Page 85 of The Highlander's Accidental Wife
They spun and spun, laughing together, all restraint gone. Damien thought his heart might burst from joy. Of course, the music ended all too soon, and he regretted that, but his heart soared.
One more night and ye will finally be me wife, lass. Ye were mine, all along.
Helena and Damien had one final toast with Grant, Emma, Agnes, and Leo, the six of them laughing together. Then, in what seemed like no time at all, and too much time, Helena and Damien stood alone, hand-in-hand, in front of the bonfire. It was dying down, the embers smoldering, and the stars were coming out overhead.
Lady Merie walked by then, along with Gwen and Orrick. Orrick was carrying a sleepy Sophia, her arms thrown around his neck. Jolly, meanwhile, was snuggled in Gwen’s arms.
Lady Merie shook her head at them and scolded, “Off to bed, ye two. We have a wedding tomorrow.”
“We’ll be along soon, Maither,” Damien said.
“Thank you for taking care of Sophia,” Helena called.
Damien watched them go and then turned to Helena, his chest rising and falling. Tomorrow, she’d be his wife. He’d never wanted a night to pass more quickly.
“We should go to bed.”
Helena squeezed his hand. “A few more minutes.” She tipped her head back and smiled. “A few more stars.”
Damien could only stare at her, the pretty line of her throat, and the way the firelight played over her glasses. The flush in her cheeks and the curve of her lips. Unable to help it, he lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it.
“I cannae wait much longer to wed ye,Sassenach.”
Helena looked over at him. “I feel the same. I never thought I would. You are the only man in the world for me. I hope you know that.”
Damien’s hand tightened around hers, and his heart throbbed. He ducked his head, his face flushing, his eyes burning a little.
Trying to infuse lightness into the moment, he said, almost at random, or perhaps as a reflex, “Does this mean ye havereconsidered yer year-long condition?” He kissed her hand again and nipped her knuckles. “I confess, I thought what happened in the library and me chambers before the cèilidh would be too much for yer curiosity. But ye are so stubborn.”
“Am I?”
At that, Damien raised his gaze and narrowed his eyes. “Dinnae tease me.” Then, he stared at her, and something on her face prompted him to ask, “Wait, have ye reconsidered?”
And the cheeky English minx had the audacity to respond, “It depends.”
CHAPTER 33
“Depends?”Damien echoed in a hoarse voice, his heart hammering in his chest.
“Aye,” Helena said, imitating him for a moment. “On whether I will continue to wake up alone.”
Damien gripped her elbows, staring into her face, which was somehow both arch and serious. All the blood in his body seemed to rush south, his manhood becoming hard enough to tent his kilt. Then, her lips curved up in a smile, and he growled, pulling her against him. He caught her laughter in his kiss and wrapped his arms around her.
Then, he pulled back and murmured, “I cannae wait for this bloody year to be over. Though, I confess, I may nae make it.”
Helena reached up and brushed his hair from his forehead, then ran her fingertips down his face into his beard. “Then perhaps,my love, we can find creative ways to pass the time.” Her eyes danced. “As we did the other night.”
Damien felt laughter bubbling up his throat, a lightness expanding in his chest, and he wanted to embrace her as much as he wanted to go down on his knees. To worship her with his mouth as she’d worshipped him.
“Aye?” he finally managed to get out.
Helena nodded. “Come to my bedchamber, Damien. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“We cannae stay up too late, lass,” he said with a laugh. “We have our wedding tomorrow.”
“Then we should go.”
Arm-in-arm, they turned back to the castle, walking a bit faster than usual.
