Page 78 of Surrender

“I love you, Theo. As long as you never regret making me your wife.”

“Never,” he murmured as he kissed her again, then released her as his mouth twisted in a wry grin. “So, will you please trust me when I say if you put off marrying me one more minute, I’m likely to give the family something to talk about for the rest of their lives when I carry you off to that goddamn croft, license be damned.”

“Do you really think my father would allow that?” she asked with a small laugh.

“I’ve a feeling he’d cheer me on.” Theo chuckled as Genevieve stared at him in shocked amazement. “You forget, mo ghràdh, that in your father I will always have a sympathetic comrade, because as he’s said more than once, you’re as stubborn as your mother.”

“I am not—”

She wasn’t able to finish her sentence as Theo kissed her long and hard. When he released her, Genevieve looked up to see a self-satisfied grin on his face.

“Don’t keep me waiting, Genevieve. I want to make you my wife in the next twenty minutes.”

With that, Theo turned and walked out of the room. She heard the soft murmur of voices, and a second later, her mother and father entered the room. Relief visible on her face, Rhea Rockwood hurried toward her with the tiara and veil. As she arranged it on Genevieve’s head, Percy Rockwood watched them with a smile of satisfaction, similar to Theo’s. When her mother stepped back, there were tears on her cheek, and Genevieve’s father wiped his wife’s damp cheeks and murmured something before kissing her gently. With a watery smile, Rhea looked at Genevieve, then walked out into the corridor.

“You make a stunning bride, my darling girl,” her father said as she saw him swallow hard. Genevieve hurried forward to kiss his cheek.

“I love you, Papa.”

“And I you, Genevieve,” he said in a choked voice before he grinned. “Now, if I don’t get you down to the chapel in the next five minutes, my future son-in-law is apt to carry you off before the ceremony is concluded.”

“He told you that?” Genevieve exclaimed softly.

“I told him to threaten you with it.” Percy Rockwood grinned with boyish charm as Genevieve’s eyes widened in surprise. “So shall we not keep him waiting? I really don’t want to explain to your mother how I was the one responsible for putting the idea into his head in the first place.”

Her father reached up and pulled the veil over her face and offered her his arm. Sliding her hand into the crook of her father’s elbow, he patted her hand and led her out of the room.

Several hours later, Theo helped Genevieve off her horse in front of the croft. Percy and Rhea Rockwood had followed them and took the reins of their horses to return them to the Abbey’s warm stables. Genevieve’s parents said goodbye, and as the older couple turned away, Percy Rockwood gave his new son-in-law a conspiratorial wink. In response, Theo offered him a small bow as Genevieve’s father laughed and rode after his wife with a horse trotting behind him.

“What on earth was that all about?” Genevieve asked with a puzzled look as she stared after her father, then turned toward her new husband.

“This.”

Stepping forward, Theo bent and threw Genevieve up over his shoulder much as he would a heavy sack of flour. At her cry of surprise, Theo grinned. It took her several seconds before she uttered a single protest.

“Theo, what in the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Carrying you off to bed, my lady, what else?”

“Damnit, Theo, if you don’t put me down—”

“You’ll what? Scream? Oh, that’s something I can guarantee will happen in the next fifteen minutes, mo leannan.”

Laughing, Theo playfully swatted her rear as her fist bounced off his back.

“Put me down this instant, Lord Selbourne.”

“All in good time, Lady Selbourne,” he chuckled, enjoying the way her title rolled off his tongue.

With one hand, he opened the door of the croft and stooped low to ensure her back didn’t touch the frame as he entered the small cottage. His foot kicked the door closed behind them, and he set her down. Without a word, Theo removed his jacket and undid his tie as fast as he could, followed by his shirt. Genevieve didn’t move as she watched him undress in front of her.

“Unless you wish me to undress you myself, I suggest you start removing your clothing now, Lady Selbourne,” he growled, as desire surged through him.

It had been two weeks since that night at Falkirk Manor, and he didn’t want to take his time with her. That could come later. As he tugged his boots off, he saw Genevieve rapidly undoing her riding jacket, and the moment she shrugged off the jacket, he sucked in a harsh breath.

Unlike their first time in the croft, this time she wasn’t wearing a chemise, and her beautiful breasts were bared to him. Unable to stop staring at her, he saw her smile with triumph as she undid her skirt and let it fall to the floor. Other than her boots, she’d worn nothing under her riding habit. A rosy color flooded her cheeks as she met his gaze, then bowed her head.

“I thought…” her voice trailed off, and without hesitating, Theo reached for her.