Seductive Deception

Chapter 34

When Morgan woke the following day after they'd returned from the lake, sated and filled with good fortune and infatuation with one another, it was the first time in a long time Morgan's mind wasn't swirling with chaos. There weren't many moments where he was utterly devoid of restless thought after he'd returned from his time in the war.

He spent so much time bouncing back and forth between agony and guilt that the serenity he felt now was surreal. He was finally home; Allegra was his home.

Soft light filtered in from the outside—the dawn breaking out across the sky as a brisk morning air made him curl closer to her, keeping her warm. She shuffled and made an adorable soft moan, pressing her bottom into him and causing him to lose focus on everything around him. He breathed her in, indulging himself in the sweet floral scent of her hair. Rosewater and spearmint— a scent he'd always known as her.

When she awoke, she turned to him, lacing her hand with his as she smiled.

"I don't know what we did to deserve it, but the world tried its best to keep us apart," she murmured.

It was the perfect opportunity, and he jumped on it.

"None of the matters anymore, Aggie. Because we can make a place where we belong together," he said softly, stealing himself for the moment he'd been waiting for, "Would you live here...in the dower house with me?"

She bit her lip, thoughtfully considering. "What will become of the manor? Whittington?"

He waved it off. "My aunt and cousins can live there. I don't care for massive houses with tons of servants. Christ, I've spent the past decade sleeping in tents. Having someone dote on you and chase you around to put stockings on you is godforsaken awful."

She giggled, delighted at his account.

"Here, we can wake with the sun, grow plants, maybe a vegetable or fruit garden."

"Both, but more fruits than veggies," Allegra chimed in, and Morgan laughed.

"You could draw in the evenings and design new gowns. I can even put a desk or bureau near a window if you like the scenery, and I could build a small workshop that I can use to fix and build things and keep tools. And we can do the things we used to do as kids, like rock skipping and horse riding. I could build us a small stable. We wouldn't need much. Just the barouche and a few horses. No servants," he said, drifting off, his eyes trained at the ceiling until he turned to her, "unless, of course, you would like them."

She shook her head. "No servants." she agreed.

"I want to put my abilities to good use around here, on the estate, and with the tenants. I want to build places that are safe for people to live in. I want to fix roofing and build new doors and work alongside others to construct comfortable and reliable places for people to live."

"If that fulfills you," she said, threading her fingers with his, "and makes you happy, I want it for you."

"Besides, there are plenty of trees around here perfect for teaching our children how to climb," he said softly, his eyes wide, dark, and open.

"I suggest we start on that soon," he waggled his brows, and her face lit up, unable to keep the happiness from spilling out in all directions at the prospect of their future together.

She pulled his hand to her cheek after pressing a kiss to his knuckles— the soft, whisper-light kiss leaving an imprint of warmth and hope to spread through his entire body.

"If...of course, you are not already with child from your thorough debauching."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Must you say it like that?"

"Oh, I have many other phrases I've learned while away that I could use...this was the least offensive. And I do mean least," he emphasized, eyes wide.

She devolved into giggles.

"I suppose it is an accurate description as I have been thoroughly compromised."

"Thoroughly and expertly...multiple times, just to ensure the job has been completed with as much proficiency as possible," he added with a smirk.

She rolled her eyes again.

"Yes, I suppose that is true."

"And I plan to debauch you at least every night, if not twice a night and perhaps once during the day."

"At least," she emphasized, chuckling as he rolled her over.

"I have to make up for lost time," he looked down, watching for her reaction.

She quirked a brow, biting her lip as she caught his gaze and looked down again. "If my father hadn't interrupted us...would you have made love to me that night?"

"I think I would have, yes. If," he eyed her, "you were willing."

She nodded, a smile tugging at her lip. "I was ready. But only because it was you..."

He pulled her tight to his chest and smelled her hair, rejoicing in it secretly.

How was he going to get the strength to say it? How could he ask her the most important question of their lives? His heart pounded in his chest, his breathing frantic as he pulled their intertwined fingers to his mouth and delicately kissed each of her knuckles.

"I want you to be my wife, Allegra."

She took a sharp intake of breath as he looked down at her, her eyes darkened and misty.

"You make me a better person. Even if I failed training, even if I am dreadful at—"

"I don't care about any of those things," she said, pressing her hands to his face, framing him as she leaned in, pressing her body to his, "you are perfect for me," she whispered, her lips inches from him, temptation incarnate, "Yes, of course I will marry you."

She sank into him, kissing him more profoundly than she'd ever kissed him before, their kisses hungry and searching and desperate for more until they pulled away from each other, catching their breath, each grinning emphatically at one other, basking in the newness and the importance of the moment.

He cradled her head between his hands, his arms holding his body gently above her, hips pressed into the cove between her legs.

"I'll always love you," he whispered into her ear before taking it in his mouth, sucking on the pearly-pink lobe.

She thought about it shortly, her eyes meeting and holding his.

"Do you promise?"

"Always."

And he rolled her over on top of him to show her how much.