again, she wouldn’t have the self-control to stop him. She swam to the shore. “As tempting as that sounds, I think we need to head back before the others start worrying about us.”
Dexter got out of the lake, shaking his head and spraying water everywhere.
Reid stood on the shore with her arms covering her chest, trying to figure out how to get her tunic. The thin white material of her undershirt left little to the imagination, so she didn’t want to move her arms.
Dexter reached down and picked up her dry tunic, handing it to her. Turning her back to him, she quickly put it on.
“Too bad our wedding ceremony was interrupted,” he said, attempting to put his wet shirt back on.
“Why is that?” She ran her hands through her hair, trying to remove the tangles.
“Because then we’d be married already, and we could share a bed tonight. Because then I could take you as often as I like.”
She recalled the conversation they’d had the night of their engagement announcement. That felt like a lifetime ago. “I thought you commissioned separate bedchambers.” She tried to keep the smile from her voice.
He took a step closer, and she took one back.
“Besides,” she shrugged, “who’s to say I’m going to let you have your way with me whenever you want?”
Dexter’s eyes gleamed as he stared Reid down, making her want to melt. He still hadn’t managed to get his shirt on. And she was standing there without pants. Leaning down, he whispered, “You’re right. You can have your way with me whenever you like. And the separate bedchambers on either side of our joined bedchamber is only to prevent others from hearing us.”
Her legs almost gave out. It took every ounce of her self-control to remain upright. “We’ll see.” She smiled sweetly, issuing the challenge.
“Yes,” he purred in her ear, “we will see.” With that, he stepped away, leaving Reid suddenly cold.
Her wet pants didn’t want to cooperate. Nevertheless, Reid forced them on. When she finished, she joined Dexter by the horses.
“Is there someone nearby who can marry us?” he asked.
“You mean in the City of Dorsot?” Reid mounted her horse.
“Yes. I want to marry you. Now.”
She nodded. There was a man who could perform the ceremony. “I’d like for my father and sisters to be present for it.”
“We’ll still have a large ceremony for our family, the dukes, and the leaders of the kingdom,” he said as he mounted. “However, I’d like a small, intimate ceremony with just us. Especially before we tackle the events before us.”
“You know you don’t have to marry me to make sure I’m taken care of in the event something happens to you. You understand I’ll be fine no matter what, right?” Which wasn’t true. If something happened to him, she’d be devastated.
“I wish to marry you because it’s something I want. And I rarely get to make my own decisions or do what I want. So I’m being selfish. If you’re not ready, I understand.”
“It’s not that. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to marry me to protect me.”
“I don’t.”
They headed away from the lake, weaving between the trees. As they made their way back to the duke’s castle, Reid mulled over the idea of marrying Dexter now. It would be nice to get married in Ellington. Harlan could attend the wedding. And their wedding night would be private.
The castle came into view. Off to the side, Reid saw soldiers had already started to gather there. “Okay.”
Dexter eyed her sidelong. “Okay?”
“I’d like to marry here in Ellington.”
“You would?”
“Yes.”
He smiled, sitting up straighter on his horse. “It’s settled then. I’ll speak to the marriage binder to make the arrangements.”
“And I’ll find a dress to wear and…prepare a room for us to share.” Her face warmed just thinking about it.
Chapter Seven
When Reid and Dexter returned to the castle, they found everyone in the great hall studying a worn map.
“It doesn’t matter,” Idina said. “It won’t take Anna long to figure out we’re not following her plan.”
“I’ll tell her it is her plan, just altered a bit.” Ackley folded his arms.
“We need a place where we can battle the Melenia soldiers,” Gordon said, tapping the map. “I assume Dexter can recommend a location that will cause the least amount of damage to property.”
“I’ll think on the matter,” Dexter replied. “Perhaps some place north of the City of Radella. We’d need to lure the soldiers in the city there, but I’m sure it can be