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)
“Is something wrong?” Terese asked, waiting for fate to decide.
“No, I just feel this is so unfair to you,” Piper said.
Relief flooded her though was quickly replaced by apprehension. “Do not worry about me,” Terese said, gathering her things.
Piper was quick to help, folding things into the basket. “We all worry about you as you do us.”
Terese handed her the basket. “Please take this to my quarters. It’s time for me to say my good-byes to Lachlan.”
Tears pooled in Piper’s eyes. “I would die if I had to say good-bye to Evan.”
“Trust me, Piper, you would survive.”
Tears slipped down Piper’s fair cheeks. “But would it be worth it?”
Those words haunted Terese as she made her way to Lachlan’s cottage, and she took a breath before she knocked, wondering if this was a wise thing to do. Before she could change her mind Lachlan opened the door, took her hand, and tugged her inside.
“I had Rowena prepare us some food. Are you hungry?” he asked.
She shook her head, much too upset to speak let alone eat, though she did smile. She couldn’t help it. His charming smile was contagious and his handsome features were so pleasing to the eye, and he spoke with such concern and tenderness.
Lord, but she was going to miss this man.
Lachlan slipped his arms around her waist. “Talk with me, Terese. Tell me what’s wrong.”
She didn’t trust keeping her eyes on him for she feared she would surrender to tears and be lost. So she rested her head to his chest, which made matters worse, since she heard the confident beat of his heart.
He rested his chin on the top of her head. “Whatever it is we can work this out.”
She closed her eyes and tried to determine if he meant it, if they truly could work this out.
“I recall Alyce Bunnock saying something similar to me about her situation when I met her. She had hoped someone would see reason and help her. Do you think you would have helped her?”
“She was a woman who sealed her own fate,” Lachlan answered, “and I had a duty to her father. I would have tried to help her as best I could, but in the end I would have had no choice but to return her to her father.”
“What if she had loved someone else, say, you for instance, and wanted a life with you?”
“It seems an unfair comparison. Alyce was not a woman I could love. She was nothing like you.”
“You don’t know that,” she snapped.
He forced her to look at him. “I do know that. Alyce had a duty to her father and clan, and she should have realized that and done what was necessary. I would have never gotten involved with Alyce.”
She had her answer more clearly than she would have cared to hear it.
“Alyce means nothing to me; you mean everything to me.”
I am Alyce, she wanted to scream at him, but instead she kissed him. She needed this night done. She needed Terese to love him one last time.
“Make love to me,” she said softly.
“We need to talk first,” he said between kisses.
“Later,” she whispered.
He wrapped his fingers in her hair and tugged her head back so that his lips could claim hers in a kiss that warned her he would never ever let go. And she let him believe it, for tonight, just tonight, she needed to believe it as well.
He carried her to the bed and stood her in front of it to slowly remove her garments, teasing with a kiss or touch all the intimate spots he was so very familiar with and she reveled in each and every one.
His clothes followed and with a firm arm around her waist, he took her down on the bed with him, stretching out over her, their bodies flat against each other while he kissed her senseless. And he continued rendering her senseless as he made love to her.
It was remarkable to her that their lovemaking continued to be more and more enjoyable as if it were anew for them each time they came together. His kisses and touches never ceased to enflame her and make her hunger for him.
His lips and sensuous nibbles continued to find places on her body that sent endless shivers pulsating through her until she thought she would simply go mad with pleasure.
And he knew, oh how he knew where to touch at just the right moment and bring her to climax, only to coax another climax from her as soon as she thought she was spent, and then he would enter her and make her want him all over again.
Their night continued much the same, endless kisses, caresses, and climaxes. Neither tired, neither wanting to stop. They loved tirelessly, Lachlan reminding her over and over again how much he loved her.