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“Thorne Cumming, Duke of Stroken, this is Kit. She’s American, dinnae let her manners fool ye. Well done , both of ye. I havenae seen Demon pop his temper off in such a satisfying way in months .”

His wife, whose handshake was just as firm as Thorne’s, was also smiling as if they were sharing a naughty joke. “Perhaps you shouldn’t talk about popping off a man, love.”

“No’ in public, at least,” her husband murmured with a wink, which had Kit—was that an American name?—smirking.

“Are the boys here?” Gabby asked eagerly. “I wanted them to meet Gus. ”

“Aye, but yer Uncle Fawkes gave them a chemistry set yesterday when he arrived,” Thorne explained, “and I’m guessing they’re outside right now trying to set the famous Exingham hedges on fire.”

“Ah, science,” sighed Kit, linking her arm through his. “Congratulations, you two. Welcome to the chaos, Cassian. We need more outlaws.”

Outlaws? Surely they didn’t consider him—the Princess promised a full exoneration…

Confused, Cassian raised his brows. “Excuse me, Yer Grace?”

“Just Kit, please.” She pointed to Thorne, then Gabby. “Inlaws.” Then she pointed to herself and Cassian. “We married into this nonsense. We’re the outlaws.” When she grinned, her puckish chin turned positively charming. “Welcome to the family.”

Thorne was chuckling as he led her away, and Cassian watched them go in bemusement. “They’re a…fun couple?”

“Remind me to tell you how they met,” Gabby murmured, turning him to the next couple. “Hunter! And, oh, Lady Mistree, thank you so much for attending!”

Cassian, who’d heard the story of the magical lace’s origins several times thanks to his son, bowed over the Countess’s glove.

“My dears, I would not miss it for the world,” the old woman purred, her smile bright as she reached for Gabby’s hand while twisting her frail fingers around Cassian’s.

She pulled them closer together while beaming up at them.

“I was thrilled when young Hunter told me how my lace talisman helped bring you happiness. ”

A flatulent elephant had brought them together?

Well, Cassian supposed that was, in some way, true.

The other man grumbled, “ Young Hunter? I’m ten minutes younger than Gabs.”

“Yes,” his sister said with a bright smile, “which means I am ten minutes wiser and more mature.”

Hunter, proving how wise and mature he was, stuck out his tongue.

Lady Mistree burst into chuckles. “Oh, Hunter dear, I cannot wait to gift you your inheritance.”

“Is it a magic rock?” Gabby teased, clearly referencing something Cassian didn’t know. “Hunter deserves a magic rock. Please tell me it is a magic rock!”

The old woman finally released their hands to hum and tap her chin thoughtfully, smirking at Gabby’s twin. “I think I may have just the magic rock for you, Hunter.”

“Swell,” he muttered. “Just what I’ve always wanted.”

Cassian, feeling as if something was expected of him, wrapped his arm around his bride’s waist and pulled her closer. “If yer magic rock is as important as Gabby’s lace?—”

“Or Marcia’s pendant,” she interrupted.

Cassian nodded, although he’d only heard that story a few days ago and still didn’t quite know what to think of it. “If yer rock works as well as Lady Mistree’s other pieces of inheritance, I would say ye’re in for a surprise.”

“Yes,” crowed the old woman happily as she slipped her arm through Hunter’s. “Another surprised heir!”

I n the years since she’d reached her majority, Gabby had traveled often.

She had rooms at Exingham of course, and in the family townhouse in London, and several rented properties around the globe.

There was no one place where she felt most at home, but had to admit a fondness for her rooms at Exingham.

This was where she’d grown up, after Uncle Rourke and Aunt Sophia had formed their family. This was where the servants knew her best, and there was something so wonderful about allowing oneself to be pampered by them and by well-meaning family like Aunt Sophia.

That said, Gabby rushed through her bathing and undressing rituals tonight.

Tonight wasn’t the night for luxuriating in a tub or relaxing while her aunt brushed her hair.

Tonight…was her wedding night.

Cassian had been given a room in the other wing— “far away from my niece ,” Uncle Rourke had grumbled—but would be joining her. Tonight. Gabby was anxious to begin her forever.

And so, when the knock at her door came, Gabby was waiting. She flung it open, reached through, and grabbed a disgruntled looking Cassian to pull him inside.

When she finished kissing him—a thoroughly delightful kiss during which she felt him melt against her, his cock growing rigid against her stomach—she pulled away to smirk up at him .

“What had you frowning like that? You look wonderful, by the way. The kilt is positively delicious. Too long, obviously.”

His lips twisted ruefully. “Thank ye. Ye looked…” He bent down to drop a kiss on her lips again. “If I dinnae tell ye, ye were stunning today, Gabby. The most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.”

Since he had told her that, at least twice already, she stroked her fingers through the hair at the back of his neck. “So why were you looking so distracted a moment ago, hmm?”

His nose wrinkled. “Because I felt like a fooking prisoner, creeping through the halls of this great hulking estate, sneaking around for a ruddy conjugal visit.”

Gabby had already begun to unbutton his waistcoat, and now she hummed. “It is common for couples to keep separate chambers?—”

“Nay, it’s common for dukes and duchesses to keep separate chambers next door to each other.

Marriages made for political gain, Gabby.

” He shrugged out of his jacket and waistcoat, tossing them over the chair, allowing her to go to work on his shirt as he kicked off his shoes.

