Page 35 of Lady Tamsyn and the Pixie's Curse
He laughed and they continued on. They were nearly to the top when she saw what he’d done—and she gasped indelight.
“How long have you been working at this?” Her hands were clasped at her bosom indelight.
“A day or so,” heconfessed.
“I love it,” shebreathed.
“I love you,” he answered. “I want toshowyou.”
He led her over and she marveled at the rough shelter, its back one of the rocky protuberances scattered over the cliff tops, its sides constructed of branches, leaves and tough sea grasses, and its front opened to the sight and sound of the sun on the water and the pounding of the surfbelow.
“Comeandsee.”
She did, surprised to see tiny ribbons and flowers entwined with thefoliage.
“How beautiful,” shewhispered.
He looked sheepish. “I confess, that bit wasnotme.”
“Who, then? Does someone else know about this?” she found that more than a bitalarming.
“The pixies do, Igather.”
“Oh, howlovely.”
He led her around to the front and she saw blankets spread out and wine cooling in a rough bucket and a huge picnic basket waiting in theshade.
He took her hand and kissed it, then he reached for the other and held them both as he gazed at her, his expressiontender.
“The longer I worked on this, the more enamored of it I became,” he told her. “Look around, Tamsyn. This place, it is us. Me, you, the wind and the sky and the richness of the earth. A veneer of civilization, a touch of magic and an abundanceoflove.”
She sighed, so deeply touched, and blinked awaytears.
“It’s everything I’d like us to be. Will you join with me, Tamsyn? Marry me and turn this perfect day into alifetime?”
She threw herself at him again, reveling in the height and breadth of him, in the strength of his arms and the beauty ofhissoul.
“Yes. Yes. A thousandtimes,yes.”
His expression was solemn as he laid her back on the blankets. The heft and weight of the moment felt as vast, as important and satisfying as his bulk pressing her to theearth.
She helped him remove his coat and kissed his bandaged shoulder, and then buried her fingers in his sun-warmed hair. He worshiped her and she accepted it as her due—and gave him the same in exchange. And when he eased her back and his shoulders blocked the sky, she moved her legs, opening wide and welcominghimhome.
Their gazes held as he moved inside of her, strongandsure.
“You are mine,” he whispered. “As I am yours. We are one now, as witnessed by the land andthesea.”
“Yes,” sheanswered. “Yes.”
As one they stretched, boundless, enduring. She gloried as his body held hers, drove into her, filled her like wind in sails and they ranged high and voyaged far, riding the waves of pleasure into their new life—together.
They dressed afterward, and sat entangled while they watched the tide race outbelow.
“It’s this moment,” she said softly. “Mother will insist on a betrothal ball, now that she’s finally come around. There will be the wedding and a breakfast, but in my heart I’m wedded to you from thismoment.”
He kissed her fingers. “I feelthesame.”
She let the peace and the strong beat of his heart lull her for a bit, and when she opened her eyes he was regarding her quiteseriously.
