The very idea filled her with horror. Suddenly, the flame of her desire sprang back to life, and her own hand worked under the water, finding his member there.
She stroked and played, laughing as his eyes widened, and his breath came heavier. Her free hand found his rounded backside, pulling her closer to him, and the more he groaned, the more her own desire grew.
“Eithne,” he panted. “I cannae…I need…”
“Me too,” she said through heavy breaths.
She released him and pulled him backward, thrilled by her sudden control. They turned in the water, and his back was now against the rocks. He held her waist as she positioned herself, sinking down so that he was inside her. Together, gripping each other, they moved.
He filled her perfectly like he was supposed to be there, and yet she wanted more. She ground against him, and he rose to meet her, each thrust harder, first slow and deep, and then more and more frantic. They built each other up, harder and faster, until Eithne felt the climax building within her again.
“Ivor,” she moaned. “Ivor!”
He growled, tangling his fingers in her hair. She let out a mewling cry and grabbed at him tighter, her hips working, her lips and teeth grazing his neck. They clung and thrust and groaned and breathed, the water making it an otherworldly experience, and then suddenly, the pleasure took her again.
She was still riding the wave of pleasure when he heard Ivor’s roar and felt him release inside her; both of them lost in their ecstasy.
Some time passed. It could have been minutes or hours, but the next thing Eithne knew, she was nestled next to Ivor on the bank of the river, her head on his chest, his arms protectively around her. The cold didn’t seem too powerful anymore, and there were no sounds at all except for the beating of Ivor’s heart and the running water in the river before them.
“That was…astounding,” she murmured.
He chuckled, the noise sending deep vibrations through her ear, making her body jostle a little atop him. “Ye’reastounding,” he told her. His hand idly played with her wet hair, wrapping it around his fingers then loosening it again. “Are ye really mine, Eithne? Can it possibly be true?”
“We belong to each other now,” Eithne told him. She shivered and then stood, fetching their clothes from the rock. The two of them slowly dressed, in no hurry to return to reality. “Now and forever, until death parts us at last.”
“And beyond that,” Ivor said. “Because I cannae imagine any decent kind of afterlife that would feel complete without ye in it.”
Eithne laughed, but not at all in a mocking way. They finished dressing, then hand in hand, they began to walk back to the castle that was their home for now. She thought about Ivor’s words and realized that she had to agree.
One life with Ivor would never be enough. This was just the start of their eternity. It would be an eternity that they would live to the fullest together.
Chapter Forty
The Beginning
“Are ye sure ye have to go?” Myrna asked with a small, sad smile. Ivor glanced at Eithne, who looked on the brink of tears. He’d told her several times that he’d be absolutely fine with it if she changed her mind. They could stay here with Jonah and Myrna forever if it made her happy.
But she agreed with me. Rory MacDuff is dead, but the story of me and me wife is just starting. It’s high past time we traveled a little.
“We’ll come back and visit all the time,” Eithne said, hugging her sister tightly.
Behind them, Callum was sitting in the small buggy they’d bought to make travel with the boy and the dog more comfortable. He was playing with Mossie and giggling while Aibreann stood with a long-suffering look on her equine face.
Ivor smiled faintly. It was a strange family, but it was his.
Suddenly, he was surprised by a woman’s arms around his waist. He glanced down to see Myrna hugging him tightly as well. “You’d better come back for the wedding,” she told him sharply. “And take care of me sister.”
“When ye finally set a date, Eithne and I will be here,” Ivor said, laughing and hugging his sister-in-law tightly as well. “And nae doubt we’ll be back before then. We’re going South first, but we’ll pass this way on the way back.”
“We’re going to Glasgow!” Callum called over excitedly. “Just like Ivor promised me!”
Eithne smiled at his enthusiasm, then glanced up at the sky. “It’s getting on. We need to go if we’re gonnae make good time on the journey today.”
Ivor nodded. He walked over to the horse, patting her neck as Eithne, Callum, and Mossie settled into their places in the buggy. Then Ivor mounted onto Aibreann’s back.
“Farewell!” Myrna called out. “Safe travels!”
“Dinnae forget to write,” Jonah added, from where he was waiting nearby.
