had worn them for her. “I, however, am an extraordinary fellow who understands his wife has an exceptional talent, and he will not rest until the rest of the world appreciates just how extraordinary she is.”

Eustacia quirked an eyebrow at him. “I confess, I had not considered world domination, but I rather like the idea.”

“Excellent, we’ll plan our campaign tomorrow. But for now, might I kiss you, wife?”

Eustacia nodded, raising her face to his. “I was rather hoping you might.”

The kiss was sweet at first, tender as he cradled her face within his hands. Eustacia sighed as he pulled back for a moment and turned her face into his palm. His hands were rough and calloused from the life of a soldier and, more recently, from his work in the garden. This man, who had spent most of his adult life fighting, wanted only to show her gentleness, to love her and use his time making things grow, not destroying them. His world had been so filled with violence and unhappiness that it made her heart hurt for him. She made a silent promise that she would ensure every day to come would be peaceful and happy, and filled with as much love and laughter as she could give him, to make up for the rest.

She turned her face back to him and he claimed her mouth again, the kiss turning hotter and more urgent as she slid her hands up over his chest.

Impatience gnawed at her, and she pulled back.

“As impressive and handsome as you appear in your regimentals, I do wish you’d take them off. These medals are dreadfully cold, and the buttons and buckles are all in the way and your sword is poking me,” she complained, giving him a sultry look from under her lashes.

Marcus quirked an eyebrow, his lips twitching. “Is that right?”

“I’m afraid so,” she said with a sigh.

“Well, I should not like to be the cause of any discomfort,” he replied wryly, and unhooked the sword before unbuckling the belts that held it in place.

Rather delighted that he would play along, Eustacia settled herself in a chair by the fire, which was blazing cheerfully thanks to Mrs Wainwright’s plans to make the house perfect for their honeymoon. They had not wanted to go away on a holiday, too content just to be here, together.

Eustacia watched, her heart tripping with eager anticipation as he undid the crimson silk sash. He folded it with quick, practised movements and set it aside before undoing the white leather sword cross-belt. Then came the metal buttons on his scarlet regimental coat. He met her gaze as his hands moved steadily from one button to the next, and the fire blazing beside her was nothing to the heat she saw reflected in his eyes.

He wants me. Not that she hadn’t known that, but he had been so careful with her, so much the perfect gentleman, that she had only guessed how much he desired her. As he hung his coat on a chair and turned back to her, it was not only the glittering look in his eyes that gave him away. Her eyes drifted lower, to the place where his burgeoning arousal pushed eagerly against his trousers.

His waistcoat was cast aside with a deal less care as she sensed his rising impatience, and he flung the black cravat aside without looking where it fell.

“Right, that’s enough. Turnabout’s fair play,” he said, stalking towards her.