She did so at once.
“I missed you,” he whispered, letting out a low, sensual growl as his lips descended on hers with passion and a wanting ache that left her begging for more. The book she was holding slipped to the floor and landed with a thud. She nudged it out of the way with her toe.
“Be careful with that book,” Lily muttered through the door.
They both laughed. “It’s good to be home,” he said, his smile boyishly charming and happiness gleaming in his eyes.
“Oh, Gabriel! I prayed for your safe return every day.” She carefully circled her arms about his neck and breathed in his familiar scent, the light, musky essence that never failed to throw her into raptures. She wanted to cling to his shoulders, run her fingers all over his hard, muscled body. “I don’t know where to touch, where it’s safe.”
“Everywhere. Anywhere. Don’t hold back.” He tossed aside his crutch, and made use of his one good arm to draw her firmly against his chest. “You never were any good at following rules.”
“I promise to reform. I’ll be a most dutiful wife, a paragon of—”
“Don’t you dare change a thing about yourself.” His mouth closed over hers, his tongue gently sliding between her parted lips, tracing along her teeth before entering her mouth and treating her to an explosion of sensation that left her weak in the knees and trembling. He trailed ardent kisses along her neck, softer kisses along her throat... hungry kisses across her flushed lips. He splayed his hand across her back, drawing her closer still and letting out another one of those deliciously sensual growls that set her blood on fire. “Too many layers between us,” he grumbled as her breasts molded to his chest.
She heartily agreed.
“I could strip you naked right here,” he suggested, his eyes agleam and dancing with mirth, “but I doubt my meddlesome, matchmaking grandmother will approve.” He tipped a finger under her chin and held her gaze to his. “But I have a better idea. Not sure if I can do this properly, for I’m afraid once down, I’ll never get up. The servants will have to hoist me back onto my feet... too embarrassing.”
“Is this one of those naughty sex games Laurel warned me about?” she whispered, for this topic was simply too scandalous for the twins to overhear.
“No.” He chuckled as he cleared his throat. “Daisy, where shall I start? Eloise adores you, so does Graelem.”
She laughed. “I know.”
“I adore you, too.” He took her hands in his. “No, that isn’t quite right. I love you, Daisy. I’ve loved you for the longest time.”
She inhaled sharply, afraid to breathe for fear of breaking the magic spell.
“You captured my heart the moment I climbed into Eloise’s carriage the night of your debut ball and saw you fussing with your gown,” he said, his voice a soft caress. “You thought you looked like a snowball and were dreadfully uncomfortable. I wanted to kiss you then and there, take you into my arms and tell you that you looked like an angel... my angel, for you somehow soothed my broken spirit, healed my tormented body. You gave me hope and happiness, had faith in me when all others had forsaken me. You had an unwavering faith that never faltered despite my best laid plans.”
“I had no idea I was that splendid,” she teased.
He kissed her softly on the lips. “You are, Daisy. All that and more.”
He attempted to shift onto bended knee. “Bloody hell! That hurts.”
“Gabriel!” She propped herself under his arm and hauled him up before he did permanent damage to himself. “What in heaven’s name do you think you’re doing?”
“Asking you to marry me. Doing it right this time. Church, flowers. Family in attendance, all seven thousand of them.”
She shook her head and laughed. “There aren’t nearly that many Farthingales.”
“Well, feels like seven thousand,” he said with a grin. “Will you, Daisy? Accept me and make me the happiest man alive.”
“Yes,” she said in an aching whisper. “Yes and yes and yes again. But I don’t need another wedding. No ceremony, no flowers, and definitely no more Farthingale relatives! We just got rid of fifty and I’m not about to invite them back. They’re too noisy and always underfoot. All I need is you. Only you. I knew it from the moment I first set eyes on you, holding naked Harry in your manly arms.”
He winced. “Ah, yes. I’ll never forget that pleasure. But our children will be perfectly behaved angels like their mother.”
“And handsome as sin, like their father.”