Read Online How to Marry Your Wife by Stella Marie Alden - Free Book Online

to his men, who’d already dismounted with wide grins they didn’t have the decency to hide. “That goes for you, too. That is, except for Jacob.”
    She gasped as her eyes opened, blinked twice, and her face reddened to the shade of the posies that grew in the Sultan’s gardens. Struggling, she tried to sit up and slip out of his grasp.
    His man jumped to attention and held up his arms. “Pass her down.”
    His pintle throbbed in pain as she squirmed upon it. How long could a man stay hard without it breaking, he wondered as he dismounted. Jacob took the reins and walked with his squire to the stables, directly under the inn.
    “My whole lower half is numb.” She attempted a step and stumbled.
    Thomas grabbed her small waist and righted her. In the past, he’d cure the ache below his belt with a quick round with one of the camp women that traveled with them or perhaps a willing tavern wench. But the thought of anyone else under his body turned his stomach. He wanted his wife. His Merry. None other would do.
    Damn. She’d drive him mad before they made it half way to Scotland. She pranced about like a stiff horse and he had to laugh. “Are you all right?”
    “’Tis not funny at all.” She stomped and jumped and her golden locks bounced down her back.
    Holding back another snicker, he held out a hand. “Come walk with me. It’ll take the inn keeper’s wife a moment to prepare our meal and you can get your legs back.”
    Soft fingers fell into his palm and she gave him a smile that melted his heart more than the first sun after a long winter. “At least it’s not raining anymore.”
    “Aye. There is that.” He cleared his throat and searched for a topic that wouldn’t lead to an argument.
    They both spoke at once, “Merry—”
    “Thomas—”
    “You first.” He squeezed her hand and helped her avoid a puddle the size of a small pond.
    A mallard duck flew off, all the while quacking and scolding. She giggled at the display, grew serious, and stopped to face him. Her hazel eyes reflected the spring green of the new leaves as she held his gaze. “I did nay mean to disparage your honor when I asked for the mechanism letter. I merely wanted to read it.”
    With eyes wide, she held no guile and he moaned. Again, he had misunderstood her intent. Women were so poor at discourse, it was amazing that Adam and Eve ever procreated. “What if I speak it aloud and you can read it later?”
    “You remember?” Her gait, while faltering occasionally, was more solid now. He upped his pace, forcing more movement. It wouldn’t do well for her health to have the numbness linger.
    “Aye, I do or one of the hundreds like it. It goes like this.
    Your fair countenance floats beside me, wearing gossamer wings and my weary soul is soothed. I’m naught, without you. I long for sleep, for there is the only place I can find peace in your arms. My body aches for your touch, and I shiver in fear that you may not wait for me. Leave me not half a man, Merry. Stay firm in knowing I return to you, only you. Know that I do all this for you, so I can offer you what you deserve. Not a knight belonging to another, but a free soul, who will bind himself only to you. I’m far away, but you are close in my heart, under the strongest of locks in an iron box. In the same way, lock your belt of chastity and wait for me. I beg you. For without you, I’m nothing.
    She gasped.
    He cupped her cheeks in his palms and was undone in her hazel eyes. “I wrote to you every night and prayed that somehow I’d get word to you.”
    Tears dripped out of the corner of her eyes and down her rosy cheeks. “If I’d only known . . .”
    Clearing his throat, he turned away. “None of that. Those days are past. If we agree to put them behind us, we can find our future.” They’d wandered into a small copse of trees. Behind them, the river rushed, still swollen from the earlier downpour.
    He pulled her into his arms, cupped her lovely arse, and kissed