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“He isn’t here,” Septimus said.
“When will he return?”
Septimus shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“I must speak to him,” she said anxiously.
“Why?”
“That is my concern.”
“He speaks to no one,” Septimus said.
“He’ll speak to me.”
“Such confidence.”
She ignored his sarcasm. “Let me know when he returns.”
“What makes you believe I will follow your edict?”
She grinned. “Because your leader ordered you to.”
Terese was exhausted by the time she and Piper returned to Everagis. Piper went straight to bed while Terese saw that everyone was settled and safe for the remainder of the night.
She found that Rowena slept beside Talon, while Megan slept alone. Hester had waited up for her.
“I was worried,” Hester admitted.
“There was nothing to worry about. Septimus hadn’t believed the man would survive.”
Hester yawned. “Then I retire in peace.”
Terese had thought to retire to her own bed, but she had promised Lachlan she would see him tonight. She knew he waited to make love, yet she merely wanted his arms wrapped around her. Much as how Rowena and Talon slept, wrapped safely together.
She hurried her steps to his cottage and entered quietly so as not to wake him if he should be asleep. She was surprised and disappointed to find his bed empty. She considered returning to her own quarters, but she was tired and she longed for his arms around her.
She shed her garments and crawled into his bed naked, snuggling beneath the blanket and hoping he would return soon.
Lachlan reached down and tenderly rubbed a silky strand of blond hair between his fingers before he eased it off Terese’s cheek. He was relieved to see her there. He was tired, no exhausted, more from his endless and, it seemed fruitless, search for his brother. When Evan excitedly informed him that he thought he had picked up a track that he believed would lead them to the mercenary camp, he followed him, with considerable enthusiasm and hope. Unfortunately, it had taken them nowhere.
He hadn’t a chance to inform Terese of his sudden departure, since he hadn’t wanted to interfere with her meeting. He knew that she would come to him later and they would make love throughout the night.
But now?
He simply wanted to sleep. He felt exhausted and empty. Would he ever find his brother? The question and endless disappointment irritated him. However, finding Terese in his bed gave him a sense of peace, and all he wanted to do was crawl beneath the blanket and wrap himself around her. He stripped off his clothes and slipped under the blanket, easing against her. She was so soft and so warm and there was the scent of her; earthy and fragrant.
She turned in his arms. “You’re home.”
Her words hit him in the heart, for to her he was home, a place of belonging and love. And he felt the same; he was home here in her arms. While it filled him with joy, it also frightened him, for he repeatedly worried that she would not leave Everagis and he could not remain here.
“I’m home,” he said and kissed her cheek.
Her lips sought his mouth and she kissed him softly and sweetly and it was enough to spark his passion. He returned the kiss and soon their hands were roaming, touching, and their bodies drifting closer and closer until the only way they could get closer was…
He entered her slowly and their rhythm was gentle and loving as if their need was to never let each other go. Their passion built slowly, steadily, strongly until they both cried out in an explosive climax and collapsed wrapped around each other.
They snuggled in each others arms too tired to talk and so content that sleep claimed them instantly.
Lachlan woke with the scent of Terese filling his nostrils and he turned to nestle around her only to find her gone. He sprang up in bed and looked around the room, thinking she would be there somewhere, but it was empty; he was alone.
He didn’t like the sensation that rushed over him, almost as if she left him, ran away, and he jumped out of bed and hurriedly dressed in his shirt and plaid. Last he remembered they had been wrapped around each other after a quick but loving coupling. He never expected her to be gone when he woke. She often woke him in the morning, her hand laying claim to him and enticing him, not that he needed that much tempting. He was more than willing at any time of the day or night.
Even last night when he had been too tired and crawled into bed, once she had turned in his arms and kissed him, her hard nipples brushing across his chest; he had sprung to life.
He had expected to talk with her this morning. There were things he wished to discuss. Being it was well past sunrise she wouldn’t be in her usual spot on the hill. More than likely she’d be busy with chores and so he went in search of her.
