Their lips met again and they shared sweet, passionate kisses. They’d truly made their pledge to each other. Unlike at their handfasting, now it meant something to them both.
“I’m so excited. Can we tell everyone?” she asked.
“We should probably wait until the morning,” he laughed.
“Aye. I can hardly wait. I wish to throw back the shutters and shout it to the world.”
“I think I can occupy your mind until then,” Zeke teased as he climbed atop her, laying kisses in the crook of her neck and causing her to wriggle beneath him. This was exactly the response he wanted. Brenna was an eager partner and for a young woman who’d never been with a man, she was a quick study. She already knew the things that drove him mad with wanting her and she used them liberally, but this time when they made love, it was all about being intimate and sharing the knowledge that they cherished each other. It was a slow, sensual dance that brought them both joy and pleasure. Each touch of his hand was met with silky, satiny skin. Each touch of her lips sent shivers of delight through his body. When he finally entered her, it was with the knowledge that they belonged to each other. Slowly he let their passion build, easing himself in and out as she matched his moves, stroke for stroke, until they skyrocketed breathlessly into the heavens together.
“I love you, Brenna,” Zeke said.
“I love you, Zeke,” came Brenna’s answer.
Nothing in this world would hold them back. They’d made their vows to one another and sealed them with their love. They would be together as husband and wife from the sixteenth century to the twenty-first.
***
As Brenna lay awake in Zeke’s arms, his slow steady breathing was calming to her. She felt safe with him. She knew he’d love her and take care of her just as she would him. More than that, she knew that she had entered into a partnership with this man.One where she would be heard and not ignored. She would be respected and not taken advantage of. Most importantly she would be loved and not replaced.
“Zeke, tell me of San Francisco. Do ye live in a castle?”
“No. I’m not that important.”
“Aye ye are. Yer important to me.”
Zeke kissed the top of her head. “Thank you. I live in the home Jenna used to live in. It’s very different from what you’re used to, but I know you’ll love it. And if you don’t, we’ll find a place you do love.”
“I’m sure I’ll want to stay there. Helene lived there. Did she like it?”
“She did,” Zeke responded. “Do you like cats?”
“Aye. There are always cats around the castle.”
“Milly…that’s my cat’s name, is an indoor cat.”
“Indoor cat,” she repeated.
“That means she never goes outside. She’s very sweet. I know you’ll get along great.”
“I can hardly wait to see yrr home. What will I do there?”
“You’ll live with me.”
“Aye. I ken it.”
“Once you feel comfortable, you can come to work with me. Sara used to help me with office work. Maybe you can do that.”
“I can try. I took care of me Da’s ledgers for many years.”
“Perfect. And I’ll teach you how to fight and you can teach the children who come to the studio.”
“I’d like that.”
“We’re going to have a wonderful life together, Brenna, but if you’re ever unhappy there, no matter how much it would break my heart, I’d send you back.”
“That willnae happen. As long as I can be with ye, I’ll be happy.” Brenna never wanted to go back to the kind of life she’d lived to this point. Even the time before Greer and Gillian hadn’tbeen as fulfilling as she would have liked. She would cherish the life she’d be living. Every day would be a new adventure and she was eager for it to start.
“When will we go?”
