My Fair Lily (34 page)

She felt herself floating upward to the stars, lifted so high she could touch the silvery ball of the moon. And floating higher, beyond the moon and stars. Her heart thudded to a rampant beat. Her skin felt hot. She was mindless. She was a coiled ball of heat
about to explode. Then it happened, that same magical sensation she’d experienced in the
tub, but this time the wave of ecstasy was even stronger, like a shower of meteors striking the ground, sending shocks and ripples through her body, exquisitely hot and pulsing, exquisitely and
endlessly magical.

“Lily, what you do to me,” he whispered, shifting himself upward so that his erect member was now between her thighs, poised and throbbing. Then he slid inside her, filling her, gently
thrusting in and out, his body taut as he struggled not to hurt her. He guided her legs so that they wrapped around his hips, murmuring his pleasure as her hands caressed his skin. He watched her even as he lost control.
She knew the moment he’d crossed into mindless instinct, for his eyes turned dark with molten desire. But even then, there was a gentleness in the way he held her, the way he looked at her. He’d
never hurt her. That need to protect her was so much a part of who he was and why she loved him.

As he moved inside her, her body became a liquid pool of heat, steaming and bubbling, eager to take him in. All of him. He thrust into her intimate depths, taking her with him as though they were
one. He
kissed her throat, her lips, called her name in that deep, moaning brogue of his that ignited another shower of meteors within her
body. His thrusts became urgent, and his body suddenly tensed.

He grunted her name.
“Lily. Lily!”
And groaned as meteoric explosions took place within his own body, his powerful muscles
rippling and straining, his cry ecstatic as his male essence spilled into her, marking her forever as his. She was his. Heart, body, and soul.
Ewan, please be mine too.

After several climactic shudders, he collapsed atop her, his skin hot and glistening, his breaths deep and groaning. She reveled in the weight of him, still connected to him for he hadn’t pulled out of her yet. She felt a twinge of disappointment when he did ease out of her, but he didn’t let her go. Instead, he shifted their positions in one easy motion so that she lay atop him, wrapped in his protective arms. She made no protest. After all, he couldn’t stay inside her forever. This was nice, too.

He cast her a smug, supremely satisfied smile.

She grinned back at him. “Well, what did you think?”

He caressed her cheek. “Not bad for a beginner.”

“That’s all? Oh,” she said, suddenly feeling disappointed. He’d
had
her so hot and mindless she’d forgotten about using that female
baboon trick to arouse him. In truth, he hadn’t seemed to need it.

He laughed and drew her closer for a quick, tender kiss. “No, sweetheart. You were brilliant. Spectacular. You were Lily. My fair Lily. Innocent and trusting and honest. I’ve never felt more content
with
anyone than with you at this moment.” Then he turned serious. “Lily, I understand the consequences of what we’ve just done. Do you?”

She frowned lightly. “I assured you that I wouldn’t hold you responsible.”

“And what if you find you’re with child? My child.” He let out a heavy breath. “Lass, I’m willing to take responsibility. I wouldn’t have touched you if I weren’t. Your family will demand it of me,
perhaps not immediately, but once the joy of your safe return wears off, they’ll realize you and I spent the morning here, just the two of us alone in this chamber. They’ll expect me to marry you.”

She paled. “Did you seduce me on purpose, Ewan? Out of a misguided sense of duty to protect me?” She shoved off him and
tried to draw away, but he wouldn’t allow her off the bed. He held her in the circle of his arms and turned her to face him, but she spoke first.
“Is that all I am to you? Some baboon female to take into your
colony, an attractive vessel upon which to breed your offspring?”

She rolled to her knees and glowered at him, hurt and aching for the words she realized he never meant to say to her. “Why mark me as your mate?” And he had marked her, spilling his seed into her
and leaving his scent upon her to warn all other males away.

“Bollix, lass. We’re not baboons. I’ve asked you to marry me.”

“That’s the problem. You haven’t. You’ve given me excuses why you’ll reluctantly sacrifice your freedom. I don’t need your noble sacrifice. I can take care of myself.” She tried to hold back her tears, but felt them welling in her eyes despite her determination to stay
strong.
Crumpets!
What had she just done?

What if she were with child? She wasn’t worried about the consequences to herself. In truth, there would be none. She was wealthy in her own right, or would be in a few years when she came of age. Unlike Ewan, she had a loving and loyal family. They’d never shun her or cast her out. However, the consequences to the child would be devastating.

“Lass, you’re overset by all that’s happened. We’ll discuss it once you’re well rested.” Then his voice gentled. “We belong together. We fit
right together. You’re not forcing me to do anything I don’t wish to
do.”

Did that mean he loved her? If so, why didn’t he just say it? Or were all men incapable of admitting their feelings? Her sisters often joked about it, but she’d never believed they were serious. Perhaps Ewan was right. She’d sleep on it and hope the answers would be obvious once her head was clear.

“Come under the covers, Lily.” He waited for her reluctant nod,
and then drew her against his warm body, spooning her so that her back was to his chest. His arms closed around her, and he drew her
legs
between his, enveloping her in his heat. She didn’t feel trapped, for he held her loosely, as though wanting her to understand how it would always be between them... together because they wanted to
be together, not because one had forced the other.

He brushed her hair back gently, the gentle caress of his fingers wonderful against her skin. This felt perfect. Almost perfect.

He didn’t love her.

***

Ewan awoke several hours later, for a moment forgetting he was wrapped around Lily’s luscious body. He caught himself in time and carefully slipped his arm out from under her, hoping the movement wouldn’t wake her, but she was exhausted and sleeping so deeply, he doubted anything, not even the blast of a foghorn, would rouse a response from her.

He studied her as she slept, watched the gentle rise and fall of her breasts with each soft breath. Lord, she was beautiful. Sweet and angelic.

