Page 38 of The Protector’s Promise

Marion’s eyes flew open. “For what?”

“For choosing me.” He pressed himself into her and moved in a way that he knew would help her find fulfillment. Sure enough, Marion cried out, the telltale throbbing his signal to let go. His release was so powerful that he met her cries with one of his own. Utterly spent, he collapsed on top of her, making sure his elbows were propped enough not to cause her discomfort.

They lay there like that until Marion twisted beneath him. Moving to her side, Court closed his eyes while he returned from whatever other world he’d journeyed to just then.

“Court?”

When his breathing slowed, he opened his eyes once again and turned his head. The sight of her, thoroughly ravished and looking more than a mite content, stirred his cock awake once more.

“Aye?”

“I enjoyed that very much.”

He trailed his finger from her shoulder down to her breast and continued exploring the soft curves of her stomach, her waist, her hips. By God, if it truly was the stone that had brought him this perfect woman, then he would worship it all the days of his life.

“I’m glad to hear it,” he said, “as we will be doing it often.”

She turned then, propped her head on her elbow, and smiled. “I wonder if it’s ever happened this way? If the stone has ever brought both protectors together in this way.”

“Ah, so now I am a protector too?”

When she reached out her hand and laid it on his cheek, Court’s chest ached with a very new emotion.

“I did not believe so at first—”

“When I held a sword to your throat?” he asked ruefully.

She mimicked his earlier motion and let her finger fall from his face downward, toward his manhood. A shiver that had nothing to do with cold ran through him.

“I never felt cold near you. I should have known—”

“How were you to know I would love you . . . protect you and hold you dear for all the days of my life?”

When her eyes widened, he knew the words had penetrated. Just to be sure, he repeated them, only this time he added, “I love you, Marion.”

In response, she looked down at his growing cock and then back up to meet his eyes. He laughed at her brazenness and pulled her atop him.

“And I love you. All of you,” she teased.

Before he made love to her again, he would ensure she understood their position.

Lifting her hair to one side and placing it behind her ear, he reached up and held her beautiful face in his hands.

“If for some reason your father does not condone the match, we will run away. You are mine, Marion, from this day forward. And I am yours just the same.”

When she licked her lips, he knew their discussion was at an end.

“If that is true”—she shifted her position to better prepare for what was to come next—“then I do believe I’d like to make love to you again.”

Court was more than happy to oblige.

Epilogue

Halbury Castle, England

“My lord, my lady.” The steward approached them just as Marion and Court were preparing to sit for the midday meal. “A visitor has arrived and asks to speak with you both.”

Marion looked at her husband, wondering if he’d seen anything unusual. His visions came fairly regularly now that they were in possession of the stone, but she had not felt a premonition of malintent since encountering Lord Almain. Since they’d married and moved to Halbury Castle, none had threatened them, and her power had thankfully lain dormant.