“Go on, man.”

“Back off!” she heard Gavin shout with laughter in his voice. “Not one set of eyes moves through that door.”

Amber hid a smile behind her hand as the door slowly slid open and Gavin looked around it. Seeing her standing well away from the door and any wandering eyes, he pushed at someone and then moved into the room. He locked the door behind him, not that he needed to worry. No one would have entered.

“That was crazy,” he said before he turned to give her his full attention.

“Aye. It was.”

The grin he had on his face dipped when his eyes swept over her.

She refused to fidget under his stare.

“Wow.”

Okay…now she found her feet moving.

“You’ve seen me in far less,” she reminded him.

He approached her slowly. “Yeah, but…not like this. Not here.”

She took a moment to soak him in. The plaid of her family draped over his shoulder and around his waist. It suited him as much as it did her father and brothers. His broad shoulders and firm build would match any man in this time. He was the most handsome man she’d ever met, making her a very lucky woman.

“It’s me who’s lucky,” he said when he stopped in front of her.

She tilted her head back and placed the palm on his shirt. “Peeking into my thoughts again, husband?”

“I am.”

Her eyes skirted past him toward the bed. The bed they would share.

“W-we don’t have to.” His words were weak, but his heart wanted her comfortable. For that, she would gladly give herself to this man.

“I don’t believe I’ve flinched once since you entered the room.”

Relief washed through their joined gifts.

He reached for a lock of her hair and brushed it off her shoulder. “No. I don’t believe you’ve flinched for days.” His palm moved to her neck and cradled the back of her head.

There was no hesitation when he tilted her head back to accept his kiss. She sighed and pressed into him, his warmth. His lips were soft on hers, tasting and, if she read him correctly, savoring her.

He spread one hand around her waist and pulled the small of her back toward him, bringing her entire body flush with his. Her soft curves met his hard ones with only her thin gown and his kilt separating them. The feel of his tongue sweeping in her mouth distracted her and made her moan.

Gavin angled his head and kissed her deeper.

A roar of laughter interrupted their embrace from outside the door.

Gavin growled and Amber giggled.

He broke their kiss and rested his forehead to hers. “Wait right here.”

He stormed toward the door, threw it open, and shook his finger at the men on the other side. “Go! Away! Now!”

Amber didn’t dare look to see who stood there, but she did hear Fin’s voice. “Time for us to leave, men.”

Gavin closed the door again. This time when he stood back, she noticed the blue aura of his gift spread to circle the walls of the room.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m making sure no one out there hears a thing happening in here.”

“That’s not playing fair,” she said with a click of her tongue.

He was back at her side in three steps. “I don’t care. I want to make love to my wife, to hear you moan when I bring you pleasure.”

His words made her insides quiver, as did his hands as they circled her hips and pulled her back into his arms.

“And I will bring you pleasure, Amber.” He kissed her briefly. “So much pleasure.”

If his kiss was any indication, she needn’t worry. The taste of ale on his lips, the smell of the wool of her family plaid mixed with the unique bold scent of Gavin was something she would always remember from this night.

She reached into his hair and returned his kiss with as much fervor as he gave. When he pulled away again, she nipped at his lip, catching him by surprise. “My little minx.” Gavin bent down, gathered her into his arms, and walked her to the bed. The soft mattress of straw, plush feathers, and wool met her back before Gavin moved beside her, cradling her.

“I want in here,” he said tapping her head.

Amber opened her thoughts. I’m not keeping you out.

Yet once she said the words in her head a flood of emotion, of raw feeling had her closing her eyes to embrace the enormity of it. All Gavin…every ounce of the man wanted one thing.

Her.

“Oh, Gavin.”

Something inside him had changed since the last time they were this connected.

“Coming here, having the blessing of your parents weighted on you.”

“It did.”

He stroked the side of her face as he spoke. “When your father joined our hands that weight lifted.”

“Aye.”

Gavin grasped one of her hands and brought it up between them. “Whatever the future holds, we will work it out together.”

There wasn’t an ounce of doubt in his mind, and that fact pushed away any that might have lingered inside her. “I will be true to you, Gavin. Always.”

And I will protect and cherish you, Amber. Always.

His vow to cherish her began with a kiss. When breathing became difficult, he moved his lips to her neck and rounded his hands down her hip and leg.

I love the way you taste. He pushed aside her gown, licked, and kissed her shoulder.

I-I love the way you taste me.

He released a small laugh. I’m going to enjoy teaching you what you’ll truly love.

She knew there was more than kissing to enjoy. He’d already taught her that much. I’ll be your willing pupil.

He ran his hand under her nightgown and caressed her thigh. Everywhere he touched, her skin tingled.

“You like that.”

Her eyes fluttered closed. “Aye. Your touch is like a fresh breeze on my skin.”

A breeze?

He shifted until his knee rested between her legs.

With a will of its own, her body arched into him, closer. “Oh!” The very center of her body heated and that breeze grew into a wave of heat.

I prefer heat to a breeze, he told her.

You’re very good at creating heat.

He licked the lobe of her ear, and she nearly shot off the bed.

“Yes, it’s going to be a joy to teach you everything.”

She clawed at his shirt, pulling it. Do that again.

Demanding little minx.

Her eyes opened and a tiny bit of doubt slipped in. Is it too bold of me?

He shook his head and gave a reassuring smile. “Ask me to do anything, and I will. There are no limits here, with us like this. If something doesn’t feel right, stop me. I’ll never hurt you.”