Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“You miss your family?”
“I do,” he admitted. “They are a loving bunch. We laugh often, talk much, have our share of disagreements, may even be known to throw a punch or two on occasion, but we’re always there to help each other whenever needed. That’s why Ronan knows we look for him and will find him.”
“I’m sure he does,” Terese said.
Lachlan slowly wrapped his arms around her. “I think you and I should take a stroll to my cottage.”
“And why is that?”
“We have things to discuss.”
“What things?” she asked smiling.
“I’ll tell you when we get there.”
“I have chores to see to.”
“They can wait,” Lachlan said and whispered, “this is much more important.”
“How can you be so sure?” she asked as he held her close to his side and began walking toward his cottage.
“Because if I don’t strip you of your clothes soon and lose myself in you, I’ll go stark raving mad.”
“You would survive,” she insisted, though she continued walking with him.
“No, I would not,” he declared adamantly.
“I am not that necessary to your survival.”
He stopped a few feet from his cottage. “You’re everything to my survival, Terese, and I believe it is the same for you. Tell me you do not wish, want, need to walk through that door with me and make love. Tell me and I will let you go do your chores.”
She stared at him for a moment and when she turned to walk away, he felt his heart drop and his passion crash. But then she giggled and switched directions running straight for his cottage.
“I’ll get there before you,” she challenged.
His passion soared and he ran with the determination of a man eager to make love. He scooped her up in his arms just before she reached the door and hurried her inside, shutting the door firmly behind him and then depositing the both of them on the bed.
Clothes soon found their way to the floor and naked limbs were wrapped around each other, gentle laughs and nibbles mixed and hands explored.
Lachlan loved the feel of her smooth, silky skin. It reminded him of the softness of a newly blossomed rose petal and was just as fragrant.
“You smell so good,” he said wrapping his arms around her middle and resting his head there.
“Rowena’s soap. It’s a special blend,” she said, running her fingers through his dark brown hair.
“I could stay wrapped around you forever.”
“You’re welcome to.”
His heart swelled with her remark, for she told him that she didn’t wish to part from him, which meant she just might be falling in love with him. And with that sense of joy filling him he began to make love to her.
He took his time, exploring her naked flesh with a delicate touch, lingering his kisses in places he found sensitive to her and loving every little moan that slipped from her lips.
He refused to let her do anything this time. This time his pleasure would come from pleasuring her. He brought her to climax with intimate touches then forced another one from her with the magic of his tongue. Then he entered her and brought her to a climax that had her reeling and him exploding, his body shuddering from the tremendously satisfying sensation that continued to ripple far beyond what he had ever experienced.
They lay spent against each other, their breathing erratic, not able to speak. But their fingers locked tightly and held on firm, both letting the other know they had no intentions of letting go.
Terese smiled broadly as she walked, a spring in her step, toward the common shelter. Her body never felt so good, so satisfied, so alive. She hadn’t wanted to leave Lachlan. She would have loved to linger, but she had chores to do and Lachlan had things to see to, and it wouldn’t be right to spend the entire day in the cottage, just the two of them. Everyone would talk, not that they probably weren’t already, and that was why she was glad to be so far removed from clan and family. Here she was free to love and not be judged. Here couples handfasted, joining together the old way, since clergy was far and few between. Here was her home.
It was a beautiful and glorious day, and she wouldn’t let anything destroy it for her. She would relish the joy of it all and think on the pleasure yet to come.
She laughed softly.
“Someone is pleased.”
Terese looked to see Hester approach and she could see by her expression something was wrong. She didn’t want anything to be wrong, not this day. She wanted this day to continue with smiles and tingles and never-ending passion.
She raised her hand before Hester could say anything. “Just give me a moment to tuck away my happiness for safekeeping.”
That caused Hester to smile. “There’s no problem. We all would like to have a meeting tonight. It has been awhile since we’ve had a chance to voice our concerns.”