“I love ye. I’m tired of spilling all over the bloody place, when I could be inside ye.

I want to sleep with ye—no’ just make love to ye, but wake up each morning at yer side. ”

It was the single most adorably disgruntled thing anyone had said to her.

Smiling, Gabby surged up to wrap her arms around his neck to pull him into a joyful kiss .

Her robe fell open as they fell onto the bed, him still squirming out of his clothing.

“At Inverlochy,” she gasped, loving the way his hands skimmed along her skin, “we will have to share a suite. Yours. The one with a large bathing chamber.”

“Aye,” he growled, his lips finding her breast. “And locks on the door.”

Her giggle at the memory of their first morning together trailed into a groan as his tongue teased her nipple.

Every time, it was better.

Each time they came together like this, Gabby was amazed at the way he could make her feel.

This wasn’t the first time they’d made love. It wasn’t even their hundredth, likely. It had been over a month since Princess Louise had exonerated Cassian, allowing Aunt Sophia to begin the wedding planning, and they’d spent that time together—both here and Inverlochy.

Home .

One day, hopefully far in the future, they would share the master’s chamber at Inverlochy Castle. She’d already begun to work with Gus and Uncle Dickie in the menagerie, and loved how the older man had swiftly come to not only respect her knowledge, but rely on her veterinary skills.

Apparently, once Hunter had quit pretending to know what the hell he was talking about, Uncle Dickie had been impressed with a real veterinarian.

Yes, she would stand by Cassian’s side as they moved into the twentieth century together, raising Gus to one day care for Inverlochy properly.

And perhaps…

Gabby and Cassian had spoken of children, of children they could raise together, as partners…and although it was something she’d never considered before, she was strangely excited by the possibility.

Not just creatures to care for…but children.

“Focus, love,” Cassian murmured, his mouth trailing down her stomach.

“What?”

“I can tell when ye’re no’ here with me. Since it’s my wedding night…” He pulled her thighs over his shoulders. “I’d like ye to pay attention to what I’m doing.”

And then he lowered his mouth to her core and Gabby gasped, all of her attention indeed on her new husband and exactly what he was doing.

It was not long before she came with a soft cry, her legs squeezing around his head, her fingers tightening in his hair.

He was grinning as he untangled himself, rolling over to pull her with him. “Have I told ye that ye make the most incredible sounds when I do that, wife?”

The soft glow of her release still pulsed through her, and Gabby grinned as she kissed his shoulder. “Sounds? Like what?”

Cassian’s hands slid up her sides as her hummed appreciatively. “Like I’m the grandest thing to ever happen to ye. ”

She swung her leg over his hips, catching his cockstand beneath her thigh. “Perhaps you are, husband .”

“Nay.” Grunting slightly, he lifted her over him, until she straddled him. “Ye’re lowering yerself to marry me, Gabby Lindsay Grey, and I have nae choice but to keep ye satisfied so ye willnae realize it. I figure by our third or fourth bairn, ye’ll be too sated and distracted to divorce me?—”

“This is not about my uncle being a duke, is it?” she demanded sternly even as she lifted her weight, reaching between them to move his cock into position.

“Nay, love, it’s about ye being fooking remarkable, and me still no’ certain how I managed to— uugh ,” he broke off with a groan as she sank down atop him. “Christ, Gabby,” he sighed with unrestrained delight.

Grinning, she began to move, even as his hands rose to tease her breasts and skin.

This was a familiar dance, one they practiced often, yet…special. Different. Their wedding night. The beginning of forever.

As the pressure built, as their movements increased, as their breathing became shallow, claiming once again the rhythms they loved so well, Gabby knew this. Knew this was important.

She leaned forward so Cassian could wrap his arms around her, could play with her arse, could send his powerful thrusts upward into her core.

As her climax approached she caught her breath, stretched up, and captured his lips .

They came together, shooting over the edge of ecstasy, swallowing one another’s cries of bliss.

And for the first time she felt his seed filling her, warming her.

Claiming her.

Finally.

She was finally his.

And he was hers.

With a happy sigh, Gabby collapsed against him as the pleasure throbbed through her veins.

“I love you, Cassian,” she whispered.

His fingertips stroked the bare skin of her spine. “I dinnae think ye could possibly love me as much as I love ye, wife. Wife .”

She grinned, her eyes closed as she luxuriated in his touch. “I do not know about that. You are quite tempting.”

His snort made her grin grow.

“You do not believe me?” she asked, pretending to be affronted when she pushed herself upright.

“I think I have ye fooled and satiated,” he said with a grin. “Exactly what I plan to do each and every day for the rest of our lives. Now I need to bathe ye and pleasure ye again.”

“Hmm, I suppose I could be tricked in allowing that to happen.”

Third of fourth bairn . Had he not said that earlier? Just the thought of what they’d shared tonight, and the fact that his child could even now be taking root in her womb, sent Gabby’s heart pounding.

A future neither of them could ever have imagined.

So, with a grin, Gabby wrapped her arms around him. “Do you think you would be strong enough to carry me to the bathtub, husband?”

When he rolled to his feet and lunged to prove his strength—and balance—was recovering beautifully, Gabby shrieked with laughter and held on.

And Cassian was laughing as well as he strode toward the bathing chamber. “I love ye, Gabby. With all my heart.”

What more could any woman ask for?