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And when she began to pulse beneath him, he kissed her for the powerful throbs that ensured she was his, forever. As she clenched around him, Aidan shattered with her, their cries one. The world ceased to exist. Everything that mattered was here in the aftermath of the most incredible experience of his life.
Like nothing before it.
She was like no one else.
He refused to be separated from her just yet, so he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. He hadn’t held her for long enough when she lifted her head.
“Can we do that again?”
Luckily, his chamber was in an isolated part of the keep, for otherwise his roar of laughter would easily have been overheard. Before pulling away, he kissed her nose and then nipped at her lower lip.
“As many times as you’d like, lass.”
“You knew it would be like that?”
“Well, not precisely—”
“And yet you held yourself back from me?” She shrugged. “I’m not sure I could have done the same.”
Saucy lass.
“Says the woman who was less than a sennight away from becoming a nun.”
Her eyes widened. At least now she understood.
“How could you have let me even consider such a thing?” she asked, genuinely surprised.
He’d wondered the same.
“That,” he tried to explain, “was magnificent. I tried to persuade you of how good we would be together, but I could not decide for you. I’d have been no better than your father had I attempted to do so.”
He could tell she understood what he meant.
“Then I’m glad I decided to come back.” She looked down at him then, and Aidan felt himself already growing hard.
“As am I.”
He could tell the moment she knew, and approved. But when Clarissa attempted to move away, he stopped her.
“Nay, lass, stay right there.”
“On top of you?”
He groaned. “Aye, on top of me.”
“But . . . can I . . . can we—”
“Oh yes, we can.”
And he would enjoy showing her how.
Chapter 28
Three days of pure joy.
From that night to the impromptu but perfect wedding and then their first full day of marriage, the last three days had been the happiest of Clarissa’s life. And yet a single shadow hung over them. They still had not received word about who would replace Lord Caxton. Whenever he sensed she was worrying about her father—that he might discover her whereabouts before doing what he’d pledged—Aidan reassured her that all would be well.
She’d begun to believe him.
