He’s silent for long minutes, his face inscrutable, and I can feel sweat breaking out on my back despite the frigid drafts creeping in along the stone floor and stirring up the scattered hay.
“Well now, lad, the way your mother behaved was terrible, and no mistake. But you’re not responsible for your mother. Lulu could have handled things better, too. Faced up to things instead of running off. So don’t go taking all the responsibility for the whole mess.” He takes a deep breath, and his eyes lock with mine. “Lulu is the most precious thing in the world to me, and she’d probably roast me for saying this, but I wouldn’t be happy to give her over to just anyone.”
“I’m with you there, Duncan. Lulu, and our baby, are the most precious things in the world to me too. I promise you, I will never allow my mother or anyone else to disrespect her again. If you see your way clear to giving me your blessing, I will spend the rest of my life standing by her side through whatever life throws at us.” I throw every ounce of the love I feel into my words.
“Wise boy. Lulu doesn’t need anyone to fight her battles. She doesn’t need protecting. What she needs is a partner. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather see beside her than you.” Despite the paint on his glasses, I could swear I see tears in his eyes. He shakes his head. “Now, if you could hand me one of those feedbags I’ll show you how to feed the horses. Might as well make yourself useful around here.” I stifle a laugh. Duncan likes to pretend he’s a hard man, but that soft underbelly can’t be hidden.
Our Christmas celebration is rather light on gifts since, with all the drama, we’ve not had much opportunity to shop for presents. But what it lacks in wrapping paper and socks, it makes up for in laughter, delicious food and a great deal of whisky and wine. Well, except for Lulu, who sticks to the home made non-alcoholic ginger beer Morag has taken to brewing for her. By the time we stagger up to bed, we’re so full we can barely move.
I had thought about asking Lulu to marry me at lunch, but somehow it didn’t feel right. What I have to say to her is between us. Tomorrow is soon enough to tell them.
Since my accident, we haven’t had sex. The mind has been willing. Sadly, the body hasn’t been up to it. But tonight, that’s going to change. It might not be the best sex of our lives, but something is better than nothing, and there’s always the opportunity to improve.
We slide under the covers and snuggle together, listening to the wind whipping around the castle, warm and cosy in our big bed.
Without a word, I start to slide my hand over Lulu’s breast, flicking and pinching the nipple. They’re bigger and even more sensitive than they were before the pregnancy. Just beautiful.
“What are you doing?”
“I thought I might make love to my woman.” Her back arches as my hand slides down over her beautiful belly bump and slips between her legs. I had never thought of a pregnant woman as alluring before, but the lushness of her new body is incredible.
“Are you sure? Your ribs. I don’t want you to … oh yes …” I’ve found her clit and am busy spreading the moisture building between her folds all over it. That’s all the invitation I need.
“You might need to be on top. Can you handle that?”
“I think I can manage that.”
She gives me a sassy smile, pushes me gently onto my back and straddles my hips. I reach down and part her with my thumbs before guiding her up the bed towards my head. I remember her smell and her taste, and my cock is rock hard before I’ve even touched her with my tongue. Lulu hisses, clutching the headboard for support, as I drag my tongue through her swollen flesh and latch onto her clit with a little bit of teeth and a lot of suction. Thank Christ I haven’t forgotten how to pleasure her. It’s only moments before I can feel she’s on the brink.
“I want you inside me,” she breathes as she moves down the bed, positions herself and sinks onto my cock. Long, slow and gentle.
“Fuck, Lulu. You feel so good. So tight and hot.” We hit a perfect rhythm, and it’s as if we’ve never been apart.
“Nick. I’ve missed you. Missed this. So much.” And before I know it, both of us are coming. Embarrassingly fast.
I can’t help but laugh. “Well, that was quick. I’m sorry. I’ll do better next time. I promise.”
“It was perfect.” She smiles down into my face as she holds herself over me on her forearms, careful not to squash the baby or my ribs.
“Are you okay? Is the baby …?” I roll her to the side and gather her against me, pressing as much of her body to mine as I can.
“Is it clichéd to say better than okay?”
“Yes. But I’m happy to hear it, regardless.” We lie in satisfied silence for long minutes, enjoying the feel and smell of each other. I can’t wait any longer.
“Lulu, even when I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again, there was one thing I knew. And that’s how I feel about you. As far as I’m concerned, if I have to give up everything I know to have you, I’ll do it in a heartbeat. Because the only important thing in my life is you.”
I turn her onto her side so we’re face to face.
“So. Lulu MacLeod, mother of my child, owner of my heart, will you marry me? I can’t promise life will always be easy, but I can promise you a lifetime of wild, dirty sex if you only take pity on me and agree to be my wife.”
Tears start to slide sideways off her face. “Yes, Nicholas Pierce, I will agree to be your wife. Mother of your children. Keeper of your heart.” I pull her closer and kiss her with relief and joy. Until she pulls back.
“There is one thing …” My heart stops as she turns and opens the bedside drawer. “I don’t know if you remember this. And honestly, I don’t entirely want you to. I was awful and I hurt you.” She has a small box in her hand and I recognise it immediately.
“Before you drove away that day, before the accident, you gave me this.” She opens the box and passes it to me. “I’ve been carrying it around ever since. Just in case.”
“Things might have been tough the day I gave this to you, Lulu, but there was never any doubt in my mind where this ring should go.”
