Page 37 of The Duke’s Sharpshooter (The Duke’s Guard #14)
Three days later…
“D o you have to leave now? I haven’t had a chance to make breakfast for you.”
Flaherty pulled his wife into his arms and rolled over until she was beneath him. “I’m onto yer tricks, woman. Ye’re a lusty wench, but ye cannot fool me. I’ve realized yer idea of breakfast is making a meal out meself!”
“You haven’t complained until now.”
He grinned, kissed her until she sighed, and chuckled. “I’m not about to start, but O’Malley will be sending Garahan or Eamon to fetch me. I’m due to patrol the perimeter this morning.”
“It’s too dark to be morning,” Temperance grumbled.
“Ah, so ye’ve finally shown yer true nature. Ye’re all sweetness and light until ye don’t get yer way. I never would have thought that of ye.”
Feisty lass that she was, his wife pinched him hard on the buttocks—again.
He rolled over until she was on top of him.
When she smiled that sensual smile he’d grown accustomed to in the last few days, he pinched her back.
Instead of complaining, she slid down, pressing her curves against him until his eyes crossed.
The loud knock on the door had her stiffening. He cupped her head in his hand and kissed her thoroughly. “Not to worry—the door’s locked.”
“Time’s up, Flaherty!” a deep voice boomed.
“Ah, O’Malley sent Garahan.” He kissed the tip of her nose, looked over his shoulder, and shouted, “Come back tomorrow.”
“The bloody hell I will! Get yer fecking arse out here now!”
“Can’t. One of the tenant farmers’ sons could be walking past on the way to their fields. Me manly form would shock them.”
“Put some fecking clothes on! Ye have five minutes before I break the door down.”
“Will he really do that?” Temperance asked.
“Depends on what’s been happening while we’ve been cocooned in our own world, lass.”
“I’m helping him dress now, Garahan,” Temperance called out. “Please don’t break down our pretty yellow door.”
A deep groan—followed by the sound of something heavy hitting their door—had Temperance jumping out of bed. She tossed Flaherty’s trousers at him. “Hurry!”
He slipped on his pants, fastened them, and cupped her face in his hand. “That sound was his head. Garahan would never intrude on our privacy, lass. Surely by now ye’ve noticed he’s more bluster than bite.”
Temperance handed him his cambric shirt. “Put this on,” she whispered. Then she yelled, “We’re hurrying, Garahan!”
Flaherty laughed when he heard his cousin’s head hitting the door again. “Ye’re making him daft, lass. Say something else.”
“But his head might crack our door if he hits it again!”
“It’ll be worth it to see the huge knot on his forehead.” When she pressed her lips together, Flaherty sighed, found her chemise, and slipped it over her head. “Now yer gown, lass. I won’t be opening the door until ye’re dressed. No one but meself will see ye like this.”
She lifted to her toes and kissed him before letting him slip her gown over her head. Turning her back to him, she let him do up her buttons. “Now for your waistcoat. Do you want help with your cravat?”
“Nay, I hate wearing the bloody thing.”
“It won’t take but a moment.” She didn’t wait for him to agree—the lass tied the fabric faster than he’d ever done. “There.” She patted his chest and smiled up at him. “All you need is your coat.”
“That’s not all I need, lass.” He pulled her flush against him and kissed the breath out of her. “ That’s what I need.”
“After I straighten up, I’m going to spend the day in the nursery again. Maddy loves reading and playing with Abigail, Richard, and little Deidre. But I think she’s ready to sleep here in her new trundle bed instead of sharing a room with Francis.”
There was another groan from the other side of the door, and Flaherty kissed her forehead. “With the way ye’ve been begging me to make love to ye—more than once a night and twice before dawn—ye may be carrying our babe. Maddy will be a wonderful big sister.”
Temperance’s hands covered her mouth, but not the squeal of happiness.
“Flaherty!” barked. “Step away from yer wife and get out here. Now!”
His wife’s musical laughter filled Flaherty’s heart. “I’m coming.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Garahan grumbled.
“Is this what I can expect every morning? To have one of your cousins pounding on our door telling you to get dressed?” Temperance asked.
Flaherty slipped his arms around her waist and drew her into his arms. “Only on the mornings me insatiable wife insists that I make love to her until I don’t have the strength to stand.”
Instead of the response he expected, she furrowed her brow and then slowly smiled. “We’ll have to get up earlier to give you time to recover.”
Flaherty was still laughing as he opened the door. “Get yer arse moving, Garahan, or we’ll be late to our shifts.”
Once Garahan started walking, Flaherty turned around, sprinted back to his door, and pulled his wife into yet another hug. “Don’t lift anything heavier than yer smile until I get home. If ye want, I can bring Maddy home midmorning—it’ll give ye time to rest.”
She smiled at him. “I’m not the one who’s tired.”
Flaherty was whistling when he caught up to Garahan.
“It looks good on ye, Rory.”
“What does?”
“Love.”
Flaherty shoved his cousin with his shoulder. “How’s Emily feeling this morning?”
“Her stomach’s finally settled.”
“I can’t wait.”
Garahan chuckled. He understood what Flaherty couldn’t wait for. “Ye’d best hurry up—that way our babes will be only a month or so apart.”
Flaherty grinned. “More babes for Maddy to play with.”
“God’s granted us a good life, Rory.”
“Aye,” Flaherty agreed. “God is good.”