Page 93 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

“You’re burning up,” he said, while going to get a cool cloth. When he turned around, she was naked except for the saucy smile she wore on her lips.

“I do burn, Liam. For you.”

“My God.” He dropped the cloth and stared at his wife as she reached for him. She was a temptress with her hair flowing and her breasts plumped up in her own hands.

He’d fallen completely under her spell. He didn’t even realize he’d tugged off his boots until he heard them thump to the floor. His shirt was off as he rounded the bottom of the bed. His belt and kilt dropped next, and he crawled onto the bed next to her.

“You’re so hot,” he said as his hands touched her skin. “Are you ill?”

“Nay. I just stood close to the fire before you came in. It was Kenna’s idea. She did the same when she was little and wanted to get out of her lessons.”

Liam laughed. “I can imagine it.” He shook his head. “What were you trying to get out of?”

“Sitting at the table with my husband who hates me.”

He let out a shaky breath as she placed a kiss on his neck and another lower. Her tongue traced his nipple, and he was shocked to find it made him jump with pleasure. She nipped him with her teeth and he groaned.

He’d not wanted to give in to this. He knew she wanted them to go on as if nothing was wrong so they could have a few grand memories. He’d refused, wanting her to see now how destroyed they would be when she left. But he couldn’t resist her any longer. Not when she looked up at him with those dark eyes and licked the length of his cock.

“Christ almighty,” he cursed and twitched.

“It is amazing how much pleasure can be given with one’s mouth,” she said as she took another swipe with that pink tongue. He’d been wrong. This would end him. She was giving mercy by killing him before he had the chance to miss her.

When her warm mouth captured him, he cried out. He was too weakened by her sorcery to put up much of a battle against it. He lay there receiving her attentions, and when he was so close he feared he’d spend, he pulled her away. It was one thing to allow her to put her mouth there, another entirely to do that.

But she wasn’t to be stopped. Rather than continue with her mouth, she straddled him. A groan left his throat as she slid down on him. Unlike the temperature of her skin, this heat was expected.

“Ev, I’ll not last. You’re too…I’m…”

She smiled and leaned close to kiss him. “This is for you, husband. We’ve all night to share our pleasures together.”

“All night?”

“Aye. That was the other part of Kenna’s plan. She and Mari will keep the children tonight.”

True to Ev’s word, they spent the whole night in each other’s arms. A tray of food was sent up and left for them outside the door. They ate and made love and eventually they spoke.

At first, they strayed from the subject of their future; instead they spoke of their childhoods. They’d shared stories with each other before, but this was different. This was all the feelings that went with it. How she was afraid of disappointing her father. He could see she wanted much the same thing he did. To be loved and wanted. He thought of their children and how badly they needed those things as well.

They rested and woke again reaching for each other. He couldn’t get enough. He thought he might convince her to stay, but she had instead convinced him to give her the memories she wanted.

When the sun was rising, they woke and stared at each other. He wanted to tell her how he felt. That he loved her. Not the idea of her, as he’d mistakenly told her before, but how he loved Evelyn and every bit of who she truly was.

But he couldn’t say the words and have her leave him, so they went unsaid.

“I don’t want to ruin this moment by speaking of things that will come, but I must. It’s very important.” She turned only her head toward him. When he didn’t move, she turned to stare at the ceiling and went on.

It was easier when they weren’t looking at each other. She rattled off her instructions. “I don’t want to lie to the children. I don’t want to tell them I’ll return. It will only breed distrust between you and, while it might be easier in the beginning, it will cause more damage later.”

“Aye,” he agreed.

“I don’t want you to force memories of me upon them. Rose won’t remember me. Gwennie will for a while…”

“But she’ll forget as I forgot my family,” he finished. “She’ll be haunted by snippets of memories. If she asks, I’ll not lie. It’s hell not to have someone to ask.”

She sniffed and nodded. “She’ll be all right. She was used to having me in and out of her life with quick visits.”

“Yes.” He pressed his lips together. “She was worried of you leaving her and I promised her you never would. It seems I’ve already lied to her.” How was he supposed to explain this to his children? That their mother didn’t want to fight for them.