He ran his fingers along her skin, relieved to find her warm. Her hair had dried and the dark, silky strands were now splayed across
the white pillows and her pink shoulders in glorious disarray. He bent to kiss her cheek, inhaled the sweet scent of lavender that lingered on her body.

I’m a monumental ass.

Lily loved him. She had told him so in every way possible. Her
actions, her words. Her honest heart. Why couldn’t he tell her how he felt? Showing her had been easy, but saying the words aloud,
revealing
how completely she’d conquered his heart, was a frightening proposition for a man so used to being in control.

He rolled from the bed, made sure Lily stayed warm by tucking the covers around her, and crossed to the fireplace. He felt cold air on his skin. The fire was low and about to die out, so he added
several more logs and watched as they took flame. He didn’t want Lily to be cold when she rose.

He’d earlier laid out their clothes beside the hearth and now
checked to see if they were dry. His shirt and trousers were. Lily’s
gown
was still damp, but her sister had packed a fresh one for her. He drew it out of his pouch, annoyed with himself for not thinking to
take it out earlier. Fortunately, Dillie had packed it carefully and he easily smoothed out the few wrinkles.

He set the gown across the back of a chair and did the same with the other items Dillie had supplied, the simple chore feeling intimate and
right
. Everything he did with Lily felt perfect. “You’re definitely an ass,” he muttered to himself. Three simple words.
I love you.
Lily deserved no less from him.

He quickly dressed and donned his boots, and then went downstairs
to wait for the chaotic mob that was Lily’s family to arrive. He didn’t
have long to wait. He was still nursing his coffee, Jasper still sound asleep and sprawled beside him, when the Farthingale carriage drew up.

Jasper’s ears perked. He scrambled on all fours and let out a
cheerful
woof
. “Right. Fun’s about to start.” The abduction would be quickly forgotten once the Farthingales realized he and Lily had shared that bedchamber.

Lily’s father and sister sprang out of the carriage and hurried in.
They weren’t alone. Riding alongside the conveyance were Lily’s three brothers-in-law. “Bollix,” Ewan muttered under his breath, realizing he couldn’t take them all on. They were too big. Too strong. Perhaps not as strong as he was, but too strong to take on all at once.
They’d pound the stuffing out of him. They’d do worse once they found out what he’d done to Lily.

“Ewan!” Dillie threw herself into his arms and began to tearfully
babble. “I prayed you’d find her. Is she hurt? Where is she? I must see her. What happened? Tell me everything. But take me to Lily first. Father’s been frantic. So have I. So have we all.”

He gave her a quick hug in response. “She’s well. She’s resting. I know you want to see her, but it’s best if she comes down here on her own. One of the maids will wake her.”

He quickly fetched the innkeeper, ordering not only the maid to rouse Lily but also ordering refreshments to be brought into one of the private salons. “We can talk in there,” he said, leading the Farthingales and the brothers-in-law into the salon, praying that
none of them had overheard the innkeeper refer to Lily as his wife. Otherwise, he’d be carved into little pieces before he drew his next breath.

John Farthingale approached, his face pale and haggard. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done. We’re eternally in your debt.”

“No, sir. Don’t be. All I did was notice she was gone.”
Then I
found her and ruined her. No thanks necessary.

The private room was cozy, furnished with an oak table finer than those in the common hall, several long benches, and several large chairs. The innkeeper started a fire in the hearth, and then
closed the door
behind him as he left. Ewan drew out a chair for Dillie and motioned for the others to take a seat. He quickly told them all that had
happened,
mentioning Lily’s escape and how she’d managed it on her own. He knew that would somehow give her father and sister comfort. This was their beloved Lily. Brave, clever, able to outwit a gang of very nasty men.

He’d just finished his story when the door slammed open and Lily flew into the room. Without so much as a glance at Ewan, she threw herself in the arms of her father, then Dillie. Then all three of
them were hugging and laughing and crying.

“Lily, my sweet angel! Your mother and I were frantic with worry, but it’s over. You’re safe. You’re—” His joy and relief
obviously overwhelming, he began to sob.

“It feels so good to be in your arms,” Lily said, now the one to comfort her father. “And yours too, Dillie! I missed you all. I never
want to be parted from you again!”

Dillie hugged her fiercely. “Same here. I promise never to complain
about sharing a room with you, or having to put up with your abominable harp playing, or those odd scientific objects you’re
constantly sneaking into our room.”

Lily laughed. “I won’t hold you to that promise. I want us back to normal as fast as possible.”

“So do we,” Graelem Dayne said.

Ewan glanced at the brawny brothers-in-law, all of them the sort he would not like to meet in a dark alley. Their eyes were moist as
well.

Then Lily took a moment to look at him, one brief, open-hearted
glance before returning her attention to her father and sister. Graelem stepped forward and clamped a hand on his shoulder. Big
hand.
Painful on his shoulder. His good shoulder. He would have been on his knees in agony had he touched the injured one. Gabriel and
Julian took positions on each side of him.
Bollix.
They knew.

How? Lily had barely looked at him. “I’ve already asked her to marry me.” Not that they deserved an explanation, but he had asked her, and it seemed pointless—and would be needlessly painful—to allow them to think otherwise.

Graelem lightened his grip. Still strong. “It’ll be a quick
wedding.”

Ewan sighed. “I’ve asked Lily, but she hasn’t given me an answer yet. She isn’t keen to be parted from her family, as you’ve just heard her say. I’m not sure she’ll accept.” In truth, he hadn’t
considered that she
might decline his offer. She loved him. She’d told him so in a
delightfully breathy way.

Graelem scowled at him. “She had better accept.”

“Are you threatening me or her? Because if you set a hand on Lily, I’ll cut out your heart and stuff it—”