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He felt the fatigue in her body and while he enjoyed her riding him, he took hold of her waist and swung her off him to lie beneath him.
“I will pleasure you,” he said with a tempting kiss.
“You always pleasure me,” she said with a passionate sigh.
He eased in and out of her, not wanting to rush, but to linger in the heavenly feel of her and she agreed, running her hands over him touching him, encouraging him, loving him.
Naturally their passion heated, their rhythm turning frantic and both burst in frenzied climaxes one after the other until they were left breathless.
Lachlan cuddled her in his arms and as he expected, she was asleep in mere minutes. He didn’t mind as long as she was there safe with him.
He never expected to love a woman beyond rational reason, but he loved Alyce that way, and while he believed that excuse enough for his decisions, he could understand why it troubled her.
He hoped she would see that she had her freedom though wed to him, but the fact that he forced a marriage on her shadowed his good intentions. She had been right about the Sinclare brides having no choices, though love certainly had claimed them all, which Alyce had not argued. She did not deny her love for him; it was the choice that mattered.
How did he make this right for them? He wanted Alyce to have what she had always wanted. What her father had led her to believe she would always have…a choice.
He didn’t know how he could do this, just as he wasn’t sure how he would approach Alyce and get the answers he needed about the mercenaries. He wasn’t one to give into defeat and while charm was his best weapon, he didn’t think that was his best approach with his wife.
He had loved her direct and honest nature and she would expect the same from him. His charm could be saved for more auspicious occasions.
He grinned and cuddled around her ready to sleep and ready do what whatever was necessary to see his wife content with their life.
Alyce was bored senseless. She even had trouble keeping track of time. What seemed like a matter of days had turned into three weeks since their arrival home. She had tried to find things to occupy her time, but hadn’t been successful. And when Lachlan was sent away to handle a nearby skirmish she had almost jumped on her mare and joined him. The week he’d been gone had been the longest in her life, and her endless days of nothingness had been driving her quite mad.
While she should be growing accustomed and content with her knew home, it was the opposite. She missed her active life at Everagis all the more, though she had to admit she loved Lachlan more with each passing day.
He was so very good to her, so why didn’t that matter more? The question haunted her and as much as she tried, she could not find an answer, and so it continued to disturb her.
Autumn was holding fast, though today proved more summerlike and everyone was busy outside clearing and storing in preparation for a winter that would arrive soon enough.
The splitting of wood resonated in the air and women tended what would be the last harvest of the year. Others dried and smoked meat, and candles hung to dry dotted the village.
Alyce on the other hand could find nothing to do. Everyone had a chore or duty or whatever you wanted to call it, but her. And she was on her own since Lachlan and Artair had been sent to see to a problem with a bordering clan. Cavan was busy today hearing and settling villagers’ complaints. Between the ill and preparing her concoctions Zia had not a moment to spare, while Honora contentedly looked after her twins and her niece.
Addie was the only one she hadn’t seen about, so when she saw her hurrying along in the village looking upset, Alyce seized the moment and asked what was wrong.
“Four-year-old Lily, the youngest of the Connors, is missing since early morning,” Addie said clearly upset.
“I’ll help,” Alyce offered immediately.
Addie shook her head. “Cavan will send men to hunt for her.”
“I learned much about tracking from a friend. I could be of help,” Alyce insisted.
“I don’t think Lachlan would approve, and I don’t have time to argue with you,” Addie said and ran to the keep.
Alyce didn’t wait. She never had before, accustomed to taking matters into her own hands and dealing with them posthaste. A child needed to be found and she had the skills to find her.
Alyce quickly inquired as to where she could find the Connors farm and after saddling her horse, she hurried off to do one of the things she did best…deal with and settle problems.
