Sin laughed softly at her hold on him. He could barely breathe, but he didn’t mind in the least. He waited until the last spasm had left her body before he took control again. Leaning her forward, he thrust himself faster into her warmth. Aye, she was heaven to him.
And when he found his own release a moment later, he held her close and whispered her name.
Entwined and fully spent, they collapsed on the bed.
Sin lay there, holding her back to his chest, his mind wandering. He’d never had an afternoon like this. Never experienced the comfort of loving arms.
He wrapped his arms around her and listened as she quickly dosed off.
Smiling, he leaned over her to watch the tranquility of her features while her breath tickled the flesh of his arms. If he could, he would stay here forever. Lost in this peaceful paradise that was her.
Closing his eyes, he did what he hadn’t done since he was a small boy. He prayed. He prayed for the politics of Henry and her brother not to come between them. Prayed for some miracle that would see them with a future together.
And as he lay there, behind the lids of his eyes he did another thing he’d not done since early childhood. He hoped. He saw in his mind the children he would love to have. Little boys and girls with their mother’s warmth and spirit.
He wanted this dream. With every piece and part of him, he ached for it.
He had to have it.
And yet even as the peaceful thoughts lulled him, in the back of his mind he feared that hope. Because the realist in him knew better. Dermot was out there, right now, plotting the downfall of his own clan. And if Aster couldn’t put a stop to it tonight, then one way or the other, come morning, Sin would.
He only hoped that when he did, his wife could really forgive him for doing that which he’d sworn himself to.
Fifteen
That night, neither Aster nor Dermot came home. Callie and Morna paced the floors of the great hall while Sin and his brothers sat at the table, drinking ale and saying little. Simon’s health had improved, but he was still upstairs in his bed.
Sin watched the women as long as he could, but a prickling in his gut told him something was seriously wrong.
“Morna,” he said gently, “I know you have no trust of me. But I really think you ought to tell me where your son might be hiding. I want to go find both of them.”
She passed a nervous look with Callie. The doubt in her eyes was tangible.
Callie patted her arm. “I trust him, Morna.”
Still, the woman looked skeptical and Sin couldn’t blame her. It was her mother’s love for her sons that he adored most about Morna. She was a pure heart.
Sin sought to reassure her. “I will take Lochlan with me. He’s a good Highland laird and you know you can trust him.”
Morna hesitated a minute more before she finally spoke. “While my parents lived, they had an old crofter’s hut up in the north hills. It’s dilapidated and aged, but I’m relatively sure he’d be there now.”
Sin rose to his feet. “Lochlan, Braden, we ride. Ewan, stay here and wait for the men. If Dermot returns, make sure he stays put.”
Ewan nodded earnestly while they made for the door.
Callie followed the small group outside and watched as they mounted. Her heart was heavy with fear and worry. It was typical of Dermot to be out and about at all hours, but Aster...
She hoped he was all right.
“Please be careful,” she said to them.
Lochlan and Braden rode ahead while Sin kneed his horse to the steps where she stood. She could see the dark desire in his eyes as he watched her. “I will return them to you, my lady.”
“I know you will. I’ve never doubted you.”
He closed his eyes as if he savored her words. He moved his horse closer, then reached up and pulled her into his arms.
Callie moaned as he covered her lips with his and gave her a fierce kiss. His tongue stroked hers while she clung to him, needing to feel his reassurance.
