I don’t know!thescáthcúanswered cheerfully.It’s Moriah’s plan thing. Well, along with She Who Eats Bears.
So curious, since Adsila was the avatar of that vengeful goddess. But who or what was She Who Eats Bears avenging?
“Sebastien?” Lily asked. “Are the animals all right?” At his questioning look, she explained, “I can feel it when you talk to them. And you get thislisteninglook on your face.”
“I apologize. That was rude of me.”
“I don’t mind. I just realized they might be getting wet in this rain.”
“No, they’ve all crowded into Nessie’s shed and are having a delightful time. Apparently the gossip is quite good and not entirely about horses,” he added with a grin.
She laughed, then clapped a hand over her mouth. “The chickens! I clean forgot to put them in.”
Before she could finish leaping up, he tugged her back down. “Bunny and Nonna herded them in. Everybody is safe and dry.”
“Oh.” She sagged with relief. “I’m not normally so negligent.”
“I distracted you.” He grinned at her endearing blush. “I’d like to distract you some more.”
Her full lips parted, dark eyes glistening. “I would like that, too, Sebastien.”
Uncertain what good he’d ever done to deserve the miracle of her, he leaned in to kiss her, drowning in her sweet scent that owed itself entirely to her and no perfumes or expensive oils. She yielded eagerly, returning his caresses now with growing boldness, his skin sparking to the peculiar tingle of her fingertips. He wanted her to read everything in him, how he felt about her, about even his darkness, because he knew she would never condemn him, any more than he’d ever judge her for what she’d done, on purpose or by accident.
He bore her back to the rug, baring her again like a feast for his eyes and hands. She didn’t protest when he slipped the rest of the gown off her body, tossing it aside, so he could explore every curve, each sweet gasp and exhalation a music of its own. She grew increasingly frantic, making adorable pleading mews of need, then a shocked cry when he applied his mouth to the salt of her pink sex, so tender and swollen. He brought her to climax that way, then again.
On the third build to completion, he positioned himself over her and at last gave in to his own howling craving, thrusting into her tight sheath, their cries mingling at the exquisite sensation. He couldn’t hold himself back for very long—a disappointment to him as he longed to make it last forever, thisintense and intimate joining of their bodies, the pleasure they shared back and forth unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. Yes, he’d had plenty of sex, but never before had he made love—and he felt as if his heart might explode with the sheer wonder of it.
He poured himself into her, the convulsion of the climax almost painful, belatedly remembering that Lily had no enchantment to prevent pregnancy. But they would be married soon and hopefully she would welcome their first child as eagerly as he would. Still, he’d been careless and they’d have to talk about their plans.
At the moment, however, with her delicious body curled against him as she drowsily laid her head on his shoulder and draped a languid arm around his waist, nuzzling him like a kitten, he couldn’t muster the will to ruin the moment. In the morning, they would talk about it. As it was, the accumulated exhaustion of the last few sleepless nights caught up with him, and he crashed into sleep.
Sebastien awoke alone on the rug, the fire cold, the blanket he’d wrapped around Lily draped over him, and morning sunlight streaming in the windows. He had only a moment to wonder where she’d gone before three things happened in quick succession.
He heard Lily singing from the kitchen, along with the whistle of a teakettle.
His stomach reminded him how much he liked breakfast.
And Bunny abruptly bounced into his head with a warning, which he belatedly realized was what had awakened him.
Clotaire is on his way here,Bunny cheerfully informed him.You probably don’t want to be here when he arrives.
Love you! Let’s go look for Nina,Nonna said.
If we’re going to stay here often,Kismet put in,I need more room. And proper grain.
I’m hungry too,Bunny agreed.
Meee toooo!Nonna yelped, her audible baying rising from outside.
“Crap,” Sebastien said, scrabbling for his clothes and yanking them on. It wouldn’t be his first hasty departure from a woman’s bed ahead of the arrival of someone else, but usually it had been a spouse, not a parent. And definitely not a father who needed to be fooled into thinking Sebastien was an ignorant pawn in his schemes and not the other way around. Still fastening his garments—and mentally reassuring Bunny and Kismet, while telling Nonna to keep her mouth shut—he stumbled into the kitchen.
Lily, fresh and lovely as her namesake, turned to smile at him, looking irresistibly gorgeous and sexy in her apron with a smear of flour across one cheek. Maybe they should run away to some cozy place where no one knew them, especially if they could have nights and mornings like this. He wanted nothing more than to sweep her up, kiss her senseless, then set her on that kitchen counter and—
And you really don’t have time for that kind of delay,Bunny advised.
I know,Sebastien answered with a mental growl.
Lily’s smile dropped like a rock. “What’s wrong?”
