“Goodness, Claire,” he said, his voice broken. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know,” she chirped. Then she tossed off the towel she wore and sauntered naked into the bedchamber, and he followed her home like a little lost puppy.
Thirty-Two
The wedding was an informal affair. They’d opted to have only family at the event, which was held at Robin and Sophia’s house, since theirs was the place where Claire had supposedly been staying during her recovery.
She’d actually been staying in Finn’s bed, and they had barely gotten out of it since the night they’d bathed together. He’d kept her busy, and she’d returned the favor. He’d taken her fast. He’d taken her slow. He’d taken her mouth. He’d flipped her upside down on her knees, and he’d lifted her knee so far by her head that she would have sworn she could kiss her calf.
But through it all, he’d been so very conscious of her, of her needs, of the life that grew within her. He’d fed her and bathed her and let her sleep on top of him. He’d brushed her hair and rubbed her feet, and he’d said so many dirty things to her in the throes of passion that she no longer cared what he said. She had even repeated many of those words when it was her turn to take charge.
Finn hadn’t seen Claire since last night, when he’d come to the hall to drop her off. They’d made love in the carriage on the way over, and she was slightly mussed when she entered Robin and Sophia’s home. Sophia had dragged her away to help her clean up, and Robin had taken Finn into the study for a drink and a stern lecture, Finn had later confessed. “You should have seen his face. He was stuck somewhere between really happy for me as a man and really irritated about his brother having relations with his sister-in-law.” He’d laughed. And there was no sound sweeter to her ears than that of his laughter.
Claire let her mother and Sophia help her dress, and she turned back to look into the looking glass. “I wish Grandmother and Grandfather were here,” she said. Her grandmother had opted to stay in the land of the fae for a bit as she was still grieving for her husband.
“I’m sure she’ll be ready to pay you a visit before too long,” Sophia said. “She just needed some time to get used to being alone, I think.”
“Do you think that Finn will ever be able to go there with me, to see the land where I came from?” Claire asked wistfully.
Her mother and Sophia shot a glance at one another.
“What is it?” Claire asked.
“We have been warned that to bring a human into the land of the fae without prior approval will be grounds for the clipping of our wings.” Her mother said it in one great, big breath. And then she froze, as though she was afraid of Claire’s reaction.
She should be afraid. “But you were just there! Both of you, with your human husbands.” She pointed a finger at Sophia, who automatically recoiled. “And you even took your human stepdaughter for a visit! But I can’t take my husband to my homeland?”
A knock sounded on the door. Finn stood there, and he looked a bit worried with his eyebrows drawn together so severely. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Claire snapped. “Nothing at all.” She swiped a hand beneath her nose and blinked back a tear. This was supposed to be a happy day. And here she was growing angry at her family for something that was well beyond their control.
“Can I have a moment with Claire?” Finn asked. Sophia and her mother scuttled out of the room.
He closed the door behind them and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing,” she barked, as she sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Something is wrong,” he said as he came to sit beside her. “Come on. Tell me. You’ll feel better if you do.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. How much she’d come to rely on him in such a short time!
“There’s a prohibition against humans in the land of the fae. I have to have prior permission to take you there.”
He shrugged. “So, ask for permission. Problem solved.” He tweaked her nose playfully. “You want to go marry me now?”
“I want to marry you no matter what,” she admitted. He beamed down at her.
The door opened with a soft click and her father stuck his head in the room. He eyed Finn warily. “Hello,” he said.
“Hello,” Claire said with a tiny wave.
“I heard there’s a bride who needs to be delivered to the vicar for marriage,” her father said lightly, but he narrowed his eyes at Finn. “Why are you in here?”
“I needed him,” Claire said. Her heart clenched with love for Finn. “I’ll always need him.”
Her voice cracked on the last words and she hated it, but Finn tipped her chin up, kissed her softly, and said, “Let’s go get married.”
“Can I have a minute with my daughter?” her father asked suddenly.
Finn looked at her and arched his brows. She nodded at him, and he bent to kiss her forehead softly. “I’ll see you at the wedding.”