there with them, but there had been nothing normal about this past week or this day.
Dahlia must have understood what he was thinking. “Don’t you dare apologize to me about this wedding. I’ve married my hero. This is the happiest day of my life.”
“Mine, too, Queen Pea.” He held out his arms to her. “Care to share a kiss with your new husband?”
“I had better take advantage before you stink like moldy cheese again.”
She came into his arms, feeling so soft and sweet against him.
He ignored his aching rib cage and the fire in his chest.
He ignored his unsteady legs and the pain searing through his body merely for standing.
While he could not make love to her yet, there was nothing wrong with his lips, and he meant to use them to full advantage. His mouth captured hers, and he kissed her with all his heart, soul, and happiness.
He also kissed her with barely leashed passion and all the love a husband ought to hold for his wife.
The innocent ardor of her response affected him deeply. In the past, his kisses were meant for seduction. But this one was all about promise for their future, for the bonds of love that would strengthen between them over time. Of course, he still wanted to seduce her, to hear her soft, breathy moans of pleasure. But he also wanted to fall asleep holding her in his arms and wake to her warm body pressed to his.
“I love you, Queen Pea,” he said upon ending the kiss, for he no longer trusted his legs to hold him up. He released her and sat heavily on the bed.
“Oh, Ronan!” Her eyes reflected her concern. “You have beads of sweat along your forehead. Oh, I knew it. You’re in pain again.”
“No, love. You take away my pain.”
“Says the man now struggling for breath.” She rolled her eyes. “Let me help you lie back down.”
He shook his head. “I have to take off this robe first. Turn around.”
She refused, smirking instead. “And miss the sight of your body? I can do this now. I am your wife. You are my husband. Doesn’t it sound wonderful?”
He was not keen on showing himself off when he could do nothing productive with his given attributes. But he was glad she was no shy miss who would need coaxing into his bed when the time came. Two days. He would not be healed yet, but sufficiently along not to do himself too much damage when he finally claimed her.
Besides, there were ways to minimize the strain on his ribs.
He did not have to be the one on top.
A knock at the door took him out of his thoughts and relieved him of the need to refuse Dahlia’s offer of assistance. “That will be my brothers and Robbie come to help me back in bed.”
She looked disappointed but said nothing as she walked to the door to open it. “Come in.”
“Ye need yer laudanum,” Robbie said, heading to the bureau to prepare it for him.
“And your unguent,” Tynan said, looking none too pleased as he picked up the pot and a clean washcloth.
Finn and Joshua helped him out of the robe and eased him back against the pillows and under the sheets.
Dahlia was lost amid these men who were attending to him with the precision of a military drill.
The strain of standing for the wedding and then taking the laudanum proved too much. Despite his stubborn struggles, he fell asleep within minutes.
“What time is it?” he asked when he awoke, still groggy from the laudanum and inhaling the putrid scent of the unguent on his chest. He wasn’t even sure anyone was in the room with him. Night had fallen, and the house was quiet. Then he noticed one lonely figure seated in a chair beside the hearth, staring into the golden blaze of flames. “Queen Pea?”
She turned to him. “It’s almost midnight. You slept soundly. I knew this day was too much for you.”
He struggled to a sitting position.
“Ronan, don’t!” She rose and hurried to his side. “You’ll hurt yourself.”
“You’re still dressed. Do you have a nightrail with you?”
She nodded. “Yes. One of those flimsy, silk things. But I wasn’t sure...”
He smiled. “Let me help you out of your gown and into that flimsy garment. However, I intend to have it off you in short order, so you needn’t put it on for my sake.”
“So you think I ought to stay with you tonight?”
“Hell, yes. Where else would you be?”